We continue to see positive news cycles about vaccine distributions and the broader outlook on recovery from the pandemic is becoming brighter.  As a result, we are seeing bookings pick up, especially in 2022.  We are monitoring the situation closely and of course, as you know, things do continually evolve and change. It’s important that when we return to cruising we ensure the health and safety of both our guests and our crew and that we are able to comply with the ever-changing rules and regulations of the ports of call we visit. Canada recently extended its cruise restrictions through February 2022 and as a result we have had to cancel our fall 2021 Canada & New England sailings. Additionally, we have made the difficult decision to push back our overall return to sailing dates from May to June 2021. In light of the booking momentum we are experiencing for fall of 2021 and 2022, we are pleased to share that we are extending our SAIL SMALL: Live Large with Big Perks consumer wave offer and our Sell Small with Windstar: Earn Larger Rewards advisor wave offer; including, the Groups Promotion and Sell 3, Sail Free until March 31, 2021.  You can read more about these updates below. 

 

We always want to provide the best possible cruise experience that we can for your clients. With the information we have today on COVID-19 transmission rates, travel restrictions, and government regulations, we have made the decision to postpone our resumption of operations from May to June 2021. Unfortunately, this means we had to cancel some bookings. If you are a Travel Advisor whose booking has been cancelled, you will have received a letter detailing the cancellation offer. Otherwise, below details the new sailing date for each ship and their respective sailing regions:

• Wind Spirit – June 10, 2021 – Tahiti
• Star Breeze – June 19, 2021 – Caribbean
• Wind Star – June 19, 2021 – Mediterranean
• Wind Surf – June 29, 2021 – Mediterranean
• Star Legend – July 14, 2021 – Northern Europe
• Star Pride – July 14, 2021 – Northern Europe/Iceland

 

To give you more time to can earn your rewards, we have extended our SELL SMALL: Earn Larger Rewards advisor Pick your Perk until March 31, 2021! For every booking you make, you earn your choice of a $50 bonus commission or a $50 gift card.  If you book new-to-Windstar guests, the offer DOUBLES to a choice between a $100 bonus commission or a $100 gift card. In addition, we have extended our groups promotion so that your group earns a Tour Conductor credit at a reduced rate of 1:7, normally 1:9, on Star Advantage Group dates also to March 31, 2021. We have also extended the Sell 3, Sail Free promotion until March 31st, and extended the range of qualifying bookings through 2022. If the three qualifying bookings are in 2021, you have until March 31, 2022 to take your free cruise. If the three qualifying bookings contain 2022 itineraries, you have until December 31, 2022 to take your free cruise.

Questions? Feel free to email Windstar_Sales@WIndstarCruises.com and we will do our best to help you!

 

To give your clients more time to book their 2022 voyages, we’ve also extended our Sail Small: Live Large with Big Perks promotion until March 31, 2021. Your clients are able to pick their perk, with options that include:

• Up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom/suite or
• One night hotel pre- or post-cruise on European voyages or
• Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package (wine, beer, spirits, soda)* or
• Free Wi-Fi

Even more bonuses:

• Single supplement reduced to as low as 20% on select sailings
• Save up to 20% on Star Collector Voyages
• Yacht Club Members receive double the onboard credit when referring a friend ($200 onboard credit per guest)

Guests may pick one complimentary perk which varies depending on the length of their cruise and room category.  Visit our Advisor Hub to download marketing assets to help you promote Windstar's SAIL SMALL: Live Large with Big Perks offer to your clients.

 

*Terms & Conditions apply, choice only applicable to Premium Suite guests, or guests booked in Owner’s Suite and Classic Suite, and on Wind Surf Bridge Suite, Officer’s Suite, and Suites

 

To help explain our Beyond Ordinary Care Program, Chris Prelog, our new President of Windstar Cruises, created a video detailing our program. This is a great video to send clients who want to know more about the safety precautions being taken on board.

WATCH VIDEO >>

We recently wrote a blog post on the differences between Big Versus Small Ship cruises. There are lots of useful brand propositions that you can utilize to present Windstar to your clients.  You could also send the article directly to your Windstar prospects who have sailed on a larger ship, but who you think might benefit from a more authentic and personalized travel experience.

READ POST >> 

It’s hard to believe it has been almost a full year living in a world defined by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Now, with positive news about vaccinations becoming more prevalent, we are starting to see pent up demand for travel turn into real bookings.  Hopefully, the coming months will really bring us all a successful “wave” of business much like the traditional Wave season.   Now is a great time to recommend Windstar Cruises to your clients for 2021 or 2022.  Our small ship advantage of 148-342 guests, coupled with our Beyond Ordinary Care program, a multimillion dollar 

investment in all of our yachts, will provide a safer environment for your clients. Hospital grade high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters along with a UV-C air cleansing process (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) make us an ideal choice for cruisers looking to return to the sea. Our beautifully appointed yachts offer plenty of wide-open deck space on board so that your clients won’t encounter any crowds. And of course, our Star Plus Class yachts will return to service sporting the many new suites and venues of our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative!

To assist you in promoting our brand to your clients, we recently updated our customizable, digital 2021-2023 Voyage Collection Brochure. We encourage you to put your  or your agency’s contact information on the last page and send it to your clients.  It is available electronically so you can immediately share, or you can order the standard version to be mailed to your clients.  All signs point to this year as the year that guests will be looking for small ship vacations and our three sailing yachts and three all-suite yachts will exceed their expectations.

Smooth Sailing,

 

Steven Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

As part of our Wave season offer, we have designed a "Pick Your Perk" for you and your clients. For every booking you make, you earn your choice of a $50 bonus commission or $50 gift card.  If you book new-to-Windstar guests, the offer DOUBLES to a choice between a $100 bonus commission or $100 gift card.  In addition, we have extended our groups promotion so that your group earns a Tour Conductor credit at a reduced rate of 1:7, normally 1:9, on Star Advantage Group dates. And the Sell 3, Sail Free promotion rewards a free cruise to you when you sell three qualifying voyages in 2021. 

We're ready to welcome your clients aboard and whisk them away to fascinating corners of the globe. On Windstar, they will feel like they are sailing on a beautifully designed private yacht, with spacious ocean-view staterooms, World Spa by Windstar, and exquisite regional dishes prepared on board using fresh, local ingredients.  With Windstar your clients are set up for a vacation that will show them hidden ports of call larger ships can’t reach and iconic destinations from a new perspective; and because our yachts carry only 148-342 guests, they'll enjoy genuine and thoughtful service in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that fosters lasting friendships with fellow travelers and crew.

 

Running from January 5 through February 28, 2021, your clients are able to pick their perk, with options that include:

• Up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom/suite or
• One night hotel pre- or post-cruise on Europe voyages or
• Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package (wine, beer, spirits, soda)* or
• Free Wi-Fi

Even more bonuses:

• Single supplement reduced to as low as 20% on select sailings
• Save up to 20% on Star Collector Voyages
• Yacht Club Members receive double the onboard credit when referring a friend ($200 onboard credit per guest)
• Reduced deposits of 5% on all 2021 voyages

Guests may pick one complimentary perk which varies depending on the length of their cruise and stateroom category.  Visit our Advisor Hub to download marketing assets to help you promote Windstar's SAIL SMALL: Live Large with Big Perks offer to your clients.

*Terms & Conditions apply, choice only applicable to Premium Suite guests, or guests booked in Owner’s Suite and Classic Suite, and on Wind Surf Bridge Suite, Officer’s Suite, and Suites

We are proud to announce that our new Voyage Collection has arrived and will be sent to Tier 3, Tier 4 Yacht Club Members, and all Tier 1 and Tier 2 Yacht Club Members who are only 7 points away from the next level by next Friday. A physical copy of the brochure will be available to order on either the Windstar website or the Advisor Hub. We have also created a customizable digital version of the brochure so that you can put your company’s CTA on the last page to send a brochure to your clients.

Inside you will find all the updates on our itineraries, with new options in 2022 in the Black Sea, Australia and New Zealand, the Holy Lands, and remote islands in the South Pacific. In keeping with what we do best, we’ve put an emphasis on less-visited ports and places only yachts like ours can go. Plus, we’ve added 7 new Cruise Tours that show you the best destinations on both land and sea. For more information on the itineraries, you can read our press release on the new Voyage Collection here.

Windstar's promise to deliver service that is 180 degrees from ordinary goes beyond the voyages and the guest experience; it is woven into the fabric of how we support our Travel Advisors. Meet Diego Suarez, our Inside Sales Coordinator and fearless leader behind Windstar_Sales@WindstarCruises.com for all things support-related for our Travel Advisors and Sales Team. His comprehensive role involves managing online accounts, working with Accounting to ensure invoices and commissions are paid, coordinating ship visits, running sales reports, auditing promotions, and much more. In his words, “The most important part of my role is going above and beyond for our beloved Travel Advisors and making sure everything goes smoothly. This is true for our Sales Team as well!”

Diego joined Windstar three years ago in the Marketing Department before transitioning over to Sales. Prior to working at Windstar, he had worked at various art museums in Seattle and Santa Fe. His serendipitous entry into the travel industry was a match made in heaven; as a self-proclaimed foodie and a lover of travel and people, he couldn't be more proud to be part of a boutique cruise line that truly delivers distinctive experiences unlike any other.

The excitement to resume sailing is strongly felt by Diego. Like most people in the travel industry, Diego enjoys trying new foods, wine tastings, and experiencing the thrill of a new destination. He has a dream of sailing across the Almafi coast, ideally on the Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast itinerary, where he can truly enjoy some of his favorite indulgences: sun, pasta, and a perfectly chilled Negroni. He aspires to visit many truly one of a kind destinations that are niche. Rumor has it, Windstar can take you to secluded and tucked-away ports for an experience like no other.

He has seen Star Legend twice in her visits to Seattle and was impressed by the intimate and casually elegant spaces, as well as by the gracious and friendly crew members. Diego is also very excited about the newly renovated Star Plus Class ships, especially for the new Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso restaurant which is an addition to the innovative culinary experience on board and is perfect for a foodie like him.

Diego couldn't be more proud to deliver excellent service to our beloved Travel Advisor community, and looks forward to a bright future full of travel.

While this was not a typical holiday season, I do hope you still managed to connect with loved ones, even if this year it was a virtual connection. As this newsletter publishes, we are wrapping up our annual Holiday Sale, and we are ramping up in preparation for the traditional Wave season.  We continue to hear that your clients have a growing, renewed interest in travel and in particular, small ship cruising. As our most valued travel partner, and to assist you in promoting Windstar Cruises, we wanted to give you a preview of the upcoming promotion.
 

Additionally, we’ve sat down with our Destination Product Manager of the Caribbean, Michele Hanson, to share with you some of her favorite selling points of recently transformed Star Breeze’s new summer Caribbean itineraries.  Lastly, remember our Beyond Ordinary Care Program and Travel Assurance Booking Policy will continue to be key closing tools in the upcoming months while travel returns to normal, so it’s a great opportunity to refresh yourself with the details of these programs.

Smooth Sailing,




Steven Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

The Sail Small, Live Large with Big Perks offer lets travelers choose one from a set of complimentary perks plus a reduced deposit of 5%. To recognize you, we are adding in a Travel Advisor “Pick Your Perk,” extending our groups promotion, as well as our popular Sell 3, Sail Free offer which gives you a chance to earn your own free Windstar cruise!
 
Running from January 5 through February 28, 2021, Windstar’s “Pick Your Perk” savings options include:

• Up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom/suite or
• One night hotel pre- or post-cruise on Europe voyages or
• Captain's Choice beverage package (wine, beer, spirits, soda)* or
• Free Wi-Fi

Guests may pick one complimentary perk which varies depending on the length of their cruise and room category. Along with this offer, deposits have been reduced from 15% of cruise fare to 5% on all 2021 voyages. Windstar’s updated Travel Assurance Booking Policy allows cancellation up to 48 hours prior to departure on 2021 cruises.
 
