Writing our bucket lists is one of those things that gives us something to start planning for and to look forward to in the future. Maybe it’s a trip to Tahiti or a visit to Rome that you have on your bucket list? But have you considered Sorrento, Italy as a gateway to the famously preserved ruins of Pompeii? Or diving for your own pearl in Raiatea, French Polynesia to set in your own custom-made piece of jewelry? Or dining in the shadow of the Celsus Library accompanied by the Aegean Chamber Orchestra? It’s the perfect time to redefine your bucket list and explore places beyond the ordinary.
We’ll share a few of Windstar’s bucket list items here each week – places that a Windstar yacht can take you and deliver unforgettable experiences you haven’t even dreamed of. We’re putting together a list of 180 things for you to consider as you redefine your bucket list with us. And when you’re ready, we’re ready to help you create the next chapter of your story.
alaska
- Get insider tips on the best places to see wildlife in Alaska from Windstar’s onboard experts
- Learn the language of totems and uncover the lore of Alaska’s Glacier Bay’s tribal traditions
- Drink Glacier water from the source – atop Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier
- Be one of the 30% who are able to capture a photo of Mount Denali (it’s under cloud cover)
- Watch hungry bears catch spawning salmon outside the rural backyards of a tiny Alaskan town
- Join expedition staff following killer whale pods, reclusive wolf packs and caribou herds in Alaska
- See the expansiveness of Prince William Sound via a helicopter glacier landing in Valdez
- Try Alaskan specialties: king crab bisque, halibut dumplings, and panko-crusted salmon all made by renowned local chefs in Juneau
- Catch salmon, halibut, or rock fish on a chartered boat in the unspoiled wilderness of Alaska’s coastline
- Listen to the electric crackle of shifting glaciers while kayaking in Tracy Arm, Alaska
canada & new england
- Explore the remote Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site located in Newfoundland, Canada
- Saunter the Seawall, the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path, and take in the breathtaking beauty of world-renowned Stanley Park, Vancouver’s very own green oasis, merely steps away from where Star Breeze docks at Canada Place
- Explore the only walled city in North America, Old Quebec
the Caribbean
- Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Chopard, Prada, Patek Philippe, Bvlgari, Hermes … Shop the world’s most famous designers in St. Bart’s
- Bathe in the world famous Baths in Virgin Gorda – massive granite boulders that stand out against powdery white sand and crystal clear waters
- Visit the Buried City In Montserrat with very knowledgeable guides who will share their personal stories about how a very small island state lived with and through explosive and very active volcanic episodes
- Revel in beach luxury at its finest with a snorkeling, champagne and lobster cruise in Grenada
- Sail to the four most remote islands of the Les Saintes archipelago: Grand Ilêt, La Coche, Les Augustins, and the Virgin Rock by catamaran
costa rica & panama canal
- Transit one of the wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal with a canal expert narrating the experience
- Hang around with a few monkeys and sloths while learning all about the rehabilitation efforts to help preserve Costa Rica’s diverse wildlife at Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Rescue Center in Quepos, Costa Rica
- Listen to the chatter of Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park’s rainforest inhabitants
- Walk across the eight hanging bridges in the canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica
- Attempt to capture the green flash, an optical phenomenon that might appear shortly after sunset or before sunrise in Costa Rica
Greece
- Climb up to Meteora, one of the most impenetrable monasteries in Greece
- Make friends with the felines among the maze of alleys within the medieval walls of Ano Syros, Greece
- Slip into the armored sabatons of knights tasked to protect Rhodes, Greece five centuries ago
- Decipher the future from the ancient world’s most important seer at Delphi, Greece
- Board a narrow, traditional caique bound for a private beach on sunny and remote Lemnos
