Photo Courtesy of Wind Star Cruises

New Yacht Club Lounge and Luxury Bridge Suites Added

Emerging from a five-week work period, Windstar Cruises’ motor sailing yacht Wind Surf  recently sailed from Barbados with all Degrees of Difference enhancements completed on board. 

The multi-million dollar investment added more luxury amenities on board and updated public spaces and staterooms. Two new luxury suites were added on the Bridge deck bringing the ship’s capacity to 312 guests.  Work was also completed on technical operations of the ship.

"We created the Yacht Club as the social hub of the ship with computers, internet and espresso, much like today’s coffee house," said Diane Moore, Windstar’s vice president of marketing and sales.  "All stateroom and suite bathrooms have been updated and two new luxury suites were built for guests wanting more space to entertain."

The Yacht Club replaces the library and provides comfortable seating for relaxing and socializing.  An espresso bar offers gourmet coffee drinks and eight computers with Internet access are available; personal laptops may also connect to wireless Internet. A large flatscreen television anchors a seating area for group gatherings to watch special events such as the Oscars or the Super Bowl. A library of books, CDs and DVDs are available for checkout. 

Two new luxury suites on the Wind Surf’s bridge deck are approximately 500-sq. feet each and include a living and dining area, separate bedroom with walk-in closet, and a marble bathroom with whirlpool tub and separate shower.  Guests in the Bridge Suites will enjoy extra service amenities such as unpacking service, invitation to dine with Captain, laundry and pressing, evening appetizers, high tea service upon request, complimentary bottled water in the suite, chilled champagne upon arrival, and additional L’Occitane bath amenities.

All suite and stateroom bathrooms have been remodeled for a more contemporary look with new fixtures, open glass shelves, new cabinets, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, and a magnifying mirror. Refinished teak floors retain the popular nautical style. Egyptian cotton towels and bath amenities by L’Occitane have recently been added.

Also in the stateroom, desks have been resurfaced with granite and full length mirrors added. In suites, a second flat panel television and DVD player was added. Wireless internet is already available throughout the ship along with Bose SoundDock speakers in all staterooms, Apple iPod Nanos pre-loaded with music for complimentary check-out and laptops for rent.

In other areas of the ship, new weights and televisions were added to the gym.  A pedicure chair and a couples massage room enhance the full-service WindSpa.  New audio visual equipment was installed for meetings. The Veranda, where breakfast and lunch are served, has expanded its covered outdoor seating with new awnings.  Balinese sun beds will soon be added to the Star deck and cooling mist sprays will be located near both pools.

The Bistro has been renamed Degrees and serves a Splichal-inspired steak house menu four nights a week and offers rotating menus from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia other nights.  There is still no charge, but reservations are required. 

Degrees of Difference updates will follow on the Wind Spirit in spring 2007 and the Wind Star in fall 2007. The Wind Surf,  fresh from its Degrees of Difference updates for the 2007 Caribbean season, sails alternating northbound and southbound itineraries roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados.