Vacationers with their sights set on Europe this year will find a significant benefit of touring with Windstar Cruises. A strong Euro translates to higher prices on land, but on board a Windstar ship, guests visit charming European ports daily with rates paid in U.S. dollars.
“By booking a European cruise with Windstar, guests are locking in today’s prices at a time when the Euro is gaining strength against the dollar,” says Diane Moore, Windstar’s vice president of marketing and sales. “Also, if comparing the cost of a land-based vacation with expensive hotels, meals and transportation between cities—a cruise provides significant savings by offering one package with one price paid in U.S. dollars.”
Windstar’s fleet of three sailing ships are in Europe from April through November. The 312-guest Wind Surf sails seven-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean from Lisbon, along the coast of Spain, France and Italy to its easternmost port of Venice. The 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit spend most of the season sailing in the Greek Isles with a few Mediterranean cruises in April and November.
Homeports for the Wind Surf include Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Nice, Venice and Monte Carlo. A new seven-day itinerary from Rome to Venice visits picturesque harbors of Amalfi, Italy; Taormina, Sicily; Corfu, Greece; and Dubrovnik and Hvar, Croatia. On the reverse, from Venice to Rome, the Wind Surf visits Dubrovnik and Korcula, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; and Messina and Sorrento, Italy.
Guests seeking longer vacations in Europe may opt for a cruise from Windstar’s “Connoisseur Collection,” a selection of seven-day cruises ideal for booking back-to-back for a longer voyage. Wind Surf’s itineraries have been coordinated for a seamless 14-day voyage without repeating ports.
Guests booking back-to-back receive 5-10% off the total cost of the cruise depending on date and itinerary. Prices for a fourteen-day European cruise aboard the Wind Surf begin at $4,309 per person, based on double occupancy. On May 28, a 13-day cruise roundtrip from Nice starts at $3,499 per person, based on double occupancy.www.windstarcruises.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".