As part of our wave season offer, Travel Advisors will earn the choice of a $50 bonus commission or $50 gift card on each booking or $100 bonus commission or $100 gift card per booking for new-to-Windstar guests. An extension of our current groups promotion lets advisors earn a Tour Conductor credit at a reduced rate of 1:7 on Star Advantage Group dates, normally 1:9. And the Sell 3, Sail Free promotion gifts a free cruise to advisors when they sell three qualifying voyages in 2021. Qualifying cruises must be booked by February 28, 2021 and the advisor’s free cruise may be any voyage of eight days or fewer and must be taken by March 31, 2022.
 
*Choice only applicable to Premium Suite guests

The Caribbean is the epitome of most people’s dream sun vacation; beautiful beaches, lush, verdant rainforests, cultural heritage, shopping! What’s not to love?  I have had the distinct pleasure of helming Windstar’s Caribbean experience for 6 seasons, and through the years I have picked up a couple of local, favorite experiences that your clients are sure to love and are sure to gain you praise for your regional awareness.
 
I may be a little biased, but I think having access to our newly transformed Star Breeze sailing the Caribbean next summer is splendid. The Caribbean is just a stone’s throw away from Fort Lauderdale and our turn ports of Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Bridgetown, Barbados make it even more convenient for your clients to sail with us.
 
There are so many awesome experiences and ports to visit, I couldn’t ever list them all. But here are just a few highlights of some of the islands we call on.

• The British Virgin Islands offer some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. While in Virgin Gorda, visiting the famous landmark The Baths is a must for your clients. These massive granite boulders stand out against powdery white sand and crystal clear waters. There is also ziplining in Tortola, where your clients will have breathtaking views of Tortola and the surrounding islands while gliding through and over the rainforest.
• Mayreau is perfect for small ships. It is one of the smallest inhabited islands of the Grenadines and unbelievably quaint. The white sand beaches make it a perfect place for Windstar Cruises’ Signature Beach Party while enjoying the toys of our Watersports Platform.
• Dominica is one of the most unspoiled mountainous and greenest rainforests in the Caribbean. With stunning landforms, rivers and verdant greenery, there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the majestic Trafalgar Falls which is surrounded with picturesque landscapes, exotic flora, fauna and the natural hot springs.
• Curacao - The historic Willemstad Inner City and Harbour has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 1997 and is full of pastel colored colonial architecture. Curacao is known for its beaches, expansive coral reefs, and rich marine life, and along with Aruba and Bonaire make up the famous ABC Islands. Visiting the popular Hato Caves is a must. They consist of marine coral limestone accumulated over millions of years. After sea levels dropped, these corals were exposed to atmospheric corrosion and karstic processes making them a truly stunning spectacle.
• Montserrat is a beautiful mountainous Caribbean island named Pompeii of the Caribbean when the local volcano Soufrière Hills erupted and buried Plymouth in 1997. The Buried City Tour puts you close up and intimate with historical volcanic activity. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and will share very personal stories about how a tiny island lived with and through explosive and active volcanic episodes and how the local inhabitants continue to build up their island. Windstar Cruises was actually one of the first cruise lines to return to this island and this is honestly, one of my favorites.
• Barbados- Although known for having some of the most diverse beaches in the Caribbean, and being the birthplace of rum, I would actually recommend your clients go see Harrison's Cave, which is a magnificent natural phenomenon. Formed from a particularly beautiful type of crystallized limestone, this stunning cavern is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the entire Caribbean.  Though created over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, Harrison's Cave has only been accessible to the general public for some 15 years.
• St Maarten / Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. A must do is Dennis Conner's America's Cup, a unique adventure and a once in a lifetime opportunity which gives our guests the chance to compete in their own race around a shortened America's Cup course.

Regardless of what island you are on, the region is absolutely gorgeous in the summer with plenty of opportunities to take advantage of snorkeling, hiking, ziplining, diving, shopping, sailing past the Pitons, and of course enjoying our famous Private Signature Beach Party.
 
This is your clients’ chance to be one of the first guests to sail on Star Breeze post Star Plus Initiative! Beyond being on board and enjoying the Watersports Platform plus all the new amenities of Star Breeze, there is so much to do! Simply enjoying a cocktail on board at our new alfresco Star Grill by Stephen Raichlen or taking advantage of the new spa, your clients will have a blast. Encourage them to go and experience 180 Degrees from Ordinary!

Last week we made the difficult decision to redeploy our newly renovated Star Breeze out of Alaska for the 2021 summer season.  As you may be aware, new CDC regulations for vessels sailing out of US ports require that itineraries be no longer than 7 days.   Our itineraries, by design, are longer because it is difficult to deliver an authentic and enriching small ship Alaska experience in 7 days.   We remain committed to this great destination and our longer itineraries complete with our Signature Expeditions program remain open for sale for the 2022 season.
 

In lieu of Alaska, Star Breeze will debut her new look with the opportunity for your clients to escape and relax in the Caribbean.  For your cruising clients who are looking for a small ship experience and destinations that don’t have the larger crowds, our Caribbean itineraries are the perfect experience and come with the added benefit of being close to home.  I encourage you to check out the new itinerary schedule, included below. 

In preparation for WAVE, I also wanted to share some exciting news, exclusively for you: We are extending our Sell 3, Sail Free program as well our Groups Promotion until February 28, 2021. And keep your eyes on your inbox on Wednesday for our annual Holiday Sale, where we will be bidding Bon Voyage to 2020.

Smooth Sailing,


Steven Simao, CTO
Vice President of Sales

With Star Breeze taking advantage of the island life in 2021, there are more opportunities for your clients to book that beach and sun vacation they have been dreaming about.  The itineraries are live now in bookWINDSTAR ONLINE and will be coming online soon.

Date	Embark/Debark	Itinerary	Days
05/15/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway	7 days
05/22/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway	7 days
05/29/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway	7 days
06/05/2021	Philipsburg to Bridgetown	Lush & Lovely Islands of the Lesser Antilles	7 days
06/12/2021	Bridgetown to Bridgetown	Jewels of the Windward Islands	7 days
06/19/2021	Bridgetown to Oranjestad	Windward Ways & Tobago Cays	7 days
06/26/2021	Oranjestad to Bridgetown	Windward Ways & Tobago Cays	7 days
07/03/2021	Bridgetown to Bridgetown	Jewels of the Windward Islands	7 days
07/10/2021	Bridgetown to Philipsburg	Lush & Lovely Islands of the Lesser Antilles	7 days
07/17/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Yachtsman's Caribbean	7 days
07/24/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Classic Caribbean	7 days
07/31/2021	Philipsburg to Philipsburg	Yachtsman's Caribbean	7 days
08/07/2021	Philipsburg to Bridgetown	Lush & Lovely Islands of the Lesser Antilles	7 days
08/14/2021	Bridgetown to Oranjestad	Windward Ways & Tobago Cays	7 days
08/21/2021	Oranjestad to Colón	In the Wake of the Spanish Armadas	7 days
08/28/2021	Colón to Puerto Caldera	Costa Rica & Panama Canal	7 days
09/04/2021	Puerto Caldera to Papeete	Ocean Crossing	15 days
09/19/2021	Papeete to Papeete	Dreams of Tahiti	7 days

Travel Advisors are very important to Windstar Cruises. We understand the additional cruise cancellations have made it difficult for you to earn a free cruise.   In acknowledgement of these difficult times, we've have once again extended this popular Travel Advisor promotion, our Sell 3, Sail Free program.  Sell three qualifying voyages in 2021, and you will have the opportunity to receive a FREE cruise for yourself aboard one of our yachts!

• Sell three Windstar cruises that depart in 2021 and are booked by February 28, 2021.
• Booked Guests must be paid in full 89 days prior to departure before the booking counts towards a qualifying voyage,
• Advisors’ free cruise is available on any 8-day or fewer Windstar itinerary and must be taken before March 31, 2022.

Last week marked an historic milestone for our company as the Star Breeze was officially signed over to Windstar Cruises, the first of three Windstar ships undergoing transformations in our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. Star Breeze now has even more of the things your clients love – more suite layout options, more dining choices, a new pool, new services in a brand new space World Spa by Windstar, and a new 3 bedroom Grand Owner’s suite, which is an excellent choice for family group travel and a good opportunity to earn more commission. We can’t wait to invite your clients back on board when she returns to service in April, 2021.  Her sisters Star Legend and Star Pride will be following in the first half of next year.  In the hero photo above, you can see Star Pride's shadow cast on Star Breeze, really demonstrating the difference in length.

Unfortunately as the pandemic continues, our ships are now planned to return to service a little later than we had initially expected.  Last week we took the difficult decision to cancel sailings through Q1 of 2021.  Your clients and our crews safety is at the top of our mind when we make these decisions.  We continue to hone our health and safety protocols as a part of our Beyond Ordinary Care program and come March when we begin sailing again, it will be the safest possible environment for your clients.

Lastly, while it has been a difficult year, we remain thankful for the wonderful service of our onboard officers and crew and the support of all of our loyal employees. We also remain thankful for you- our valued travel advisor partners- who have remained strong and continue to recommend Windstar Cruises to your clients as your small ship cruise line of choice.  For those of you in the United States may you have a blessed and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

Smooth Sailing,

Steven Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

When we welcomed Star Breeze back home to our care, she became the first Star Plus Class ship, replete with more of everything guests love about our yachts. We are personally excited to try the Spanish cuisine found in Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso.  Beyond the amazing amenities your clients will find onboard, and the increased options for suites, and four new engines will allow guests to travel uninterrupted and in a far more efficient and environmentally friendly manner.  Probably most exciting of all, and a first for Star Breeze, she’ll sail across the Pacific to embark on a season in beautiful Tahiti.

 

And to optimize for safety, a new hospital-grade air filtration system pairs new virus-killing HEPA filters with UV-C irradiation treatments— one of the most important and differentiating cornerstones of Windstar’s new multi-layered Beyond Ordinary Care program designed to create and maintain a healthy environment for guests and crew.

See a gallery of photos of the new ship you can download to share with your clients!

Our Book Your Bucket List Sale is open, and your clients can enjoy exclusive pricing with 7-day yacht cruises starting from $1,199 per guest, plus exclusive travel offers from our sister companies including luxury train vacations and escapes to the legendary Broadmoor!

We'll take 148 – 342 guests to unforgettable small ports across the world for the exceptional cruise that your clients deserve. The world’s tiny villages, stunning fjords, ancient ruins, unspoiled beaches, and unique cultures are all waiting to be explored in 2021 and beyond. No crowds. Elegant yachts. Incomparable memories. This is travel that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.

Book your clients cruise before December 1 for these great savings. 

Not only does our groups program o­ffer one of the most competitive programs in the industry, with generous incentives for you and your clients, the intimate size of our yachts allows for those once-in-a-lifetime moments that make group travel unforgettable. That translates into repeat business, more referrals, and higher earnings for you. For a limited time, your groups will earn a Tour Conductor credit of 1:7 on Star Advantage Group dates. Windstar Cruises Star Advantage group program allows you to ALSO earn $100 bonus commission for every client booked! Plus, from now until December 31, 2020, any three bookings you make, could also qualify for our Sell 3, Sail Free promotion.

Fresh off the press, our 2020 Travel Professional Guides are ready! Jam packed with insider information on our destinations, unique selling perspectives, and sales tools, our Travel Professional Guide is an easy reference point perfect for any Travel Advisor’s desktop.

Loyalty to any organization is important, however, in these difficult times loyalty is more important than ever.  Windstar Cruises’ past guests, our Yacht Club members, are some of the most loyal guests in the industry and we wanted to look for a way to reward your clients who have previously sailed on Windstar Cruises with an upgraded program that recognizes this loyalty.   We’ve taken the opportunity over the last months to redesign our Yacht Club rewards program based on the feedback of our guests and you, our trusted Travel Advisors, and now we are ready to take our rewards program to the next level

The enhanced 4-tiered Windstar Yacht Club rewards program is here and offers more of the benefits our guests have been asking for—from onboard credits and discounts to great experiences on ship and on shore. When it’s time for your clients to return to sailing, you can rest assured that we are taking health & safety to the next level with our Beyond Ordinary Care program.

