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Posted: January 24, 2006 6:27 pm
by nutmeg
The Lost Manatee wrote:I have done several and loved all of them. It's not the same as the jumbo cruise lines and that's what makes it so fun. You don't see the islands as an American tourist with 5000 other tourists crowding into a small port town, yuo get to see the islands as a member of a small group. On my first Windjammer cruise we, the passengers, decided we didn't like the itinerary so we voted to switch it and the captain did so. On my second we stopped at a little island that only had wild goats and wild pigs and while we snorkeled the crew set up a wonderful pig roast on the beach.
I once read a description of Windjammer Cruises and it was something like "If you like roughing it, then this is the cruise for you." While there is some truth to that, no fancy shows and no "gourmet" dinners/buffetts, the food is good and lots of it and the entertainment is great. Frequently the passengers are called upon to provide some of the entertainment, other times you will have a steel drum band or a floating ministrel who comes aboard and sings the night away. In someways it is like a seagoing camp for adults.
Yeah, there's a lot of "passenger participation" On one island they asked us to bring back a bottle of wine if we could. They had a giant wine and cheese party that afternoon with all the wines everyone brought back.
Posted: January 24, 2006 9:56 pm
by OceanCityGirl
I am so going to do this. Did you guys book directly thru windjammer or a travel agent. Is it possible to spend a couple days on whatever island is the starting point before or after the cruise? That would be nice too.
I'm wondering how big the price difference is with the seasons as I want to go next winter. I also wonder if, like other cruises, there are discounts available.
Posted: January 24, 2006 10:25 pm
by nutmeg
OceanCityGirl wrote:I am so going to do this. Did you guys book directly thru windjammer or a travel agent. Is it possible to spend a couple days on whatever island is the starting point before or after the cruise? That would be nice too.
I'm wondering how big the price difference is with the seasons as I want to go next winter. I also wonder if, like other cruises, there are discounts available.
Sign up for Cyber Sailors. They send you e-mails with their specials. (but usually they are kinda last minute deals) We booked directly once and through our travel agent once. Yes, you can combine an island stay. Windjammer offers some deals on hotels, but we picked our own both times. (Stayed at Rhymers on Cane Garden Bay before the BVI cruise
http://www.quitorymer.com) Also stayed in Grenada after we got off the Mandalay.
Posted: January 25, 2006 11:48 am
by jackiesic
I went on the Mandalay years ago. IT was a *GREAT* trip. Met tons of nice people.
Food is not at all elaborate. It's more like home in that, tonight we are serving fish, tonight we are serving chicken, etc.
I actually took my blanket/pillow out of the cabin and slept on the deck under the stars everynight.
Gosh, it seems like a lifetime ago but I would go again in a heartbeat.
Posted: January 25, 2006 11:48 am
by jackiesic
Woohooo! Party! That was post 500 for me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: February 6, 2006 9:45 pm
by Clarksa
The new wife and I took the Yankee Clipper out of Grenada for our Honeymoon last August. It was a GREAT trip but like everyone else has said, you have to go in with the understanding that it is not a foo-foo ship. You will get to know most all of your crew and shipmates (a lot of whom are Buffet fans). The Jammerbabe site is a wealth of knowledge for planning your trip. Plan to stay a few days before your trip or you might not get to see anything at your home port. We flew in on a Thursday and boarded the Clipper on Sunday afternoon. We arrived back in Grenada on Saturday and flew out on Sunday. Most everyone else flew in on Sunday evening and flew out early Saturday morning and didn't get to see any of Grenada. Grenada is still having lots of problems from Ivan and I have seen where Windjammer has pulled out of there and now that trip leaves out of a different port.
Posted: February 6, 2006 10:19 pm
by tallship38
i have done 5 windjammers. it's the best thing since sliced bread. wait....................if i had to choose.....................i can cut my own bread.
Posted: February 7, 2006 9:14 am
by OceanCityGirl
hey tallship that was your 1000th post.
I am definitely going to be doing this next winter. We've considered cruises but don't really think we're cruise kinds of people.
Posted: February 7, 2006 6:48 pm
by The Lost Manatee
I booked mine with a travel agent who was able to get me an upgraded cabin at no charge on one sailing and a ship board credit on another. The other ones we got what we paid for. It's hard to ask for more then that.