Sailing vacations are gaining in popularity. In the past, those with the ability could charter their own sailboats, with or without a crew. But now anyone can go, whether or not they know a jib from a boom.
This winter five companies with a dozen ships are offering sailing vacations in the Caribbean. They vary from the 617-foot-long Club Med 1, which carries 386 passengers, to the 165-foot Sir Francis Drake, which can accommodate only 34. Obviously, passenger experiences on these vessels will be quite different from those on large cruise liners.
These ships are small enough that you can meet nearly everyone on board. All offer open dining-no set time or table. Because they can enter shallower harbors, they offer much more intriguing itineraries. And, as with cruise lines, shore excursions are optional; you can do much on your own. Water sports are conducted right off the boat. Passenger-to-crew ratios are very favorable. And all of these ships are very, very casual-leave the ties, tuxes and evening gowns at home.
There aren`t many disadvantages; just realize that these ships really are smaller than big ships, and in inclement weather there aren`t many places other than your cabin where you can get away from what then can seem a bit of a crowd. Also, you can expect minuscule pools, saunas and gyms, and you will have to rely on VCRs instead of movie theaters.
What is special is that most of these ships really are moved by the wind. No rumble, no vibration. They actually heel a little (that`s the nautical term for leaning-sailboats are supposed to do this). And, with the smaller ships, passengers are welcome to pitch in and lend a hand to the crew.
Sailing cruises will appeal to those who have always been skeptical of the ”huge cruise ships” and to the cruise veteran seeking a different kind of experience. And most passengers will be relieved to know that air conditioning is the norm on all of today`s sailing ships.
Here is a roundup of ships sailing in the Caribbean this season:
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises has been a hit since it broke into the sailing cruise market in the late 1980s; it caters to the upscale, sophisticated traveler. Each of its three 440-foot, four-masted sailing ships can accommodate 148 passengers in spacious outside cabins (185 square feet), which have all the amenities, including two portholes, two berths (which convert to a queen-size bed), a television/VCR, mini-bar and ship-to-shore phone. One passenger`s testimony: ”You`ll never find a better bathroom.”
Technically, these are very small luxury cruise ships. They are termed
”sail-assisted, power-driven,” because the five sails really do not do a whole lot of work. They actually rely on three diesel-electric engines (which also produce power), and there really isn`t a lot of hands-on experience.
However, the typical Windstar passenger is more likely to appreciate the large rooms, interesting itineraries, unregimented schedules, open dining and free 24-hour room service than learning to climb the rigging (these sails furl and unfurl at the push of a button).
Windstar ships stress elegance. They have casinos (albeit small ones), piano bars and small nightclubs. You can water-ski, snorkel or windsurf off a platform at the stern of the ship. Scuba is offered for $45 a trip. Also provided are a library, swimming pool, fitness center and sauna on each ship, but these facilities are not very big.
Each ship has an elegant dining room, and some meals are also served outdoors on the Veranda. Each offers a full range of shore excursions.
The rate is $285-$370 a day, and the crew/passenger ratio is 1 to 1.6. Tipping is optional. Seven- and 14-day packages are available.
This winter the Wind Spirit and Wind Star will be sailing between Antigua and Barbados. (Their sister ship, the Wind Song, sails year-around in Polynesia.) For more information, call 800-258-7245.
Club Med
Club Med, which operates all-inclusive vacation villages throughout the world, is entering its fourth cruise season with the Club Med 1, the largest sailing ship afloat.
It is 617 feet long, with eight decks and carries 386 passengers. If you have been to a Club Med village, the format will be familiar: The primary language will be French, there will be lots of activities led by the G.O.`s
(gentils organisateurs, i.e., recreational staff), and the entire atmosphere will be more casual than on Windstar ships.
All staterooms are outside, and each measures an ample 188 square feet. Cabins include television, phones and mini-bar. A nicety: continental breakfast in your room for no charge. And room service-extra-is available 24 hours a day.
