EP #8: The Windstar Cruise Experience

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Transcript

Transcription: Windstar Cruises

Greg Shuss  0:00  

Welcome to dream vacations with Laurie and Greg Shuss. If you love to travel, our team of travel advisors are here to help you plan that special vacation. Whether it's a cruise and tour, a resort or even a luxury villa, we bring the best vacation experts on our show. So sit back and enjoy today's podcasts from dream vacations.

Charlie McDermott  0:26  

Welcome back listeners and viewers. Charlie McDermott, co host producer of the show here with Greg, Greg, how're you doing?

Greg Shuss  0:33  

I'm great. Thanks for having us today.  Laurie is off with a client today doing some other work. But I'm glad to be here today. And I'm glad to have a terrific guest with us today.

Charlie McDermott  0:46  

I see brought a friend we have here.

Greg Shuss  0:51  

Melissa Nessenson is our guest. She is the regional sales manager for Windstar Cruises. And you know, we work with some great suppliers. But WindStar is one of our favorite and we've had some clients that just love this cruise line. So we were very fortunate to get her to join us today. So thanks for joining Melissa.

Melissa  1:13  

My pleasure. Thanks for having me. 

Charlie McDermott  1:17  

Melissa, let's start with just give us a feel for types of chips you have and what you have to offer there.

Melissa  1:26  

Absolutely. Well Windstar is a boutique experience. And we have six large yachts. And when you come aboard one of our yachts, it really feels like you're on a private yacht. Let's think big, maybe it's your own private yacht, right. So our ships are really intimate, very, very fun and friendly. The crew does an amazing job, making sure everyone's having a great time. And the crew, you know, just, they really that's kind of the secret sauce to WindStar. We have some beautiful ships, but really it's the onboard experience the way the crew, you know, make you really feel like you're part of a yacht club, that you're you know, you're not just a number when you're on a mega ship. Sometimes you feel that way when you're with 6000 people. But when you're on a large yacht, or your yacht holds between 148 and less than 350 guests, you know, it's a game changer. It is really, really something special. So we have six classic yachts. And, you know, they go to unique places around the world that the big ships usually can't always reach.

Charlie McDermott  2:31  

Oh, right, right.

Greg Shuss  2:33  

One of the things we talk about with Windstar Cruises is casual elegance. Because, you know, think about being on your own yacht, I mean, just the atmosphere, and being able to go into these smaller ports and experience something very different than kind of a larger cruise. So you know, so we're very fortunate to work with someone like Windstar and and to have these kinds of experiences for our clients.

Charlie McDermott  3:04  

I can't wait to go. I'm already there. 

Melissa  3:10  

it's a special way to travel it as we like to say it's 180 degrees from ordinary, you know, you're away from the crowds, no waiting in line. You know, you really do have time to connect with your fellow passengers and with the crew. It's a totally unique experience. It's more than cruising. I mean, it's really like seeing the world and a different way more like a yachtie than a than a cruiser.

Charlie McDermott  3:37  

So accommodations wise, the Melissa Are you more for like myself, my wife already fit the cabinets for families. How does that work for cruisers?

