At home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the “feels like” Fahrenheit number is 21, snow is threatening, and I’m wondering whether to ask my pet-sitter to put the bathroom spigots on drip to avoid frozen pipes.

And yet, I’ve just boarded Star Legend in Malaga in southern Spain, the birthplace of Picasso and a place I’ve never been. I’m wild about this  Windstar Cruises’ “Winter Escapes” Mediterranean itinerary. I’ve been to Barcelona but all the other ports – Gibraltar, Cartagena, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca – will be new to me.

Work has been crazy-busy for months and I need a recharge, a refresh. Travel does that for me.

My waiter, Dede from Indonesia, stops by my table with a bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay. Oh sure, I tell him, uno mas, por favor.

Loving the Picasso Museum in Spain’s Malaga

I arrived in Malaga a day early to get my body attuned to the time change – and what better way to do that than to luxuriate in a ritzy hotel? The Gran Hotel Miramar, beautifully decorated for Christmas, is as posh as it gets and it’s just two blocks from the seaside promenade. Me? I barely left my room and slept like a rock. I think I’m going to start every cruise this way going forward. No rush – and adventure-ready.

Our cruise from Malaga to Barcelona spends a week sailing along Spain’s southern coast, visiting ports such as Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, and Valencia along with the U.K.’s Gibraltar.

After boarding the ship, the thing I wanted to do most while in Malaga on Spain’s storied Costa del Sol: visit the Picasso museum and the house where the artist was born. Star Legend made it easy – pretty much everything I wanted to see was within a 10-15 minute walk of the pier, nicely located right in the heart of town.

Editor’s Note: Beginning in January 2027, Windstar’s new Star Explorer takes over the region, sailing year round in the Mediterranean, from Star Legend. 

The vibe was not Sunday morning calm. The Malaga Marathon was under way with thousands of runners in motion. Streets were closed, spectators everywhere. Orange trees everywhere, too – and in glorious bloom. An abundance of pedestrian-only streets and great signage made the museum a cinch to find. The museum itself, housing 200-plus pieces, was a revelation. I’m no artist but as a writer, I loved this quote from Picasso: “We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” Talk about a mind-bend.

I had no idea that the scope of Picasso’s work included bronzes and ceramics. And at his birthplace, I learned about his influence on the dove as a symbol of peace – and why he named his daughter Paloma, “dove” in Spanish. Nuggets like these fill me up.

As a journalist, at work I’m writing a column about how older adults often feel invisible, unseen. Not me, at least not on Star Legend. When I returned to the Veranda for a late afternoon lunch, the waiter said: “Welcome Ellen.  Chardonnay and water? Cabin 508, right?”

And, oh, incidentally, it’s snowing at home.

Monkey business on Gibraltar

Gibraltar has been on my bucket list for years. It didn’t disappoint.

Just 2.6 square miles, the Rock, as it is known, is a British Overseas Territory with views of North Africa. Yep, that was Morocco in the distance. Home to one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, this island at the tip of Southern Spain is where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean Sea. There’s something poetic about that.

Gibraltar has roughly 38,000 inhabitants but it was this population stat that fascinated me more: 300 Barbary monkeys. These large-ish apes run free-range at the top of the Rock and they communicate by grooming one another. How had I not heard of them? They are a marvel to watch. Definitely, a highlight of the itinerary – as was St. Michael’s Cave with its impressive light show.

On our way back to the port, our guide turned on the bus’s “air con,” as the Brits call it. That’s how wonderful the moderate temperatures are in this part of the world in December. There wasn’t enough time to visit the town. Next time, I hope.

During sailaway, a couple lolled in the hot tub while folks soaked up the sun from loungers. Except for doing Wordle every day, I’m pretty much off the grid. On the way to Cartagena, I jump into the novel I’ve brought – called “Snow,” of all things.

Savoring quiet time in Cartagena and Valencia

I did a walkabout in Cartagena and enjoyed the ancient Roman Theatre and the not-to-miss Calle Mayor, the pedestrian-only main street made of marble. Valencia? Raining out of the Bible. Enough said. Instead of exploring, I made it a point to savor my quiet time, something that’s been all too rare recently. I read, streamed a couple of movies, napped, and ordered smash burgers from room service.

I also took in the special touches that my cabin steward delivered. He cleaned my eyeglasses, a mess always, and left a wipe. And my book, resting open, suddenly had a bookmark in it. That’s over the top – and typical, I’ve learned, of Star Legend’s service.

