Kyoto & the Zen of Japan Cruise Tour

Windstar does not discriminate against persons on the basis of disability. We seek, to the extent feasible, to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. There are no elevators on Wind Star and Wind Spirit nor were the ships originally constructed to be wheelchair accessible. As a result, these ships may be unsuitable for people relying solely on wheelchairs. The other yachts are equipped with elevators, but staterooms on Wind Surf are not wheelchair accessible. Also note, there is no elevator access to board the ship. Star Pride, Star Breeze, and Star Legend have modified wheelchair accessible suites available.

Certain ports require the ship to anchor; in this case guests must be ferried into port. Service Dogs are permitted onboard ships if prior arrangements have been made at time of booking. In limited situations where an individual with a disability would be unable to satisfy certain specified safety and other criteria, even when provided with appropriate auxiliary aids and services, we may find it necessary to ask the individual to make alternative travel arrangements. It is essential that Windstar is notified of any special medical, physical or other requirements you may have at the time of booking. For additional information, please contact accessdesk@windstarcruises.com

Windstar Cruises is unable to accommodate children under eight (8) years of age. All Guests under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone who is at least 21 years old. Parents, guardians, and chaperones are responsible for overseeing the onboard conduct of minors. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to guests under age 21.

For family groups booking multiple staterooms, the minimum age for at least one person in each stateroom is 18 years of age, provided they are traveling with a parent, guardian or chaperone.

The less you bring the better. We suggest clothes that are light, cool, and made of natural fabrics like cotton and silk. You may wish to bring warmer clothing (layers are best), if you are traveling on an Ocean Crossing or an autumn Mediterranean cruise.

The Dress Code – from 7 am – 6 pm guests are welcome to dress as they please with the exception of no swimwear in all public lounges and restaurants and no clothing with offensive language or graphics that distract from the comfort and well-being of others. The general shipboard style is elegant, but relaxed including jeans and Bermuda/ walking shorts.

In the evening – after 6 pm when dining in Amphora, Stella Bistro or Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso, the dress code is country club-type clothing. For men – nice slacks, polo shirts, button down shirts, shoes other than athletic shoes. Designer denim jeans without rips or holes or are multi-colored are also acceptable. Sport coats are optional. Ties are not needed. For women – nice pants, skirts, tops, casual dresses, sundresses, nice sandals or casual shoes and designer denim dress jeans not ripped or multi-colored or having holes. Blazers are optional.

No assigned seating in Amphora or Veranda restaurants. And what can be more casual than merely signing for onboard purchases? You will feel like this is your ship, your personal yacht. The environment inspires the attitude. Reservations are required for Candles and can be made on board.

For those guests traveling to Alaska, it’s important to wear the right gear. We have partnered with the leading expedition outfitter to offer an online Alaska clothing and accessories service that ships directly to your ship. You’ll find all the right gear for Alaska, packing lists, clothing tips and our limited-edition Alaska inaugural season jacket here..

Smoking or vaping is not permitted in any of the staterooms, suites, or public spaces, including all restaurants and corridors. Smoking and vaping is permitted on the outside decks in designated smoking areas only. Smoking cigars is permitted in a specific designated area on each yacht, however, only sold on board the Cigar Room of Wind Surf.

As part of our onboard service we offer internet access on our ships. We recently modified our internet usage packages from minutes to the amount of data used.

How does internet access at home differ from access at sea?

As with all ship communications, the internet service is operated through satellites. While you are most likely used to a fast internet connection at home, in hotels or other local Wi-Fi spots, internet at sea can be slow, and at times, disruptive. The only option available is satellite connection, which is costly and limits the amount of data used. The connection is also influenced by weather, the movement of the ship, and in the case of our sailing ships, blockage from our sails passing in front of the satellite dish.

It is not recommended for downloading movies or large files due to system speed. In some areas the service can be interrupted by weather or the ship’s position. We recommend that guests use the service only for emails or small files.

Why did the Internet Usage Plan change from minutes to megabytes?

Windstar modified the Internet Usage Plan in order to provide guests with the ability to access the same number of sites and/or read the same number of emails, regardless of connection speed. The previous plan was based on the number of minutes the guest was accessing the internet, regardless of connection speed. At times, factors like bad weather, ship speed, overcast conditions, all contributed to slow and/or disrupted connections.

What is a megabyte (MB)?

Any file, whether it’s a spreadsheet, word document, or email, takes up electronic storage space, otherwise known as bytes. The larger the file, the greater the number of bytes. The standard increment of measurement is bytes, kilobytes (1000 bytes), megabytes (1,000,000 bytes) and gigabytes (1,000,000,000, bytes).

As a frame of reference, an 80-word email is around 10 kilobytes, while a typical web page is approximately 1 megabyte.

Unlimited Internet Package

-7 Day Cost $245

-8 Day Cost $280

-9 Day Cost $315

-10 Day Cost $350

-11 Day Cost $385

-14 Day Cost $490

-15 Day Cost $525

This plan gives you unlimited internet access. You have no worries about how much time you spend on the internet.

How can I get internet access on board?

Guests can purchase Internet Usage Plans prior to their cruise through a Vacation Planner or on board at Reception. These plans can be used on personal laptops or smart devises that are Wi-Fi enabled.

* Please Note: All packages allow for two devices at a time to be connected to the internet.