Melissa  3:52  

We have six ships, three all sweet motor yachts, and three classic sailing yachts. So we've six six ships three of each. And typically on board you're gonna see mostly couples traveling with other couples or groups of solo travelers. You know, it's we're getting more and more solos these days, but primarily over the years and we've been an operation over 35 years it's been mostly couples or small groups of of couples traveling together. So the majority of our state rooms are the suites are going to hold two and sometimes three passengers. We do allow children we are we do welcome kids age eight and above. We just don't get a lot of them. I'm not gonna lie, it is a very adult environment. But for the right kids, why not? Right? As long as they don't mind hanging out with the adults that's you know, and they're gonna get pampered because the crew are away from their kids and their grandkids. So the kids on board do get pampered, that's for sure. But primarily it's couples. So Are most of our accommodations even the suites are going to hold to two or possibly three guests. But we do encourage multi generational travelers. We we have Graham and Greg So that have been loyal to us for 37 years. They've already introduced their adult children to Windstar. And now it's time to bring the next generations on board. So you will see families with kids or older kids primarily. We do have on the all suite yachts, we do have some rooms that the rooms don't connect, but the kind of the hallway leading into the two suites side by side suites will have a door that can can close and you can open your suite doors. So you do have this kind of adjoining area for more privacy and make more of a private accommodation side by side. And then also on our all sweet yachts. We do have a three bedroom three bath grand owner suite, which would be great for families right? Up to eight people comfortably and that's actually 33 suites. adjoined basically those do connect. So that's, that's an option. But I'm gonna say the sailing yachts, the two sailing yachts are primarily of the two smaller sailing yachts are primarily Ocean View with one owner suite that sleeps two. But we also have on the wind surf, which is our our largest yacht, that's the world's largest passenger sailing yacht, she has 18 suites that are, are really unique because they have two bathrooms and two closets. So there you go. So that's my boss calls that the marriage saver suites, right his and her bathrooms. So there's also a couch that can convert to a bed. So for three passengers to have some extra. That's a nice option. But mostly you're gonna see mostly couples with some triples as well.

Greg Shuss  6:42  

So we just we had a couple recently that went on the star legend to Iceland, and they were celebrating their 40th anniversary. And unfortunately, they ran into some some weather issues there. But I guess the captain was able to bring them to some other ports and they were they still had a fabulous time. So Iceland is a very interesting place to see these days. And I think I think a lot of people are very interested in seeing Iceland. And like I said, our clients just loved it and cannot wait to cruise on Windstar again.

Melissa  7:23  

Well, I can definitely back up what your what your clients have said absolutely. It's beautiful, fascinating place. I was in Iceland this summer on a Windstar yacht, the Star Pride was there doing the circumnavigation of Iceland, seven day cruise round trip, Reykjavik go into these beautiful little gems, many of which you're the only cruise ship there. Sometimes you'll have other ships that can get close in and they have to tender in but we're one of the only cruise ships that can actually go and, and dock right in the heart of a beautiful fishing village or some, you know, beautiful little Icelandic city. And we could write off the bat right there. You know, others have the tender in and you know, it's just a great to be right there in the heart of all the action. And it was beautiful, just diverse landscape. Really, really pretty not crowded. You know, it's just it's really a very unique place like nowhere else on earth. And that not too many cruise lines that I'm aware of do a complete circumnavigation of the islands. So that was really awesome. We did a fun celebration with the captain and the hotel general manager, he had a when we crossed the Arctic Circle about nine o'clock at night, we all went into the lounge and we had a party it was so fun. And we all got inducted to the blue nose society where they put the put the blue blue paint, it's really blue food coloring with corn starch or something like that. But everyone had everyone lined up and got initiated boop right on the nose. And we all partied and had fun. The whole ship basically had had blue noses, and we got inducted into the blues nose society crossing the Arctic Circle. So it's just an example of the really fun things we do on WindStar that are 180 degrees from ordinary, everybody's having a great time and, you know, great music and everyone just enjoyed ourselves. So here we were traveling all around Iceland, but doing it like as if we were at a friend's private yacht, it was really, really fun.

Charlie McDermott  9:20  

Wow. How about amenities wise? Melissa, what what can you tell us about what's available on WinStar humanity so

