Windstar’s Silver Screen Sailing

The picturesque towns of the Mediterranean have long been immortalized on the silver screen since Brigitte Bardot lounged on a St. Tropez beach in And God Created Women, and Cary Grant and Grace Kelly played cat and mouse along the Cote d’Azur in To Catch a Thief. One of the best ways to see the region is on a sailing yacht such as the Wind Surf, a five-masted, modern sailing vessel. Part of Windstar Cruises’ fleet of motor-sail luxury yachts, Wind Surf’s 535-foot, 310 passenger size bestows a sense of exclusivity and allows it to pull right into the smaller ports of the Mediterranean.

I embarked on the 7-day “Glitter & Glam of the Riviera” sailing and taking in the playgrounds of the rich and famous which have long stirred cinematic imaginations. Beginning in Rome, the capital of la dolce vita, the itinerary included Portoferraio, Portofino, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Marseille, and Barcelona.

I’ve been to Rome many times but I’ve always wanted to see the eternal city on a Vespa, evoking Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday. I got my chance this trip, and because I’m a huge film buff, I decided on a “Rome Movie Tour” with Bici & Baci, visiting many film locations on vintage Vespas. We zoomed to iconic spots like the Trevi Fountain where Anita Ekberg memorably frolicked in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and Piazza Navona where Julia Roberts enjoyed a gelato on the bench outside the church of Sant’ Agnese in Agone in Eat, Pray, Love.

In addition, my guide took me to lesser known locales such as the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola on Janiculum Hill which appeared in the opening sequence of Sorrentino’s Oscar-winning film – La Grande Belleza (The Great Beauty). I capped off my cinematic tour at the Cinecitta Film Studio which features an outdoor set where Scorsese filmed Gangs of New York, and where international films are celebrated with interactive displays.

At Civitavecchia outside of Rome, I boarded the Wind Surf which stood out from the mega-size cruise ships at port with her sleek, elegant lines and masts. Unlike true sailing yachts, Wind Surf’s Dacron sails are electronically controlled, and the engines operate the majority of the time to ensure that we’d arrive at each of our destinations on schedule, rather than at the mercy of changing wind conditions. And at each sail away from port the seven triangular sails were fully unfurled while Vangelis’ stirring theme from “1492: Conquest of Paradise” played over the loudspeakers – a special moment for many passengers.

Completely refurbished in December 2012, the Wind Surf has 6 guest decks, 122 ocean view staterooms and 33 suites. There are no balcony staterooms, however, but the abundant open deck space onboard more than compensates for it.  My stateroom was 188 square feet with two porthole windows, a queen-sized bed, spacious closet and private bathroom with shower and L’Occitaine amenities, a vanity table and chair, a mini-bar, flat-screen TV, DVD player and BOSE SoundDock for iPod as well as wireless internet.

Onboard facilities include an outdoor pool with two hot tubs, fitness center, Wind spa and beauty salon, a small casino, gift shop, and DVD library. Due to the ship’s size, there are no Las Vegas style productions, napkin folding demonstrations, or art auctions you’d find on larger ships. From what I could tell, though, none of the guests (many of them repeats) missed these diversions. Entertainment in the evening consisted of a versatile band and guest singers in the lounge. The excellent crew show, which showcased the talents of the mainly Filipino and Indonesian staff, was a highlight and of course the shore excursion offerings were abundant.

There are multiple dining options including the Restaurant, the ship’s main dining room with open seating from 7:30 to 9:30pm, Stella Bistro for contemporary French dishes and AmphorA which spotlights local specialties. There’s also the Veranda on the top deck with a la carte and buffet selections for breakfast and lunch and an outdoor grill station for cooked-to-order burgers. Candles Grill serves steaks and seafood “under the stars” in the evenings and the Yacht Club Sandwich and Espresso Bar offers homemade gourmet sandwiches.

The atmosphere is relaxed with much of the clientele being well-traveled and sophisticated but not snobby. There are no formal evenings where a jacket and tie might be required for the guys. Guests ranged in age from the 20s to the 70s and while there were a couple of kids onboard, the line is really not geared for them as there are no kid-friendly activities.

One desirable advantage of cruising with Windstar is that the itinerary usually includes full day (or overnight) stops at major ports. We arrived in Monte Carlo at 8 a.m. and departed later that night at 1am, allowing an entire day to explore the legendary principality where Hollywood’s Grace Kelly became a princess.  No place on the Riviera is more evocative of movie star glamour than Cannes, our next port, and home of the annual film festival in May. Try catching a glimpse of the stars posing on the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festival (or pose in front of it yourself as many visitors do) then stroll along La Croisette. Next, have a drink and soak up the atmosphere at one of the luxury hotels such as the Hotel Martinez, or the Carlton – featured in To Catch a Thief starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. Even if you’re not there at the time of the festival, you can still see the stars’ handprints in the pavement in front of the Office of Tourisme, or take your own cinematic stroll around Cannes on “Le Circuit des Murs Peints“, where you’ll view the series of 15 film-themed murals on the walls and sides of many of the buildings.

From Cannes, you can easily reach St. Tropez by boat or car. Once a quaint fishing village popular with artists, today it is one of the world’s top destinations for movie royalty and real life royals. On the map since 1956 when Brigitte Bardot appeared in Roger Vadim’s And God Created Women, its reputation as the party town of the Riviera with billionaire yachts lining the harbor in summer is legendary.

If rock star-style partying isn’t your scene, escape the maddening crowd and head to the exclusive Chateâu de la Messardière. Situated on a hillside above St. Tropez, this luxury hotel is a tranquil oasis set amid 25-acres of gardens. Maintaining St. Tropez’s artistic history, it even has an art gallery with exhibitions by international artists.

Windstar’s Wind Surf delivered a relaxed yachting feel without sacrificing space, service or modern amenities. And what’s more I got to connect with my love of film.

www.windstarcruises.com.