- Transit the Corinth Canal, exclusive to small vessels and a dream of ancient emperors
- Explore a town carved on the backside of a sea rock built to be invisible from the mainland
- Sail out of the Santorini Caldera with the sunset and watch the white top hillside light up at night
- Try fresh caught calamari at a seaside restaurant in Monemvasia as you sip ouzo and enjoy the view of the sea
- Explore Knossos Palace on the island of Crete, the oldest known civilization of Minoans, which existed from 3000 BC to 1100 BC
the holy lands
- Tell time beneath the shadow of the Great Pyramid of Giza
- Stand at the manger where Christ was born in Bethlehem and trace his footsteps to his death and resurrection
The Mediterranean
- Uncover everyday Roman life in Pompeii’s eternally frozen final moments
- Photograph Petra’s Royal Tombs carved of sandstone turning pink at sunset
- Contemplate Port-Vendres perspectives that inspired Matisse and Derain Fauvism paintings
- Introduce yourself as “Bond, James Bond” at the villas in Lake Como
- Capture the beach flavors of Antibes with local lemons in this twist on Tiramisu
- Swim into the Blue Cave at Lubenice Beach, whose color comes from the sun’s rays reflecting the limestone cliffs
- Flit among rare butterflies and swim with sea horses in a remote Italian national park
- Bike the famous Parenzana Biking Trail, once a railway, through the landscape of Istria
- Take a private car down the Amalfi Coast in Italy with a local guide and find all the hidden gems this destination has to offer
- Enjoy some authentic gelato from the Gelateria San Lorenzo while roaming the narrow streets of Rome
- Kayak around the Dubrovnik Old City Walls and City Ramparts, a unique opportunity to get acquainted with Dubrovnik from the seaside
- Ask a Venetian gondolier to serenade you with the song from your first dance at your wedding
- Taste award-winning olive oil in the Istria Peninsula in Croatia and learn what makes it spicy
- Sip wine on the island of Sicily in one of the many vineyards and notice the unique flavor derived from the volcanic soil of Mt. Etna
- Cruise by Mt. Stromboli at night on your Windstar yacht and watch the lava spew, lighting up the sky
- Hike to the Brown Castle for a breathtaking view of your Windstar yacht and Portofino below
- Explore Saint Tropez, one of the most popular resorts in Europe known for its variety of yachts, luxury boutiques, cafes and antique shops
- Meet the Moric family as you travel to their home in the village of Tici, Montenegro where their family has lived for over 200 years, and learn how their family has produced olive oil throughout these years
- Learn the art of growing lemon trees and the production of Limon cello in the citrus groves on the hills surrounding Sorrento, Italy
- Learn to make authentic pesto with Guido, our local Italian, onboard your Windstar yacht when visiting Portofino
- Play tourist in Pisa and pose as you try to hold the leaning tower of Pisa up (yes, this one is a little cliché, but it’s so much fun!)
- Shop the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul – one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops
- Stand on deck for the arrival into Kotor with its fjord-like entrance
- Use your right hand and throw a coin over your left shoulder at the Trevi Fountain, as the legend says, to ensure that you will return to Rome in the future
- Sail through the Dardanelle narrows that form the natural boundary between Asia and Europe and holds significant commercial and military importance as the only waterway to the Black Sea
- Visit the Palace of the Parliament known as “The Peoples Palace” built in Bucharest, Romania which was ordered by the leader during the Communist era
- Stroll the quaint cobblestone streets of St. Malo and stop in at a creperie for a local delicacy, either sweet or savory
- Climb the circular stairway for a close up view of the cloister at Mont St. Michel, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Come face to face with the Barbary macaques at the famous Rock of Gibraltar (Jabel-al_Tariq)
- Taste Andalusia’s world-renowned Jerez wines and sherry
- Visit majestic Pena Palace in Sintra and the scenic village of Cascais from Lisbon
- Cruise the Douro River on a traditional Rabelo boat and taste local Portuguese Port wines
- Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago to the Santiago de Compostela
