Writer Harriet Baskas based this independent review on her 7-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Nice, France.

With a passenger capacity of 308 and an attentive crew of half that, the 535-foot, five-masted Wind Surf exudes intimacy, romance, and luxury. While she’s the largest sailing yacht in the Windstar fleet (the others carry about 150 guests each), she’s a small ship by today’s cruising standards. Originally sailing as Club Med I, Wind Surf is gracious and sophisticated, and not the least bit gaudy or showy. She’s full of shiny brass, natural teak decks, and seven sails that can -- and do! -- unfurl in two minutes.

Wind Surf is large enough for much-appreciated amenities, including a salon, casino, fitness center, library, Internet center, 5,000-square-foot spa, and even a Water Sports Platform -- when lowered, passengers can kayak, sail, water ski, and windsurf right off the back of the ship. She’s also small enough to allow arrival in ports unreachable by larger ships. While many ships might head straight for Istanbul from Athens, Wind Surf stops at Santorini and Corfu. And while most megaships make stops at the same Caribbean islands -- St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico -- Wind Surf spends time at smaller, more isolated ports like Virgin Gorda and Culebra. Staff is attentive without being pushy and has the time to learn names, drink preferences, and home town sports teams.

Why Wind Surf?

• Intimate, romantic atmosphere: The ship’s small size, low passenger load, and high crew-to-passenger ratio sets a relaxed shipboard tone. No bingo here: Passengers linger in the sun, read, chat, or plan their day in port.
• Lesser known ports of call: Wind Surf sails routes and visits ports largely inaccessible to megaships, providing a unique travel experience. Some out-of-the-way ports send even experienced cruisers to the atlas (think Isla de Utila).
• Meals: The accessible onboard chef lovingly tweaks the daily menu, which always reflects the current itinerary and includes vegetarian and low-calorie “Sail Light” options. And no one says “no” to dessert.

Who should go
Wind Surf attracts a mostly well-to-do American and European clientele seeking somewhat exotic and out-of-the-way itineraries and an onboard atmosphere that’s casual but extremely attentive. Passengers are active and able, with the majority ranging in age from mid-40s to upper-80s. Many passengers have “done” the big ships and/or are certain that mandatory formal nights, belly-flop contests, 24-hour buffets, and being among 3,000 other passengers isn’t the sort of at-sea experience they’re after.

Who shouldn’t go
Wind Surf is not for those seeking nonstop entertainment, supervised activities, and the multiple dining options standard to large cruise ships. Some families do bring children along during summer and holidays, but there’s little beyond the DVD library and Water Sports Platform activities to amuse youngsters. With no elevator access to board the ship and no wheelchair-accessible cabins, she’s also a poor choice for those with mobility issues.

Heard on the deck: “We’ve sailed all the big ships and seen all the standard ports of call. We thought this would finally be something different and special. And it is!”

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• Don’t miss: Visit the bridge. When at sea, the captain and bridge watch keeping officers warmly welcome visitors and happily answer questions.
• Best part of the ship: There’s always a relaxed, convivial atmosphere in the Wind Surf Lounge, especially before and after dinner.
• Best experience: The chocolate dessert buffet is not to be missed. Also attend the crew show, showcasing the talents of the Indonesian and Filipino crew.
• Best shipboard activities: In good weather, nothing beats kayaking off the ship’s Water Sports Platform. And a facial or massage in the WindSpa feels great any time.
• Needs improvement: Cabin heating/cooling systems can be temperamental and noisy. Also, lunch in the Veranda can get crowded, especially if it’s too cool to sit outdoors.
• Activities to skip: The nightly port-preview talks -- lounge chatter can drown out the speaker, and much of the same information is in the daily flyer delivered to each cabin.

How to meet the captain
The best way to meet the captain is while at sea, when he can often be found on the bridge and is happy to chat. Other opportunities include attending the (half-hour long) champagne cocktail reception on the first full day of the cruise, scheduling a vow renewal ceremony (officiated by the captain), or attending the captain’s farewell address on the last evening of the cruise.

Tip: Free champagne is available during the captain’s champagne reception and at his farewell address (if you complete your cruise survey in time).

The Restaurant
The Restaurant serves dinner in a casual, open-seating atmosphere. The menu might include anything from surf ‘n’ turf and pasta dishes to a special fish entrée prepared with local ingredients (often hand-picked by the head chef at each day’s port of call). There’s always a vegetarian option and a “Sail Light” offering (with calorie count). Talked-about dishes include the chef’s chilled fruit soups, pastas topped with lobster or wild mushrooms, and desserts such as Baked Alaska and a not-so-classic chocolate crème brûlée.