Melissa  9:28  

we have the amenities of a small cruise ship like a Spa Fitness Center, swimming pool, hot tubs gift shop, so you're going to get those amenities you would expect on a small cruise ship. Again, the vibe really does feel like you're on a private yacht. So the amenities are there for you to enjoy. But really, the beauty of those yachts are beyond the onboard amenities. It's really where we go. So the ships are great, but their true beauty it's really about the destinations. And so if you're an inland enthusiast you really want to see the The world and really experience unique cultures and and really you kind of get to know the people in places you're visiting. That's really what Windstar is about. So for instance, we don't have a casino, but we go places that have world class casinos, beautiful casinos, and we're gonna usually stay late night or even overnight to give you that opportunity. A lot of cruise lines brag about 22 bars and lounges. We have cocktail lounges, compass roses, a lot of fun. It's a hotspot at night. And we have a couple other co star bar and a couple of bars on board. But really, if there's nightlife in town, the wind starships going to stay late night or overnight because our guests want to be out there, they won't experience the action they want to see the nightlife they want to go to the piano bars throughout Europe and they want to go to those Tiki bars in the Caribbean or in Tahiti or various places. So So yeah, there are amenities as you might expect on a small cruise ship and they're beautiful, but really that's not the big selling point about WinStar it's really truly that experience that you're gonna get and see it more like a yachtie than a than a cruiser if that makes sense. Yeah,

Greg Shuss  11:01  

plus in the in the warmer climates Windstar goes, you know, they're very much into allowing their guests to enjoy watersports. So they'll do snorkeling, they'll do kayaking. They'll do windsurfing, so you know, so anyone who's interested in those outdoor activities, Windstar is very able to help them do that. Definitely. Yes

Melissa  11:25  

when we are at anchor, because not all ports are an anchor port. But when we are at Angkor depending on the port conditions and the weather, we will lower the watersports platform and give you all a chance to dive right in and have fun. Y'all can get custom fit with snorkels and mask we have all the equipment that you need, that's yours for the whole trip, you could take it ashore use that at the beach. You know keep that throughout the duration of the trip will sanitize it and have it ready for you for the next day. So you don't have to be refit. So imagine going snorkeling right off the back of your beautiful yacht in the Mediterranean or Tahiti or your Caribbean Costa Rica Panama Canal unique places. And we launched lots of yacht choice non motorized yacht toys, paddleboarding and all kinds of fun stuff. So So yeah, we want you to have a great time and you don't want a seven day Windstar cruise, there's usually zero sea days, so it's pretty active itinerary. But it's so nice to be able to explore it to do the water watersports, maybe before or after you go exploring, and one of our awesome shore excursions or maybe you're gonna do some sightseeing or hiking on your own, but it's a really cool experience.

Charlie McDermott  12:37  

So what would you say? Melissa, you mentioned a number of places which are very cool. What would you say your your kind of top destinations.

Melissa  12:44  

So we as a company got our start in Tahiti about 36 years ago. So you know when when you think Tahiti think WindStar we have been there we have pioneered small ship cruising and Tahiti. No one visit like WinStar and no one I mean, we're gonna get you into places and show it you really in a unique perspective. We've had to have these relationships friendships with the Tahitian since we've been there for 36 years now. So we do have tribal chiefs that will come out and meet the yacht and wave and, and as and volunteer to escort some of the excursions are we can imagine doing an excursion on the only navigable river and Tahiti and we have a tribal chief that brings us Pontoon and, you know, take small groups of guests out on the river and we really, you know, so Tahiti, there's no bad time to go to Tahiti. There's no hurricane season. There's no winter they don't get monsoons so you know, so that would be probably the number one that I would say would be Tahiti since you can go year round. Everywhere else is seasonal, but we've been in the Greek Isles for about 30 years so definitely that would be a good one beautiful the must do places like Santorini and Mykonos we must do that or we'd be you know people want people want those places when they go to the Greek Isles but then we go to some those lesser known places that are there to be discovered and just just gorgeous. And then you know everywhere else besides Tahiti is seasonal. So just we follow the sun. So think about that. So when you say where's Windstar right now we follow the sun. So when is the best warmest temperatures in those regions will be there so you'll hurt the Caribbean was not hurricane season. So this is really the the yacht mins harbors of the Caribbean, not those places that most of the big ships go but so hidden hard to hover harbors of the Caribbean, we're one of the only cruise ships that could do full transit through the Panama Canal. We're all throughout Europe, Mediterranean Greek Isles, Northern Europe. We go into Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania. We will start next year in the Middle East. We're doing a Middle Eastern cruises. We're going to be you know just going to unique places all year round. I'm probably forgetting a few Canary Islands. That's a new one for us Canary Islands. That's a beautiful, which has the blue skies. They say they have blue skies in the world and the darkest skies at night. So it's perfect for stargazing, which is something our captain's loved to do. You know, we have an open bridge on all six of our ships. So at nighttime, you can come on up, check out what's on the radar, check out what's on the map. And if it's clear night, which Canary Islands and Tahiti and a lot of places, very clear skies, you know, they'll show you how they use stargazing with these instruments before the computers and for that stuff. That's how the ancient mariners would find their way using the stars. So the captain's love to show you that. So there's an open bridge till about 1030. At night, it's open during the day, but most the time during the day, you're off the yacht exploring and sightseeing. So, you know, come on back up onto the ship, go see the captain, there's not a complimentary charting and navigational courses up there. And, you know, it's actually pretty cool. So, you know, we're almost all around the world, I used to say, well, you know, we're almost all around the world, the only place we don't go would be Antarctica, which we don't go, and Galapagos, which we now are going to start going and in 2025. And we don't do a whole lot in Africa, but almost everywhere else.

