Comments on: Island Windjammers: the ship, Diamant

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:08:18 +0000

Thank you for clarifying boat/ship.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:02:20 +0000

THANK YOU!!
Susan

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:25:21 +0000

Sandi – Windjammers are a special breed. In my posts, I tried to describe the experience as accurately as possible so people would know what they are getting. If it works for them, great. If not, they can find something that better suits their needs. To each their own!

By: Sandi

Sandi — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:18:00 +0000

My husband and I sailed on all of the old Windjammer ships many times, from the BVI’s to Venezuela and all over, and loved them all. Our favorite was Mandalay. On one of our trips NO ONE had hot water the entire trip, and when Capt. Matt was overheard discussing his own lack of hot water with the cheif engineer, he learned that nobody else had hot water either. He was amazed that no one had complained to him about it! The trips on that old ship were so much fun that no one really cared. I never went on a trip during which all was perfect. It wouldn’t have been Windjammer! As for the small bath facility, it really could work to one’s advantage. Where else could one take a bath, brush his teeth, and do whatever else he needed to do–all at the same time? (First timers did have a problem with the toilet paper being high up on the wall, however, which was a necessary location in order for it not to get wet from the shower.) Those were the best vacations and some of the most interesting characters to ever cross my path. I am so looking forward to sailing on the Diamante. Whatever else Windjammer became, there was such a joy of living that I experienced on each trip, and some of the crew were like extended family members. The Diamante is probably much the same.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:55:53 +0000

Tomatoes – I’m with you, I think small ships are the way to go. I love that you can get to the smaller islands that are a little off the beaten track. Belize sounds great – report back on the ship!

By: Tomtoes

Tomtoes — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:12:25 +0000

Good day Chris, Like many of the previous posters, I too spent some 8 weeks aboard the now defunct WJBFC ships! I loved the camraderie and friends I made on those cruises. I especially like the ability of the smaller vessels being able to get me away from the Foo-Foo crowded ports of call. I will be looking for future vacations aboard the smaller ships that are available now and hopefully additional ones in the near future. The Diamant and Arabella are on the list at this time. LFive of my fellow WJ vets and I sailed the BVI on a vintage wooden hull called the Ragamuffin, that was so much fun we are heading for Belize this summer aboard the Catamaran Aubisque!
My webshots account haz hundreds of photos from my meager adventures.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:38:30 +0000

Thanks, Dawn. I consider myself schooled

I’m actually going on another SHIP next week The folks who run the Arabella, a 160 foot ship, have invited me on their Spanish Virgin Island/B.V.I. itinerary. So if you like tall ships, stay tuned for more reports and photos….

By: Dawn Waterman-Kelsey

Dawn Waterman-Kelsey — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:31:11 +0000

“It’s a SHIP, Dammit!” No old Windjammer ‘boats’. Other than that, a great trip report.

By: 5 Reasons to visit Grenada right now… « Chris Around The World

5 Reasons to visit Grenada right now… « Chris Around The World — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:21:00 +0000

[...] for USA TODAY back in November and I was back again last week for a few days before and after my Island Windjammers cruise on the Diamant. I’m not going to sugar coat it – getting to Grenada can be a hassle, particularly if [...]

By: Don and Patty

Don and Patty — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:51:10 +0000

I first sailed on a Barefoot Cruises Windjammer in 1988 on the Mandalay from Antigua to Grenada. On that cruise I absolutely fell in love with the ship and the casual atmosphere..Since then over the past 22 years I have sailed many times in the islands from Puerto Rico to Trinidad on 5 of the 6 ships in the fleet, The Mandalay, The Yankee Clipper, The Fantome, The Legacy and the Polynesia.

We also always tended to do two week back to back cruises as one week is just not long enough..All the ships, although unique in their own right, were designed with a similar design plan and daily routine so you felt very comfortable and at home on all of them. In general, while we truly enjoyed them all, our favorite was the Mandalay and we preferred the smaller ships that held around 75 people versus the larger ones with around 115..We could even tell the difference from week to week if there were 10% more folks on the ship from one week to another as the increase would tend to impact the food and launch service.

The one statement from a passenger that I remember quite well that tends to describe Windjamming Experience in a Nut Shell was the following..

“…My wife is a travel agent and has booked this cruise with a group of her friends. We have done a lot of vacations on Cruise Ships but this is our first Windjammer Cruise..I have only been on board for little over an hour but have met more friendly people in this short time than on all of our other cruises..and I also know that I will see them again tomorrow..”