Club Med 1 caters to the sports enthusiast with its supervised fitness center, sauna and massage facilities. A platform unfolds from the ship`s stern and acts as a marina. Windsurfing, sailing and snorkeling are offered. The ship carries two 130-horsepower boats to pull waterskiers; inflatable boats are used for snorkeling trips and tendering. Certified divers will especially appreciate the two scuba trips each day-at no extra cost. There is an air compressor aboard for filling air tanks, and the ship provides equipment
(although you might want to bring your own regulator).
Club Med offers two dining options: Its Odyssey restaurant on the top deck is casual, while La Louisiane is more formal, with waiter service. House wine and beer are complimentary with meals; an a la carte wine list is available in La Louisiane. Both restaurants offer open seating with no reservations. And beginning in November, low-calorie, non-fat and vegetarian dishes will be available. There also are five bars, a casino and a bit more evening entertainment than on most such ships. Shore excursions are offered in every port.
Again, this is not a ship for climbing in the rigging. Although she has five masts and seven sails, computers and engines do most of the work. A special ballast system keeps her on even keel, with only a two-degree heel, so don`t expect too much reality in that respect. She can cruise at about 12 knots.
The cost is $250-$310 a day, and the crew/passenger ratio is 1 to 2.1
(including 32 French officers/crew and 62 G.O.s.). A savings: Club Med has a stringent no-tipping policy. The Club Med 1 is based in Martinique and offers four weekly itineraries, which can be combined for longer trips. A sister ship, the Club Med 2, will debut in December and sail in Asia and the Pacific. For more information, call 800-CLUB MED.
Star Clippers
Star Clippers boasts the two newest ships afloat, the Star Flyer and Star Clipper. Both, at 360 feet in length, are billed as the largest and tallest sailing clipper ships ever built.
The 180 passengers can participate in a real sailing experience; the ships are actually powered by wind (the single engine is used primarily for producing power or when winds fail). They each fly 36,000 square feet of sail, can hit 17 knots and the heel is kept to under six degrees.
Informality prevails. Guests are encouraged to stroll onto the bridge at any time, just as if they owned the ship. ”Our objective was to combine a legitimate sailing experience with amenities that are yacht-like
comfortable,” explains Mikael Krafft, the Swedish businessman/yachtsman who created and owns the ships.
There are 90 cabins in six categories, 11 of which are inside (eight of which have fixed upper/lower berths and do not have TVs). Amenities include televisions and phones. While some staterooms have fixed double berths, most have twin berths that convert to a double bed.
Water sport offerings include windsurfing, sailing, water-skiing and snorkeling. Complete scuba gear is available to certified divers. (However, a $30 charge is made for scuba excursions, which include one-on-one supervision and air tank refills.) The ship carries six inflatable boats and four tenders which are put to an unusual use: They carry passengers around the ship while it is at sea so action photos can be snapped.
There are two tiny pools on deck, and there are two bars: one on the aft deck and an inside piano bar that is the center of evening activity. The elegant dining salon features open seating, there is a stately library and shore excursions are offered.
The daily rate is $170 to $340 a person, and the crew/passenger ratio is 1 to 2.6. Tipping: standard. The Star Flyer is based in St. Maarten and the Star Clipper in Antigua. Between them, they offer three weekly itineraries, as well as several two-week options. For more information, call 800-442-0551.
Tall Ship Adventures
Tall Ship Adventures has one ship, but what a beauty it is. At 165 feet, the Sir Francis Drake is the smallest of the tall ships carrying cruise passengers. Its 14 cabins can accommodate only 34, so you`re bound to get to know everyone aboard.
A three-masted schooner built in 1917 and called the S.V. Landkirchen, the Drake is among the fewer than 100 remaining authentic tall ships. She spent most of her ocean-going life transporting cargo. In 1988 she was bought by Eckart Straub, an international entrepreneur, and his partner, Capt. Bryan Petley, a New Zealander who had been sailing since he as 13.
They renamed the ship the Sir Francis Drake after the famous admiral and circumnavigator of the globe.
After extensive refurbishment, the ship now sails 3-, 4- and 7-day cruises in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands from her home base in St. Thomas.