Charlie McDermott  16:11  

You mentioned some of the events and excursions, tell us a little more about what you do.

Melissa  16:16  

So, you know, we are a boutique cruise line, when you think of a boutique experience, think of things that are hand curated, right? Craft experiences, things are not off the shelf unique, unique experiences, immersive experiences. So that's what Wednesday is all about. So our team of product development experts, they go out in the field and they source, they scour the world looking for unique places. And they really form great relationships and friendships with locals whose families have been living in these places for generations and generations and generations. So they want to know, they show us the best of the best. We don't want to read about it in a tour book. We want it we want to hear it from the locals. Where did you go as a child? Where do you take your kids or your grandkids? You know, so we have these hand curated experiences over 2500 unique excursions that Windstar has built for our for our unique passengers with them in mind, because a lot of our clients are very, very well traveled, you know, they may have already seen the world they want to go back to their favorite places, and they want to see it in a new perspective or closer up. You know, are there folks that have been, you know, in the professional workforce forever, they've never had a chance to really see the world now. They're retired and they've got time to spend and they're just so excited, but they don't want to do the same thing their friends from the country club or the yacht club have already done right. They want to they want to do something different. So that's what the Windstar experience is all about. So these hand curated excursions your small groups incorporating locals, you know, you might find yourself having a beautiful, you know, brunch, in a 14th century villa in the Mediterranean, or maybe you're going to dinner in a in a family's vineyard that's been in their family forever and ever and ever, or, you know, you're in the Middle East and you're going to a tea ceremony and luncheon in a luxury tent that this Bedouin family has invited the Windstar guests right into their home, where you might be in Iceland going to an authentic, you know, folk rock concert at this beautiful blue Church, which I got to do that was in status View Order. That was such a cool surprise. That was actually there's certain things that are actually like, we call them surprise and delight moments where they're not actually in the brochure. And there was no cost it was like an excursion, but there's no cost. We call those destination discovery events. So we like to surprise the guests. And, you know, I was surprised they don't even tell the sales team everything because we would blab right? So we want to really be surprised. So Captain announced that Hey, everyone, we're going to be arriving about two hours earlier today than expected. So none of your excursions are affected by this. But we'll be there two hours early or have surprising all of this awesome concert and we've got a shuttle and it was only a couple blocks away from the port, but it was like they to shuttle. And they had this awesome concert and we just everybody like walked out of that performance, like with smiles from ear to ear because it was just such a cool experience and to do something we never had thought of before. But you know, all of our excursions are amazing, but these destination discovery events that we do, for instance, not to give away too many secrets, but we have an upscale luau party in Bora Bora because this ship stays overnight. So everyone goes ashore on this little moto which is smaller than an island smaller than an island I mean it's just little landmass which is the perfect place for a private party right. And we've got all the toys and everything there so you can use the beach and use the facilities and then we have this luau, really upscale luau. And then I surprise the guests with the the performers come this tribe comes on their little dugout canoe with other percussion instruments, their tribal drums and the fire sticks and they're doing a show a fire dance show right there in front of you on the beach and you're like this is so cool. are an ancient emphasis right we go to the Greek Isles I mentioned. We do a an all day call and within we're all late night and Kusadasi Turkey And we have this beautiful evening under the stars in the ruins of ancient emphasis, usually in the, the ruins of the Celsus library. And so we have this great dinner party and they have musicians come and play. And we've got chefs from the yacht and your your favorite servers are there. And it's this beautiful like white tablecloth and candlelight. And it's just such a cool thing. So that's just an example. But we do these destination discovery events, which are no cost to the guests where the excursions there is a cost, those are totally optional. And there's different price ranges, depending on the experience. But there's nothing like a Windstar excursion, they're very, very unique.