We committed to Extraordinary Guest Experiences under our Star Promise program, and this is just one more way we are making your clients’ experience more rewarding. And one more way we are giving you more commission opportunities. You can read more about these wonderful programs below.
 

Smooth Sailing,

Steven Simao, CTC

Vice President of Sales

With our new 4-tier Yacht Club, your clients can earn 1, 1.5, or 2 points every sailing day based on their stateroom category, gaining status every time they cruise. Beyond great savings on itineraries, onboard discounts and credits, they will also earn special rewards like additional complimentary amenities, memorable experiences, and more. View all of the details of the updated Yacht Club program to find out what benefits are in-store for your clients.

* Terms and Conditions Apply

 

Initial Yacht Club member status is based on the number of qualifying cruise nights sailed, with each night receiving one point. Future points will be accumulated at up to 2 points for bookings in Premium Suites.

No matter where your clients sail in the world, you can rest assured that we are taking Health & Safety on board to the next level with our Beyond Ordinary Care program.  We are making a multi-million dollar investment in our fleet to provide a healthy environment while sailing on a Windstar yacht. Hospital grade high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters along with a UV-C air zapping process (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) are being installed on board all Windstar yachts. The hospital grade UV-C process has been previously proven to kill coronaviruses, along with other microbes like mold, bacteria and fungi.  Additionally, Windstar has partnered with the epidemiology department at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Center to investigate appropriate layers of protection to create a safer experience for guests on Windstar’s yachts. Read more about our Beyond Ordinary Care on our dedicated landing page.

With so many interruptions to this year’s travel plans, many of our clients are dreaming about future trips, or about how to make their next personal milestone, or celebration, even more memorable.  It is a good opportunity to talk to your clients about their travel aspirations for 2021 and beyond to match them to unique, extraordinary moments recommended by experts in the travel industry.  After all, that’s your role, as you help make people’s dreams come true.  And that’s what our current promotion is all about. 
 

We have identified our top 10 cruises, and designated them as Windstar Select Sailings. These are itineraries that are consistently well reviewed, that contain many of the elements that make a Windstar experience unforgettable, and that offer that invaluable difference a small cruise ship can make.  They also represent the top 10 opportunities for you to grow your business and earn more commission.  These are the itineraries that lend themselves to positive referrals and offer many selling opportunities.   We are also pairing these with 180 ideas to redefine your clients’ bucket lists, with not-to-be-missed opportunities in the destinations we visit.

These Select Sailings are carefully designed by our team of destination experts, and no detail or opportunity is overlooked. Your clients will have opportunities to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, enjoy the most unusual regional delicacies and discover new cultural insights.  These are unforgettable voyages, even for clients who have “been there and done that,” that turn into repeat business and positive referrals for your agency.

1. Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast
2. Alaskan Splendors
3. Treasures of the Greek Isles
4. Dreams of Tahiti
5. Around Iceland
6. Ancient Wonders of Greece & Ephesus
7. Greece, Israel & Egypt: Footsteps of Faith in the Holy Lands
8. Yachtsman's Harbors of the Rivieras
9. Greece via the Corinth Canal & Turkey: The Marvels of Ancient Rivals
10. Alaska Glaciers & Prince William Sound 

To help you market these not-to-be-missed itineraries, we’ve put together a marketing packet to assist you with grabbing your clients’ attention.  Included with the downloadable files are customizable information flyers for all the Top 10 Select Sailing itineraries, a variety of display ad sizes, and displays for Facebook and Instagram.  Although many clients are staying home to stay safe during the pandemic, they are still dreaming about their next vacation which means there is a lot of opportunity in travel inspiration.  We recommend using your Facebook and Instagram channels to capture the imagination of your clients with tantalizing vacations they can’t wait to experience. Don’t forget that you can always find marketing materials on AdvisorHub.WindstarCruises.com.

We sat down with our Regional Sales Manager, Melissa Nessenson, and asked for her top tips in selling the Select Sailings to your clients:

• Familiarize yourself with Windstar's Select Sailings and check out the Voyage Highlights and special points of interest for each of them.  It is useful to know the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, local landmarks, history, etc.  That way when you suggest the itinerary, you will speak as a true Windstar Bucket List expert and make personalized recommendations to your clients of exciting things to do in the region.
• Become a Windstar Star Specialist, found on the Advisor Hub, to help differentiate yourself from other Travel Advisors.
• When speaking to clients use open-ended questions so you can get to know their travel aspirations. This will help you find the right voyage for the right client. Questions like: What travel destinations interest you the most? What are your favorite travel destinations? Which destinations would you like to go back to? See more of? Or experience in an even more intimate way? What are you looking to do on your next vacation? What are your interests and hobbies? Or even ask point blank- What do you have on your bucket list?  A tool like a CRM (Customer Relationship Management tool) is perfect to record their answers. When you are ready to launch a targeted marketing campaign, you can query the destinations to see who you should reach out to!
• I recommend downloading Windstar's new Top 10 Itineraries customizable flyers and share them with clients regularly. Start the email or conversation by saying "I saw this fantastic Windstar voyage and immediately thought of you"!
• Create a Windstar virtual travel club on social media for your like-minded clients and discuss bucket list destinations, post Windstar's destination videos, share our 180 Bucket List items each week, and post our 7 for 7 Sale each Thursday.  This will generate excitement and start conversations about planning Bucket List travel.
• Survey your clients with online surveys to find out which of Windstar's Bucket List destinations are on their bucket list.  Then, start promoting Windstar groups on those corresponding itineraries. Better yet, why not organize an escorted group so you can fulfill your own bucket list, too! Reach out to your RSM to start a group planning conversation.
• Schedule a Virtual Cruise Night (or an in person Cruise Night, if possible) with your Windstar RSM to explore Windstar's Bucket List voyages. Request Windstar's quarterly Cruise Night SBC promo (in advance) for an exclusive closing tool!

Windstar Cruises has always been known for the personal care we show your clients on board our ships.  From our gracious stewards and crew who take the time to remember their names and favorite drinks, the thoughtful designs of our staterooms and suites, to the approachable nature of our senior crew members and captain, we strive to make sure that our guests, your clients, are cared for while enjoying their cruise.   The health and safety of everyone on board is a top priority. We are connected to industry experts and following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our team is implementing additional technologies that go beyond these requirements as part of our new Beyond Ordinary Care program. 

No matter where your clients sail in the world, you can rest assured that we are taking Health & Safety to the next level with our Beyond Ordinary Care program.  You can read more about this first class program below.

We are making a multi-million dollar investment in our fleet to provide a healthy environment while sailing on a Windstar yacht. We are connected to industry experts and following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our team is implementing additional technologies that go beyond these requirements including hospital grade high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters paired with a UV-C air zapping process (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) proven to kill coronaviruses, along with other microbes like mold, bacteria and fungi as part of our new Beyond Ordinary Care program.

Windstar has partnered with the epidemiology department at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Center to investigate appropriate layers of protection to create a safer experience for your clients on board Windstar’s yachts.

PRE-BOARDING
 

• Pre-departure health questionnaire
• Wear masks during travel to ship
• Health screening at terminal prior to embarkation
• Staggered arrivals and embarkation

ON BOARD
 

• HEPA filters and UV-C light are a double whammy to clean the air of microbes on board ships*
• Electrostatic sprayers sanitize spaces and surfaces with a powerful, EPA-approved,
  hospital-grade sanitizing solution*
• Increase frequency of cleaning public spaces and high-touch points
• Dining venues operate at reduced capacity with tables spaced apart
• Additional medical staff on board
• Crew wear masks
• Daily health screening for crew

*Check out our blog on how these new systems work!

SHORE EXCURSIONS
 

• Tenders, motor coaches and smaller boats will operate at 50 percent capacity and
  will be cleaned between each use
• Shore excursions to operate at reduced capacity; request masks be worn
• Staggered arrivals and departures in ports

Dear Travel Advisors,

Today is your day – National Travel Advisor Day!   On behalf of all of us, from our CEO Andrew Todd, to our team in Seattle, and our officers and crew aboard our six yachts, we all wanted to take today and thank you!

Therefore, this special edition of Trade Winds has been created in your honor to show our appreciation for your support and recommendation of our brand.  As Windstar Cruises’ largest booking channel, we would like to celebrate with you not just today, but every day.  In this newsletter, you’ll find a number of special announcements and surprises all designed to show our gratitude, so be sure to read on! 

Smooth Sailing,

Steve Kona Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

Since the onset of COVID-19 began, Windstar Cruises was one of the very first travel companies to respond.   We are proud of the fact that our Booking Assurance Policy was one of the first in the industry.  This policy remains in effect today and can help instill confidence in your clients when booking a Windstar Cruise as it allows travelers to cancel their cruise up to 15 days prior to departure and receive a 100% future cruise credit.  Based on your feedback, this was enhanced after the initial launch, and now allows the future cruise credit to be used on all sailings through December 31, 2021.
 
The health and safety of our guests and crew is always a top priority.   As a result, Windstar Cruises very quickly temporarily ceased operation of our ships prior to any government mandate.  Our initial concern was for the safety of our guests and crew on board, as well as the health and well-being of our Seattle office staff.   Priority was given to the immediate situation – cancelling cruises and assisting Travel Advisors and their clients with their cancelled cruises.   At the time we began cancelling these cruises, it was anticipated that the number of cruises affected would be small and that we would quickly be sailing again by mid-May.   Unfortunately, since that time, we have had to cancel additional cruises far beyond our original expectation, and the number of Future Cruise Credits we have issued is significant.
 
It has become abundantly clear that given the significant number of Future Cruise Credits issued, we needed to revise our policy regarding commission payments on Future Cruise Credits.  As Travel Advisors, you will play an important role in the future and will be our advocate in the rebooking of guests with cancelled cruises.  Therefore, we are pleased to announce that effective immediately, Windstar Cruises will protect 100% of commissions earned when using future cruise credits.
 

“Travel Advisors have always been important partners of Windstar and Xanterra Travel Collection.   A few years ago, Windstar Cruises introduced Star Promise - our commitment to Travel Advisors.  In keeping with this commitment, it is important to update our policy to recognize the hard work and support of our travel advisor partners.”

– Andrew Todd, CEO of Windstar Cruises and Xanterra Travel Collection

One of our most popular promotions for Travel Advisors has always been Windstar Cruises’ “Sell 3, Sail Free” promotion. Therefore, we are excited to announce the return of this promotion beginning May 18th.

One of the best ways to learn about our brand is to experience it firsthand, and with this promotion, you’ll have a great opportunity to do so for free by making just three new bookings with Windstar Cruises.  All you’ll pay are taxes, fees, and port expenses along with onboard gratuities.

Simply make three new bookings on Windstar cruises departing prior to April 30, 2021 and register those bookings.  More details on this promotion will be forthcoming.

Now is a great time to learn about Windstar Cruises through our Star Specialist Academy.  This 4-chapter course can assist Travel Advisors learning about Windstar Cruises.  We believe that when cruising begins again, the cruising public will be seeking the intimacy of small ships, and this is a great time to become an expert on Windstar Cruises’ small ship, yacht style cruising.  Travel Advisors who complete the course will receive a certificate for $100 bonus commission on their first Windstar Cruises booking.  Normally this must be booked within three months of graduation, but in light of the current situation, we have extended this, and it can now apply to any booking made prior to December 31, 2020.

In 1983 at the age of 14, I took my first cruise with my family.   It was a trip that would change the direction of my life and influence my career. Without cruising, I would be a different person.  I expect each of you had your own first cruise experience – perhaps one that got you into the business like myself.   Or perhaps you were already selling travel and then went on your first cruise FAM and realized that the concept was one that you could easily sell with passion.

