I've blogged about my admiration of Windstar Cruises many times. I love the line's three intimate motor-sail-yachts, the adventure-seeking contingent of guests, the calls on ports that the big ships can't get anywhere near, and the warm hospitality extended by every single member of the crew.
My second-ever cruise was a Caribbean itinerary aboard Windstar's Wind Surf. Since that time, it's always been one of my favorite ships. The romance of a ship sailing the seven seas is coupled with Windstar's attention to culinary adventures. All Windstar ships put on some of the best beach BBQs in the Caribbean, but now Wind Surf is also hosting a similar on-board experience with its Deck BBQ Dinner Under the Stars.
Watch this short video to get a peek at this special event presented by Wind Surf:
We were treated to this feast during our June cruise from Civitavecchi, Italy to Nice, France. The crew masterfully transformed the Pool Bar, Compass Rose, and Terrace Bar into a fairytale setting. There was plenty of seating arranged in tables for 2, 4, 6, and even several larger spaces for families and groups.
The event is weather permitting and we lucked out with a beautiful evening as we sailed out of Portofino. As guests were just taking their seats and Top Society and the Souljourn Duo were gearing up to play some fantastic music, a pod of dolphins appeared and decided that Wind Surf couldn't leave Portofino without a choreographed show that included lots of leaps out of the water and fins splashing! It couldn't have been planned any better!
We enjoyed a table for two by the pool and felt more relaxed than we had in months. Wind Surf chefs pulled out all the stops and I tried to carefully select from the buffet so I could try a little bit of almost everything. The focus was on guest favorites like lobster tails and ribs and nothing was fussy...just excellent food that you'd expect at a BBQ.
Sample Menu from Wind Surf
Deck BBQ Under the Stars
roast suckling pig
pork ribs
beef and sausage skewers
grilled chicken
grilled filet of fish
lobster tails
crab legs
shrimp cocktail
corn on the cob
baked potatoes
fruit tempura
a variety of fruit salads
several salads
cheese tray
strawberry tarts
chocolate-covered strawberries
flan
chocolate cake
macaroons
ice cream
fresh fruit
and more
The experience was out-of-this world and just made me like Windstar even more. Everyone having a jolly old time and the waitstaff seemed truly happy to be racing all over the decks to pour drinks, clear plates, and joke with the guests.
That night the crew also put on its once-per-cruise Crew Show. It amazes me how much energy the Wind Surf team has! I can't thank the crew enough for making our Mediterranean cruise so special.
If you've ever thought about booking a Windstar cruise, I say "go for it!" This is not a luxury line but is high-end and it's definitely one of the best values in cruising today. (I've seen per person fares as low as $999 and the line often promotes cruises for an excellent price at Jetsetter.com.)
Windstar is also embarking on a massive $18 million refurbishment project, which will make these three motor-sail-yachts even more special. I'm looking forward to more shaded areas by the pool, improved onboard Internet services, refreshed public areas, and new decor in the cabins.
I'm already thinking about our next Windstar cruise... the Costa Rica itineraries look fun!
—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible
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