What to Expect.......
If this will be your first cruise, you are probably curious about what to expect on your trip. In general, expect a lot of time to relax, a lot of good food, a lot of exercise and a lot of fun. Windjammer cruises are inherently relaxing. The fresh air, exercise, food and fun are a great antidote for the stretch and sag of everyday living. You'll be sailing along at a snails pace with occassional bursts of speed, if you call 10 knots fast. The leisurely pace gives you plenty of time to read, sleep and just take it easy.

Most windjammer cruises offer plenty of good, hearty home-style cooking to keep your sea-air-honed appetite satisfied. Meals are served in the salon or on deck and are a great time to get to know everyone. Many of the chefs have their own specialties that are usually delicious. Lots of home-baked breads, hearty soups and other main courses. Unless you are on a vessel like the Star Clipper, don't expect too many salads. Because of tight storage space and small refrigerated storage capacity, a lot of fresh veggies and salads just won't happen. But not to worry, the food is very good and you'll not go hungry!

Another delight is variety of adult beverages. Many Caribbean windjammer cruises lean towards more party-oriented styles and offer a great variety of rum drinks and other libations. On a barefoot cruise, you'll have Bloody Marys at sunrise, dynamite rum swizzles topside before dinner and wine or champagne at dinner. The bar is usually open and their rum concoctions are legendary. New England cruises, on the other hand, tend to be more family oriented and frown on excessive drinking. You can bring your own bottle and mix with soft drinks, but keep in mind that sailing three-sheets-to-the-wind is not a good idea.

Pre-planned activites are usually kept to a minimum on Windjammer cruises. There are token sailing classes, knot tying classes and a variety of other fun activities from cheesy talent shows to toga parties. Some of these activities can get pretty crazy and perhaps not the best for young children. Smaller New England vessels lean towards educational activities such as whale watching, bird watching, real sail handling, navigation, etc. By the way, kids will always find lots of things to do. All vessels can keep you busy if you can't stand to sit still, but leisure is still the order of the day.

What about sail handling? Here you are on this great sailing ship, ready to heave ho. Well, the fact is, these are primarily leisure cruises that have a full complement of crew to handle the real work. You will be able to help raise the sails every time you set sail, but other work that requires climbing in the rigging is usually reserved for crew only. The crew is trained well and shipmates are rarely allowed in the rigging for safety reasons. The smaller schooners of Maine offer more sail-active cruises with a lot more opportunity for passengers to help.

Ah, the comforts of home. If you can't live without them, don't take a windjammer cruise unless you can afford the best cabins. By nature, cabins on sailing ships are small, cramped and often dimly lit. Deck cabins are more roomy and command premium prices. But don't let the small cabin space deter you from taking a cruise. You'll spend little time in your cabin, often sleeping topside under the stars. Showers and head are often combined into one small area, storage area is tight and bunks short for tall folks. The more expensive cabins, more luxurious vessels, the less you'll notice such discomforts.