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.

Getting to Know You: Windstar’s Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Officer

Windstar Buzz / 6 minutes of reading

Windstar Cruises’ year-round Mediterranean itinerary, which celebrates all the seasons, wasn’t actually meant to be. For Janet Bava, who joined Windstar as chief commercial officer in 2023, the rather sudden cancellation of its long-planned voyages in the region of the Middle East, due to geopolitical affairs, gave her an idea: Instead of redeploying Star Legend […]

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Windstar and Tahiti Share the Spotlight on The Golden Bachelorette

Tahiti, Windstar Buzz / 5 minutes of reading

Editor’s Update (November 14): There will be no spoiler alerts here, other than Joan made her choice (if you want to catch up or binge the series, it’s streaming on Hulu)! What really fascinated us about this last episode of The Golden Bachelorette is how many scenes were shot onboard Star Breeze and at hotels

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What It’s Like: Our Year-Round Mediterranean Cruise on Star Legend

Destinations, Mediterranean, Onboard Windstar / 20 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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Getting to Know You: Windstar Cruises’ President Chris Prelog

News, Windstar Buzz / 10 minutes of reading

In mid-June, Windstar President Chris Prelog was presented with the 2024 Excellence in Leadership Award. Presented by TravelAge West, a publication that serves the travel advisor community, Prelog’s award recognized his outstanding leadership, insight and innovation, and also his success at  impacting  both his own organizations and of the travel industry overall.

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From the Shipyard #2: Star Seeker is Completing the Steel Work

Star Seeker, Windstar Buzz / 6 minutes of reading

If you’ve followed the construction of new ships with as much fascination as we do, you’ll know that there’s a whole lot of steel to see for Star Seeker (check out the “finished” look of Star Seeker, which debuts in December 2025. Its sister ship, Star Explorer, launches a year later) and yet – there’s

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Windstar Reveals Details of its First-Ever President’s Mystery Cruise

Windstar Buzz / 2 minutes of reading

If you had a chance to take a cruise without knowing exactly where you were heading, would you? Chris Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises, is betting that at least some of us are up for the challenge. In an entirely new twist for Windstar’s annual President’s Cruise, an eight day voyage departing on April 19,

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From the Shipyard #1: What’s New in the Development of Windstar’s Star Seeker and Star Explorer?

Star Seeker, Windstar Buzz / 4 minutes of reading

For sure, Windstar’s announcement that it is acquiring two vessels – the 224-guest Star Seeker and Star Explorer, which debut respectively in December 2025 and 2026 – has generated a ton of excitement. We plan to keep you updated with new developments on a regular basis, so keep checking in. And don’t be shy. Please

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

Destinations, 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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Windstar Expands its Fleet. Of Course We Have the Inside Scoop

Windstar Buzz / 4 minutes of reading

In April, Windstar President Chris Prelog shared a now-official and no-longer-secret announcement of good news: Windstar has acquired two motor-yacht ships, to debut in December 2025 and 2026. The 224-passenger yachts, one of which is new and the other, identical in design, just a few years old, will increase capacity by 33 percent over the

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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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Plan Your Port: Greece’s Pátmos

Destinations, Greece / 8 minutes of reading

Like many of the islands in Greece’s Dodecanese, a group of 12 islands, Pátmos’ appeal lies in its whitewashed villages infused with lush, ancient olive groves roamed by goats, picturesque tavernas and a series of beautiful sun-drenched beaches. What’s different? This hideaway for famous celebrities and royalty is an intimate place, uncrowded and not yet discovered by larger cruise vessels.

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