- Taste wines from world’s most prestigious wine villages: Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Estephe, and Saint-Julien in the Medoc Vineyards from Bordeaux, known for producing some of the most expensive bottles of wine
northern Europe
- Count how many puffins you can find – more puffins nest in Heimey Island in the Westman Islands than anywhere in the world
- Tunnel deep beneath concealed crevasses to Langjokull Glacier’s icy cerulean heart
- Take a boat tour to the upswept splendor of the Hornstrandir peninsula just beneath the Arctic Circle in the remote West Fjords of Iceland
- Ride away on an Icelandic horse breed introduced by Vikings over a thousand years ago
- Sail into the Arctic circle and become a member of the Order of the Blue Nose while sailing Around Iceland
- Soak and relax in the remote Arctic wilderness hot spring of Uunartoq while admiring the passing icebergs drift by
- Sail past the remote settlement of Aappilattoq with only 100 inhabitants, located deep inside Prince Christian Sound, surrounded by pristine beauty and incredibly jagged mountain peaks
- Cruise the tight and twisty roads that form the World Famous Isle of Man TT Mountain Course on a specially designed 3-seater Trike, long considered one of the “greatest, most exciting and most dangerous motorcycle sporting events of the world”
- Indulge your taste buds by sipping on a 25-year-old Scotch, influenced by Vikings, at the world’s northernmost single malt Scotch distillery of Highland Park, located in the remote and hard to reach Orkney Isles off the coast of Scotland
- Tour the famous Guinness Distillery & Waterford factory from Dublin
- Imagine Finn McCool throwing stones across the Giant’s Causeway, Ireland, a UNESCO site, at the Scottish giant Benandonner
- Pretend you are royalty as you walk the Royal Mile up to Edinburgh Castle
- Hike to the third highest waterfall Hengifoss in Seydisfjordur, Iceland
- Journey to the center of the earth and visit the 8,000-year-old cave Vatnshellir in Grundarfjordur, Iceland
- Make it an artful adventure with a leisurely kayak through the Art Nouveau district in Alesund, Norway
- Visit three fascinating museums in Oslo to get an in-depth look at the history of the Norwegian Vikings
- Visit the one and only Reflections Ice Bar, made completely out of ice, including ice sculptures inspired by Hans Christian Andersen, in Copenhagen
- Learn how to make chocolate with a Master Confectioner in Rotermann Quarter in Tallinn
- Watch up-close, a special performance of a well-known ballet in St. Petersburg
- Tour the Peter & Paul Fortress and St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the largest church in St. Petersbug
- Experience the scenic Finnish Archipelago onboard a speedboat
- Taste locally brewed Brovarnia Pale Lager Beer, Brovarnia Schwarzbier (dark beer) and Brovarnia Häfeweizen Beer (wheat beer) at the only brewery in Gdansk, Poland
- Meet an assembly of 80 witches, devils, and fairy tale monsters, all carved from oak on the Hill of Witches in Klaipeda, Lithuania
mexico & coastal united states
- Catch the largest fish in your life in the Sea of Cortez, home to marlin, sail fish, mahi-mahi and big tuna
- Swim and snorkel among sea lions at Balandra Bay, located in the Sea of Cortez near La Paz
Tahiti & the south pacific
- Swim, snorkel, snack and sunbathe on an exclusive Taha’a motu at our Signature Beach Party
- Learn Ori Tahiti (AKA-Tahitian Hula) from a 93-yearold Polynesian woman who has never left Tahiti, while eating lunch plated on a banana leaf, under a hut on a private motu
- Drink freshly machete-chopped coconut water from the top of Belvedere Lookout on Moorea, French Polynesia
- Write your names in the sand to stay until the tide washes them away on your own private Tahitian motu
- Explore the caldera of the Tahiti-Nui volcano on a 4×4 excursion through the jungles and waterfall-lined rock faces
- Let the currents carry you effortlessly through coral gardens filled with tropical fish in Tahiti
life on windstar
- Live the romantic, seafaring life in the Officer’s Suite—just steps from the Bridge
- Renew and rekindle honeymoon magic with an onboard vow renewal celebration
- Read ship charts and master navigation skills in the company of Windstar’s bridge officers
- Stand in awe beneath unfurling sails during a performance unique to Windstar’s sailing yachts