The ship was in dry dock before we embarked in Malaga and arrived with two big updates: new carpet everywhere and an Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant called Basil + Bamboo. The artisan whole burrata salad and the miso black cod with a little taste of the grilled Spanish octopus? Best meal of the trip.

Palma de Mallorca offers a winter wonderland

I now understand winter’s appeal when it comes to cruising the Mediterranean – but it hit home with an exclamation point in Mallorca. Picture this: Late morning, sunny. Two buses are in the parking lot of Bellver Castle, built in the 1300s and the oldest of five round castles like it in the world. Except for the buses, both ferrying Star Legend passengers, the lot is empty. Not a tourist in sight.

“It’s calm,” our guide tells me. “No people.”

It’s also green. At the moment, olive trees are tinged silver in the sunlight as our bus heads toward the hilltop village of Valldemossa. January and February, the almond trees will erupt with white blossoms. Friends had urged me to visit Valldemossa, a village tucked into the Tramuntana mountains, and I’m glad they did. It’s best known as the spot where writer George Sand and her lover, classical composer Frederic Chopin, took refuge in a monastery during the winter of 1838-1839.

Chopin composed 32 pieces during their sojourn. The view from the rooms where the couple stayed is something to savor. Sand, in her book “A Winter in Majorca,” put it this way: “The view is astounding for it leaves nothing to the imagination and nothing to desire. The reveries of poetry and art are fully realized here.”

Later, nibbling on a potato bun at an outdoor café, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Now this is the kind of winter wonderland I can get behind.

Looking for a Plan B in Barcelona

I was in Barcelona a few years ago and focused then on the work of architect Antoni Gaudi, best known for his masterwork, the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia church. Today, my last day onboard Star Legend, I decided to revisit Las Ramblas, the famous pedestrian walkway that has a colorful farmers market, sidewalk cafes and shops. If Barcelona has a heartbeat, Las Ramblas is it.

Unfortunately, Las Ramblas is currently a massive construction zone and the inescapable sound of jackhammers was almost triggering. I saw plenty of people on the popular pathway with hands pressed over their ears. I needed a new plan for the day. Just a few blocks away, in the Gothic quarter, I found it: the Barcelona cathedral, which dates back centuries. Known as La Seu, the cathedral was comforting and quiet. I took an elevator to the rooftop, which has sweeping views of the city. At noon, chimes, resonant and deep, sounded from the clock tower.

I had been in need of a reset. The quiet embrace of the cathedral and the soulful sound of the chimes delivered that today.

Winter itineraries in the Mediterranean are genuinely special. A few tips:

Visiting Spain and Gibraltar in the low season was a revelation: warm weather, fewer tourists, shorter lines. But prepare to be nimble when it comes to shore excursions. Two that I’d signed up for were canceled due to not enough passengers signing up. In that event, talk to the shore excursion team about what else you might do if one falls through.

Also, be aware that some shops and restaurants do close down, particularly in smaller villages and cities, during winter. In larger cities like Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Barcelona museums and shops, along with restaurants, abound. And, if you are a solo traveler like me, keep an eye out for single supplement discounts on winter itineraries. I had a rather nice one that shaved a good bit off my cruise fare.

And finally, this:  Windstar Cruises offers unique “Local Season” itineraries in the Mediterranean from November through March, focusing on intimate, small-ship experiences without summer crowds. These voyages feature overnights in cities like Rome, Barcelona, and Venice, visit smaller, charming cities from Athens to Dubrovnik, from Genoa to Livorno for Tuscany, and specialize in experiences focusing on holiday markets, historic sites and local culture and art. And just as nice: the weather is typically quite moderate.

Editor’s Note: Read more about Windstar’s “locals’ season” of winter cruises here: 

• If You Love Culture and Art, the Mediterranean is Perfect Year-Round
• The Surprising Perks of Visiting Venice in Winter
• Choose Your Adventure: In Dubrovnik, Embracing the Culinary Tradition of Peka
• This May Surprise You: Winter can be the Most Magical Time to Cruise in the Mediterranean
• On Windstar, Build Your Own Christmas Market in the Mediterranean

The post What It’s Like: Cruising Coastal Spain During Locals’ Season appeared first on Windstar Cruises Travel Blog.