Life is simple aboard the Drake, but not without amenities. The ship features wood paneling and is fully carpeted inside. There is an elegant salon with full bar, stereo, VCR, TV and library, which also is the dining room. (A light breakfast is served on the open sundeck.) Complimentary Pirate`s Punch is served each day at sunset, and wine is included in the Captain`s Dinner.
Each cabin has a private bathroom; three have upper/lower berths. There is one suite ($1,395 a person, double occupancy, for seven days).
Water sports include sailing, windsurfing and snorkeling. There is an hourly charge for water skiing and tube rides. Scuba diving can be arranged for certified divers. No shore excursions are offered, as the Drake is usually only in a harbor for a couple of hours, and people get about very nicely on their own.
Those who book a one-week trip through May 1993 have the option of returning any time for an additional 7-day Caribbean cruise at half price.
Rates range from $142 to $200 a day. The crew/passenger ratio is 1 to 2.4. Tipping: standard. For more information, call 800-662-0090.
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises are the folks who literally wrote the book on sailing vacations, although they certainly never foresaw how sophisticated the competition would become.
Windjammer is still doing pretty much what it has since 1947-offering extremely casual adventure vacations at remarkably low prices on restored tall ships. It continues to be owned and operated by the Michael Burke family.
The company currently operates a fleet of five tall ships, plus its supply ship, the Amazing Grace. These include the flagship Fantome (282 feet/ 128 passengers), the Mandalay (236 feet/72 passengers), the Polynesia (248 feet/126 passengers), the Yankee Clipper (197 feet/65 passengers) and the Flying Cloud (208 feet/78 passengers).
Each ship has a different look and personality, but all stress a very laid-back kind of trip. Meals are family style. Shoes are optional. There are no televisions or phones. The extreme informality of its trips may not be for everyone, but the firm has a 40 percent return rate-one of the highest in the industry.
Windjammers tend to be busy cruises, and you can expect costume parties, limbo contests and crab races. On these ships you are welcome to hoist a sail, take the helm, attend informal sailing classes or learn to navigate by the stars.
Some drinks are included in the price of the cruise: Bloody Marys at sunrise, rum swizzles in late afternoon, wine with dinner and champagne and cordials at the captain`s dinner. Water sports include swimming and snorkeling; equipment may be rented. Shore excursions are offered.
What does Windjammer do right? It offers fun trips with lots of activity to good destinations at extremely reasonable rates. Where has it disappointed? In the past, the ships were not all in the greatest condition (they are not U.S. Coast Guard-certified), and amenities definitely were lacking-upper/lower berths and shared bathrooms were the norm, and there was no air conditioning. However, the days of ”roughing-it” appear to be over as Windjammer has continued to upgrade its fleet. Today all cabins are air conditioned. Each double cabin has its own private bath, although most still have bunks. Your clothes are likely to hang on pegs. Several ships have suites with additional amenities, including refrigerators. This summer the Fantome was refurbished, with a new dining salon added and all of its cabins enlarged.
The company recently acquired its sixth tall ship, the France II, which is being reconstructed. Its name will be changed, and it probably will enter service early next year. It is expected to be home-ported in Miami (to do so, it must meet U.S. Coast Guard specifications) and to sail to the Bahamas.
Wedding packages are available on the Flying Cloud. The Polynesia offers theme cruises, including several singles cruises each season.
Windjammer offers 13-day sailings on the Mandalay (widely considered to be the most elegant of the Windjammers) and the Amazing Grace and six-day itineraries on its other four ships. The daily rate is $100 to $170 a person, plus $35 if you want to stay on board the ship the night before departure. Tipping: standard. The crew/passenger ratio varies from 1 to 1.7 on the Fantome to 1 to 2.8 on the Polynesia.
One of the best buys may be the little-known Amazing Grace service ship
(however, note that it does not sail, even a little bit). Recently refitted, it is the fleet`s most spacious vessel and used to serve Britain`s royal family. Cabins are furnished with twin beds or bunk beds with an oversized lower. It also has the fleet`s only hot tub on deck. For as little as $60 a day, passengers will visit many islands south of Florida and north of Grenada, as this ”elegant workhorse” services the Windjammer fleet. For more information, call 800-327-2600.