Charlie McDermott  20:39  

So that most of you offer like an all inclusive option for any of your cruises, we

Melissa  20:46  

do we do actually, we're the only cruise line that I'm aware of that offers an individual per person choice of going all inclusive, with all of your beverages, your Wi Fi, and your tips already factored into that price, or a cruise only ala carte experience. And you can add the amenities and pay for what you want. So not just per couple, but per person. And I don't think there's any other cruise line that offers that. So you know, you've got folks where, you know, maybe one spouse may want to have alcohol and the other person doesn't, and why should they have to pay for something they're not intending to use or utilize. So it basically the price difference is is not much the daily rate per person would be a difference of $89 per person per day to have your alcohol, Wi Fi, all your tips already factored in. So most people go, you know what that makes sense? Let's do it. It's a great deal. It's convenient, you're also saving money because if you're in Europe, and they have those vat, the VAT taxes on an alcohol purchases, when you're excluded from that you don't have to worry about that if you've prepaid and bought you bought you buy the package through your Travel Advisor. So you know, so dream vacations will help everybody with that, you know, with getting that all set up making an all inclusive experience. But you know, if you've got one of your travel companions, that doesn't, you know, they're that's not what they're looking for. They just want to go cruise only ala carte. That's absolutely fine, too.

Greg Shuss  22:16  

Yeah, which is, which is a very nice option, Charlie, because most cruise lines, if you want to do all inclusive, it's per cabin, right? So even if the other person doesn't want it, they still have to pay for it. So at least you're at least once or gives you that option, which is really, really nice for them.

Melissa  22:36  

Right and as well as the excursions because there are plenty of our guests who are very active in the arena what they want to do they want to go hiking on their own and exploring and doing their own thing. And that's absolutely fine. Why should they have to pay for excursions that they're not intending to use or do so we make it totally optional. You know, some cruise lines will bundle up those excursions at least one a day, and put that in your upfront price and say, Okay, you could pick a free excursion every day, well, you've paid for it. And then folks say, Gee, I really, you know, maybe I'll do that excursion after all, because it's already paid for, but we'd like the guests to have a choice of what they want to do each day. And sometimes there's time for two excursions you never know. But we want we want the guest to decide. Yeah, but you know, it's a great way to travel. It really, like I said, does feel like you're on a friend's private yacht, and you could do certain experiences with our small groups that you really can't do on a large, large ship. For instance, if you have foodies, and they're really curious about the local culinary of the places we're visiting, they can ask the guest Service Desk on board what days are the chef's going ashore, because the chef's go to market and that's where they source all those fresh ingredients. You know Windstar there's nothing frozen nothing pre prepared prepackaged and brought on the yacht you know, the like the big giant cruise ships, it's impossible to you know, to go ashore and go to a market and try to buy all the produce and all the vegetable all the you know, the fish and the meats and stuff but that's what the WindStar chefs do. And it's a really cool experience and our guests love going to the market and exploring with the chefs and you know interacting with the with the vendors and you could easily spend a couple hours easily in those markets, having fun and you know, looking at all the cool stuff and then the vendors like to give you a little taste tests and things like that. I got to do that in Cannes. We went with Jeff the chef from Canada I still remember his name was charming guys was going back about five years ago. Jeff the chef, he took a small group of us by tender we went ashore we walked the market which is a couple blocks away I never would have found it on my own. And it was just fantastic. And I got to pick out the olives. My friend got to pick out the chocolates. I said, Wait, something's wrong with this picture. I want to pick out the chocolates, right. But what a thrill it was to get on board the yacht and that night we had our big WindStar signature BBQ party and we got to showcase all those cool delicacies and things that we helped buy at them. mark it with wind stars money. Of course we bought it. Jeff loved it because the chef had extra hands to carry those grocery bags back to the yacht. Right, that was good for him. And we had, we have this really great barbecue party, which we do on pretty much all of our sailings, there was a grilled lobster tail out on deck. When was the last time you saw a captain grilling lobsters out on deck. I mean, that's the we, you know, the, the general manager was helping at the buffet like, you know, people that don't necessarily do that kind of thing. You know, they get to help at the buffet and they just love interacting with the guests and guests love it. So we had a pie area that I've never seen anything so big in my entire life, a giant thing of pizza with the shellfish and the rice and all the other goodies. And it was just really, really amazing. So So that's just one thing you can do on a yacht style experience. You know, go go to market with the chef and then have a great ondeck barbecue party. How cool does that sound?