The Caribbean is a sensory feast: impossibly blue water, vibrant reefs teeming with life, landscapes that shift from lush rainforest to sun-bleached desert within a single island chain. But the real magic happens at the harbors themselves — the intimate coves and storied ports where the islands reveal their character up close.

This is where Windstar’s small ships have the advantage. Rather than crowding into the same mega-ports as the big cruise lines, our yachts slip into harbors too small, too shallow, or simply too special for larger vessels.

Before diving into these picturesque harbors, it’s worth noting that the Caribbean can be tricky to parse, since it’s made up of three main archipelagos (sometimes called the West Indies collectively):

• The Greater Antilles — the big islands: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico. These aren’t referred to as Leeward or Windward at all. Aside from Puerto Rico, where San Juan is a hub for some Leeward Islands itineraries, Windstar doesn’t currently visit this group.
• The Lesser Antilles — the best-known group, running from the Virgin Islands to Grenada, split into two sub-groups. The Leewards arc down from the north: the Virgin Islands through Anguilla, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, and Guadeloupe. The Windwards lie further south: Dominica down through Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.
• The Leeward Antilles — a separate, often-confused third group: islands off Venezuela’s coast like Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, plus Venezuela’s own island territories.

Windstar itineraries may focus on just one region or mix and match across overlapping areas. And it’s important to note that most of Windstar’s best off-the-path yacht harbor ports are located in either the Greater Antilles or Lesser Antilles. These are places that transport travelers’ experiences beyond the usual big ship ports in the region.

Here’s a look at some of the most scenic harbors along Windstar’s Caribbean routes.

The Leeward Islands

Anguilla:

Known for its pristine, sugar-white beaches and laid-back glamour, Anguilla offers the ultimate Caribbean retreat. It’s a destination reserved largely for small ship cruise lines, which anchor in the intimate Road Bay, its low-key harbor lined with beach shacks and cafés. Snorkeling at Little Bay offers calm, clear waters, and the beaches throughout the island are soft and pristine.

Here’s a tip: it’s no longer a secret that Anguilla is one of the Caribbean’s culinary magnets. This tiny island has roughly 100 restaurants, including acclaimed spots like Blanchards — now celebrating more than 30 years on the island and widely credited with kickstarting its culinary reputation — the newer L’Étoile at Manoah Boutique Hotel, and Celeste by Kerth Gumbs at the Malliouhana Resort. Just as central to Anguilla’s food-lover reputation are its casual beach shack eateries (Blanchard’s, in fact, operates a fine-dining restaurant and a casual spot side by side).

Planning tip: Anguilla is included on Windstar itineraries such as:

• Beach, Fun and Sun
• San Juan and the Virgin Islands

Antigua:

Antigua is a little more than 100 square miles — about the size of Shreveport, Louisiana — yet it boasts 365 beaches. Its coastline is exquisite, thanks to an abundance of coral that keeps the water clear.

St. John’s, Antigua’s capital, is the usual port for big-ship visitors, but Windstar anchors in Falmouth Harbour, a world away, alongside other yachts and sailing vessels. The tender dock is within walking distance of Nelson’s Dockyard, a charming Georgian-era village also known as Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites.

Another option on this more pastoral side of the island: Antigua’s Rainforest Canopy Zipline, with 13 ziplines and two suspension bridges. For a gourmet afternoon on the beach, take a short taxi ride to Catherine’s Café on Pigeon Point Beach. And because Windstar’s yachts anchor in the harbor itself, its marinas are often open for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.

Planning tip: Antigua is a highlight of several Caribbean itineraries, including:

• Beach, Fun and Sun
• Masterpieces at Sea: Gems of the Leeward Islands
• Star Collector: Caribbean Explorations

British Virgin Islands:

The British Virgin Islands of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda are a mainstay of Windstar’s intimate Caribbean voyages and are among the most laid-back places any small cruise ship visits.

Soper’s Hole, Tortola

Tortola is one of the only British Virgin Islands to accept larger cruise ships (at Road Town, its main city), but, as with Anguilla, Windstar docks instead at Soper’s Hole, a tiny harbor with a restaurant, a bar, and colorful West Indian buildings. This stop is a low-key jumping-off point for beach adventures at spots like Long Bay Beach or Smuggler’s Cove.