Cruising truly adds to our perspective of the world in a way like nothing else can because it opens up our eyes to other places, people, and cultures.   And like all of you, cruising has been a source of income and support for my family.

Never did we ever think we would see the day that cruising would stop; that the global cruise fleet would pause completely. In this downturn, it’s a great opportunity for us to strengthen our partnership. I encourage you to consider learning more about our brand through our Star Specialist program or signing up to use our travel advisor booking engine bookWindstarOnline.  

This is a difficult time for all of us in the industry, but we will remain strong, and we will come back.  In the words of CLIA, “like the tides, we will return, because we are not just an industry, we are a community.”  #WeAreCruise

As you know, due to the continued effects of the virus on the world’s population and expanded travel restrictions enacted by multiple governments, we had previously cancelled sailings through mid-May. 

Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to make travel complicated and the world remains on alert and most ports are still temporarily closed to cruise ships, even small yachts like ours. Therefore, we have made the difficult yet, we believe, responsible decision to extend the voluntary and temporary suspension of operations of all sailings embarking before June 30, 2020. You should also be aware that due to COVID-19 in Italy, the Star Breeze will be delayed in her return to service resulting in the cancellation of our 2020 Alaska Season. Alaska 2021 aboard the Star Breeze is still open for sale and it will be her inaugural Alaska season post-Star Plus initiative.  We currently anticipate a rolling return to service based on our current cruise schedule in July 2020. At that time, we hope to once again deliver the high-quality Windstar Cruises 180 degrees from ordinary experience and customer service that our guests and the travel advisor community enthusiastically support.

Travel advisors with affected bookings have been notified via separate letter and email with details on the cancellation process.

We understand that now is a tumultuous time in the travel industry.  With the unpredictable nature of coronavirus, and the interruptions that have already occurred in travel, it is understandable that clients may feel a little hesitant to book any travel plans in the near future.  To help mitigate some of that fear and allow you to continue booking your clients on life changing vacations, Windstar Cruises was one of the first to introduce a Booking Assurance Policy.  With the Booking Assurance Policy, your clients have up to 15 days prior to a cruise departure to cancel and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit (FCC).   We recently enhanced this offer allowing the FCC’s to be used on another Windstar departure by December 31, 2021. 

Speaking of Future Cruise Credits, look and see if your client has a FCC to be used.  We’ve created this guide to show you how to apply the credit in bookWINDSTAR ONLINE.

Our call center has been busier than ever assisting clients and advisors with rebooking their cruises, so if you have not registered already for our online reservations system, you can do so now at the below link. bookWINDSTAR ONLINE is a wonderful tool that provides access to our reservation system seven days a week, 24 hours each day, with real time pricing. If you are booking a Yacht Club Member, you can also search their guest profile for any additional promotions like their YCM discount or a potential FCC to be used. Best of all, there is no phone wait, so you are better able to assist your client’s inquiries efficiently and effectively.

I have my login credentials, but how do I use bookWINDSTAR ONLINE? »

While the news of Covid-19 seemed to sweep over the cruise industry fast and furiously, the initial work of guest cancellations and inquiries has hopefully ebbed a little. With the little extra time you have, you might consider touching up on your product knowledge and certifications. The good news is that we work in an incredibly resilient industry, and it is only a matter of time for business to come bounding back. Look to 2021 and identify key areas of business that you would like to grow into, and start doing the research now. Reacquaint yourself with the brands you love and take their advisor academies so that you are prepared when guests begin inquiring again.

As a reminder, graduates of the Star Specialist Academy will receive a certificate for $100 bonus commission which may be used on a new booking after graduation.

You can find our Star Specialist Academy available on our Advisor Hub here »

Windstar Cruises as once again been nominated in Travel Age West’s Awards for best dining and best small ship. In these tumultuous times, we do appreciate your continued faith in the service we provide your clients.

Travel Pulse Covers how Windstar cruises was among the first with our Travel Assurance Policy
Windstar’s recent donation to Feeding South Florida caught Cruise Critic’s attention

As we get further and further into 2020, we are starting to see real tangible changes to the onboard spaces on Star Breeze. It is really fascinating to see the installation of the additional spaces on board and watch all the progress. We’ve officially begun to build the insert for Star Legend as well, and the shipyard is readying the berth for when she arrives in March.

I hope you are all very busy this WAVE season, starting off 2020 with strong bookings. As Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, don’t forget Windstar has won awards for being the World’s Most Romantic Cruise Line and many of our destinations such as Tahiti, Caribbean, and the Greek Isles are perfect destinations for those seeking a romantic getaway. Remember that we are rewarding you for finding new guests to Windstar Cruises and have a bonus commission offer for new-to-Windstar guests going on through March. You can read more on this and additional updates on the Star Plus Initiative below.

Windstar's unique small ship cruising style creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a close-knit community of travelers who are just as curious, adventurous, and interesting as your clients. And this is the perfect opportunity to expand your Windstar client database and increase your earning potential. Our new-to-Windstar Cruises guest bonus commission program is still going strong! Sell a Windstar cruise to guests who have never sailed with us before, and we will reward you with a $100 bonus commission. A Windstar Guest typically has the following psychographics:

Lifestyle

• Young at heart
• Previous river cruisers
• Appreciate high quality, but aren’t status driven
• Discerning world travelers
• Interested in arts, home decor, food, and wine
• Want unique experiences and access to the unforgettable
• Active mindset, enjoy seeing and participating in new things
• Socially connected — like to meet other travelers and locals

 

What do they want from a vacation?

• A convenient alternative to and better value than land-based vacations
• To immerse themselves in a destination or region
• Port-intensive itineraries with a destination focus
• A romantic escape, especially without children (perfect prospect for Tahiti)
• To explore the world in a meaningful way, and to gain a new perspective
• A more intimate vacation than mass-market cruises

 

Hurry, this program ends on March 31, 2020! Bookings must be registered at advisorhub.windstarcruises.com to qualify

This year, Windstar Cruises is offering our richest perk selection in our Small Ship Big World Savings EVENT! Your clients can choose from up to $1,000 Shipboard Credit, a $300 Airfare Credit, an unlimited Wi-Fi package, or if you have guests who book a premium suite, they have the choice of the All-In Package. In addition to these great perks, your clients will also receive reduced deposits from only $50 a person, two bottles of complimentary wine per cabin, up to 20% savings on Star Collector voyages, and reduced rates for solo travelers. Traditionally, WAVE season occurs when clients fresh from the holidays take the time to plan their vacations for the year, so remind your clients of the great offers that are going on and help them pick an unforgettable vacation experience with Windstar Cruises.

With the changes in the Star Plus timeline, we have the opportunity to add a couple more sailings in 2020 that we wanted to highlight for your ease. Post Star Plus Initiative, Star Breeze will be making her way through Latin America, Mexico, and the West Coast in June; while Star Legend has been redeployed to spend more time in Greece and the Mediterranean.

The full list of 2020 sailings for Star Breeze and Star Legend can be found on the Cruise Finder »

Work is progressing successfully on Star Breeze as she undergoes her portion of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. We’ve successfully pulled out the old engine and have prepped the engine room for the new, lowered a pre-built Star Grill by Steven Raichlen on the top of Deck 8 and begun instillation of the new pool on Deck 7, both Amphora and Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso are near completion on Deck 3 and on Deck 6 respectively. In addition to all the wonderful progress on Star Breeze, we’ve officially begun to raise the insert for the next ship, Star Legend, and begun steel cutting for Star Pride.

See a photo gallery of our updates!

In case you missed it, here is a time lapse video of the insert being put in.

As always, you can catch the latest updates on the Star Plus Initiative here »

Did the above photo collection pique your interest? Need a refresher on all the amazing changes that are happening underneath the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative? Join Gina McGinnis, Director of Sales, on Tuesday February 25 at 10 AM PST to learn the newest updates for Windstar's Star Plus Initiative. We’re transforming our three all-suite Star Class ships—Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride—stem-to-stern to offer your clients even more comfort in-suite, more choices for suite layout, more space on deck, 2 new restaurants, new destinations and more.

As we complete our second week of 2020, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on 2019.  We continued to build upon our Star Promise Commitment to you, our valued travel advisor partners, with a number of Travel Advisor Initiatives. In May and June we recognized you with our Travel Advisor Appreciation months and many of you earned gift cards and 5 Grand Prize winners each won a cruise.   We enhanced our Star Groups Program in October with an extra SBC available for new groups aboard the Star Class ships for groups secured by the end of this year and bookings made by the end of the first quarter next year 2020.  We announced our WAVE promotion early so that you could get a head start on promoting the great offerings to your clients, and have since added the All-In Package as an option to clients who have booked Premium Suites.  We hope that all of these great items helped build your business, and that you were able to earn some wonderful rewards as well.

We truly appreciate your recommendation of our brand and so during WAVE this year we are prepared to reward you for just that!  We will reward you $100 bonus commission on bookings with new-to-Windstar Cruises guests that you sell cruises to.  Guests who have previously sailed with Windstar Cruises in the past are not eligible and bookings must be registered at least 30 days prior to sailing to qualify, but there is no cap to how many times you can earn the bonus commission.  Offer ends March 31, 2020.  You can learn more and register your bookings at AdvisorHub.WindstarCruises.com/Bonus-Commission.  We hope that this reward helps boost your commission and earnings potential during this WAVE season. Thank you for all that you do.

I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how incredibly thankful all of us are at Windstar Cruises for your continued recommendations of our 180 Degrees from Ordinary style of small ship cruising to your valued clients. Our travel agency-sourced business has continued to grow year after year through your support, and we are truly appreciative. As this is both the season to be thankful and to give presents, we’ve opened our WAVE season early so that you can jumpstart your business for 2020 and start talking to your clients now. You can find our great offer below.I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how incredibly thankful all of us are at Windstar Cruises for your continued recommendations of our 180 Degrees from Ordinary style of small ship cruising to your valued clients. Our travel agency-sourced business has continued to grow year after year through your support, and we are truly appreciative. As this is both the season to be thankful and to give presents, we’ve opened our WAVE season early so that you can jumpstart your business for 2020 and start talking to your clients now. You can find our great offer below.

Our Alaska Cruise Tour experiences are some of our most highly rated and successful programs. As part of our ongoing commitment to enriching your clients and our guests travel experience, we are introducing a range of Cruise Tour options in our destinations. You will now be able to extend your clients' vacation in Costa Rica, Japan, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and Portugal with more opportunities for them to experience cloudforests, volcanoes, wine regions, and local historical bulwarks like the Vatican or Nijo Castle. You can learn more from the information flyers below.
 

• Costa Rica Cruise Tour POST-Cruise Informational Flyer
• Costa Rica Cruise Tour PRE-Cruise Informational Flyer
• Alaska Cruise Tour PRE-Cruise Informational Flyer
• Kyoto & Zen of Japan Cruise Tour POST-Cruise Informational Flyer
• Prince William Sound & Denali Cruise Tour PRE-Cruise Informational Flyer
• Under the Tuscan Sun & Down Dalmatian Coast Cruise Tour POST-Cruise Informational Flyer

Don’t forget, the deadline to secure your group and take advantage of our limited time groups promotion is December 31, 2019!  As part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, when you secure a group on one of our re-imagined Star Class ships, you’ll be able to offer your clients an additional $100 Shipboard Credit per person, on top of the great benefits below.  You’ll have until March 30, 2020 to book your clients and to take advantage of a group’s package that just got a little richer and boost your commissions!

