This is going to be my heaviest cruise year so far! It looks at this point as if I’m going to be on three cruises, for a total of 32 days. But the strangest thing about this is the diversity of my choices.

My husband Charlie and I have been trying to figure out what we want to do for a vacation for just the two of us this spring. We kicked around many ideas, including B&B’ing it across Ireland. We eventually decided we want to visit Costa Rica. So I’ve been furiously researching the best way to do that. One of my concerns, however, is the iffy water and food situation. When we went on an amazing trip to Copper Canyon, Mexico last year, we both got hit with a nasty stomach bug that knocked us out for a couple of days (and annoying lingered on for weeks). I’m pretty sure we got it at a tiny restaurant in a remote village where we stayed, but it was about the only dining choice available to us. While I’m dying to see Costa Rica, I would seriously like to avoid a repeat!

So we’re just about settled on doing this as a cruise, on Windstar. I’ve found a great one that leaves March 4. Has anyone here cruised them before? My husband is an avid sailor, in fact we met on a sailboat, and used to own a 35-foot Catalina (pre-kids). While I realize that Windstar ships are not really sailing vessels, but they do reportedly shut the engines down and go by wind power occasionally, and I think just seeing the sails up there will be pretty special for him. And the much more casual atmosphere appeals to him.

Okay, so now I’m going to break down and admit that I’m also going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in August. Oh the things we’ll do for our kids! ;) I’d mentioned in some other thread a while back that we were looking at taking the kids on a Celebrity cruise this summer, but unfortunately that one just didn’t work out for us. The only one I could find that fit the bill for time, cost, and various other factors was a Western Caribbean cruise on RCI’s Rhapsody of the Seas. I haven’t been on a mass-market cruise in a few years, so I’m a little nervous, but I know what to expect so I’m sure we’ll all have a great time. I’m not expecting this to be a Radisson-style experience, so we’ll just enjoy it for what it is.

It’s really for the kids anyway – RCI is known for its appeal to teenagers, and they have the teen club and the rock climbing wall and all that. I’m sure I’ll spend most of my time hanging out at the pool (provided the chair hogs aren’t out in too full a force). Hey, it’s a week where I don’t have to cook or clean, and it’s a family vacation where we don’t have to argue with the kids about how much they can order off the menu! How bad can it be? This will actually be my first Caribbean cruise. I’ve been to Jamaica to a resort many years ago, but all my cruises have been in other parts of the world.

And finally, we’ve got our 18-day Auckland-LA FP cruise on the Mariner with my Mom. So, this is going to be an interesting year!

LeeAnne,

It's so great that you get to travel so much! I have not been on a Windstar cruise, but I did go on a Royal Clipper cruise and loved it. 228 passengers. Have you looked into them?

Wow, now THAT'S impressive! No, I haven't checked them out.

We're thisclose to booking that Windstar cruise, which is such a bit of serendipity -- we'd both decided we wanted to visit Costa Rica, and we wanted to go in the Spring, but Charlie had also mentioned he would love to take one of those Windstar cruises someday...and then I checked and the ONLY cruise to Costa Rica this spring was on Windstar! Somethings things just line up in the cosmos, y'know?

Sounds like the thing to do then! I don't think any of the 3 Star Clipper ships go to Costa Rica, but I haven't really looked. Mostly they are in the Med and eastern Caribbean. Keep them in mind, though, for another time maybe.

Did the Windstar Costa Rica a few years ago. It was fabulous. Windstar is a great line.

I've sailed on Windstar. It's similar to RSSC in that dining is open seating and the food was quite good. I think it would be the perfect way to see Costa Rica.

Did the Windstar several years ago in the Bahamas -- it was wonderful! Very casual, you get to know everybody onboard, the food was excellant, no real entertainment to speak of, but the staff did have things in the evening in the one lounge - music for dancing, they sang, trivia games, stuff like that. The rooms are small, but nicely appointed and there is an amazing amount of storage. Ship could get into places only smaller ones could, we had several beaches totally to ourselves. Try it LeeAnne, I think you'd like it, especially if you like sailing. It was really impressive when we were under sail, with the engine off, it was so quiet and you could hear the sails just flapping in the wind, it was so neat.

Your kids will love Royal Caribbean - we'd probably do them as well and I'm sure we will, when the little Grandkids get old enough and we get the whole family together for a cruise. Mass market or not, RCCL does a good job overall and the ships are really amazing.

While on the Paul Gauguin we kept running into one of the Wind ships. We saw it a full sail once, just beautiful. Met some of their passengers and they said , one time the ship docked, got everyone off and then powered around by sail so they could all see it from the shore. They were impressed.

Thanks for the input on Windstar! It looks like it's a go. We know a couple who live in Costa Rica, and we just heard back from them. They're going to pick us up after the cruise and take us to their casita, and then we'll spend a few days with them. They are looking forward to playing tour guide for us. They're just the most delightful people -- they're originally from Tempe, AZ, and after they retired they chucked it all and moved to Costa Rica after visiting it on a vacation. They love it there.

Everything I've read about Windstar sounds fabulous! I wouldn't choose it for a cruise with my Mom, mainly because I'm afraid that with so little entertainment and activities we might get a bit tired of each other's company. But this is with hubby, so we'll love all the quiet time together. (Especially treasured given that we live in this house with two teenagers!) And I like the sound of the social atmosphere, and getting to know everyone on the ship. I've also been reading about the open bridge, and the captain on that ship is supposed to be quite entertaining.

Circleboy, I would love to get more details from you about your cruise, especially any info you can give me on not-to-be-missed excursions, or things we should be sure to skip.

This cruise is coming up quick -- March 4 -- yikes time to diet, and refresh my limited Spanish!