We boarded The Silver Wind in Barbados, after a pell-mell dash from Grantley Adams airport (due to the late arrival of our flight from Fort Lauderdale) , eventually arriving at 9:30pm, which felt like minutes before departure! After that headlong dash there was only one place to go – The Bar. We were greeted like long lost friends and served swiftly with flutes of bubbly; at last a quiet moment, to reflect and settle, in the cosy, clubby atmosphere. The rest of the interior of the ship was equally welcoming, more so after the recent refurbishment of the major public areas.

We had a Medallion suite on the 8th deck, for’ard of the swimming pool area, and from the start, our Butler, Vinay delightful Indian man, was courteous, efficient and endlessly patient. He served our breakfasts and afternoon canapés on the balcony and tended to our daily laundry, which was joy. The rest of the crew was equally friendly and courteous and seemed to know our names almost from the moment we boarded; they made it feel like a home away from home.

Our cruise departed from Barbados and took us to Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Curaçao and back to Barbados. Our shore excursion on Aruba comprised a little sightseeing, including the lighthouse and then a trip in a semi-submersible to view the wreck German freighter, scuttled during the very early months of WW2. For the rest we wandered the local bazaars and soaked in the atmosphere.

Our voyage was made all the more pleasurable because we were upgraded to a Medallion suite, which included complementary laundry, free and unlimited wifi and a large walk-in closet; another joy. The veranda was large enough for two sun-beds, a small dining table and chairs and a lounger built for two. Overall we were impressed by the friendliness of the staff, the cosy, intimate feel of the ship and the leisurely relaxed pace of life. Would we cruise on the Wind again? Absolutely!

Contributed by Lynne Adams
An independent affiliate of Direct Travel