STAR GROUP DATES

• 5% discount from Savings Fares
• Tour Conductor Credit (1:9 guests, 10th bed is Tour Conductor)
• Guest Amenity of $100 per person Shipboard Credit
• Complimentary cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres (18+ guests)
• + Additional offer of $100 Shipboard Credit per guest
•  

STAR ADVANTAGE GROUP DATES

• 10% discount from Savings Fares
• Tour Conductor Credit (1:9 guests, 10th bed is Tour Conductor)
• Guest Amenity of $100 per person Shipboard Credit
• Complimentary cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres (18+ guests)
• $100 per person Travel Agent Bonus Commission*
• + Additional offer of $100 Shipboard Credit per guest

*A TC Credit has to be earned for Bonus Commision to be paid.
 

Sometimes it can be hard to convince your clients of the need for Travel Protection Insurance, but in reality anything can happen at any time.  Meet Deborah and hear her story:

“We boarded the ship and received an early morning phone call the following day from our daughter telling us that a massive tree had fallen on our home.  She described, as best she could, how the tree had fallen through our bedroom, the master bathroom and dining room causing extensive damage.  The tree remained lodged in the roof of the house and the bedroom causing such structural damage that 8 roof trusses broke.  Most of the ceiling to the bedroom and roof were exposed and open to the elements and because it rained for more than 24 hours after the rood was exposed and it took the tree removal company a full 2 days just to get the tree off of the house and out of the bedroom and dining room, we also had a terrible water damage in many rooms in our home.”

-Jay and Erin, Cruise Planners
Because Deborah bought Windstar’s Travel Protection, she and her husband were fully protected and reimbursed for their almost $20,000 cruise. Windstar Cruises partners with AON Travel Protection to provide comprehensive coverage on your travel plans.
 

BOOK YOUR CLIENTS’ WINDSTAR CRUISE DURING OUR SMALL SHIP BIG WORLD SAVINGS EVENT for the best prices and availability. Plus book before December 24th and choose between: up to $1,000 Shipboard Credit, up to $300 airfare credit, or Free Wi-Fi. When your clients sail with us they will bring home heartfelt stories of unforgettable moments from off the beaten path ports —perhaps listening to an onboard expedition leader, who sails with the ship, explain the forces of a  calving glacier in Alaska, watching the fire dancers at a private event on a motu in Tahiti, or just standing at the rail with Chianti in hand, as white sails unfurl above in the Mediterranean, enjoying our Sail Away ceremony.
 

See the Informational Flyer to share with your guests! »

Enjoy Ship Technology’s interview with Captain Belinda Bennett
Veteran Frank Pool is a great example of a Windstar Client, profiled by the Monticello News
Azcentral lists Windstar Cruises Grand Caribbean as #4 in  the “10 best world cruises and long itineraries”
KHOU*11 calls out Windstar Cruises as an ideal Holiday Getaway

It is quite spectacular, what we are about to accomplish with the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative.  Now is the time to be sharing about the historic renovations to our all-suite Star Class ships!  The first of 3 sisters, Star Breeze has already entered the dry dock, and with the new section inserted, we are only three months away from her first sailings.  We are already seeing strong sales on these ships.  If you have any clients who are cruising aficionados, this is the perfect time for them to get on board to see the transformation for themselves.  Now is also a great time to talk about groups on these ships as we have a limited time offer for groups specifically on all Star Class vessels post $250 Million Star Plus Initiative detailed in this newsletter.  It is the ideal time for you to grow your groups business and potentially earn incremental commissions as well.

Grow your business and boost commissions with our one-of-a-kind groups program. We make booking groups easy with one of the lowest tour conductor policies anywhere and generous incentives for you and your clients. For a limited time, offer your clients an additional $100 Shipboard Credit per person, in addition to the great savings below, for booking into a group on one of our re-imagined Star Class ships as part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. Secure your group by December 31, 2019, and book your clients by March 30, 2020, to take advantage of a groups package that just got a little richer.

STAR GROUP DATES

• 5% discount from Savings Fares
• Tour Conductor Credit (1:9 guests, 10th bed is Tour Conductor)
• Guest Amenity of $100 per person Shipboard Credit
• Complimentary cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres (18+ guests)
• + Additional offer of $100 Shipboard Credit per guest
•  

STAR ADVANTAGE GROUP DATES

• 10% discount from Savings Fares
• Tour Conductor Credit (1:9 guests, 10th bed is Tour Conductor)
• Guest Amenity of $100 per person Shipboard Credit
• Complimentary cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres (18+ guests)
• $100 per person Travel Agent Bonus Commission*
• + Additional offer of $100 Shipboard Credit per guest

It’s official, as of October 16^th, Star Breeze was officially cut in half and the new section was inserted and attached the following day.  The slicing event occurred in the Fincantieri dockyard in Palermo, Italy and was attended by a few select members from the press and travel advisors.  We are beyond ecstatic that the first ship is officially in dry dock, and one step closer to all the amazing features that will now be on board as a part of the overall refurbishment.  Have you heard about Anthony Sasso’s jamon do iberico?  It sounds divine.  After Star Breeze leaves the dry dock, she will begin her inaugural season as a new ship in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, and the best news is that there is still space available on board for your clients to be among the first to experience this amazing ship on a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary.

Fresh off the press, our 2020 Travel Professional Guides are ready! Jam packed with insider information on our destinations, unique selling perspectives, and sales tools, our Travel Professional Guide is an easy reference point perfect for any Travel Advisor’s desk.

It is a deep honor that Windstar Cruises continually receives recognition from some of the biggest names in the Travel Industry.  We are particularly proud of the awards we have just received, as they are at the heart of our business and what makes us unique in the cruise industry.  To be recognized as small-ship leader and to have our itineraries called out in such meaningful ways reflects the fact that our ships are truly going to unique places that your clients love. You can see our most recent awards below.

-AFAR Magazine Best Small Ship

-Travel Weekly Magellan Gold Awards:

• Windstar's Sail Amsterdam Celebration
• Windstar's Uncommon Indonesia
• 2019-2021 Voyage Collection
• Windstar Overall-Small Cruise Ship (500 passengers or under)
• Education Program Star Specialist Program for Cruise Travel Advisors
•  

-Travel Weekly Magellan Silver Awards:

• Windstar's Alaska Glaciers & Prince William Sound
• Windstar's Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure
• Windstar's Star Collector: Journey to the Holy Lands
• Expeditions Shore Excursion Windstar Signature Expeditions program
• Expeditions Shore Excursion Concierge Collection Series

Thank you for your continued support.

Vote for Windstar Cruises in Travel Weekly’s 2019 Readers Choice Awards as either the top cruise line for Hawaii/Pacific or as Top cruise line for ships under 500 berths
Cruise Critic covers the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative
This impressive milestone is also covered by Yahoo Finance

My career in the cruise industry actually began when I was a Purser on board a cruise ship and spent 7 years at sea.  While this allowed me an understanding of the operational aspects of ship life, it also gave me a keen perspective into the guest experience.  This advantage has always allowed me to have a better perspective on how best to sell cruises.  I recognize not everybody can abandon land life and jump aboard the next ship heading out, but I do recommend getting on board a ship if you are able. Knowing the cruise experience equips you better with the language to sell the experience, especially to clients who have never sailed before.  So I invite you to consider the FAM opportunities listed below, and see if any of them work out for you.  In this issue you will also find some very exciting news about upcoming changes to our beautiful Wind Surf, as well as information on our new Grand Owner’s Suite.

Our beautiful Star Class ships aren’t the only ones getting some new attention in the upcoming year. This November our beloved Wind Surf will undergo an extensive renovation as well. All public areas will receive new carpet and new hardwood flooring. The Lounge will be receiving a brand new stage and an upgrade of the bar front. The Nautilus Room will become a high-end Spa Facility, while the existing spa will turn into new staterooms, and a general office. Both Stella Bistro and Veranda will receive a cosmetic refresh including new waiter stations, service flow redesign, and a brand new canopy.

See the new deck plan here »

Opening for booking soon, the new Grand Owner’s Suite can be formed by three adjoining individual suites to create a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath suite, with separate dining room and living room areas, an entertainment bar, a spacious central balcony, and an additional balcony in one of the bedroom suites. Totaling 1,374 square feet, it can accommodate up to seven guests — ideal for extended families and friends. This is the first of its kind at sea, and will represent an excellent opportunity for additional commission!

The best way to sell a cruise, is to know the experience.  That’s why we value giving you more opportunities for FAM trips.  But don’t just believe us, listen to an advisor who got back from a FAM trip this May.
 
There are a couple of really amazing  itineraries in our FAM trips coming up, and we wanted to draw your attention to these opportunities:

October 26, 2019 –The Spanish Main: Rise of the New World

• 7 Days
• Colón to San Juan on Star Legend
• $280 per person, Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenditures, and Gratuities are additional

November 27, 2019 –Adventures in Panama & Costa Rica

• 10 Days
• Colón to Puerto Caldera on Star Pride

$650 per person, Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenditures, and Gratuities are additional

Windstar produces a brand new Tahiti video to showcase our experience to your consumers
Travel Weekly covers Star Grill by Steve Raichlen
Lands of the Midnight Sun is shown a little love in Texas Lifestyle Magazine
Windstar leads Cruise Addicts list of top cruises for wine aficionados

As I write this note, the countdown clock is ticking in Windstar Cruises’ Seattle Office.   It seems as if I just wrote to you informing you about our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative and now it’s just a few months away from the date of when Star Breeze enters the shipyard in Palermo - the first of the three sisters to undergo these enhancements.  In this edition, we will update you on some more exciting news related to this project including details on Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso, a new restaurant that will appear on our Star Class vessels.  With the launch of our new Voyage Collection brochure, you may have noticed that we are sailing the waters of Australia & New Zealand and will be introducing some beautiful brand new itineraries in this high demand region.  It is an exciting time here and I really do encourage you now to take the time to learn about all these updates so that you can take advantage of the selling opportunities that will appear in the upcoming months.

We are thrilled to unveil Windstar Cruises newest destinations—Australia & New Zealand! Beginning in February 2020, Windstar is charting an array of new itineraries and excursions rich in extraordinary wildlife, delicious regional dishes and remarkable cultural insights exclusive to small-ship cruising in remote coastal communities of these special lands “down-under.”

Our small ships will be cruising amid steep, glacier-carved fjords in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, offer coastal food-themed experiences serving up Australian and New Zealand salmon, lobster, oysters, and wines, and enlightening tours exploring intricate Maori artwork and the handcrafted didgeridoos, clapsticks, and bull roarers that define Australian indigenous music.

Be sure to let our guests know about these exciting new destinations and excursions as they plan their future travel with Windstar.

WE’VE JUST ANNOUNCED a new modern, casual outdoor restaurant in partnership with global grilling authority Steven Raichlen. Star Grill by Steven Raichlen, will be a modern, casual, alfresco restaurant that serves up grilled, smoked and rotisserie specialties, including seafood, meats, and vegetables cooked with global flavors and techniques, alongside craft side dishes and sauces. Windstar’s alliance with Steven Raichlen was born from a desire to create a modern, yet casual outdoor eatery, bespoke of Windstar’s “180 degrees from ordinary” tagline, an inviting escape where guests will enjoy inventive, modern cuisine, while embracing the alfresco ambiance and casually intimate experiences of small ship dining after a busy day discovering distant ports of call.

International TV host and author of 31 books, Raichlen is considered the man who reinvented modern barbecue. His most recent television series, Project Fire 2019, debuted this July on PBS, and his latest book, "The Brisket Chronicles," was released to critical acclaim in May. Raichlen was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2015, and his books have won multiple James Beard Awards and IACP Julia Child Awards. Raichlen is the founder of Barbecue University™ and has lectured on the history of barbecue at institutions as diverse as Harvard, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian.

On June 25, President John Delaney announced that Windstar is taking our culinary program to the next level with our new partnership: a specialty restaurant named Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso. One of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide, and celebrated guest chef at the James Beard House, Anthony Sasso promises a menu of modern and inventive Spanish cuisine inspired by his own travels across the Iberian Peninsula. Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso will first debut on Windstar’s award-winning small ships, beginning in February 2020 on Star Breeze, and later in 2020 on sister ships Star Legend and Star Pride as part of our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. A 360 degree rendering of the restaurant is available on a posting on Facebook. For the most recent $250 Million Star Plus Initiative news, check out our dedicated landing page regularly.

