grand voyage
FROM LEFT: Walking along a crater of Mount Etna, Sicily; Windstar Cruises’ ships access places that larger vessels cannot PICTURE: Shutterstock/InnaLu
perfect 18C, blue sky overhead without the humidity of peak season. We strolled through the narrow cobblestone alleys, exploring the Cloister of San Francesco – a 14th-century, lemon-yellow edifice framing a leafy courtyard – and the elaborate, marble-columned duomo. In between we ducked into limoncello shops, indulged in silky gelato and ambled beneath the town’s fragrant citrus groves. From Sorrento, we sailed overnight
to Sicily, docking in the small port of Giardini Naxos. Here we joined one of the line’s excursions to Mount Etna, weaving through scenic mountain roads as tree-carpeted slopes came into view and the cloud-capped peak of Europe’s most active volcano emerged above. Afterwards, we hiked around one
of its four main craters, meandering between ashy volcanic sand and gunmetal-grey boulders, lava fields sloping off into the distance in lunar-like fashion. It was a memorable way to see this unique island – once again, with a fraction of the visitors and temperatures that we might have seen in summer.
CROATIAN CHARM
It was Croatia I was most looking forward to, though, having never been before – and it didn’t disappoint. After a day at sea, we docked in Dubrovnik,
22 December 2025
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise TESTED
TRIED &
Wind Surf Windstar Cruises
Sleeping 342 passengers, Wind Surf is one of Windstar Cruises’ three sailing yachts, with an elegant design featuring touches of blue, gold, cream and teal across the ship. The vessel was renovated at the end of last year – so much of it feels new and glossy, with its lobby, reception and main restaurant among the areas revamped. It has a relaxed, small-ship vibe including an open bridge policy, but the real highlight is the food. The line works with the James Beard Foundation, offering daily-changing menus created by acclaimed chefs at main restaurant Amphora, alongside French cuisine at Stella Bistro and outdoor dining beneath the stars on deck at Candles. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style at Veranda (the same spot as Candles), with a daily theme inspired by the locale, while the Yacht Club Cafe serves coffee, sandwiches and snacks. Cocktails, champagne, wine and other drinks are served at the Compass Rose Bar on deck and the indoor lounge, while a small pool and two Jacuzzis come with a pool bar. Accommodation spans elegant, simple staterooms up to three
suite levels – with swish, spacious Broadmoor and Sea Island Suites added in the renovation – and facilities are impressive for a small ship. I sampled the fitness centre and spa, indulging in a Himalayan salt scrub that had me leaving the ship feeling even more Zen. This ship is all about relaxation, with an emphasis on the pure magic of sailing.
PICTURE: Gil Stose Photography
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