Wind Spirit Deck-by-Deck Review

Wind Spirit is unlike almost every other cruise ship sailing today. Carrying just 148 guests, she offers an experience that feels far closer to a private yacht than a traditional cruise ship. Originally built in 1988 as one of a trio of purpose-built sailing yachts, Wind Spirit combines the romance of sailing under towering computer-controlled sails with the comforts of a modern boutique cruise vessel. Her compact size allows her to visit smaller ports that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships while creating an intimate onboard atmosphere where guests quickly become familiar with both the ship and her crew.

Unlike the sprawling mega ships that dominate today’s cruise industry, Wind Spirit is remarkably simple to navigate. With only a handful of passenger decks, nearly every public venue is just a short walk away, and the entire ship has been designed to maximize ocean views and outdoor living. During Windstar’s recent Setting Sails refurbishment program, many of the ship’s public spaces were refreshed with lighter finishes, updated furnishings, and a more contemporary yacht-inspired aesthetic while preserving the vessel’s timeless character.

As always, we’ll begin with a few photos that help capture the ship’s overall design language before beginning our deck-by-deck tour.

Random Stairwell Photo:

Random Stairwell Art Photo:

Unlike virtually every modern cruise ship, Wind Spirit does not have elevators. Given her intimate size, they simply are not necessary, with every guest area just a flight or two of stairs away.

Deck 01

Deck 01 is dedicated entirely to guest accommodations. All staterooms aboard Wind Spirit share a remarkably consistent design, giving every guest a comfortable and spacious home base regardless of cabin location. The lack of public venues on this deck also makes it one of the quietest areas onboard, with very little through traffic outside of fellow guests.

Deck 02

Like the deck below, Deck 02 is primarily devoted to guest staterooms, continuing the residential feel found throughout the lower part of the ship.

Toward the aft is the ship’s infirmary, discreetly positioned away from the main guest areas while remaining easily accessible if needed.

Nearby is a small but well-equipped fitness center. While modest by the standards of today’s mega ships, it offers everything most guests need to fit in a workout before heading ashore or enjoying a day at sea.

At the very stern is one of Wind Spirit’s defining features: the marina and watersports platform. When local conditions permit, the aft platform folds down to become a private marina directly at sea. From here, guests can swim in crystal-clear water or enjoy complimentary watersports such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and floating mats. It is an experience few cruise ships can offer and perfectly captures Windstar’s yacht-style approach to cruising.

Deck 03

Deck 03 contains nearly all of Wind Spirit’s indoor public spaces, making it the social heart of the ship.

Forward is Amphora, the ship’s main dining room. This single seating, but arrive when you want, venue is an elegant yet relaxed setting that reflects the ship’s casual upscale atmosphere. Large windows help keep guests connected to the sea throughout the meal, while open seating reinforces Windstar’s signature informal style.

Walking aft brings you to the main lobby and Guest Services area. This space is one of the newest onboard, having been completely refreshed during Windstar’s Setting Sails initiative. The redesign introduced brighter finishes, modern furnishings, and a cleaner yacht-inspired appearance that complements the intimate scale of the vessel.

On both the port and starboard sides of the lobby are small outdoor passageways that connect the interior with the exterior decks. These also serve as the ship’s primary embarkation and disembarkation points while in port, giving guests direct access ashore without navigating long interior corridors.

Immediately aft is the ship’s boutique, offering everything from Windstar merchandise to resort wear, souvenirs, and travel essentials.

Continuing toward the stern brings you to the Yacht Club Café, one of the most popular gathering spots onboard. Throughout the day it serves specialty coffee, light snacks, pastries, and comfortable seating, making it an ideal place to relax with a drink or catch up on reading between ports.

Directly opposite is the ship’s spa and salon, where guests can enjoy massages, facials, and beauty treatments in a peaceful setting.

Occupying the aft portion of the deck is the Main Lounge and Bar. This flexible venue hosts everything from port talks and destination briefings to evening entertainment, live music, and cocktail gatherings. Thanks to the ship’s small passenger count, the lounge maintains an intimate atmosphere where every seat offers a good view.

Just beyond the lounge is a tiny outdoor aft viewing area. Despite its modest size, it provides a wonderful place to enjoy the ship’s wake, watch sail departures, or simply relax with uninterrupted ocean views.

Deck 04

Deck 04 is devoted almost entirely to outdoor living, perfectly suited to the warm-weather destinations where Wind Spirit spends most of her time.

At the very front of the ship is a large open sun deck positioned ahead of the bridge. From here, guests enjoy expansive forward views that are rarely available on larger cruise ships.

One of Windstar’s most distinctive traditions is its open bridge policy. Guests are welcome to visit the bridge throughout much of the voyage, offering a rare opportunity to observe the officers at work and learn more about the ship’s navigation. During arrivals and departures, it is even possible to stand out on the bridge wings alongside the crew as they maneuver the vessel into port, creating an experience that feels remarkably personal and almost unheard of in today’s cruise industry.

Immediately aft of the bridge are walkways running along both the port and starboard sides of the ship.

These eventually lead to Veranda, the ship’s casual outdoor restaurant by day. Serving breakfast and lunch with open-air seating, it becomes Candles in the evening, transforming into an intimate reservation-only steakhouse under the stars.

Continuing aft brings you to the ship’s pool area, complete with a bar, swimming pool, and whirlpool.

While compact, the space perfectly reflects Wind Spirit’s boutique nature, offering comfortable seating and a relaxed atmosphere without ever feeling crowded.

Beyond the pool is a generous open sun deck with additional loungers, making it one of the best places onboard to soak up the sunshine or simply enjoy the sea breeze while under sail.

At the very aft end of the deck is a spiral staircase that descends all the way down to the marina.

Deck 05

The highest accessible deck aboard Wind Spirit is the Fly Bridge. This open-air space serves as the ship’s alternate steering position if required.

For guests, however, it is simply one of the best viewpoints anywhere onboard. Lined with loungers and offering unobstructed panoramic views in every direction, the Fly Bridge is an ideal place to relax during scenic cruising, watch the sails deploy overhead, or enjoy a peaceful afternoon surrounded by nothing but sea and sky. Its elevated position and quiet atmosphere make it one of Wind Spirit’s true hidden gems.

Cabin

If you’re curious what it’s like inside a typical Wind Spirit stateroom, be sure to check out our full cabin tour embedded below. With the exception of the ship’s single Owner’s Suite, virtually every accommodation onboard shares the same general layout and design, differing mainly in location and a handful of furnishings towards the stern to accommodate the curvature of the hull. That means this walkthrough provides an excellent representation of the accommodations most guests will experience during their voyage aboard Wind Spirit.