Three of our sales team members escorted a familiarization trip recently, and wanted to give you a true inside scope on this remarkable itinerary and destination:

"Alaska was amazing! I have been on more Alaska sailings than I can count both working on the ships as a Tour Director and sailing with my family for vacation, but all of my past Alaska experiences were on the big ships. Windstar’s Alaska is night and day different! The lack of crowded ports we go to, the small areas our ships fit into, and our Signature Expeditions are beyond what the big ships can offer. My favorite part of Alaska was being able to do our Expeditions off the back of our ship – no lines, no crowds, no buses. We were able to get within a ¼ mile of the glaciers on Zodiacs and the kayaks. The view was stunning that close and you really realize how massive the face of the glaciers actually are. Our Zodiac Tour in Kenai Fjords only had six guests on board with a guide. Off in the distance was a large tour boat, packed with hundreds of people who had to travel from Seward to see what we were able to see just from our ship, let alone the up close view we had in our Zodiac.

A suggestion I would give to advisors selling Windstar’s Alaska is that this is not your average 7-day Alaska cruise; suggest to your clients who have already sailed to Alaska in a bigger ship that bigger ship cruising was a nice start, but that Windstar will show you so much more on land and sea of the Last Frontier. Most definitely do a land tour to experience the true Alaska...1-lane highways, limited Wi-Fi, untouched land, unmarred scenery that doesn’t end, and a world away from any type of hustle and bustle that is typical of large ship cruising."
Gina McGinnis, Director of National Sales

"Alaska was amazing. The kayaking and Zodiac rides straight from the ship were the highlight for me, particularly in Kenai Fjords and Tracy Arm. If you’re into kayaking you will get more bang for your buck choosing the kayaking expeditions over the Zodiac ones, in my opinion. The kayaking tours last 2-3 hours vs. the 1-hour Zodiac tours for the same price, $199, but of course you have to really work for your views!
Tips: The six Expedition Leaders would come to the Yacht Club between 6-8AM and make themselves available for one-on-one chats with guests. This really allowed for some great Question & Answer sessions on an informal basis. Getting to know them was very interesting as they all come from varied backgrounds and have such different experiences. They also provide a daily update in the Lounge before dinner. Always a popular talk and very informative.

In Prince Rupert, tell your clients not to miss out on Dolly’s Fish Market (a few blocks from the ship). Dolly’s had the best local fresh fish. I had the Halibut and Chips and loved it!"
David Schoenberg, Regional Sales Manager West Coast

"Words cannot begin to describe my experience on Windstar’s Star Legend in Alaska. Sailing from Seward to Vancouver on the 12-day Alaskan Splendors, each day was a bigger surprise than before - and none disappointed. You simply cannot get the same perspective and up-close experience of almost touching the scenery, from a big ship. The ambiance on our ship was truly amazing. The experiences and the magnificent sights we all witnessed (like tasting pieces of icebergs that floated by, seeing orcas kill a porpoise, hearing anxious sea-lions barking, and glaciers calving!) resulted in a friendly camaraderie of wanting to share that brought many people together as we were happily exchanged stories and photos with one another. The crew was exceptional. Professional and friendly, they truly did make everyone feel special, welcome and important.

TIP: In order to avoid disappointment for your guests, I would highly recommend booking Zodiac and/or kayak excursions well in advance due to their popularity. Each Zodiac only takes 6 people and each kayak 2. If clients need to be selective about the destinations, be sure to recommend they book in Kenai Fjords and South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm. Without a doubt the most spectacular experiences imaginable. I would also suggest to your clients to take advantage of the expert talks and presentations by one of the 6 expedition leaders, all experts in their field of specialization. Hearing first-hand information about glaciers, wild-life, flora, and fauna from knowledgeable expedition leaders made vacation all the more remarkable."
Andrea Mendelsohn, Regional Sales Manager Canada
 

Book your clients' cruise today so they can get closer to secluded coves, tiny villages, misty fjords, ancient ruins, medieval alleyways, unspoiled beaches, unfamiliar cultures and undiscovered atolls of the world.  Your clients can choose from any of our 2019, 2020, & 2021 regions and they can receive up to $1,000 Shipboard Credit per stateroom when they book before September 30^th.

Windstar’s small ship advantage allows your clients access to truly remote villages that still follow traditional ways of life, lets them taste local foods baked in earth ovens, sample ceremonial kava, and learn about wild medicinal plants. Or to the hearts of medieval cities that have been bustling epicenters of culture forever.  Wherever we are in the world, our team seeks out distinctive local experiences that aren't widely available - personally curating each one before stamping it with their seal of approval so that your clients have the very best. All in classic Windstar style with all the unbeatable touches to make your client’s vacation truly memorable.  Iconic Sail Away, Open Bridge, James Beard Foundation chef-designed delicacies are all waiting for your clients on board.

We are very excited to introduce to you our newest member of the Sales Team: Diego Suarez. Diego is our new Inside Sales Coordinator and I wanted to sit down with him to get to know him a little bit better.

So Diego, what is it exactly that you do at Windstar Cruises?
I support the Sales Team by working with our Regional Sales Managers, setting up new agencies, and most importantly being the point of contact for our travel advisors for any questions or concerns. I love working with all of our advisors and developing strong relationships with our partners to help tell the Windstar story.

That’s a great response! I have to ask, where did you come to us from?
I grew up in New Mexico before moving to Seattle to study the arts. I joined Windstar in 2018 and worked in the Marketing Department where I was designing ads, banners, and flyers for our marketing efforts. Now I’m working with Sales and getting to know Windstar on a whole new level.

It’s great that you have had experience at Windstar, and especially from a marketing perspective. I bet you spent a lot of time with our itineraries and photos; it has to be great travel inspiration. So … what country have you always wanted to visit? And obviously the follow up question, what itinerary would you most like to go on?
I have always wanted to visit Spain, since my family history traces back there and it would be such a marvel to experience the culture and see the land … plus, I’ve always wanted to see the architecture of La Sagrada Familia Cathedral! My desired itinerary is Yachtsman’s Harbors of the Rivieras because it visits not one but three countries on my bucket list: Italy, France, and Spain.

I hear La Sagrada Familia is absolutely breathtaking. Did you know that it wasn’t until very recently the construction actually had the proper permits from the City of Barcelona? Such a fascinating history. But let’s continue on this theme, what in your opinion is the most unique thing about Windstar?
The truly intimate experience. We go to some of the most incredible places on this planet that no other ships get to access due to their size. Plus, our ships size makes the experience much more memorable because you are nowhere near crowds and get to meet and connect with people you are sailing with. You also get a unique experience with each destination, where you get to be fully immersed in the culture.

Wow, it seems that you are a person who cares about authentic touches. Personally, when I travel, I usually try to connect to a region through food. As you know, food is very important to us at Windstar given our partnership with the James Beard Foundation. I’m curious if you have a favorite meal you’ve ever had?
I love seafood and recently had some of the best Mediterranean mussels in a delicious saffron verjus broth with a side of foie gras, paired perfectly with a negroni.

That sounds absolutely delicious! Is there anything else quirky or in-depth you think would be fun to include?
I’m a designer, who sometimes works in illustration and other times in graphic design, and I'm a photographer. 🙂

Christopher Muther of the The Boston Globe talks about his Tahiti Cruise
Windstar’s Mexican Cruises were named “Best for the Mexico Port Collector” by AFAR Magazine
Find out “What’s New for Windstar’s ‘Signature Expeditions’ Program” in this Travel Agent Central article
VOTE FOR US NOW IN TRAVEL WEEKLY'S READER'S CHOICE AWARDS

Thank you so much for participating in Windstar Cruises’ Travel Advisor Appreciation Month. We received a great level of interest in the program with many Advisors participating in our Star Specialist Academy and signing up for our emails. There is still one more week for you to wrap up your qualifying actions to earn points towards some great gift cards. Just because Travel Advisor Appreciation Month is ending, we want you to know that we appreciate you all year round. Thank you for all that you do in recommending Windstar Cruises.

We are proud to announce that our new Voyage Collection has arrived and will be set to be in homes July 8th! Set aside some time to unwind and explore the beauty of the world around you with a little help from Windstar's 2020/2021 Voyage Collection brochure; you can see the highlights below.
Highlights:

• The 2020-2021 season includes more than 190 itineraries visiting 330 ports!
• Brand new cruises to exotic new destinations in Australia, New Zealand, and the Holy Land
• All new Grand Voyages that cover the South Pacific, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and more
• Six new cruises hosted by James Beard Foundation chefs and beverage experts help you discover new cultures through culinary-themed shore excursions, cooking demos, tastings, paired meals, and more.

Yacht Club Member Offer:

• For a limited time, past guests of Windstar Cruises who book ANY 2020 or 2021 voyage will receive up to $1,000 shipboard credit, starting June 29th, this special offer expires on July 22, 2019

The brochure will be available to order as well on that day!

We would like to introduce to you Select Sailings. As you very well may know, Windstar is successfully sold through story telling; so we’ve called upon members of our onshore and onboard employees to choose a sailing and to tell their own personal story. These are specially curated, iconic sailings that hold specific significance to the Windstar Cruises’ employees. Additionally, we hope that these stories work as a tool for you to help personalize the sailings to your clients and to help you sell.

Whether it’s a social media post or a promotional email, there are lots of ways to inspire your clients to book a Windstar Cruise with you.

There will be exciting news announced this week at a special event held in New York City on Tuesday June 25th. At this point, we can’t say much more than it involves one of our new intimate dining venues and a certain well known Master Chef! Keep your ears open and your eyes on your inbox for this exciting release!

For the most recent $250 Million Star Plus Initiative news, check out our dedicated landing page »

Windstar Cruises has a solution! For your clients who are jonesing to get out the door and see this big, magnificent world of ours; Windstar has a fantastic selection of close- in offers for them to choose from. We have introduced a brand new button on our home page that will take you right to the hottest deals of the summer, leaving this summer … and a little beyond.

As June closes out, so does the time for you to earn points to go towards gift cards or the big chance to win a cruise during our Travel Advisor Appreciation Month.  So if you haven’t already, finish up that Star Specialist Academy, make one or several bookings through bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, throw up a social media post about Windstar Cruises iconic sailings that will make all your clients want to cruise!  You will have until the end of July to register your points, but all qualifying actions must be completed by the end of June!

Cruise Critic shares the “10 Reasons Why the Windstar Grand Prix Cruise is Special”
Discover the 2020 European Ports Windstar is sailing to with Travelweek News
Find out “What’s New for Windstar’s ‘Signature Expeditions’ Program” in this Travel Agent Central article

In honor of Travel Advisor Appreciation Day, we designed a rewards program for everything you do to learn about Windstar Cruises and everything you do to recommend Windstar Cruises to your clients.  During the months of May and June you can earn points for completing qualifying actions, and you have until the end of July to register these actions on special landing page of the Advisor Hub.  Once July is completed, we will tally the qualifying points you’ve earned to see what level of prize you’ve won.  Five advisors who have earned the most qualifying points will win a Grand Prize Cruise on board the newly enhanced Star Breeze, Key West & Bahamas Getaway sailing and an invitation to join Windstar Cruises for the re-inaugural event at the conclusion of the cruise.  With this exciting program in mind, we’ve designed this edition of Trade Winds around each of the qualifying actions that will help you earn points.

Just in case you missed it, bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, our online reservations system, was announced about three years ago to address your independent booking needs as a Travel Advisor. With real time access to available pricing, promotions, and inventory, bookWINDSTAR ONLINE offers you the fastest way to generate quotes, book your client’s cruise, specify any client preferences, and secure hotels, transfers, and shore excursions … all with the ease of your fingertips.  What’s best is that bookWINDSTAR ONLINE gets you off the phone and makes you more available to answer your clients inquiries.

