Club Med is a single ship cruise line, as it only operates Club Med 2. Club Med started out as a holiday resort company in 1950; it was founded by Belgian entrepreneur Gerard Blitz. Accommodations were basic, as guests would camp in huts and tents and a central area was available for meals, activities and entertainment. There was no comfort to be found anywhere. This worked quite well for the first couple of decades when the tourist industry was still in its infancy and guests were not very demanding. But this changed over time when going on holiday once or even multiple times a year got in reach of the masses. Around the turn of the century it seemed that Club Med needed to reinvent themselves with a new concept. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York the company went deep into the red. It was decided to make a full turn to go upmarket with with luxury accommodations in all-inclusive resorts.
However, already before changing its concept, Club Med became owner of not one but even two cruise ships, Club Med 1 (1989) and Club Med 2 (1991).
In 1984 a US company Windstar Cruises was founded. They wanted to enter the cruise business by operating luxury sailing ships. These were ordered from French shipyard Societe Nouvelle des Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre. Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Song proved very successful and Windstar planned to expand by ordering two larger vessels, also sail cruisers. Construction had just begun when Holland America Line took over Windstar Cruises in 1987/ 1988. Holland America was not convinced these newbuildings were really needed and at that time they also did not have the financial means to go forward so they wanted out of the contract.
Suite on board Club Med 2
The French government however wanted the yard to complete both vessels to secure employment for the yard’s workers and they decided to intervene. A new agreement was negotiated and both vessels would now be delivered to Club Med, meaning also an important expansion for them at a time they really needed it. However, there was a clause in the contract stating that if Windstar (Holland America) decided to acquire one or both of the ships later in time they could do so.
Club Med 1 was delivered first in 1989 and immediately became a great success, cruising in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Club Med 2 followed two years later, she was an identical sister ship and was subsequently operated in Asia and the Pacific region (her engine was therefore more powerful as she needed to cover greater distances especially in the Pacific). She was fitted with diesel-electric power, having four diesel generators that power two electric motors.
In 1998 Windstar/ HAL decided to expand after all and they exercised the option to acquire the Club Med ships, but they only acquired Club Med 1 which they renamed Wind Surf. Club Med now continued as a single ship operator (besides their core business of running luxury holiday resorts). Club Med 2 was originally planned to become Wind Saga but this never came to pass.
Let us tour Club Med 2 and start at deck E- EIAO, where most public spaces are located. All aft we find the outdoor pool and going inside bar Venise next to it. Twin corridors lead to the Pacific Lounge, on the way passing the guest services and excursions desk as well as the boutique. The Pacific Lounge is the main lounge where different kinds of activities take place like gymnastics in the early morning and of course show performances on the centrally located stage at night. Aft in this lounge, the Pacific Bar invites for drinks. A nice touch are the small seating areas on port and starboard side of the lounge. Bulkheads with large openings giving passengers seated here some peace and quiet being separated from the center part of the room. They have been installed during one of the ship’s refits. Passing through the Pacific Lounge going forward we enter the most forward located space on E-deck, the ship’s main restaurant the Magellan. Exquisite French dishes are served here. To make it feel more intimate dividing screens representing journeys of discovery in bygone eras have been placed during her 2008 interior refurbishment. When I visited Club Med 2 in 2000 the room was decorated in light colors, with blue (nautical) accents. Nowadays dark red upholstery and carpet give this room a more classic, chic look.
One deck up, on deck F-FIDJI, there is only one public room, the Moby Dick Bar which can be found all the way aft. A colossal sculpture on the wall and ceiling of a whale’s tail decorates the room. Except as a bar, it doubles as a disco at night.
Club Med 2 has an excellent crew to passenger ratio, 214 crew (40 officers and sailors, 60 GO members (see below) and 100 crew hotel services) taking care of 368 passengers. For non-French passengers, things can be diificult at times as often French terms are used.
For example the cruise director is called Chef de Villlage just like in Club Med’s holiday resorts. The cruise staff entertaining guests is referred to as the GO-team, which is short for Gentil Oganisateurs (friendly organisers) and so forth. GO-team members frequently join passengers practising the different watersports they can choose from when the watersports-platform is folded out at the ship’s stern. Most watersports are included in the cruise fare, like snorkelling and water-skiing.
The Moby Dick Bar before and after the interior refurbishment of 2008 by Sophie Jaqmin:
Next to it the spa and beauty salon is situated. Completely forward are 5 deluxe staterooms (24 m2) and the owners suite (40 m2). Apart from these, Club Med 2 has 168 Club staterooms measuring 18 m2, and 10 suites of 36 m2 on her three lowest decks, decks Borneo, Caraibes and Desirade. Yet another deck up, deck G-Grenadines and starting aft again Club Med 2‘s fourth bar, the Albatros Bar is located and midships a second pool with lido area, the adjacent inside seating area is called the Veranda. Passing through the Veranda we enter Restauarant Mediterranee where breakfast nand luch are offered buffet-style. Part of it is outdoors and a la carte dinner is served here at night. Especially the outdoor part is popular so advance bookings are needed.
The Magellan main dining room before and after the interior refurbishment in 2008 by Sophie Jaqmin:
Of course the 5 Y-shaped masts and simple rigging clearly indicate that Club Med 2 is a motor sail yacht guaranteeing that she can reach all ports of her itinerary in time, although daily after having left port weather permitting her sails are used. Her 7 sails totalling 2500 square meters are computer controlled hoisted and lowered from the bridge using the same (slightly improved) automated-system as was originally developed for the Windstar vessels. She measures 14,980GRT and with her length of 194 metres she is one of the world’s largest sail cruisers. On the other hand, her modest draft of 5 metres allows her to call at ports the mega-cruise ships cannot enter. She therefore often sails on interesting itineraries in the Mediterranean during the summer and spends her winters in the Caribbean, repositioning in between. When checking Club Med’s website we see that the majority of her cruises are mini-cruises of 4 and 5 days. It is not easy to find information on the Club Med website, as it is difficult to navigate and not much info is given. So it is best to contact the (Club Med) travel agency for assistance when making reservations.
In 2008 Club Med 2 was completely overhauled and refurbished. During this revamp her interiors have been upgraded by Sophie Jaqmin, a French interior architect specialising in hotels and resorts whose star has risen significantly during the last decade, having put together an impressive portfolio. Ambience on board now is more luxurious and chic, with warmer colors better fitting the upscale market she aims at. Her refurbishment was inspired by explorers’ adventures, and apart from the work done on her public spaces, all staterooms and suites received new bedding. Her spa and hair dresser were linked with top brand Carita while her fitness center remained under the Club Med Gym label. Finally, her two restaurants Magellan and Mediterranee and the Pacific main lounge were upgraded. The end result according to Club Med has made Club Med 2 rise to a “Five Tridents” classification, their highest ranking in service and luxury.
It seems that with Club Med 2, now, Club Med has an important asset in the nich market for sail cruises.