Heard on the deck: “I eat daintily at home, but this week, I’m indulging and eating anything I want. And I’m steering away from the fitness center.”

The Bistro
The Bistro offers a reservations-only dinner alternative. With most tables seating two or four guests, the Bistro is a bit more intimate than the Restaurant while still retaining Wind Surf’s casual yet sophisticated ambience. With a menu highlighted by an open chef’s station, options are a bit less elaborate, but are by no means skimpy, and service is fast and friendly. The Bistro also serves as the overflow seating area during the Veranda’s breakfast and lunch buffets.

The Veranda
Breakfast and lunch are served in the Veranda, with indoor and al fresco seating. Breakfasts include a buffet of breads and fruits and made-to-order egg dishes and waffles. Buffet lunches are supplemented with cooked-to-order items that might include a special pizza, sandwich, or low-carb option, and always include a health-conscious “Sail Light” option. Grilled fish, hot dogs, and hamburgers are always available, and the chef’s “action station” serves up anything from paella and bouillabaisse to three-cheese tortellini.

Heard on the deck: “The Veranda staff is so efficient! At the buffet lunch a waiter swept my plate out of my hand and carried it to my table. Later, when I headed for seconds, he insisted on filling my plate for me.”

Other dining options

• Compass Rose Bar: A continental breakfast buffet is available each morning in the Compass Rose Bar.
• Room service: Twenty-four–hour options include beef consommé, cheese plates, fruit salad, ice cream, and popcorn. At meal times, daily menu items are also available.

Best dining

• Dish: Favorites include barbecued lobster tails and the grilled fish of the day. Be sure to try the paella, bouillabaisse, or whatever is being cooked up at the chef’s action station during lunch.
• Dessert: Nightly desserts are always tempting, but nothing beats a sampler plate from the chocolate dessert buffet, offered once per cruise.
• Restaurant: The Bistro offers a bit more intimacy than the already-intimate main Restaurant, but eating breakfast outdoors on the Veranda is a special treat.

How to…

• Get a table for two: No problem -- all dining venues have plenty of tables for two. In fact, the Restaurant’s maître d’ seats couples alone unless a table with others is requested.
• Celebrate a birthday/anniversary: Inform the reception desk or maître d’ at least 24 hours in advance and a cake will arrive at your dinner table. You may even get a song.
• Change seating: Wind Surf has an open seating policy. Speak with the maître d’, however, to request a special table or accommodations for a large group.
• Dress for formal night: There is no formal night. “Dress code” means that no shorts, T-shirts, jeans, or tennis shoes are allowed at dinner or during cocktails in the lounge.
• Dress for casual night: All nights are casual onboard Wind Surf, and passengers dress as they do throughout the day, with men in polo shirts and walking shorts or casual pants, and women in walking shorts and light shirts, sun dresses, or blouses and casual slacks.

Tips:

• For an in-room treat, order fresh popcorn from room service, best enjoyed as you watch a DVD playing on your in-room, flat panel plasma TV.
• Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres are served in the Wind Surf Lounge and Compass Rose Bar each evening. Don’t miss the pre-dinner sushi bar and caviar nights.
• Lunches feature a daily ice cream bar, and sorbets and ice cream sundaes are available each evening. Light and sugar-free desserts are also offered.
• Ten percent discounts on dinner wines are offered to those who pre-order during a morning desk hour (daily, 8-9 AM.) Bottles not finished at one meal can be saved for the following evening.
• If the dinner dessert menu isn’t enough, a plate of chocolates is conveniently available just outside the Restaurant each evening.
• Room service can be romantic and convenient, but don’t miss the Mediterranean buffet (when in Europe), lobster barbecue, chocolate dessert buffet, or high tea in the Wind Surf Lounge.

Heard on the deck (at the dessert buffet): “Peaches in amaretto sauce and apple crisp are on the ‘Sail Light’ low-calorie menu -- so I’m having one of each.”

All Wind Surf cabins have ocean views. The 188-square-foot deluxe cabins (123 in all) feel quite large and are well-stocked, with double porthole windows, dark wood dressing tables/desks, flat-screen LCD TVs, DVD/CD players, mini refrigerators and minibars, and terrycloth bathrobes. Bathrooms contain showers only (no tubs), plenty of storage, and basic toiletries. All 31 oceanview suites are made up of two adjacent deluxe cabins with the walls between them removed and seating areas substituted for the second sleeping areas. Each suite measures 376 square feet and includes everything offered in deluxe cabins, plus an extra bathroom, flat-screen LCD TV, DVD/CD player, and desk/dressing area.

