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

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 (159-160 meters). The $250 Million Star Plus Initiative does much more than allow us to add new engines and additional length. After completion, each ship will have beautiful new public spaces including brand new restaurants, shops, a world-class spa, and 50 lovely new suites bringing each ship capacity to 312 passengers total.
Do you think the increased length and capacity will change the small-ship experience?
Honestly no. Currently, our flagship Wind Surf holds 310 passengers, so the capacity increase from the Star Plus Initiative brings us to a similar total of 312 guests for each of the Star-Class ship. The significant change will to how guests enjoy their Windstar experience will be how the new engines, public spaces and suites will dramatically enhance the guest experience overall. Also, from an itinerary and deployment perspective, we will still be able to go into small ports like Sanary-sur-Mer, Wrangell, Bequia, Huahine, as well as sail up the Garonne River to Bordeaux, and transit the Kiel and Corinth Canals. Our small ship cruising experience is becoming better than ever.
What about the three sailing ships? Will they be renovated as well?
We do have regularly scheduled maintenance for the ships, and dedicated drydocks for more extensive renovations and upgrades. In fact, Wind Star just emerged from a drydock that included an installation of the Yacht Club Café. Wind Surf will enter a 24-day drydock next fall. And most excitingly, Wind Spirit will travel to Singapore for a 6-week drydock that will refresh public spaces, as well as the technical and back-of-house parts of the ship. That will be a rare cruise opportunity for guests as we’ll only do these itineraries twice, including ports in Vanuatu and New Caledonia that are difficult to visit due to their remote location.
When will the renderings, deck plans, and more announcements become available?
As we progress through this complex process, additional details will be forthcoming. There will be a dedicated microsite that will launch in 2019 where you will be able to track the progress and view some exclusive videos, interviews, and renderings.

USA Today covers the $250 million Star Plus Initiative
Insider Travel Report snagged an exclusive interview with John Delaney on the Expansion Project
Discover 3 shore excursions to explore in Sorrento with Sherman's Travel
Seatrade Cruise News says that “Windstar-James Beard partnership satisfies a higher craving”

Our Star Promise to you includes a commitment that we will deliver Extraordinary Guest Experiences. A few weeks ago Windstar Cruises announced the biggest investment in our history – the $250 Million Dollar Star Plus Initiative- which will ensure we can continue to deliver extraordinary guest experiences to your clients. This investment will add 50 new suites along with a number of guest facing enhancements to this popular trio of small ships. In addition, the ships will boast new engines which will be more fuel efficient and environmentally responsible. This investment has been made possible due to the overwhelming support in the past few years of our travel advisor partners. It is your recommendation of our brand to your clients that has helped fuel our growth and we thank you. I encourage you to order our new Travel Advisor guide featured in this issue so you can learn about other ways we can support and help you with your small ship cruise sales.

Also in this article I encourage you to learn more about our Alaska Cruises which offer your clients a chance to really get up close with the Alaska of their dreams. Our Signature Expeditions Program is a truly unique and personal way to explore the Alaskan wilderness. And when clients are back on the ship, cozy and warm with a hot chocolate in hand, they can view the magnificent beauty of the Alaska coastline without having to fight the crowds for a space at the railing. Or mingle with the Expedition Leaders and listen in to some insightful and knowledgeable talks about the aspects Alaska that make everyone so keen to visit.

This exciting initiative is our 180 degree from ordinary solution to add major enhancements to the guest experience on our three Star Class vessels with increased dining opportunities, beautiful new public spaces, and a revitalized spa and fitness center. In addition to the impressive scale of work to be done, we will also take the opportunity to re-engine the ships with a more fuel efficient and environmentally responsible propulsion system which will run on cleaner fuel and reduce emissions impact to sailing areas.

The initiative will lengthen and expand guest accommodations and public spaces on our three all-suite, Star Class vessels from 212 guests per ship to 312 guests.. The work will be done to Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride in succession between October 2019 and November 2020, and will take place at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The project represents an overall capacity increase of 24%.