Charlie McDermott  25:54  

So cool. I'm getting hungry listening.

Melissa  25:58  

Speaking of food, I should also mention that we're the official cruise line of the James Beard culinary foundation. If you're familiar with the JBf I know some of your listeners here are probably foodies. Gorman's, and they already know what the James Beard Foundation means. But for the rest of us, I didn't know what it meant until I started working for WindStar. I knew it sounded pretty good. I remember my mom had a James Beard cookbook years ago. But what I didn't realize is that's really the highest honor of any chef in the United States to be recognized with the James Beard Award. And because WindStar has been known as the foodies cruise line. And because we source all fresh ingredients, never pre prepared, never frozen. And we showcase the places that we visit. And we really believe in sustainability and you know, almost zero food waste and things like that. So this foundation, they came to WindStar and said, you know, we're really like what you do you have a great reputation and we'd like to, you know, we'd like you to be the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation. Well, what a thrill. I mean, that is the only cruise line in the world that has that endorsement and recognized recognition so and we have culinary themed cruises where these a Lister top rated chefs will will actually come aboard and they will do cooking demonstrations and they'll they'll go work side by side with our chefs to do that week's culinary or whatever the length of crews. Most of our trips are seven to 12 days some are longer those are back to back cruises called Star collectors. But if you're a foodie definitely check out when stars James Beard Foundation culinary sailings your dream vacation advisor and Bonita Springs will help you find some really cool options for food cruise foodie cruises, and also wine themed cruises. Right? That's, that's another option. We have six sailings in 2024, hosted by some of the finest wineries in the world. And they've come to WindStar and said, We love what you do, you've got this great reputation and we want to work with you. So 2020 forward, we have these wine themed cruises on really cool places around the world. So check that out.

Charlie McDermott  28:04  

Now Melissa, you've mentioned earlier on about you call it the cruise from a dress code standpoint, relaxed luxury, or how did you phrase it? Yeah,