Cabins for guests with disabilities
While Wind Surf has elevators within the ship, there is no elevator access to board the ship and cabins are not wheelchair accessible.

Tips:

• All cabins receive fruit bowls that are refreshed daily. Nightly turndown service features pillow-top chocolates.
• One “super suite” (#501) on Deck Five sits behind the bridge. Once serving as the captain’s quarters, it’s now rented to guests looking for a secluded, more romantic stay.

Heard on the deck (wife to husband, with a smile): “See honey, if you booked a suite we’d each have our own bathroom and we’d be able to get to dinner before 8 PM.”

Daytime entertainment might be a late continental breakfast and a few hours on deck with a good book, or an hour in the fitness room followed by an excursion to a vineyard or a trip to the beach. Evenings, passengers mingle and dance to small combos in the lounges, or borrow a DVD from the library and fire up their cabin’s flat-screen plasma TV. And don’t miss the crew show, a very informal show that mixes culture and kitsch.

Bars, lounges, and casino
The Compass Rose Bar is popular during port departures, continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and nightly live music. Head to the Wind Surf Lounge for pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres and after-dinner dancing. The Pool Bar serves snacks during warm weather, while the tiny Terrace Bar is a sanctuary for cigar smokers. The small casino houses about two dozen slot machines along with roulette, three-card poker, and blackjack -- gaming classes and an informal casino staff help novices feel welcome.

Heard on the deck: “Last night I won $800 at the blackjack table. I didn’t stick around to give it back, but my wife mysteriously spent exactly that much today in port.”

Swimming pools
Wind Surf has two small saltwater pools (open daily, 7 AM–10 PM) and plenty of chaise lounges scattered about. The Aquafit pool is on Star Deck, near the fitness center, while the other pool, with two hot tubs and an adjacent bar, is located on Main Deck. When the Water Sports Platform is lowered, passengers can kayak, sail, water ski, and windsurf directly from the ship (swimming is not allowed from the Water Sports Platform). Complimentary equipment, including snorkel gear and wet suits, is available.

Shows
Don’t expect to find comedians, magicians, or dance extravaganzas; evening entertainment consists of dancing to small combos in the Wind Surf Lounge or Compass Rose Bar. Once per cruise, the ship’s Indonesian and Filipino crew puts on a show that might veer from a traditional candle dance to the tension-filled application of ten spoons to one waiter’s face.

Heard on the deck (in the lounge): “We requested ‘Slow Boat to China’ last night, but the band didn’t know it. They obviously found the music and learned it today, because they played it when we walked in tonight! Now that’s personal service!”

Shore excursions
Excursions are anything but run-of-the-mill. Activities can range from a walking tour of a historic French town topped off by wine tasting at a local vineyard, to a regatta on yachts that competed in the America’s Cup, to an ancient temple tour led by an expert in the field. Tour slots are limited and many fill early. As of this review, excursions can only be reserved onboard. A strict 24-hour cancellation policy is enforced.

Weddings and vow renewals
While Wind Surf is popular with honeymooners, lovebirds must get hitched prior to boarding. The captain does perform vow renewal ceremonies arranged before sailing. The $129 fee includes an invitation, ceremony officiated by the captain, framed picture, certificate, and small reception with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. In good weather, the ceremony is usually held on the Flying Bridge.

Looking for…

• Quietist spot: The library has comfortable reading chairs along with books, DVDs, CDs, and board games that can be checked out. It also houses two computers, though guests must head to the Internet center for online access.
• Liveliest spot: The Wind Surf Lounge is a popular spot before dinner, during hors d’oeuvres and the evening port presentation.
• Most popular activity: Passengers flock to the Wind Surf Lounge for pre-dinner drinks -- to meet other passengers, listen to music, and find tablemates for dinner.
• Best view: See what the captain sees. The ship’s open bridge policy means passengers can get great, annotated views day or night.
• Best show: The crew show is 50 percent cultural exchange, 50 percent talent show -- and 100 percent endearing.
• Best drink: Try a hot Goodnight Sip, made with Cointreau, chamomile tea, and a drizzle of honey.

