- Rebecca Deurlein booked a cruise annually when her kids were young as an easy family vacation.
- But she began to tire of the busy ships and bland food — so she tried a small-ship experience.
- Deurlein said the incredible service and delicious gourmet meals were well worth the price increase.
When my kids were young, I loved mega-ship cruise vacations. Our family booked yearly cruises trying different lines and ships. I'd make one phone call and one payment, and the vacation was set.
While perfect at the time, I slowly began to feel "cruise-ship fatigue."
I was tired of fighting for lounge chairs, standing in buffet lines, and dealing with the crowds. The smoky casinos, hypnotists, and piano players pounding out "Sweet Caroline" no longer appealed.
Once our kids left for college, my husband and I felt we'd outgrown mega ships.
So when we started researching a trip to celebrate our anniversary, I proposed a small-ship experience. I'd heard friends talk about the joys of small-ship sailing, and we could finally afford it.
We had paid as little as $100 a day on mega-ship cruises. For smaller ships, you pay closer to $600 a day per person. A special anniversary was my excuse to splurge.
I was drawn to Windstar's Wind Spirit: a 140-passenger sailing yacht that would be an easy sell to my sailor husband. We chose a seven-day trip through Tahiti, the South Polynesian Islands, and Bora Bora. The cruise cost $4,299, or about $614 a day per person.
We traveled on the Windstar this March. Here are the pros and cons of choosing a small-ship experience.
The staff-to-passenger ratio meant the service was incredible
We shared our small ship — which felt more like a rich friend's yacht — with only 100 other passengers.
With 100 staff on board, that meant incredibly personalized service and intimate day trips.
One day, six of us visited a private island. We were greeted by waiting crew members with flower garlands, tropical beverages, and beach towels.
When I ordered a coconut-rum and coke from the tiki bar they'd set up, the bartender realized he didn't have that specific liquor. Before I could offer my second choice, he called the ship, reported that one of the passengers would like some coconut rum, hung up, and smiled. "They will motor it over from the ship," he said. "I'll deliver your drink to you when it arrives."
It felt like your every whim would be catered to.
We could access destinations that aren't open to mega ships and visit without crowds
Large ships aren't allowed near some of the islands we traveled to for environmental and logistical reasons.
Because the Wind Spirit didn't require large docking furniture or canals necessary for larger ships, we easily sailed into coves and dropped anchor.
Every time we emerged onto the deck, we were met with scenery like Moorea's green mountains dropping into the blue water or traditional huts tucked into palm-tree alcoves. These views were never blocked by crowded railings.
The islands we visited were also nearly empty of tourists. There were no more than eight people in our group on all the excursions we booked.
I was happy to avoid the massive cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers disembarking at the same time and being frog-marched to the same attractions.
Each island felt private; each excursion could be tailored to our wishes.
The entertainment on board is very pared back and simple
You won't get Broadway-style entertainment on a small ship. You won't have casinos, rows of shops, or waterslides.
The experience is closer to yachting, where you soak in the destination rather than follow an activity-packed itinerary.
We could visit the bridge and talk to the captain, join a mixology class, or sit with local islanders and make traditional crafts. As Calvin Dsouza, a hotel general manager at Windstar Cruises, told me, "This is an opportunity to connect to the actual place, rather than seeking your next thrill."
The boat's water-sports marina, only open when the ship was anchored, was on the deck one floor down from our cabin. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, we jumped off the swim deck, floated on a tethered platform or trampoline, or grabbed a kayak or paddle board.
It felt surreal to swim straight off the boat into the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, others joined in, but many times, it was just us.
Feeling like the ship and the destination were ours to explore was my favorite aspect of small-ship cruising.
I was tired of cruise food, but the gourmet small-ship options changed my mind
The food on board was a close-second favorite. I had pretty much sworn off cruises because of the food: eggs that never quite tasted like eggs, slight variations of the same dishes at multiple meals, and menus shaped around how many they could feed rather than creativity.
The dining experience on a small ship was the opposite. Windstar partners with James Beard and features award-winning cuisine on its nightly menu.
The food on board far exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed fresh bread out of the oven, a whole suckling pig, lobster tails, paella, and perfectly cooked steaks. I was delighted by every meal.
One of my favorite dining experiences was in Bora Bora. We arrived at a private island with views of Mount Otemanu and were served fresh red snapper and generously poured top-shelf drinks, all while chatting with fellow passengers who had become friends.
It's worth the price if you can entertain yourself
My takeaway is, if you don't need 100 activities on board, small-ship cruising is for you. Small ships don't entertain you all day long — you find and make your entertainment.
The Wind Spirit is more expensive upfront than your average mega ship, but it's worth every penny, and I'll be booking a small-ship cruise vacation again.