The Luxury Traveler's Decision Guide
Comparing the Wind Class Yachts
«Wind Surf offers more space, dining variety and accommodation choice, while Wind Spirit and Wind Star deliver an even more intimate, private-yacht at...
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Explore the differences between Windstar's legendary sailing yachts.
With seven sails and expansive outdoor spaces, Wind Surf is the largest and most iconic of the Wind Class yachts, offering a perfect blend of genuine sailing romance and premium amenities.
Explore the specifications of each vessel.
The flagship 5-masted sailing yacht carrying 342 guests. Offers the most amenities and dining options among the sailing fleet.
An intimate 4-masted sailing yacht carrying 148 guests. Famous for navigating narrow passages and shallow lagoons.
The identical sister to Windstar, carrying 148 guests. Beloved for its classic ambiance and impeccable service.
The smaller Windstar and Wind Spirit excel in Tahiti and the Greek Isles, while Wind Surf dominates the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
The smaller yachts excel in shallow turquoise lagoons.
Docking in boutique ports like Monemvasia.
Wind Surf perfectly anchors in secluded bays like Jost Van Dyke.
Sailing effortlessly into Portofino and Monte Carlo.
Choosing between Wind Surf and its smaller sister ships (Windstar and Wind Spirit) is a question of scale and intimacy.
At 342 guests,Wind Surfis significantly larger. It offers more restaurants, more deck space, and a larger spa. However, it requires deeper anchorages in some regions.
At 148 guests,Windstar and Wind Spiritoffer an incredibly intimate, private-yacht feel. They can anchor in shallow lagoons and hidden coves that larger ships cannot access. The tradeoff is fewer dining venues and smaller overall footprints.
Size dictates the experience. Choose the scale that fits your travel style.
Experience the grandeur of a five-masted sailing yacht.
| Specification | Wind Surf | Windstar & Wind Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Guest Capacity | 342 Guests | 148 Guests |
| Crew Count | 210 Crew | 101 Crew |
| Guest-to-Crew Ratio | 1.6 to 1 | 1.5 to 1 |
| Tonnage | 14,745 Gross Registered Tons | 5,307 Gross Registered Tons |
| Length | 535 Feet (162 Meters) | 360 Feet (110 Meters) |
| Masts & Sails | 5 Masts, 7 Sails | 4 Masts, 6 Sails |
| Dining Venues | 5 Restaurants | 3 Restaurants |
| Watersports Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Elevators | Yes (2) | No |
| Year Built/Remodeled | 1990 / 2019 | 1986, 1988 / 2021 |
Compare the culinary options aboard the sailing yachts.
The beautiful main dining room featured on all three ships.
A French-inspired venue exclusive to Wind Surf.
The signature outdoor steakhouse and grill on all ships.
Casual outdoor dining available on the larger Wind Surf.
"When you step aboard a 148-guest yacht like Windstar or Wind Spirit, the crew knows your name by the end of day one. It is the closest thing to owning your own vessel."
Discover the feeling of your own private yacht.
CEO & Founder, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel
Angela Hughes is one of North America's premier luxury travel experts, with over 40 years of industry experience and visits to 121+ countries. Honored as a 2024 Luxury Travel Influencer Award Winner and recognized on TravelPulse’s 2026 Most Influential Women in Travel list.
"The best Windstar yacht is not necessarily the ship with the most impressive specifications. It is the ship that best matches the way you want to travel."
— Angela Hughes, On Greece PlanningEverything you need to know about choosing the right yacht.
Wind Surf is a 5-masted yacht carrying 342 guests, while Windstar and Wind Spirit are 4-masted yachts carrying just 148 guests.
Windstar and Wind Spirit's smaller footprint allows them to access secluded lagoons and tiny harbors that even Wind Surf cannot reach.
As the larger vessel, Wind Surf offers additional dining venues like Stella Bistro, providing more variety for extended voyages.
Yes, all three ships use their sails whenever wind conditions permit, delivering an authentic and magical sailing experience.
Windstar and Wind Spirit are perfect for Tahiti due to their ability to navigate the shallow, coral-ringed lagoons of the South Pacific.
No, the casually elegant dress code is uniform across the entire Windstar fleet.
The 148-guest yachts foster an incredibly intimate environment where you'll likely recognize every guest by the end of the trip. Wind Surf offers a slightly more bustling, social atmosphere.
Yes, all three sailing yachts feature the Watersports Platform, allowing direct ocean access when at anchor.
Wind Surf features the expansive World Spa by Windstar, offering a wider array of treatments and facilities than its smaller sisters.
The standard ocean-view staterooms are very similar in size and layout across all three sailing yachts, focusing on efficient, yacht-style comfort.
Wind Surf provides more space, more dining options, and a wider variety of public areas, making it slightly more accommodating for diverse family groups.
Yes, the computer-operated sails provide genuine propulsion, though the ships also use engines to maintain strict cruise schedules.
While smaller vessels can be more sensitive to sea conditions, their advanced sailing technology and stabilization systems ensure a comfortable ride.
All three are incredibly romantic. Wind Surf offers the grandeur of 7 massive sails, while Wind Spirit and Windstar offer the romance of complete intimacy.
Speak with our luxury travel advisors to design your perfect itinerary.
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