Now with Windstar’s Travel Advisor Appreciation month, we will reward you for using this amazing tool. You will earn points when you complete the following actions:

• REGISTER: If you have already registered for bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, wonderful, please indicate that on your submission form and we will award you 180 points.  If you are unsure or still need to, don’t worry, you can register here »
• BOOK: Make a reservation via bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, earn 180 points, it’s that simple.  What’s cool is that we will award you 180 points with EVERY booking you make via bookWINDSTAR ONLINE. Book. Earn. Repeat.
• BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME: If you are making your VERY FIRST booking on bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, you will earn 360 points.

Windstar Cruises’ Star Specialist Academy is a quick 30-60 minute course designed to give you a complete understanding of the experiences that makes our cruises so meaningful in a straightforward and impactful way. Of those who have completed our course, 67% of Travel Advisors have booked Windstar Cruises and 88% indicated that their recommendation of Windstar would increase after completion. As a bonus, if you make a booking within 120 days of completing the course, you will earn an additional $100 bonus commission. This is a great opportunity to learn more, grow your business potential, earn some extra commission, and better position yourself to earn all the points in Travel Advisor Appreciation month. You will need to log into the Advisor Hub in order to begin your course!

Graduating from the Star Specialist Academy will earn you 180 points.

Whether it’s a social media post or a promotional email, there are lots of ways to inspire your clients to book a Windstar Cruise with you.

Use a captivating image.
Nothing inspires clients more to travel than an image that invites them to imagine a rich and relaxing vacation.  Be it a beautiful ship shot, a fiery sunset, or a pristine tropical beach and cocktail, clients will want to go there.  You can see a selection of images available in our image library to download for promotional purposes.

Use anecdotal experience.
Tell a story you’ve experienced, or one that you’ve heard, about either the cruise itself or the destination. Readers will immediately recognize the authenticity of voice and will be more inclined to experience the cruise firsthand.

Keep it simple.
There is nothing worse than an ad or email that does too much. Keep it simple and the message will be more likely to stick with your clients.

If you post about Windstar Cruises on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram during the months of May and June, we will award you with 180 points for each. Create a Windstar Specific email, or forward one of the promotional emails we send to you with a personal message to your distribution list, we will also reward you with a 180 points.

We want you to earn as many points as you can by making bookings through bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, and we want that to be as easy as possible.  So we will be  hosting a webinar on May 29^th at 10:00 AM with our Director of National Accounts, Gina McGinnis, specifically to teach you all the insider secrets to using bookWINDSTAR ONLINE.  Learn how to open a new booking, generate a quote, pick out a stateroom, add all combinable promotions, add a transfer, add a booking to a group, everything possible to make your time using bookWINDSTAR CRUISES as successful as possible.  To reward you for taking the time out of your day to learn about bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, and attending the webinar you will earn a 180 points.

Dear Travel Professional,

Over the last few years, Windstar Cruises has worked very hard to create a number of cruise add-ons to improve the overall experience for our guests, your valued clients.   This includes new cruise tour options, which combine our cruise itineraries with additional land components truly creating a comprehensive exploration of select regions of the world while maximizing a client’s time and airfare purchase.  It also includes a number of onboard components, which we have conveniently packaged together as our new “All-In Package” which combines our popular all-inclusive beverage package, unlimited Wi-Fi, unlimited laundry, and onboard gratuities for only $89 per person per day.  Other cruise add-ons include a number of unique, hand chosen Shore Excursions all designed to get your clients more immersed into the destinations and closer to the world.

Studies have shown that the more ancillary items that are booked along with a cruise the more likely the cruise booking will stick and not cancel. As our most valued partner, I wanted to let you know about a new program that Windstar Cruises will be testing and rolling out in the coming days, designed to help our future cruise guests learn of ways that they can enhance their cruise experience.

A select team of staff is coming together and members are currently being trained as Cruise Enhancement Concierges. This team will be reaching out to booked guests over the next few months to offer them a number of these convenient cruise add-ons to enhance their cruise experience. This team will acknowledge you as the guests’ valued Travel Advisor. Should these guests choose any of the cruise add-on items, we will process their request, update their travel invoice, and send an immediate updated copy to you as confirmation of the change. Of course, as you are aware, a number of these items are commissionable to you such as cruise tours, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, hotel stays, etc., and you will earn the appropriate commission on any of the purchased items thus adding to your own profitability.

As you know, part of our Star Promise to you is that we will deliver an excellent guest experience and we believe that this program will help ensure that.  We remain committed to you as our valued partner and are always looking for ways to enhance your commissions and profitability in selling our brand.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Regional Sales Manager or email Windstar_Sales@windstarcruises.com.   Any specific questions about individual reservations should be directed to our Reservations/Vacation Planning Team.

Sincerely,

Steven Kona Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

Travel Advisor Appreciation Month hits a beat with Travel Pulse
Travel Agent Central announces Windstar’s All-In Package
$250 Million Star Plus Initiative covered by the Seattle Times
Cruise Critic covers how Windstar Cruises will be going to Australia & NZ

Every year, the cruise industry hosts an event called SeaTrade, where cruise suppliers can network with industry leaders from all over the world. At this event, Windstar Cruises held a press conference to unveil some very exciting details around the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative!

While we have all this exciting news circulating about what is happening to our Star Class ships, I want to talk for a moment about what we are continually doing for all of our ships. We consistently care for our ships and maintain a high level of ongoing maintenance onboard. For example, we recently installed new Yacht Club Cafes onboard the Wind Spirt and Wind Star.

Also in this newsletter there are some helpful hints and ideas of how to upsell your clients from big ship cruising to Windstar’s unique version of small ship cruising. This was prepared by Megan Hagar, our Trade Promotions Marketing Manager and hopefully it will give you a few sales tips on growing your business with us!

We have officially began cutting steel for the section of ship that will be inserted into Star Breeze! We know, that is very exciting! But perhaps even more exciting, is that this week at SeaTrade we have debuted our new VR 360 degree videos of our reimagined Balcony Suite, Owner’s Suite, Veranda restaurant, and Pool area, which features a beautifully designed two-tiered elevated pool. Press agents and guests were amazed to view these new areas through advanced 3-D technology.

Read more about our event here »

A consumer’s first view of cruising usually is associated with the larger mega ships.  You know the ones they have go-cart tracks and water parks, beverage making machines, and an entire Broadway cast on board? They carry 1000’s of passengers and generally low entry price points. You could earn the same amount of commission selling a Windstar small ship cruise for the same amount of effort it takes to make 4 bookings on a big ship cruise.  Here are some suggestions on how to convert BIG ship guests to small ship cruising.

Below are some of the tell-tale signs that you can convert these guests to a more intimate cruising experience, to the benefit of your commission checks of course.

After a trip, guests talk about what they did on shore, what they learned on vacation about other cultures, and often book shore excursions.

What that means: These are guests truly interested in the destinations they visit, and are open to having new cultural experiences. For them it is less about high-energy amusement on board, and more about getting off the ship and the experiences they have on land.

How to convert: Talk about how Windstar ships often include much longer time in port or overnight port stays. While larger ships have all-aboard in the late afternoon, small ships often don’t leave until later in the night. Guests can stay on land longer and enjoy local restaurants, and with overnights they can even experience local nightlife.

Guests who book premium suites.

What that means: They revel in the luxury of a well-appointed stateroom and intend to spend some time there.

How to convert: Tell them about how on a Windstar ship, guests don’t need to retreat to their room, there is plenty of deck space to find a quiet place to read or enjoy a drink with a newfound friend. And when they do retreat to their room, its well-appointed with fresh fruit with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, and fresh Egyptian cotton linens. What attracts so many clients to suites is the higher level of service they receive; but regardless of where your client is on a Windstar ship, they will receive the same attentive, thoughtful service and feel special. And with attentive service throughout the ship, guests feel like they are always in their suite.

Guests who mention memorable meals.

What that means: They are interested in food and culinary experiences are very important to them.

How to convert: Ask them if they are familiar with award winning restaurants in their home city. As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar Cruises features phenomenal dishes and talent on every cruise with opportunities for guests to learn how to cook their favorite meals, or even shop with the chef in local markets for the night’s dinner. There are also culinary themed cruises with itineraries specifically designed for the best foodie experience where up- and coming chefs sail with the ship.

They constantly are booking cruises in new destinations, and are not just repeat Caribbean offenders.

What that means: That for these guests, they are less interested in the experience on board, and more interested in seeing different parts of the world.

How to convert: On a small ship such as a Windstar ship, guests can actually dock in the heart of cities, or anchor in pristine undeveloped lagoons in a tropical paradise. Small ships offer a unique way to visit the world, and will get guests closer to the destinations that they actually want to see. Furthermore, Windstar is always adding new ports and calling on cities where larger ships cannot go since the number of guests on larger ships would simply overwhelm the city.

They never fail to mention how unfortunate it was that soda costs extra at lunch.

What that means: That they are sensitive to being “nickeled and dimed.”

How to convert: Mention that Windstar Cruises cruise fare includes all meals in all specialty restaurants, all sodas, all specialty coffees, all mid-day snacks by the pool. Guests don’t have to worry about that bill at the end of the week, because they will know exactly what’s on it. And with Windstar Cruises All-In Package, guests have the option to include all onboard amenities including cocktails, Wi-Fi, and laundry.
 

Here at Windstar Cruises, we believe in the freedom of choice. We are constantly asked whether or not we will make our experience all-inclusive, but now your clients can choose an all-inclusive experience or not. We are pleased to introduce our All-In Package. At an unbelievable $89 per day, the All-In Package includes gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi, Laundry, and our Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package. This is an excellent option for guests who don’t want to worry about anything on their vacation, and they save by making that choice ahead of time.

Make your voices heard! Travel Age West nominated Windstar Cruises for three awards in this year’s WAVE Awards, and we need your support! Vote Windstar Cruises for Best Onboard Dining (ocean-going/less than 1,300 passengers), Best Small-Ship Cruise Line (ocean-going, less than 250 passengers), and Best Cruise Line for Alaska Sailings. Here is why you should vote for us:
 

• As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, we have access to some of the upcoming, innovative talent in the culinary world. Every cruise features James Beard Foundation recipes and cooking demonstrations, and select culinary themed cruises feature a James Beard Foundation recognized chef.
• We are consistently recognized as top contender for small ship cruising. On two of our three sailing ships, your clients will always travel with fewer than 148 guests, and they feel that intimacy in the way our crew gives each guest attentive and thoughtful service. Always greeted by name with preferences remembered, guests feel like they are coming home.
• Our Signature Expeditions program, led by a team of six onboard experts, brings guests right to the heart of the Alaskan Wilderness. Through guided hikes, kayak, and Zodiac tours your clients have the opportunity to see firsthand and learn what makes the Alaskan frontier so awe-inspiring. Our guides no only lead these expeditions, they also sail onboard to chat with guests over coffee and share insider tips on where to get the wildlife pictures.

Calling all past cruisers! Our first ever photo contest is still happening! It’s simple, enter your favorite Windstar Cruises photo that you’ve taken and you could win a cruise for two, a stay at The Inn at Death Valley, or The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel Adventure! We want to see your best moments with Windstar Cruises, hear the story behind your picture, and share your memory with the world! Last date to enter is April 30, 2019.