Prickly Pear Cay, Virgin Gorda

In Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, Prickly Pear Cay is an uninhabited national park island — and, on Windstar’s itineraries, typically the site of its famous beach barbecues. Travelers usually spend the morning exploring Virgin Gorda by shore excursion (unless spending the whole day at the beach, since there’s no independent transportation on the cay). The must-see experience is a trip to Virgin Gorda’s The Baths: massive granite boulders spread across Devil’s Bay on the island’s north shore, threaded by a series of steps and ropes that guide adventurers through grottos from beach to bay. It’s also an excellent spot for snorkeling.

As BVI Insider explains, these boulders — found along the shoreline from Devil’s Bay to Spring Bay — were formed by volcanic uplift. Roughly 45 million years ago, an intrusion of hot liquid magma (a batholith) pushed ancient seafloor sediments above sea level.

Jost Van Dyke

At just three-square miles, Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the BVI’s main islands. For visitors, there are two main destinations. Great Harbour holds Jost’s small town — government offices, a church, and the famous Foxy’s Tamarind Bar. Foxy’s is far more than a beach bar; it’s set right on the sand, with a barbecue, hammocks, and live music.

On the other side of the hill is White Bay, entirely pleasure-oriented, lined with beach bars and cafés such as the Soggy Dollar Bar, birthplace of the beloved Painkiller cocktail.

Framing both waterfronts is a mountain ridge that tops out around 1,000 feet.

Because ships anchor in Great Harbour alongside sailboats and yachts, its marinas are often open to guests.

Planning tips: Numerous ports here find their way into Windstar’s itineraries. They include:

• Beach Fun and Sun (Jost van Dyke, Soper’s Hole and Virgin Gorda/Prickly Pear Cay)
• San Juan and the Virgin Islands (Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda/Prickly Pear Cay)
• Star Collector: Caribbean Explorations (Jost van Dyke, Soper’s Hole, Virgin Gorda/Prickly Pear Cay)
• Star Collector: Caribbean Collection: ABC, BVI & the Windwards (Jost van Dyke, Virgin Gorda)
• Star Collector: Atlantic Crossing to the British Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda)
• Star Collector: Windward Islands, ABC Islands, and the Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda)

United States Virgin Islands: St. John

St. John, a far more intimate island than the USVI’s St. Thomas, offers smaller cruise ships an anchorage that’s more working harbor than postcard bay. Even so, views of the surrounding mountainous islands, an abundance of gorgeous beaches and bays, and a vibrant downtown known for distinctive eateries and boutiques make it a lovely — and rare — port of call for small ships.

Planning tip: Cruz Bay is a port of call on a handful of Windstar’s itineraries, such as:

• San Juan and the Virgin Islands
• Windstar’s Star Collector: Atlantic Crossing to the Virgin Islands

St. Barts: Gustavia

Like every island in the Lesser Antilles, St. Barts (full name Saint-Barthélémy) has plenty of gorgeous bays and beaches, and it’s a great destination for snorkeling and diving. But that’s the least of this swanky, French-flavored isle’s appeal — it’s known just as much as the preeminent Caribbean playground for the rich and famous. Cruise travelers arrive by tender (only small ships are welcome, and all must anchor out in Gustavia Bay), and the main town of Gustavia is packed with pricey boutiques from Louis Vuitton, Prada, Cartier, and Hermès. Its restaurants — aside from the rather touristy Le Select — are equally elegant.

Gustavia is a destination in itself, but you’ll miss much of St. Bart’s charm if you don’t explore further. St. Jean Beach, near Eden Rock, is another wonderful spot for a day out, with tranquil seas alongside numerous boutiques and restaurants. For something more rustic, head to Saline Beach, home to a handful of salt ponds once used to harvest the mineral.

Planning tips: St. Bart’s appears on the following Caribbean itineraries:

• Classic Caribbean
• Star Collector: Caribbean Explorations
• Masterpieces at Sea: Gems of the Leeward Islands
• Star Collector: Atlantic Crossing to the Virgin Islands
• Star Collector: Windward Islands, ABC Islands, and the Virgin Islands

St. Martin: Marigot

Of course you’ve heard of the Dutch St. Maarten, a major cruise and tourism destination, and one of Windstar’s own ports for embarking and debarking some voyages. What’s not as well known is that it shares an island with the French St. Martin (it’s been this way since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648). Travelers can bounce between the two quite easily (there’s no border control).