Windstar Cruises is the most highly awarded small ship cruise line in Alaska.  Not only will your clients experience everything that makes Windstar Cruises exceptional, but with our Signature Expeditions program your clients will be able to step right off the ship and into our kayaks, Zodiacs, or straight onto the pristine Alaskan shore to begin their unforgettable adventure. Each Signature Expedition is led by one of our six knowledgeable onboard Expedition Guides, and represents a unique opportunity to learn about the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. Meet some of our Expedition Guides in our Alaska video and learn why they chose Windstar as the cruise line to bring guests closer to Alaska.

These Signature Expeditions have been extremely well received in our inaugural season and we want to make sure that all your clients have a chance to join us on one of these tours. When you book your clients on any Windstar Alaska voyage now through the end of November your clients receive a complimentary Signature Expedition (up to a $400 value per stateroom Alaska voyages feature:

• 6 onboard expedition experts
• Signature Expedition kayak and Zodiac tours from the ship
• Rarely visited ports: Wrangell, Metlakatla, Haines, Dutch Harbor
• Longer 11-12 day itineraries, plus 16-day Denali cruise tours

Fresh off the press, our 2019 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.

Windstar Cruises and our sister brands underneath the Xanterra umbrella are offering fabulous savings, deals, and discounts on sailings, stays, and experiences FOR ONE DAY ONLY on November 26th,2018. Invite your clients to have exceptional experiences in unforgettable places around the world.

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. Thrill as you watch a wild brown bear snatch a struggling salmon from a stream or a humpback whale breach off the bow. Cruise Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords on the lovely Star Legend, waters beyond the reach of larger Alaska cruise ships.

Travel Weekly helps announce our Star Plus Initiative
Cruise Industry News covers Winstar’s Triple Call in Barcelona
Travel Pulse dives deep into our Alaska experience
Seatrade News says that “Windstar-James Beard partnership satisfies a higher craving”

This issue is full of what’s new for Windstar as we move into the Fall Season.  In our newest Voyage Collection brochure, you will discover everything that’s new in 2019 and 2020 and the favorites that are returning.  Our Alaska and Canada & New England voyages were so popular and had such rave reviews, we decided to bring them back in 2019, providing your clients with even more chances to experience these iconic destinations in Windstar fashion.  Most exciting, we have some new itineraries that touch on the Mexican Riviera, explore the west coast of the Continental U.S., and venture deeper into the South Pacific. Windstar Cruises has a high repeat guest percentage, so this is a good opportunity to talk to your previous Windstar clients and explain to them the new voyages in 2019, and offer them the exclusive Yacht CLub Member offer or our 2019 CLIA "Choose Cruise" promotion, which you can read about below.

We are proud to announce that our new Voyage Collection has arrived! Set aside some time to unwind and explore the beauty of the world around you with a little help from Windstar's 2019/20 Voyage Collection brochure; you can see the highlights below.
Highlights:

• New itineraries let you sample Mexico’s charms from Baja and the Sea of Cortez to the magnificent beaches and renowned cuisines of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and the Yucatan.
• A voyage beyond Tahiti to the far-flung islands of the South Pacific discovering tiny native villages, exotic traditions, and astounding beauty.
• 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.
• Some of these cruises sail to all-new destinations like our West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza from Vancouver, B.C. to San Diego.
• Our popular Star Collector voyages now include three Grand Star Collector voyages of 50 days or more — epic cruises that take our authentic in-depth regional explorations to a truly grand scale. Choose from our Grand Mediterranean, Grand Caribbean Adventure, or our Grand West Coast, Central America & Caribbean Exploration.

Yacht Club Member Offer:

• for a limited time, past guests of Windstar Cruises who book a Caribbean or Asia sailing receive will $400 shipboard credit per stateroom on 11+ day voyages, or $200 shipboard credit on 6-10-day voyages. Contact Windstar Cruises at 844-359-2921.
• This special offer expires on November 15, 2018.

Our Windstar Easy Stays program means that when you book your hotel through Windstar, we take care of the logistics of getting from the hotel to your ship (or vice versa), including luggage porterage, giving them the peace of mind to enjoy and relax on your vacation. Not only does Windstar hand-select and curate premium hotels, we offer only preferred category rooms and upgrades for your comfort.  It’s easy – with breakfast, wi-fi, taxes, and resort fee all included, all you need to do is stop by the Windstar-hosted, on-property service desk for planning day trips, restaurant recommendations, and to find the best place for viewing the sunset.