Melissa  28:14  

it's casually elegant, style, casual, you know, yacht style, elegant, you know, we want this really to feel like you're on a private yacht experience. So, you know, we don't have dress codes per se. You know, we don't have a formal night. It's not structured like that, right? This is something very, very, very unique. And it's it's casually elegant. You know, if you're celebrating an anniversary and milestone birthday, something special and you want to dress up, that's great, you know, this is your vacation, we want you to feel comfortable, I'm sure you'll look beautiful. But for the rest of us, you know, we work hard and we don't necessarily want to wear the business suit when we're on vacation, right? Or we don't want to wear the the tuxedo and the formal gowns and things like that. So, you know, we don't require you to dress up. I mean, no, no jackets and tires are required. So during the day, you're going to be very casual, like you would on a private yacht and a lot of your sightseeing and touring and hiking and very, it's a very active crowd. So, you know, there'll be coming onboard the yacht and they're casual wear and they'll look fine. But in the evening, folks do tend to dress up a little bit. It is a five star dining experience, multicourse meals, you know, you don't need reservations for the main restaurant, you know, just come when you're ready to eat. And we've got plenty of accommodations for everyone. There's no lines, no waiting. It's not like a traditional cruise where you're going to be waiting for them to, you know, text your phone when you're open that your tables ready. It's none of that. So you just come and dine with whom you want where you want when you want and there's no note cost no extra surcharges for your meals. We have a an alternate dining experience called candles, which is really great, you know steaks and chops and seafood and all kinds of great stuff. And that would be reservations only but you would make reservations on the yacht there's no need to worry about making reservations before the trip. And then our two are actually our three all suite yachts have two new dining experiences I mentioned. We're the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation. And we have a lot of these A listers, chefs that travel for their vacation on WindStar. Because when they go on vacation, they want to eat as well or better than what they can cook at their own restaurant, right. So they come on WindStar. Well, we've had two gentlemen that said, You know what, I'd love to open a concept restaurant at sea. Would you be interested in that? We said absolutely. So we have had extra space on our three all suite yachts because we actually stretch we cut the three ships in half. And we put in about 84 feet right in the middle with which was 50 New suites, a new pool deck, new spa new fitness center, and there was room for two new restaurants. So it was perfect for us. So we have a 38 seat. very eclectic. tapas restaurant. Spanish cuisine tapas beautiful. I have to say that carefully said did you say topless restaurant? Is that a topless restaurant? For those of you that don't know? It's small dishes of your Spanish cuisine. So we have that's called the Quadro 44. And then we also have the gentleman that actually wrote the best selling barbecue Bible. It's called the barbecue Bible. That's a rough cookbook for for you barbecue enthusiast Stephen reichlin. He's opened the star grill on WindStar. Since I'm a three all sweet yet since we had such a great barbecue party, he said, Hey, I'd like to enhance your barbecue party. Let me put a barbecue restaurant on board. Absolutely. So we showcase world barbecue all from all around the world. Wow, no cost 20 of the food always included even 24 hour room service that's always included. So it's very, it's delicious. You're going to taste the essence of the place you're visiting, and you really get to get to experience it. Like like a local.

Charlie McDermott  32:06  

Melissa, you've covered so much. Last question for you. With all of your experience. If you were to recommend a destination to our listeners, where would you go? Or where would you recommend? Well, I

Melissa  32:20  

already gave my personal recommendation which is Iceland and Tahiti. I have not yet been to Tahiti, you know, full disclosure haven't yet been it is on my personal bucket list. And Iceland I just came back from so that you know, scratch that one off my list. It was amazing. So I'd actually like to go back so but in the immediate near future, we have a unique experience and I'd like to recommend you know a lot of folks are familiar with going to Europe during the summertime and it's beautiful no doubt. But the lesser known time to go would be in the winter and Europeans and people in Australia and New Zealand they go to they go to Mediterranean in the winter they go year round Americans you know we kind of think of Europe for the summertime but if you want to experience something really truly different my big recommendation right now and very few cruise lines are doing this. We have our inaugural season winter season in the med that starts like right now basically, and will be there throughout the holidays. So can you imagine Christmas in Rome? Can imagine the beautiful holiday decor the spectacular light shows throughout Rome, Barcelona, Marseille, Livorno Italy and nice. I mean like these Christmas markets, you could do your New Years in New Year's in Barcelona. Or how about Valentine's Day in Nice. Oh, that sounds romantic, doesn't it? Or January February in Italy, they have carnival, which most Americans haven't experienced because they were only there in the summer. So winter in the med. less crowded. airfares are more reasonable your dream vacations advisor and Bonita Springs is happy to help you get the best rate for air and for for the cruise. And there's all kinds of cool incentives. So we were actually supposed to be in the Middle East right now. And we decided to take a pause on the Middle East and do this western med cruise and it has been such a great move I read folks are totally excited. I'm excited. Going February 4 For those of you that you know if you want to join me come on to the star legend February 4. Greg and his team will help you with that. And yeah, yeah, winter med. I think that sounds cool. We're doing an overnight in Barcelona overnight in Rome. And overnight nice. I already was googling it. I'm like how fast can the bullet train take me to Paris? I just found out it's five hours. 45 minutes. I'm like right if I catch the early train on the first day a nice because we're staying overnight in the ships not leaving till 7pm The next day. Can I get back to nice before we head on? I'm like yeah, I think I can do that. So I'm gonna go shopping in Paris. So yeah, so from now through March, now through actually March 24 Seven Day, winter med. Let's do it. Some join me on February 4. Greg and his team will help you with that.