Only small ships can anchor, though, at St. Martin’s main city of Marigot and it, and the towns around it, offer a distinctly different experience than you’d get from St. Maarten’s bustling tourist attractions. First, St. Martin’s got a special culinary tradition, a blend of Creole and French, and dining here, from “lolos” (open-air BBQ shacks to award-winning seafront restaurants, is delightful.

Other highlights of a St. Martin experience include a trek up Fort Louis, an 18^th century fortress, a day in Orient Bay, its best beach, and shopping for both duty-free and market finds in Marigot.

Planning tips: If the adjacent island of St. Maarten is the more common port for this two-nation island — particularly as an embarkation/debarkation stop — Marigot itself appears on a few itineraries, including:

• Windward Island Surf and Sunsets
• Star Collector: Windward Islands, ABC Islands, and the Virgin Islands

Guadeloupe’s Les Saintes

Small ships skip Guadeloupe’s bustling capital of Pointe-à-Pitre. Instead, they anchor at Les Saintes, an archipelago serving Terre-de-Haut. Its picturesque bay is framed by red-roofed houses, volcanic mountains, and an old fort.

There’s otherwise little to see in this fishing village unless you head out on the water — kayaking, snorkeling, and sailing are the main draws, and Windstar’s marinas are often open here. One sightseeing exception: the Habitation Bellevue Distillery, which has made rum since 1821, offers self-guided tours and tastings; visit between February and April to watch its workers in action.

Planning tip: Guadeloupe appears on the following Windstar itineraries:

• Masterpieces at Sea: Gems of the Leeward Islands
• Classic Caribbean
• Beach, Fun and Sun

The Windward Islands

Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Port Elizabeth

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation, of which Bequia is one of the larger islands. The official language is English, and the main industry is agriculture, including the harvest of arrowroot — used as a gluten-free thickener.

Bequia — meaning “island of the cloud,” pronounced “beck-way” — is a seven-square-mile speck. Ships can only anchor in Admiralty Bay, since Bequia has no cruise ship pier and only smaller vessels can access the island. From there, you’ll tender into Port Elizabeth, the island’s walkable, low-key capital, full of local color and free of Caribbean crowds.

The star attractions are Bequia’s beaches, including Hope Beach on the island’s windward side — your reward for a lengthy taxi ride from Port Elizabeth and a mile-long hike down to the shore is a real sense of seclusion. Another option is Friendship Bay, a quiet spot on the opposite side of the island from Port Elizabeth; again, plan to bring your own refreshments. As with any unfamiliar beach, ask locals what swimming conditions and skill level are appropriate before taking the plunge.

Another option is Bar One, a floating watering hole in Admiralty Bay. After tendering to the jetty at Port Elizabeth, call ahead to request water taxi pickup (about 5–10 EC dollars). Phone: 1-784-530-8123.

Planning tip: Bequia is a stop on the following Windstar itineraries:

• Windward Ways and Tobago Cays
• Windward Islands Surf and Sunsets

Care to share your own favorite yacht harbor in the Caribbean? Tell us all about it in our comments section.

The post Best Caribbean Harbors for Small Ship Cruises appeared first on Windstar Cruises Travel Blog.

Wind Surf’s refurbishment is part of Windstar’s Setting Sails initiative, which redesigns all three of its sailing class of vessels between now and 2027 (pictured above is its newly designed pool deck). From his perspective, Stijn Creupelandt, Windstar’s chief operating officer, notes that highlights of the refurbishment focus on fresh new details that also reflect Windstar’s casually luxurious ethos.

Expect a sophisticated nautical ambience of neutrals and blues, Creupelandt adds, “With our guests in mind, we aimed to add a bit of whimsy with pops of color that will trigger wonderful memories of easygoing trips to the beach in summer, when building sandcastles was a focal point of the day.”

Specifically, this first refurbishment focused on public spaces and the ship’s top suites (note that phase two of the refurbishment takes place in December 2026; more details are below). 

New, top-of-the-ship suite

Previously known as the Officer’s Suite, Wind Surf’s new Owner’s Suite, #501, has been reimagined. “The owner’s suite is modern yacht-inspired. We adopted some classic details but we made it more fun, a little more Windstar,” Creupelandt explains. The space is expanded to encompass separate living and sleeping areas. The all-new bathroom features a tiled tub, new shower and double vanity. What doesn’t change? Guests still have unique access to the suite from a private door on an outside deck – and the suite is next to the Bridge.

