grand voyage


ominous swathes of violet, ruby and pink, lulling me into a trance as the sunset puts on its nightly show. It’s not just the view that’s hypnotic. A


F


violinist plays a smooth, tender accompaniment that stirs my soul, and there’s a buzz about the evening that continues for hours as the full moon rises and the sky turns dark and moody, stars glinting like dust in a sunbeam. We’re gathered on the deck of Windstar


Cruises’ recently renovated sailing yacht, Wind Surf, enjoying the daily sailaway, and


by now I’ve become used to the routine. Each afternoon, the crew raises the sails to flutter bright white in an almost ceremonial display. Then we glide along serenely, propelled by both wind and engine power as the coast


lecks of rose and peach dapple the sea as the silhouette of Mount Etna rises above the horizon. Clouds hover in


slowly shrinks away and we gear up for an evening on board, indulging in four-course meals and cocktails as musicians continue to play at the bar.


COOLER CRUISING It was October and I was here to experience Windstar’s Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast cruise in the off-season – it’s one of several autumn and winter Mediterranean sailings introduced by the line in 2023 and growing in popularity – and it was the perfect time to come. We started in Rome, followed by our first


stop in Sorrento. I’d long wanted to visit this historic, cobbled town, a gateway to the Amalfi Coast and synonymous with limoncello, but tales of overcrowding and intense heat had put me off coming in summer. October was the ideal solution: although the streets were still busy, the climate was a


travelweekly.co.uk/cruise


December


December 2025


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