Charlie McDermott  35:04  

was that great?

Greg Shuss  35:05  

I said we'd be glad to help you do that. I love you know Italy and first of all Barcelona is one of my favorite cities. And I would I mean I could spend a week I think we only spent three or four days there. I think we've been there twice. I would go back in a heartbeat. I love I love Barcelona. That's beautiful. Yeah, but we would love to help you with that and and the Western med is spectacular. And you're right the best part about it is not being there with all the crowds right?

Melissa  35:39  

to go to the museums without having to wait in line for me I might actually see Sagrada Familia. Let's see the big church that Gaudi church that just got some if you're familiar, I never got to go because every time I've been in Barcelona, I could never get tickets because it was summertime. 

Greg Shuss  36:05  

Which is which is kind of out of this world. If you've ever been there you walk into that place and it's just it really is spectacular. So if you ever get that chance to do it, so we'd be more than happy to help anyone get on Windstar, especially the western med. Tahiti is very popular and we're actually sending quite a few clients there right now. So if there's anything we can do to help you get there and get on and Windstar cruise we'd be more than happy to do that.

Melissa  36:32  

Fantastic and for any of you that have been on Windstar, you know hello to my yacht club members. I know some of you listening may already know what we're talking about. You know, you might have already been on Windstar and you're excited about the idea of coming back aboard. Don't Don't forget that. If you are a yacht club member, and you do refer new to WindStar clients to your dream vacations advisor, they're in Bonita Springs, you can earn some shipboard credits for all of the referrals that you bring in, for first time WinStar clients and you'll so you'll earn $100 shipboard credit for every person that's new to WindStar that you recommend, even if you're not traveling together, just making that recommendation, we really appreciate that and your friends that are new to WinStar because you've referred them, they'll earn $100 shipboard credit also so they can use that in the spa, they can use that and the gift shop by themselves something nice they can use it to book an excursion on board the yacht. Lots of ways to spend that.

Charlie McDermott  37:32  

And Greg, for those who want to book their cruise, how should they do that? So

Greg Shuss  37:37  

if you'd like to be on an affordable yacht vacation in the Mediterranean, and Tahiti, all these wonderful places, you can reach us at Bonita Springs travel.com Or even cruise with laurie.com. We actually have a couple of websites or call us directly at 239-603-6040 and we'll be happy to book you on a beautiful Windstar yacht cruise. And you know whether that's a sailing yacht or a motor yacht, imagine yourself on a beautiful yacht vacation anywhere in the world. And Windstar will help you do that. So thank you so much for having us here today. Thank you so much, Melissa. 

Melissa  38:20  

pleasure. It's been a lot of fun. Let's go Cruzan

Charlie McDermott  38:24  

sounds great. Well, you guys take care and we'll see you in the next episode.

Greg Shuss  38:28  

Thank you, Charlie. Yeah. Thanks for listening to dream vacations. To learn more about our travel business, go to Bonita Springs, travel.com or you can call us at 239-603-6040 Again, that's 239-603-6040 let's make your dream vacation come true.

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