Windjammer Cruise A Wonderful Cruising Experience

Windjammer Barefoot cruises - they are NOT for everyone, particularly not for people who really enjoy the Princess-type cruise lines.For a two week cruise, I would recommend the Mandolay - it sails from Antiqua to Granada (or vise versa). Typical day is: arrive at some small port at dawn, visit the town in the morning (some tours available via cabs or small vans), at noon (possibly move the boat) to a beach for afternoon swimming and snorkeling, rum swizzles at 5:00, dinner, up anchor and sail during teh night for the next port.

Not too many planned activities for the evening (which we happen to like!), but the ones they have are good ones. Smaller, more out of the way islands, etc. You will find many people on board who have been before.

We crossed paths with the big cruise ships only once or twice. Good thing, because they dump 1000 people on a town all at once! However, Mandolay IS a sailing ship, some 200 feet long. You sail (or actually motor sail) for the most part in the lee of the islands (you are on the west of the islands, and the prevailiing winds are from the east). However, between the islands you lose that protection, so the motion is greater there.

We had a few people get a little sick, but it wasn't clear how many were due to the motion or maybe a little too much wine as well.It is true that some of the ships attract a younger crowd, and some an older one. Being two weeks, the Mandolay attracts a slightly older crowd and thus fewer (if any) children. Other one week trips tend to attract a younger crowd, one cruise is primarily a snorkeling/diving cruise in the BVIs, etc. If you don't like sailing, Windjammer Cruise has one ship the Amazing Grace which is not a sailing vessel.

It goes from the Bahamas to Trinidad, also in two weeks. For any of these, you can combine back-to-back trips to achieve a longer vacation.

By: Jerrick Foo