We are expanding our Cruise Tours program! In 2019, your clients will be able to extend their stay in Italy with our Rome and Chianti Cruise Tours. In Rome, they will have the chance to stay in centrally located accommodations, experience guided walking tours through classic markets, take an exclusive tour of the Vatican museum before it is open to the public, and have access to the Colosseum via a restricted entrance. Or, if you have clients who are wine connoisseurs, our Chianti Cruise Tour is an excellent opportunity for them to really see and understand how this interesting grape varietal is cultivated. Guests will also spend an evening in Florence and visit hilltop villages in the Chianti region, sure to further grow their appreciation.

With unique, small ships that carry less than 310 people, Windstar offers guests marque destinations, hidden ports, a relaxed onboard style, superlative service, and fine cuisine featuring our partnership with the James Beard Foundation. Six well-appointed, small, elegant sailing and all-suite ships will take you to the destinations they most desire to go.

To celebrate "Choose Cruise" during the month of October, Windstar Cruises is offering $100 per person shipboard credit for any length of sailing in Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Tahiti, Canada & New England, and Alaska. Promotion code: "CLIA."

Quebec’s French-flavored history, Prince Edward Island’s anachronistic charm, the fusion of Acadian and Scottish cultures in Nova Scotia—each province distills its own blend of Old World and New, bucolic and urbane. Browse the shops and boulangeries along Quebec City’s picturesque Petit Champlain, the oldest street in North America. Fall under the spell of Charlottetown and Gaspé with their bright red covered bridges and Anne of Green Gables vibe, and Halifax with its lively pub culture and majestic Citadel.

The New York Times talks about our James Beard Foundation Culinary-Themed Dreams of Tahiti
Insider Travel Report has an exclusive interview with John Delaney
Our Signature Expeditions Program is featured in an article on “Fitness Afloat” with Recommend
Grand Caribbean voyage on Wind Surf is featured on Travel Pulse

This issue marks the official close of our first Alaska Season in almost 20 years, and I think Windstar really captured the Alaskan experience. Our Signature Expeditions program was a success, receiving many very positive reviews. Guests simply loved launching directly from the ship and learning as much as they could from our excellent Signature Expedition Leaders. Beyond the Signature Expeditions on the ship, if you have clients who are interested in an Alaskan experience from a different perspective, now is the time to explain not only what makes Windstar 180 degrees from ordinary, but also how our Alaska Cruise Tours provide the best showcase of Denali and other areas that you can’t view from the ship.

We also encourage you to take time to refresh yourself with our brand and take or retake our Star Specialist Academy to earn $100 bonus commission on your first booking made within 120 days of graduation. Surveys show that graduates feel more familiar and confident selling Windstar cruises after graduating the course!

We took a few moments to sit down with Jess Peterson, Windstar’s Director of Revenue & Itinerary Planning, to learn more about the philosophy behind the 56-day Star Collector: Grand Caribbean cruise and to get a deeper understanding of how Windstar takes guests closer to unique, small ports for an unforgettable journey.

Learn more about the cruise on our blog »

Windstar’s first season back in Alaska has been so triumphant, it gave us chills.

To help you better understand why Signature Expeditions are so special, we have an exclusive interview with Justin Hofman, one of our Signature Expedition Leaders. He explains what gear is best for your clients to bring, and what they can expect to see. You can read the full interview here »

Now is about the time that your clients are missing summer and thinking about next year, and lucky for you, our 2019 Alaska season is open for booking! Talk to your clients now about the ways!

We know that guests who are still basking in the relaxation of their Windstar Cruise are more likely to book again, especially when they have friends nearby to make it easier to make plans! And we want to sweeten the deal and encourage them to book while on board. With this in mind we introduced the Onboard Cruise Consultant to Wind Surf, Star Pride, Star Legend, and Star Breeze. Guests who book through our Onboard Cruise Consultant will receive a Special Reduced Deposit AND 5% onboard bookings savings COMBINABLE WITH their 5% Yacht Club Member savings. All bookings will be attributed back to you as the “Agent of Record,” meaning you will receive full credit and full commission. Encourage your clients to book their next travel adventure and make a deposit before the last day of their cruise, and let us do the rest.

