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.

Meet the Team That Will Lead Windstar’s Star Explorer When It Sets Sail This December

Windstar Buzz / 9 minutes of reading

As Windstar’s shipyard and newbuild teams prepare for the launch of Star Explorer, its second new addition to the fleet in two years, attention now turns to the leadership team responsible for making sure it is ready for its debut. Windstar has announced the slate of officers who will be part of the inaugural season.

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What It’s Like: Four Seasons of Splendor in the Mediterranean

Onboard Windstar / 19 minutes of reading

When Windstar announced last fall that it would be extending its Mediterranean season to year-round (from spring/summer/autumn), the first thing I wondered was this: How would a cruise in November–early March be different from one during the traditional April–October time frame? How would the new timings materially change the experience?

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Who’s Cooking on Windstar’s 2026 James Beard Cruises? Meet the Chefs.

Eat+Drink / 5 minutes of reading

Now in its 11th season, Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation for chef-hosted cruises continues with a new lineup.
The six acclaimed chefs — José Garzón, Belinda Bishop, mother-daughter duo Kirsten Dixon and Mandy Dixon, Gabriel Kreuther, and David Uygur — will bring their regional culinary expertise and signature dishes to sea and host market tours on their itineraries.

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FAQ: From the Track to the Yacht: In 2027 Experience the Prix du Monde with Windstar

Travel Tips / 6 minutes of reading

Editor’s Note: In 2027, the world’s most famous Formula 1 race will be part of Windstar’s Race Day & Riviera Charm: Prix du Monde of Monaco itinerary (the race occurs June 4 – 6, 2027).  In official language, F1 is is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by

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

Destinations, Tahiti / 5 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 March 2027 and continuing through 2028, 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

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