Table Of Content
Windstar is ideal if you like to dress casually when on holiday as there are no formal nights. The dress code is informal both day and night - although if you want to dress up you can - just leave your tux and stilettos at home. The Caribbean-bound sailings bring calls along the Pacific side of Costa Rica and Panama. The redeployment more than doubles Windstar's capacity in the region, a sign of just how popular these trips have become. In 2024, the 312-passenger Star Pride will call on places like Heimaey Island, where passengers see the frozen-in-place lava flows of a famous 1973 eruption that covered a third of the town.
Windstar Cruises
Highlights include overnights in Abu Dhabi UAE and Doha Qatar, a late night in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK City, UAE), stops in Khasab (Musandam Oman), Fujairah UAE, Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE private island). In February 2023, Windstar launched Starlink Maritime's satellite internet capabilities fleetwide. Previously, all Windstar ships used for internet services Anuvu (geostationary satellite technology). Starlink amplified Anuvu, delivering reliable and faster internet via Low Earth Orbit satellites using lasers so communication/connections are made even at sea (further away from land-based stations). For example, both of the vessels will get water sports platforms, something that isn't currently part of their design. Windstar's fleet is so small that many cruisers find that the destination guides their vacation choice more than the ship.
Tell us about the suites onboard
All staterooms have ocean views, queen beds, flat-screen TV with DVD player, and the Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area. The initial vessel, Star Seeker, currently under construction at WestSEA shipyard (in Viana do Castelo) is slated for delivery in December 2025, followed by Star Explorer in December 2026. In late 2023 Atlas took on a third ship, World Voyager, adding capacity sooner than anticipated. World Seeker going to Windstar still leaves future capacity growth for Atlas Ocean Voyages, with two newbuilds, World Adventurer, due in 2026, and World Discoverer, scheduled for 2027, in the orderbook. The two ship additions represent a 30% capacity increase for Windstar, from 1,500 berths to 2,000 berths. 'They will be full-on Windstar ships,' Prelog told Seatrade Cruise News.
MSC Cruises adjusts Musica's summer itinerary amid Middle East geopolitical landscape
There is also the WorldSpa by Windstar where guests can indulge in a range of beauty treatments and massages. For the most part, WIndstar's lineup of Caribbean cruises is focused on round-trip, seven-night sailings out of St. Martin or Barbados. Among all the Windstar cruise destinations, Europe might be the most popular. As is often the case with higher-end lines, Windstar has a particularly large footprint when it comes to Europe itineraries.
Windstar's cruise ship Star Legend to showcase new Mediterranean routes in 2025
Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet - Cruise Industry News
Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet.
Posted: Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The compact ships are easy to get around and it feels like you are on a private yacht rather than a commercial ship. At times, the line will run back-to-back seven-night sailings in the Caribbean with different itineraries. The two trips can be paired to create a longer, 14-night voyage with few repeating ports.
Themed Cruises
Star Seeker and Star Explorer feature ice-strengthened hulls, granting access to new destinations. Equipped with cutting-edge safety, propulsion, and navigation technology, including pump jet thrusters and forward-facing Sonar, the ships prioritize safety and efficiency. To minimize environmental impact and uphold sustainability commitments, the vessels are outfitted with tier III Nox-rated Rolls Royce engines and shore power connectivity to reduce port emissions.
Northern Europe
Advanced wastewater treatment systems meet global standards, demonstrating the company’s dedication to environmental stewardship. Windstar is a relatively small cruise line with just six ships, but its ships visit a wide array of cruise destinations. The line is known for regularly moving its vessels around the world to offer a diverse lineup of itineraries everywhere from North America and Europe to French Polynesia.
Sale of Windstar to Xanterra Travel Collection
In addition, the line also sometimes offers Caribbean sailings out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with calls in St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island of St. Martin), Guadeloupe, St. Lucia and the Grenadines. Windstar has been a longtime leader in French Polynesia cruises, too, operating in the region for 37 years. In fact, it's one of just two traditional cruise lines that dominate the market for French Polynesia voyages — the other being one-ship line Paul Gauguin Cruises. Of all the places that Windstar ships sail, none gets as much focus from the line as the Mediterranean. As of the publishing of this story, a whopping 212 of the 534 voyages on the line's schedule for the coming year included calls in the region.
A Traveler’s Guide: Best Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun
The shipbuilder is the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo (Portugal). The ships are with max capacity of 224 passengers (112 staterooms) and with all-suite accommodations. In early-February 2019, the company announced "Club 180" program designed to reward top-performing travel agencies. The amenities that they can offer to potential customers include free Wi-Fi, laundry, OBC, priority services, benefits for travel agents, plus Windstar's support on marketing-sales. The 3-level "Club 180" program was initially based on sales results in 2018, with membership renewed annually (adding new members in December).
This intimacy provides you with the luxuries of time, space, and freedom to immerse yourself in both the journey and the destination - in ways you may never have imagined possible. Star Seeker and Star Explorer both have ice-strengthened hulls, unlocking access to new destinations, however Prelog indicated they won't be operating as expedition ships or going to the poles. But the capability could come in handy for destinations like Alaska and Greenland.
In a typical year, Windstar will offer as many as two departures a week through the Panama Canal from late November through the end of March. It typically has two of its six vessels operating such journeys in winter — one sailing ship and one motor ship. As is the case with many Panama Canal cruises, passengers on Windstar canal cruises also get a second chance to experience the canal the day before or after the transit when their ship docks at one side or the other of the canal. Shore excursions will take them to the locks for an up-close view of the lock chambers that their ship will navigate the next day (or passed through the previous day). When sailing out of St. Martin, the voyages typically include stops in St. Barts, Antigua, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
In December 2022 was appointed Bjoern Wassmuth (previously employed by Seabourn) as Windstar's Culinary Director. He is responsible for the fleetwide menus and development of recipes and also provides overall supervision of the onboard dining program. The ships' drydock lengthening included cutting each vessel in two and installing a new (prefabricated) midship section with length 25 m (83 ft). These sections were built (pre-fabricated and assembled) in Trieste, then barged to Palermo to be inserted into the vessels.
No comments:
Post a Comment