Before school really picks up, before the holiday season is in full swing, in the last lingering days of summer is the time to bolster your knowledge and truly prepare for this year’s selling season. Windstar Cruises’ Star Specialist Program 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 that 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, and earn some extra commission. You will need to be logged into the Agent Hub in order to begin your course!

Are your clients looking for something different in their Caribbean vacation?  Invite them to skip the usual Caribbean cruise stops and discover the small harbors, overlooked havens and most remote secrets among the Leeward Islands. Whether they are looking for hidden shops, sampling new cuisine or seeking a local place to sip rum cocktails over the melodic beat of steel drums, this highly personalized adventure is an intimate opportunity to familiarize themselves with the lesser-known charms of the Caribbean like Les Saintes, Anse Mitan, Pigeon Island and much more.  Remind your clients to pack light; all Star Collector voyages include complimentary laundry!

If your clients prefer a shorter voyage, Star Collector: Caribbean Explorations combines Classic Caribbean with Yachtsman’s Caribbean, both of which are lovely itineraries that highlight different aspects of our Caribbean voyages.

Travel Pulse discusses how Windstar’s “James Beard Cruises are an Epicurean Adventure”
Discover how Windstar’s Signature Expeditions are “A Fusion of Adventure And Luxury” with Forbes
Puget Sound Business Journal Covers how John Delaney has raised Windstar Cruises’ profile
Travel + Leisure details how Windstar’s Caribbean feels like “Staying on a Private Yacht”

Companies have mission and vision statements to guide them in their decisions, goals, and innovations. At Windstar, we recently sat down with our employees and thought through what we wanted to be as a company and after a few sessions of discussions, we settled on a mission and Vision that we truly believe and follow every day. While typically reserved for internal audiences, we wanted to share these with our Travel Advisor partners as well, as you are very much a part of who Windstar is. More on our Mission and Vision statements can be found below.

We continue to improve our culinary offerings and expand on our exclusive partnership with the James Beard Foundation and so we are sharing with you this month our 2019 James Beard Foundation Dates and our Group Dates. Lastly, we would like to mention that the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards are open for nomination, and we appreciate any recognition you give us.

When communicating to your clients about Windstar, it can be helpful to understand the way that we define and think about ourselves. It is in our Mission and Vision statements that really distill the core, fundamental aspects of the Windstar experience and what we bring to each voyage, regardless of the destination. Read our new mission vision value statements below:

Windstar Mission: "We imagine and deliver personalized and immersive experiences 180 Degrees from Ordinary."

Windstar Vision: "Enriching people's perspectives through inspired travel."

We have launched a new video campaign series that features our crew offering you an insider's perspective on what it is like to travel with Windstar. These videos reveal details about our ships, the personalization we offer, welcoming culture and exceptional culinary program from the crew's perspective. With stunning visuals and unscripted sound bites from Windstar employees – including Corporate Executive Chef Graeme Cockburn and Destination Manager James Anderson Smith, among others – the videos really show how unique Windstar is from other cruise lines. We invite you to view these videos and download them to show your clients who may be interested in booking Windstar.

Our exclusive partnership with the James Beard Foundation truly gives us an edge in the world of culinary travel at sea. With the James Beard Foundation partnership, Windstar Cruises is allowed to give our guests an exclusive understanding of the dining experience through cooking demonstrations of JBF recipes, shopping with the Chef, and showcasing JBF courses every night in AmphorA.  Best of all, Windstar Cruises has access to the best and upcoming talent in the industry by bringing James Beard Foundation Chefs on board for culinary themed cruises, and we are happy to share with you what those itinerary and dates will be in 2019!
 