Broadmoor and Sea Island suites debut on the Wind Class

If you’ve seen (or experienced) the Broadmoor and Sea Island suites on Windstar’s Star Class vessels (Star Legend, Star Pride and Star Breeze) you’ll love them here. If you haven’t yet? You’ll love them anyway. Inspired by designs at Windstar’s parent company, Xanterra, which operates five-star sister resorts such as Colorado’s Broadmoor and Georgia’s Sea Island, each offers a distinctive ambience. The Broadmoor suite has a clubby, historic feel while Sea Island evokes a summery and beachy look.

Amphora incorporates sea colors into its restaurant space

Amphora, Wind Surf’s main restaurant venue, embraces a new design concept that features blues and ivory with elements of the sea, such as sea glass, pearls and smooth stones. There will be new furnishings that include curved booth, a 10-guest Captain’s Table and larger dining chairs for comfort. Another improvement that your eyes may not see but your ears will appreciate: improved acoustics.

Tweaking Compass Rose

The ship’s Compass Rose, its hallmark space for entertainment and socializing, features more comfortable, modern décor with pops of blue and orange, a chic bar, and a new multi-purpose stage area ideal for live music and local performances. 

“While I admit that all my designs are my children, I really love the reimagined Compass Rose,” Creupelandt says. “It’s the hub for nightlife, from pre-dinner cocktails to trivia to evening entertainment. There are booths around the edges, sofa seating outside, and the aft wall that still fully opens so you get the indoor/outdoor feeling.”

Splashy new pool deck and bar

What we love about this space is the way Windstar designers bring the outdoors – through pops of color, including green foliage, onboard. The tiling on the whirlpools is meant to evoke ocean waves. There’s plenty of teak in the deck, the pool’s capping, and tables. Newly added seating includes large daybeds on the aft and chaise lounges.

First Impressions!

On the newly revamped Wind Surf, public spaces that guests access daily, like the ship’s lobby, which houses the shore excursion desk and guest service, and its popular Yacht Club coffee bar, are fresh and modern. “The idea,” Creupelandt tells us, “is to create a hub, a relaxed environment that is a bit like an Italian piazza, with social spaces and solitary, peaceful nooks, as well.”

“It was wonderful to see it come to life on my cruise,” she adds. “It was still the Yacht Club, guests were sitting, reading, sipping coffee There are pops of color and patterns, and yet it’s also a quiet refuge.”

Surprises #1 and #2

In our original blog on the changes planned for Wind Surf, we didn’t mention a couple of refurbs that surprised us, in a good way.

We loved that crew spaces, like this engaging lounge (pictured above), were redesigned.

And though standard accommodations will not be overhauled until Wind Surf’s final refurbishment in December 2026, all cabins received new interactive televisions.

And more surprises!

Creupelandt’s favorite installation? A new LED wall in Compass Rose that completely changes the atmosphere, depending on where the ship is sailing – and when. “We were all impressed with how it turned out,” she says, noting that on her Christmas cruise there with holiday-related background scenes with music. Port talks and other presentations were also bolstered by the A/V.

And we love the new wine room (photo above), which will host pre-dinner tastings there. The average tasting, says Peter Tobler, Windstar’s director of hotel operations, lasts about 10 – 15 minutes for two to three different pours.

Phase two takes place soon, very soon…

Phase 2 of Wind Surf’s refurbishment will take place in December 2026 and re-enters service on December 19, 2026. 

In this effort, all accommodations (suites were already completed in phase one) will be outfitted with new furniture, bedding, carpets, interactive televisions and art and décor. In addition, two new staterooms will be added, bringing the ship’s capacity to 346. 

As well, Veranda and Amphora will be redecorated, and Stella Bistro will be replaced by Basil + Bamboo, Windstar’s Mediterranean-Asian fusion restaurant.

In a nod to travelers’ increasing desires to practice wellness while onboard, Wind Surf’s fitness center will be redesigned with a new motion studio. And the ship’s cigar lounge will be replaced by a dry sauna.

All of Windstar’s three Wind Class ships (Wind Surf, Wind Star, and Wind Spirit) have undergone recent renovations and updates as part of a multi-year initiative. Wind Star has already completed both phases of improvements. Wind Spirit will receive its second of two updates in March 2027.  

The post Wind Surf Readies for the Final Stage of its Refurbishment appeared first on Windstar Cruises Travel Blog.