Please contact a Vacation Planner if you have questions.

Laundry service is provided on board at a nominal charge. Dry cleaning is not available. Laundry Service Packages must be added by the first day of the cruise and will be priced by the total number of cruise days. Pricing is inclusive of applicable taxes.

A doctor and limited medical facilities are available on board. However, if you take special medications, please bring an adequate supply with you together with a copy of the prescription from your doctor; it may not be available on board. Medical services and all medicines (except acetaminophen, aspirin, and seasickness pills) dispensed by the ship’s doctor will be charged to your onboard account. If you become ill during the voyage and the physician is unable to care for your needs on board, you will be transferred to medical facilities on shore. Shoreside medical care and/or evacuation are not charged to your onboard account. You will be responsible for paying all of these charges.

If you will require a special medical apparatus or assistance on board or have any special medical, physical or other requirements, please contact our Vacation Planners Department at +1 855-650-9058. Due to limited medical facilities, we will not accept reservations for children under 8 years of age or women who are 24 or more weeks pregnant at the time their travel with Windstar concludes.

Here at Windstar we are committed to offering our guests healthy food selections. We offer vegetarian selections and lighter fare options, seeking to provide the freshest, top quality foods handled with the utmost care. If you have food allergies or special dietary needs, there are several ways to notify us prior to boarding the ship.

It’s important to let us know about your special request when you book your cruise to help us plan and prepare for your meals. Your travel professional will enter this information in Special Requests. It is then noted on your booking and your ship will be notified, although it will not appear on your invoice or in My Windstar.

Special Request Dietary Needs include:

• Alcohol Free

• Celiac

• Dairy Free

• Diabetic – Diet Controlled

• Diabetic – Insulin Controlled

• Food Allergy

• Gluten Free

• Lactose Intolerant

• Low Carbohydrate

• Low Cholesterol

• Low Protein

• Low Sodium

• Other Dietary

• Sugar Free

• Vegan

• Vegetarian

• Wheat Free Diet

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate Kosher or Halal meals. If you have specific dietary needs, such as lactose intolerant requiring almond milk, please complete a Special Requirements Information Form. Return this information via:

1. Mail to Windstar Vacation Planning at 8400 NW 36th St. Suite 520, Miami, FL U.S.A. 33166

2. Fax to 786-685-3089

3. Call +1 855-650-9058 to speak with a Vacation Planner in person

When you embark the ship please feel free to ask to speak with the Executive Chef about your specific request.

If you have any additional questions or concerns please call us during business hours at +1 855-650-9058.

While non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, you may enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail under the setting sun or a champagne toast at the evening Sail Away with our beverage packages for wine, beer, cocktails and more. Zero-proof cocktails are also included with our Captain’s Exclusive and All-In packages. Find the perfect wine pairing with your meal and then end the night sipping scotch as you contemplate the stars.

Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package — $79 per person per day.

The ultimate beverage package and the perfect way to try new drinks for a bit of added adventure. Includes all domestic and imported beers and 33 varieties of wine/sparkling/champagne by the glass PLUS cordials, liqueurs, apertifs, cocktails, and even mini bar items. (Cocktails based on house & select brands)

The All-In Package — From $99 per person per day.

Have it all by making it an all-inclusive voyage with Wi-Fi, unlimited select beer, wine & cocktails, and gratuities, including the 18% beverage service charge. A convenient bundle that saves time and money, pays most of your expenses upfront and avoids the European VA Tax when pre-purchased. The All-In Package is sold per person and must be purchased up to 5 days prior to departure at $99. On board the All-In Package can be purchased for $109.

The Captain’s Exclusive and All-In Packages are sold per person and must be purchased in advance or during the first 2 days of your cruise and for the full duration of the cruise. The minimum drinking age aboard Windstar Cruises is 21 years old.

Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as wait staff, beverage servers, and the stewards who service your stateroom or suite each day. There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crew members are recognized and rewarded, a Hotel Service Charge of $16 per passenger per day is automatically added to each guest’s onboard account. If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise. In addition, a 18% Beverage Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases. These charges are paid entirely to Windstar crew members, and represent an important part of their compensation.

Please note: Promotional Onboard Credit cannot be applied towards the Hotel Service Charge.

Many wireless carriers are now offering affordable, convenient and accessible cruise plans, so you can receive calls and texts from your mobile number anywhere on the yacht while at sea where your shore service is not available. Once the yacht reaches 12 nautical miles from land (about an hour after departure from the pier) Cellular at Sea service is available and your phone will say “Cellular at Sea” or “901” to indicate service is on. In addition to cruise plans, pay-per-minute, text or data sessions are also available. Cellular at Sea data speeds support web browsing, social media / chat apps and checking e-mail. Actual data speed can vary depending on which network technology (3G or 4G LTE) your wireless carrier supports, the network onboard the vessel and satellite connectivity. Due to the speed of transmission, video streaming is not an option. This service needs to be added prior to boarding the yacht. Please contact your wireless carrier for your specific rates.

In order to maintain Windstar’s atmosphere of casual elegance and intimate retreat, we ask guests to consider the following cell phone courtesy guidelines.

Cell phone service is intended primarily for guests’ use in the privacy of their own stateroom or suite. Talking on cell phones is discouraged in public areas such as dining areas or lounges and guests are asked to set their phone’s ringer on vibrate when in public areas.