Teri West
The summer cruise season has commenced, and thousands of Americans will sail to large and busy ports like Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens), Marseilles and Santorini.
But some cruises are headed to lesser-known locales like Collioure and Sete, where Windstar called with the 342-guest Wind Surf this month. There were few American tourists in these charming coastal ports in France.
Small-ship lines like Windstar scout for such ports, taking pride in offering a curated and unique experience. It's a great fit for cruise clients seeking someplace different and uncrowded to visit.
The five-mast Wind Surf was the only cruise ship in the small Mediterranean ports, where locals went about their day and European tourists headed to beaches and sidewalk cafes.
I love a big city but adored the opportunity to explore small towns, browsing fruit markets, dining at local restaurants and taking in the scenery.
In Sete, I couldn't resist sampling the strawberries at the outdoor food market. At a sidewalk cafe, I enjoyed a seafood platter with shrimp, clams and mussels.
A shopkeeper at a clothing store who didn't speak English, like most of the sellers I interacted with, used Google translate to tell me about the local designer of a clothing brand she had in stock.
Collioure is a town just 15 miles from the Spanish border. One couple I spoke with who are loyal Windstar fans called Collioure one of their favorite ports anywhere. I found it to be a fairytale-like destination because of its colorful architecture, seaside castle and picturesque beaches accessible on foot.
During a kayaking excursion in Collioure, a swimming race was happening on our route. My guide yelled "go, go, go!" when there was a gap between swimmers and it was safe cross their line. There's an outdoor fitness culture along Collioure's hilly coast, and our small group of kayakers were a part of it.
It was a fantastic small-port experience.