Tips:

• For drink discounts, consider the prepaid cocktail “four pack,” providing a small discount on martinis and other mixed drinks.
• Smoking is allowed in the lounges on the ship’s starboard side, in the Terrace Bar, and in the casino.
• Each guest who completes his/her comment booklet receives a voucher for a free glass of champagne during the captain’s farewell talk.
• The Internet center is open 24 hours per day. Discounted minute packages are available and there’s a first-day raffle for a free package of Internet time.
• Passengers who book shore excursions receive flyers offering spa service discounts.
• Folks not taking excursions can gather plenty of tips for self-guided tours from the pre-dinner port and excursion talks.

Spa and salon
Citrus-infused water and soothing music set the tone at the WindSpa, home of pampering “rituals” for men and women, including facials, aromatherapy, massages, and cellulite reduction and holistic seaweed treatments. An adjacent salon offers haircuts, manicures, and pedicures. Service is efficient and gracious and the inevitable product sales pitch is somewhat low pressure. A post-facial “personal prescription,” for example, was a lengthy written list of suggested products, with a few “must haves” starred.

Fitness areas
Two large rooms -- the fitness center and the nautilus room -- serve as the fitness area. The fitness center lets passengers choose a cardio machine from which to watch the sea pass by, while the nautilus room is used for classes ranging from Pilates to kickboxing. It also houses the Chakra Capsule: A pod-like machine that, for $45 per 30-minute session, mixes vibration massage, warmth, aromatherapy oils, and sounds for a pseudo-massage effect. Those searching for outdoor adventures need look no further than the Water Sports Platform, offering everything from waterskiing to kayaking to scuba and snorkeling excursions.

Tips:

• Embarkation specials, in-port specials, and multi-session bookings can help stretch a spa budget. Sign up as soon as possible as slots fill quickly.
• Access to the spa’s coed sauna is complimentary.
• At $68 ($60 during embarkation), the unlimited class pass is a good deal for those planning on attending more than one class each day.
• Most classes have small fees, but fitness “samplers” and the early morning “walkabouts” are free.

Heard on the deck (from a male passenger): “I usually don’t like the idea of strangers touching me, but I was somehow convinced to sign up for a three-session massage package. I was nervous at session one, but I’m looking forward to the next two visits. Who knew?”

The onboard Signature Shop offers duty- and tax-free shopping for sundries, cosmetics, ship logo items, jewelry, watches, and gifts. Many items are priced below $10 and nightly specials often include some two-for-one offers. Duty-free liquor is held until the last night of the cruise. Park West At Sea hosts gallery showings and auctions throughout the cruise. These low-pressure events can yield some good buys. Raffle prizes, free gifts, and free champagne are all offered to help spark interest.

Tips:

• Free champagne is offered at the art auction champagne gala.
• On the first night at sea, the Signature Shop lets passenger spin the “Fortune Wheel” for discounts of up to 50 percent off most purchases.
• Aspirin and seasickness pills are free at the infirmary and at the reception desk. Some bartenders even stock seasickness pills behind the bar.
• If you’re going to shop for gourmet food items such as sea salt in France, shop at the local grocery store, where the price will be much less than at the souvenir shops.

Heard on the deck (at the auction): “Some of these pictures would look better on a box of chocolates. But I’m going to bid on these three paintings anyway.”

Due to the ship’s small size and lack of formal entertainment and organized activities, children -- especially toddlers -- are generally not encouraged to sail on Wind Surf (or other Windstar ships, for that matter). That said, children are often onboard during holidays and island sailings, when families schedule get-togethers and activities are centered on the Water Sports Platform, providing plenty of entertainment for kids of all ages.

From April through mid-November, Wind Surf sails the Mediterranean and the Greek Isles. In winter, she cruises in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and the Mayan Riviera. The sailing yacht can call on ports of all sizes, so a Lisbon-to-Barcelona cruise might visit Portimao (Portugal), Tangier (Morocco), and Ibiza (Spain); while a trip from St. Thomas to Barbados stops at Isla Culebra (Puerto Rico), Pigeon Island (St. Lucia), and St. George’s (Grenada).

• Cruise line - Windstar
• Ship name - Wind Surf
• Former name - Club Med 1
• Type of cruise - Casual Elegance
• Total cabins - 154
• Private balcony cabins - 0
• Decks - 7
• Total crew - 180
• Passenger capacity - 308
• Ship size - Small
• Officers nationality - British
• Registry - Bahamas
• Tonnage - 14745
• Year entered service - 1990
• Ship length - 617