Why do a Windstar Cruise in Tahiti?
I spent a week aboard the beautiful 148-pax Wind Spirit in French Polynesia this past September and had a wonderful time.
The gorgeous 148-pax Wind Spirit in gorgeous French Polynesia. * Photo: Christine Bottross
Here are my nine reasons, along with photos and videos I enjoyed capturing throughout the trip (check out my instagram feed to see more!), to show you why you too should consider a Windstar cruise in Tahiti for your next vacation.
VIDEO: Before you read on, here’s my pretty little tour around the Wind Spirit, below!
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1. A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti is all about excellent service & personal touches
Having cruised several times in the past, this was the first time we enjoyed one-on-one service. In no time, the crew knew all the passengers’ names and our preferences.
For example, one of the servers knew we like hot sauce. They brought us a special hot sauce blend he made in the back and then took the time to always find us and bring us extra for every meal, which was really sweet and memorable.
Further, the staff also memorized passengers’ birthdays and anniversaries, making the effort to announce them and celebrate with the entire ship.
This doting attention and the personable conversations the crew had with us on and off the ship, made us feel really special, just like we were among family and friends.
The service is excellent on a Windstar cruise. * Photo: Christine Bottross
2. A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti makes meeting new friends easy
The 148-pax Wind Spirit carries a small number of passengers — during our cruise just over 100 people — which allows passengers to get to know one another very quickly.
By the end of our cruise, it felt like we were one big family. Our nightly dinner tables started growing larger and larger. We made friends we hope to keep for a lifetime.
Windstar always puts on an extravagant (& very social!) BBQ on deck one evening in Tahiti. * Photo: Christine Bottross
3. On a Windstar Cruise in Tahiti you’ll enjoy distinctive dishes
Windstar Cruises is affiliated with the highly renowned James Beard Foundation. This partnership enables the Windstar culinary team to stay on top of trends by learning from the best chefs.
And the Wind Spirit team doesn’t just present top-quality food, they rotate their menus frequently, keeping options fresh and new, and doing great food and wine pairings as well.
A few dishes we loved were the poke bowl, Beef Wellington, pork chops, steak and eggs, creme brûlée and tiramisu.
Our absolute favorite meal was the elaborate barbeque dinner Windstar set up on deck under the stars.
From the different kinds of barbequed meats to the massive paella and all sorts of salads and desserts, plus the sun setting over the island terrain behind us giving the ultimate backdrop, we were in heaven.
Dining is a high point of a Windstar cruise. * Photo: Christine Bottross
Dining on a Windstar cruise in Tahiti. * Photo: Christine Bottross
Dessert on a Windstar cruise! * Photo: Christine Bottross
4. A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti avoids the crowds
If you cruised on a big ship before, you know you have to wait for pretty much everything. There’s a line for getting on/off the ship, the buffet, the restaurants, the bars, the entertainment etc.
On Windstar’s cozy Wind Spirit, waiting wasn’t an issue. We were able to be seated right away and to lounge on deck anytime without having to wake up early and reserve a seat.
Excursions were also very enjoyable as the groups were small and the guides were very friendly. Time wasn’t wasted in explaining things and gathering up a big group.
It’s easy to find a great spot on deck to relax. * Photo: Christine Bottross
There’s never a line to dine, including here at the deck BBQ. * Photo: Christine Bottross
VIDEO: We had the ship to ourselves more than once. See below …
5. A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti is one of the most romantic holidays out there
The views, the sunshine, the beaches, the remoteness, the gorgeous open decks of the Wind Spirit with the four masts towering above … life (and love!) doesn’t get much better than this!
There were several honeymooning couples in our sailing group and I can see why. Wind Spirit is a ship where you can find privacy and comfort at once.
The ship sailed to some of the most beautiful and picturesque islands in the world, such as Bora Bora. You can’t help but fall in love.
We met a few honeymooners from different parts of the world — a young couple in their 30s from Denmark as well as couples who were celebrating their 50th year of marriage.
Such an aspiring sight to see. You’ll meet people from all walks of life at different points in their relationship who in no time will become friends and start sharing delightful stories and experiences.
The Wind Spirit in Tahiti is pure romance! * Photo: Christine Bottross
VIDEO: Below, see just what a romantic setting a Windstar cruise in Tahiti is!
6. On a Windstar Cruise in Tahiti you can visit places the bigger ships can’t
Due to their smaller size Windstar ships can call on more remote islands (or motus as they’re called there) and areas of French Polynesia that can’t accommodate bigger ships; some don’t even have names!
Big ships can not take the same routes or fit into the small areas Windstar’s Wind Spirit is able to navigate, which is a huge plus.
Go where the big ships can’t on a Windstar Cruise in Tahiti. * Photo: Christine Bottross
The Wind Spirit sending passengers ashore by tender. * Photo: Christine Bottross
7. On a Windstar Cruise in Tahiti, enjoy remarkable excursions & longer time to explore
Windstar Cruises really puts the focus on the destinations they visit, rather than the vessel itself. That means excursions are key. In our case we had some remarkable, once-in-a lifetime excursions.
Each excursion had only a handful of people so, for example, on the “Swim with the Whales” excursion, we had lots of time to hear interesting information about whales, look for them and even swim with them (as opposed to a big ship, where excursions are often rushed and timed — hurry hurry!).
