During the 2019 Windstar President’s Cruise, we visited a pineapple farm and toured the island from one side to the other.  Along the way, we passed through time as our guide detailed the social, political and geographic history of Antigua, our second port of call.  That tour, typical of the customizable Windstar touring experience leveraged what makes Windstar unique: really nice people.

I should mention here when we refer to ‘shore excursions’, that is really more for the benefit of those who have not sailed with Windstar.  To consider any ‘tour’ I have ever been on with Windstar on the t same level as pretty much any other cruise line is simply inappropriate. At least in my experience.  Let’s use Antigua as an example of what I mean by that.

Windstar groups are capped at a certain (small) number of people to allow time for engaging conversations about topics of interest to the people who paid for it: the passengers. 

I’ve been interested in politics since I was a little kid growing up in Kansas.  My dad had a little plane and flew then-nobody Bob Dole around the state to meet people, we hosted parties with cans of Dole pineapple sitting around, just so my parents friends would remember the name. 

Catching my attention, the sociopolitical aspect of Antigua’s history.  If any part of that topic sounds boring, it was anything but that.  Mainly because from what I can see, Windstar guests are quite well-traveled and a hearty bunch with a hunger for learning.  If the Windstar touring experience satisfied that, most reasonable people would check the box and call it a win. Interestingly, that will simply not do for Windstar. Engaging crew and guides charged with helping us understand the places we visit take care of that.

I have referred to family quite a bit in this post, perhaps more than ever for one very specific reason.  Tiny Windstar yachts are very much a family affair.  Both passengers and crew have a good shot at knowing everyone on every sailing. Let’s pause for a moment to consider that. Think of the other ships you have been on. Do you think there is a chance of knowing all the passengers and all the crew? Here, you can.