Luxury Cruise News urged readers to enjoy Wind Spirit’s Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands cruise
Roaming Boomers featured Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation
The Telegraph profiled Captain Belinda Bennett

These past two weeks has been very exciting for Windstar Cruises.  Starting with our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative webinar hosted by our President, John Delaney, on Tuesday, February 19^th, and ending with a launch of our 2020 post- Star Plus deployments for Star Breeze and Star Legend. There is a lot of new information to take in and new information on the very exciting enhancements to our Star Class ships.  We intentionally held this webinar early for our Travel Advisor partners so you would be “in the know” first before your clients.   If you were unable to make our webinar, I recommend you watch the recording found below for an exclusive look and talk through the changes that you will find in our suites as well as our public spaces.  These changes include new categories and styles of suite aboard these ships.  These are great talking points to build your 2020 base of business with Windstar Cruises.   It’s a good opportunity as well to reach out to group leaders and prospective clients who would be interested in a cruising experience 180 degrees from ordinary.

On Tuesday February 19^th, our President John Delaney hosted an informational webinar all about the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative.  In this exclusive webinar, he took the attending travel advisors deck through deck on the Star Class ships explaining all the changes that travel advisors could expect to see with sneak previews on the schematics and deck plans for the new suite layouts and public spaces including the pool area, verandah, new intimate dining restaurant, tender area, and more. It was a fantastic preview in all the upcoming improvements, insight into the thoughts behind these changes, with an opportunity for a short Q&A session, all in preparation for Star Breeze and Star Legend deployment opening.

Here is a nice information flier summarizing the enhancements » 

With the opening of the post “Star Plus Enhanced” Star Breeze & Star Legend 2020 deployment, you will have an ideal opportunity to talk to pied pipers and group leaders about new suite categories and layouts, enhanced public spaces, and the new dining venues that will now be available on the ships.  Beyond being a fantastic selling point to groups, we have our Star Groups Program, a very competitive program that allows your groups to earn more with every guest booked, including: 1:9 Tour Conductor rate, guest amenity of $100 per person shipboard credit, 5% to 10% savings fares, and a complimentary cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres for 18+ guests booked, and bonus commissions on certain sailings. In the upcoming months, you can expect us to announce our Star Advantage dates for even more savings.

Star Breeze’s debut will cover Costa Rica & Panama Canal before heading to Alaska, where it will feature a new itinerary Alaska Glaciers & Prince William Sound, which includes first-ever Windstar ports and explorations of Valdez, College Fjord, Hubbard Glacier, and Point Adolphus.  Star Legend will debut in July 2020, and will make its way from Barcelona to Lisbon and up Europe’s Atlantic Coast in early July, then sailing in Northern Europe through September, followed by several fall trips in the Mediterranean.

Learn more about our group program here! »

Calling all past cruisers! Today marks the start of our first ever photo contest. It’s simple, enter your favorite Windstar Cruises photo that you’ve taken and you could win a cruise for two, a stay at The Inn at Death Valley, or The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel Adventure! We want to see your best moments with Windstar Cruises, hear the story behind your picture, and share your memory with the world!.

Dramatic scenery and curious communities coalesce on this week-long circumnavigation of Iceland. Explore a country few people will ever visit, and go far beyond the tourist hotspots to remote fjords, raging waterfalls, and small fishing villages. Get to know the independent and creative Icelanders, and watch whales and seabirds play offshore. This Iceland cruise is yachting at its most inventive.

We would like to take a moment to introduce you to Brooke Fox, our new Inside Sales Coordinator.  You may not know this, but every time you email Windstar_Sales@WindstarCruises.com, Brooke is the fantastic person who responds. Brooke has worked with us for three and a half years, coming to our team internally from the reservations team.  Her favorite thing about the travel industry is perhaps the simplest of all, everybody loves vacations, and it provides her with the opportunity to sell something that everybody wants.

There are many memorable things that happen on board a Windstar ship, from the amazing ports visited, to jumping off the Watersports Platform into a palm-tree fringed lagoon, to the delectable food served on board.  But what makes most vacations truly special are the people you meet in travel and the bonds formed.  That is why Brooke’s most memorable Windstar moment is when she met a couple, whom she would grow to call affectionately her pseudo-grandparents, while she cruised a few years ago.  To this day, they send her small gifts, holiday cards, and other goodies, and she marvels at the lasting connection she formed.  She is even trying to sail with them again this year!

When asked where above all else she would like to visit, she responded that she would love to explore the land of her heritage: Norway … Norway or Easter Island! When not fully immersed in the cruise industry you can find Brooke passionately playing volleyball with her partner or nose deep in a True Crime novel.

Connections and relationships are what make the travel industry the personable, fun, amazing business that it is. If you have not done so already, take a moment to reach out to your RSM’s and get to know them!

Vote for us in Travel + Leisure’s  “World’s Best Awards!”
Learn more about Windstar Cruises in Sitka with Seattle Refined
Forbes featured Windstar’s Tahiti in “The 20 Best Cruises to Take in 2019”
Captain Belinda Bennet was interviewed by Virtuoso Life

With the traditional WAVE season upon us, now is the best time to book your clients on a Windstar Cruise.  To support our valued travel advisor partners with strong sales during the next few months we are currently offering some of the best prices of the year and our Star Perks on our small ship cruises to amazing destinations all across the world during our Beyond Ordinary Savings Event.

Windstar Cruises guests are savvy travelers who appreciate value. Our robust itineraries that include marquis ports along with the hidden harbors few large cruise ships can visit, together with these incredible prices make it a great time to recommend Windstar Cruises 180 Degree from Ordinary style of small ship cruising to your clients.

Phones ringing off the hooks with WAVE? Great! Windstar Cruises has a tool that can help with that. Utilize bookWINDSTAR ONLINE when you are talking to clients and generate a quote in an instant. Make all your bookings online and avoid waiting on hold. Have a client who wants to book at 9:30 at night? Fantastic! bookWINDSTAR ONLINE is available 24 hours, 7 days a week with real time pricing.

Take advantage of the tools you have available and let the WAVE bookings roll in.

Register here »

 

We are proud to announce a new travel agency recognition program dubbed Club 180, a multi-tier travel agency recognition program designed to reward top-producing agencies.

Recognition is in the form of a number of amenities travel advisors can offer to their clients (such as complimentary Wi-Fi and shipboard credit); additional marketing and sales support from Windstar (including advance notice on promotions and new product launches); priority service (such as a dedicated phone line); and benefits for travel advisors themselves when sailing on Windstar (including complimentary Wi-Fi and laundry), with varying levels of benefits for three different tiers.

Inaugural members for the new Club 180 program have already been selected based upon 2018 sales production; however, membership will be renewed annually, with a chance for new members in December 2019.

Head north from New York City to charming New England towns and coastal scenery that will take your breath away. Step into the living rooms of the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Morgans in Newport’s restored Gilded Age mansions. Witness the autumn spectacle of Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor. Discover the quaint, yesteryear charm of Charlottetown — inspiration for Anne of Green Gables. And watch for rare Blue and Beluga whales as you cruise the beautiful waters off the Gaspé Peninsula..

Windstar Cruises has lots of charming voyages in the Canada New England area, and you can check them out here. Book now for up to $1,000 SBC, Free Wi-Fi, or Free Gratuities. Offer expires March 18, 2019.

Win an unforgettable Alaska cruise aboard Windstar's all-suite, 212-guest small ship - Star Legend. Cruise between Anchorage (Seward) and Vancouver over 11 or 12 days. Witness the grandeur of Alaska’s premier glaciers: Mendenhall in Juneau, Kenai Fjords’ Harding Icefield, Tracy Arm’s twin Sawyer Glaciers. Discover Alaskan Native villages, Russian cathedrals, and Gold Rush history. Cruise Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords on the lovely Star Legend, waters beyond the reach of larger Alaska cruise ships. Sweepstakes ends 1/31/19!

In every upcoming edition of Trade News, you can expect to find an article here about any recent developments with the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. We value our communication, and we want to keep you in loop.

Keep up with the project developments on our dedicated microsite »

Want to know more about the exact changes that will be happening to the suites onboard the Star Class ships? Join our President John Delaney in a Webinar on February 19 at 10:00 AM PST to learn about the new layouts, suite categories, and for a sneak peek on all the schematics before they go public!

Our parent company Xanterra graces the cover of Travel Weekly
Chowhound covers the unique experiences found in James Beard Foundation culinary themed cruises
Discover Alaska with Seattle Refined
The LA Times covered our Star Plus Initiative

Steve is interviewed by Travel Agent Professional

I can't believe the year has come and gone so fast, and it truly has been a joy-from watching the success of our first season in both Alaska and Canada & New England to announcing the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. As we wrap up this year, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all the best Holiday Season and I hope that you find peace and happiness in the New Year. We at Windstar Cruises appreciate everything that you do and our continued partnership.

Few cruise lines can take you to Almería Spain – so allow us to introduce you to the sunniest city in all of Europe, and the gateway to the Alhambra Palace. Almería enjoys beautiful, clear skies all year round, allowing travelers to wander its orchards, explore its historical sites, peruse locally made silk, marble crafts, and esparto baskets. Your clients can visit the sites of critically acclaimed films and sample local fare like the cheeses of Alpujarra. Or visit the Moorish Alcazaba Fortress dating from 955, one of the largest citadels in the country. Or simply relax and nestle into the white-sand beaches of the region.  Windstar Cruises offers four itineraries that stop at this esteemed port, and plenty of shore excursions to explore.

For this holiday season at Windstar Cruises, our last sale of the year will be a “‘Tis the Season of Adventure” Sale, including lots of excellent pricing on many of our voyages. Check your inboxes on December 18th for a sneak preview of all the presents that will be coming down the chimney.

Three Ways to Prepare for a Successful WAVE

As 2018 wraps up, it’s time to look towards 2019 and take advantage of any slow spots during the holiday season to prepare for WAVE. WAVE, from January to March, is historically the busiest months in the cruise industry for bookings. We recommend that you take the time now to make sure you are familiar with bookWINDSTAR ONLINE so that you can access our reservation systems 24-7 and know how to generate quotes for your clients. If you need help doing this, please view our training guide.

To ensure efficiency when you are talking to clients, it is a good idea to take the time now to make sure that all your passwords are in order. Your clients will surely be impressed with how little time it will take you to provide them a quote. During the holidays, there are always slow moments in any office, so take advantage of this time to start or complete our Star Specialist Program. Essentially, brush up on your tools of the trade now, so that you are 100% ready when WAVE hits. All of these tools and more you can discover on our Advisor Hub.

We couldn’t be more excited about our $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. Not only will the three Star-Class vessels' engines be completely replaced, but we will add stunning new guest spaces including a new restaurant.  So we wanted to give our readers an exclusive insight into this process with our new appointed VP of Expansion Projects, John Gunner.
So John, I think that the question that is at the tip of everybody’s tongue is why? What is the inspiration for these extensive changes?
The Star-Class ships are popular with our guests and this project gives us a unique opportunity to enhance the technical areas of the ship while also adding new facilities for people to enjoy. The cool thing about essentially cutting the ship in half is that it gives you a rare opportunity to completely overhaul the engine room and update it with new technologies. As you may know, a key component of our mission and vision as a company is our emphasis on innovation and responsibility. By overhauling our engine rooms, we integrate innovation into the very heart of our ships. We take very seriously our responsibility for stewardship of the places we visit and this will be demonstrated with the installation of the new tier 3 engines, which will reduce our carbon footprint.
So are we to understand that the new engines make the ships more environmentally friendly? Will they be more efficient and faster?
Yes, absolutely. Each ship will have seven engines replaced with four new tier 3 engines. That means we will only need 2 engines running for most cruising speeds. Not only will this be more efficient, but the engines themselves burn cleaner fuel that will allow for a softer environmental footprint. Also, the new engines will enable the ships to increase our cruising speed by up to 4 knots. In addition we will upgrade other systems such as plumbing, sewage treatment and ballast water treatment to enhance behind-the-scenes operations and guest experiences.
How long will each ship be after completion?
All together, we will be adding a length of approximately 84 feet (25.6 meters) to each of the three ships – Star Legend, Star Breeze, and Star Pride. Star Legend is actually a little bit longer than the other two ships, so at the end of the day, the ships’ total lengths will be between 521 to 524 feet