We were able to spend enough time on each island to really explore and immerse ourselves in our surroundings.
VIDEO: Below I’ll show you a bit about our amazing “Swim with the Whales” excursion.
https://youtube.com/shorts/NlMlN123nq0?feature=share
These were our favorite shore excursions:
- “Swimming with Whales” (about $100 per person). Our group was small and it was led by Dr. Michael Poole, who is an extremely knowledgeable marine biologist with an excellent ability to share his love for marine life. He is a legend in his field and an incredibly enthusiastic guide. Dr. Michael and his team educated us on the whales we were about to encounter, their work with them, and how to interact with marine life in a respectful manner. We had an epic whale encounter with a humpback whale, hanging upside down in the water and singing to attract a female partner. Dr.Poole’s assistant brought us very close to the whale. As we got to the whale’s location, we jumped in the water to swim with it and luckily saw a full breach right in front of us, which was a surreal sight to see. We will forever be grateful! Not only will you have a great experience and learn something along the way, booking a whale watching/swimming tour with Windstar led by Dr. Poole funds whale research and conservation in French Polynesia.
- “Harvesting your own Tahitian Black Pearls” (about $360 per person, as it includes keeping the pearls you find). We were only two couples, which made for such an intimate experience. We were transported to an over-water reef house (a pearl farm), which had incredible 360-degree views of all shades of clear blue water. Summer Rotu, the manager of Anapa Perles welcomed us and proceeded to give us a lesson on how pearls are farmed and how the cultivation of pearls is a major part of the economy in French Polynesia, which was so eye opening and interesting to learn as we’re coming from a completely different part of the world. Shortly after, we dove to find our own oysters in a lively reef full of colorful fish, coral and oyster strings. Then we brought the oysters up and the pearl grafter opened them for us and showed us the beautiful pearls inside. It was incredible to learn about the quality, size, pureness and variety of shades. We took the pearls we found home as a souvenir, along with a certificate indicating their type and quality. Definitely a very unique experience that I highly recommend.
- “Swimming with Sharks and Stingrays” (about $100 per person). We were supposed to go scuba diving, unfortunately, as much as we were looking forward to it, the currents were high and we were advised by Windstar officials not to. We immediately had to pivot, so we chose the swimming with sharks and stingrays excursion instead and were accommodated. We jumped on a catamaran that took us to two stops. First stop, we swam with lemon sharks and stingrays, which was such a fun experience. The Tahitian tour guide’s relationship with the stingrays was notable. It was almost like the sting rays naturally gravitate towards people from the region. Secondly, we stopped at a coral garden where we snorkeled and saw some breathtaking corals and fish. The tour didn’t just end here, on the way back they took us where they normally find dolphins, and so being escorted back to shore by the oceans’ friendliest animals was the cherry on top.
8. A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti is all about uncommon experiences that feel private & luxurious
On our sailing, one evening Windstar arranged a private dinner catered solely for our ship. Local Polynesian performers entertained us with a rich culture-filled night, delighting us with music, dance and delicious food on our own private island under the stars.
We felt entirely immersed in the Polynesian culture that night and enjoyed learning the meaning behind every dance, their attire and their traditions.
RELATED: Judi Cohen reviews her Windstar cruise in Tahiti.
The Polynesia cultural & dance performance. * Photo: Christine Bottross
The dazzling fire dance. * Photo: Christine Bottross
9, A Windstar Cruise in Tahiti offers an intimate experience from start to finish
Your head doesn’t have to spin with a million shows, a million restaurant reservations and having to beat everyone for a spot for everything. Smaller ships are all about relaxation while aboard when sailing between ports, with extreme attention to detail and privacy.
You feel like you’re on your own yacht with several people there to attend to your needs and give you an amazing experience. You can read a book or listen to music or just relax and unwind without feeling like you’re missing out.
Our favorite spots on the Wind Spirit were the hot tub on Deck Four and the sliver of deck above it on the flying bridge.
Smaller ships lend authentic meaning to a vacation, from providing quality time to relax on board and explore on shore, and by making it so easy and comfortable to befriend crew members and passengers.
Relaxing at the Wind Spirit’s hot tub against the backdrop of stunning French Polynesia. * Photo: Christine Bottross
Lots of little nooks to chill out alone. * Photo: Christine Bottross
VIDEO: Below, I share a 360-degree-view of the handsome Wind Spirit!
BOOKING INFO: Check out Windstar’s Tahiti sailings here.
Last But Not Least…
Sailing with Windstar Cruises was a unique experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves cruising or wants to try a different cruising style.
Small-ship cruising is such an intimate experience as you completely avoid the crowds, get one-on-one treatment and attention to your needs, eat delicious dishes from all over the world, and take in all the picturesque views on a graceful yacht surrounded by some of the most beautiful islands in the world.
I highly recommend cruising to Tahiti with Windstar as I truly wish everyone can experience this incredible ship for so many reasons including the nine above.
My week on Wind Spirit in Tahiti was simply a once-in-a-lifetime experience that my fiancé and I will be talking about for a very long time.
Christine on deck of the Wind Spirit. * Photo: Christine Bottross
RELATED: Check out more of Christine’s travels on her instagram page @ChristineBottross.
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HEIDI SARNA
