Windstar Wind Surf Review and Reflections

 Reflecting on our Transatlantic Voyage on board Wind Surf 

"Slow travel helps you find the quiet moments between the noise."


There’s a certain magic in crossing an ocean under sail. On Windstar Cruises’ sailing ship Wind Surf, a transatlantic voyage becomes more than travel. It’s an immersion in the rhythm of the sea. Days stretch unhurried across the horizon, sails billow in the wind, and time slips into the slow cadence of sunrises, starry nights, and endless blue seas. This small sailing ship offers not just a journey, but the rare chance to truly connect with the ocean, others, and yourself.


Sometimes, but only rarely, can words fail to adequately describe the wonder and beauty of an experience. Our 14-night, 15-day voyage spent on Wind Surf is one of those moments.

Reviews of Wind Surf and Windstar can seem over the top when viewed online. Comments such as: “ruined all other cruises for me”, “Once you try a Windstar cruise you will be Hooked”, and “Great, Great, Great Again!” are typical descriptions of Windstar on Cruise Critic.


At first glance, such comments seem like the type of hyperbole that are too often used to drive a point home these days. Yet they are absolutely true.

We certainly could not begin to rank the experience, vessel, staff and food if we had to beyond simply saying it was perfect, or more than we could ever have expected. Any description of our praises would seem both lazy and insufficient.

We were always surprised when the crew regularly asked us if everything was “ok” or “good”. To which the only honest answer was “NO, it was excellent!”


Thank you to the Crew of Wind Surf


More simply and directly put our journey on Wind Surf was an utterly remarkable voyage, and we have never experienced anything like it. We cannot adequately express the wonder of this vessel and her crew. A sailing like this definitely has to be experienced and lived to know it.

This vessel is a marvel of engineering and a work of craftsmanship. The crew aboard are amazing, dedicated, and thoughtful professionals who make every moment memorable. They take pride in their work and enthusiastically do so much that is above and beyond. As much as the wonder of the ship itself, the crew were key to this voyage’s success!


Our final words of praise unsurprisingly go to Matt O and Captain Trevor Bailey, both of whom gave flavour and spirit to the voyage. Matt O’s energy and enthusiasm kept an entire ship of people smiling and entertained for two weeks – a stunning achievement. The Captain – while navigating around an Atlantic storm – took the time to regularly and thoughtfully seek us out to share bird and wildlife sightings and chat about life at sea. We cannot imagine Wind Surf without either of them on board.

As we disembarked today, we were already planning to undertake this ocean crossing again by sail ship – whether in the fall or next year, only time will tell.
 

Slow Travel Sailing Across the Atlantic Ocean 


In a world obsessed with speed, journeys such as those on Wind Surf that offer the chance to slow travel are something rare. If we take them, they are an opportunity to reconnect with nature, with others, and with ourselves. It allows for deeper engagement with the environment, the people we meet, and, most importantly, our own thoughts.

Sailing across the Atlantic is not just a way to get from one place to another; it is an invitation to slow down, to be present, and to embrace the voyage. A transatlantic crossing on a sailing ship leaves you with a renewed sense of time, a deep connection to nature’s rhythms, and a quiet reminder that some of life’s most meaningful journeys unfold at their own pace.


It reminded us that the real beauty of travel isn’t in the destinations we reach, but in the moments we live, the people we encounter, and the way we choose to experience the world around us.

Slow travel, whether by boat, rail, bicycle, or on foot, taking the time to truly immerse yourself in the journey, will offer rewards that are far greater than any speedy trip ever could. There’s a world of beauty out there, but it’s only truly visible when you slow down enough to notice it.

Whether it is with Sails, on the Rails or hiking Trails....we hope to see you out there!
Location: Cádiz, Spain

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