Author name: Carolyn Spencer Brown

Carolyn Spencer Brown has, for the past 20-plus years, been one of the cruise industry’s most knowledgeable journalists, first as a staff writer at The Washington Post and later as a longtime editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. Over the past two decades she’s traveled on more than 300 cruises on ships big, small and downright tiny. An award-winning editor as well, her cruise stories have appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Town & Country, and London’s Sunday Times.

Wind Spirit

FAQ: Windstar Features Two Distinct Styles of Ships. How Do You Decide Which Fits You?

Onboard Windstar / 8 minutes of reading

The first Windstar ship I ever experienced was Wind Star in the Caribbean, the 148-passenger sailing ship. The most recent was Star Legend in the Mediterranean, the cruise line’s 312-passenger yacht. These two entirely different ships, at least as far as the vessels are concerned, share many similarities, such as Windstar’s friendly crew, watersports marinas […]

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This May Surprise You: Winter Can Be the Most Magical Time to Cruise in the Mediterranean

Onboard Windstar / 5 minutes of reading

Visiting Italy, France and Spain onboard Star Legend earlier this year was unexpectedly magnificent. I say unexpectedly because I learned then that this part of the Riviera has, for centuries, been a winter haven for northern Europeans. I get it now. The late winter week was pleasantly cool, I loved the calmer-than-summer ambience, there was

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Can Your Cruise Vary Depending on the Style of Ship You Choose? In Tahiti, It’s Definitely Possible.

Destinations, Tahiti / 4 minutes of reading

What if, traveling throughout the islands of French Polynesia, you could choose to sail and to cruise, both? It turns out that you can. Beginning in February 2027, Windstar is shifting its 148-guest Wind Star to its new year-round homeport of Papeete where it joins 312-guest Star Breeze, already ensconced there. The addition of a second year-round

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Windstar’s Partnership with James Beard Foundation, 10 Years Strong, Continues Evolving

Culinary, Eat+Drink / 4 minutes of reading

For Windstar, celebrating 10 years of its partnership with the New York-based James Beard Foundation®, means it’s spent the last decade not just significantly upgrading the cuisine served onboard its ships, but also introducing travelers to chefs with diverse backgrounds and approaches to food.   

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Winds of Change: Windstar’s Podcast Series Offers Insider Access to Ships and Trips

Windstar Buzz / 12 minutes of reading

Have you wondered how Windstar plans its itineraries, chooses the wines for its onboard wine lists and develops shore excursions in ports of call? Welcome to Windstar’s new Winds of Change podcast, just launched in January 2025, which is all about offering insider access to how cruises are developed.

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Windstar’s Chris Prelog Shares 6 Reasons Why French Polynesia is His Favorite Place in the World

Destinations, Tahiti / 5 minutes of reading

Spend 30 seconds with Chris Prelog, the gregarious president of Windstar Cruises, and you’ll feel his enthusiasm about French Polynesia. It is, he tells me with unabashed frankness, his favorite part of the world. Sure, the region’s absolutely astonishing physical beauty qualifies it as a favorite destination for many travelers. For Prelog, though, it goes

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FAQ: Why Consider a Cruise Tour Before or After Your Next Voyage?

Travel Tips / 2 minutes of reading

This year, one travel theme I keep hearing, over and over again, is how travelers are taking longer trips that may involve different segments, combining land and sea. One seamless way to do that is to book a cruise line-organized Cruise Tour that extends your voyage either before or after. “With cruise tours, there are

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