• January 5, 2019 – Winter Antilles Escape
• February 16, 2019 – Costa Rica & Panama Canal
• March 16, 2019 – Pop Culture Kings of Asia
• June 22, 2019 – Yachtsman’s Harbors of the Riviera
• September 24, 2019 – West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza
• October 14, 2019 – Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast

As a follow-up to the excellent questions our Travel Advisors asked in our last Windstar’s Asia webinar, we are pleased to bring back our panel of Asia experts for an in-depth Q&A conversation about the Windstar experience in Asia. Gina McGinnis, Director of Sales, will moderate this webinar while our in-house Asia experts Jess Peterson, Director of Itinerary Planning and Melissa Witsoe, Asia Product Manager, will answer all of your questions. Both Jess and Melissa have traveled extensively in this region to develop a keen perspective on the one-of-a-kind authentic travel experience that only Windstar can offer. Not only that but you can hear about their first-hand experiences in each of these ports. Join us on August 28th at 10:00 AM PDT, grab your coffee and let’s chat!”

View our last Asia Webinar »

Groups are one of the best ways to increase your earning potential and grow your business, and with Windstar we have made it easy for your clients to quickly earn their way to complimentary staterooms, shipboard credits, and additional discounts with as few as 10 guests booked. And as a bonus, you earn additional commissions when you sell our Star Advantage dates.
 

See 2019 Group Dates »

“Cruise Critic has named us as the “Best Small Ship Line in the Panama Canal”
Travel Pulse highlighted our Tahiti Cruise as “Fall Cruises You Should Book Right Away”
Spend “24 Hours in Vancouver” with this blog post that has been picked up by MSN
Popular Cruising highlights why our partnership with Luggage Forward makes travelling easier

I've been in the travel industry for a long time, and the thing that has always substantiated my personal success is my firm belief and confidence in the experience I’m selling. Windstar Cruises is not just another cruise line; our small ship advantage is real. It allows us to bring unique experiences to our guests. Things like being the largest ship to transit the Ballard Locks, or to bring guests into Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm, or anchoring in the harbor of Monaco close enough that you can hear the cars racing during the Grand Prix. And it means the world when we win awards like the WAVE award for Best Small-Ship Cruise Line in 2018 and Travel + Leisure Magazine Readers choice Awards for World’s Best in Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line. It shows that travel professionals recognize the quality of experience we are able to bring guests because of our small ship advantage. Another small ship advantage is that we can institute services like our Luggage Forwarding, where clients can travel hassle free and reunite with their luggage on the ship. You may read more about this program below.

Windstar Cruises recently raised our Travel Insurance rates to be more competitive with the travel agent industry. This increase will be applied based on the booking effective date, meaning that guests who booked before the insurance increase date will be protected when paid in full. Travel Protection Plans commissionable at 10%, so this increase represents a better commission opportunity for you and better protection for your clients. As a professional in the industry, you know how important it is to protect your clients' experience with travel insurance. It will provide ease of mind for you and your clients with protection in the case of a cancellation for unforeseeable circumstances.

For your clients you can eliminate the hassles of carrying and checking bags or clearing customs, by introducing them to Windstar’s brand new luggage shipping service. Your clients’ bags will be picked up from their home and delivered directly to their stateroom or suite! When their voyage is over, the luggage is sent back once they are ready to go home. Thanks to our partnership with Luggage Forward, your clients will just need to worry about boarding their flights. Their bags will be waiting for them at their destination.

Windstar Cruises made history on June 27, 2018 when Star Legend became the largest passenger ship to transit the Chittenden Locks, affectionately known as the Ballard Locks, in her home town of Seattle, WA on Wednesday June 27, 2018. Windstar Cruises earned its tagline of 180 Degrees from Ordinary, by actively seeking out experiences for our guests that make a once in a life time experience. Taking a break from her Alaska season, the ship came down to Seattle to carry Windstar employees, VIPS, travel partners, and the press through the locks to Lake Union and back through the locks up to Vancouver. Hundreds of people lined the locks and shoreline for the event and local media covered the spectacle live on board and from helicopters and a drone above. The ship had roughly 12 feet to spare as the 63-foot wide and 440-foot-long vessel made its way through the locks. While native Seattlelites cheered from the sides of the locks, a local expert came on board to provide a historical overture of the locks.

Thank you so much to the readers of Travel Age West for voting Windstar Cruises as the Best Small-Ship Line in 2018! It is with great honor that we accept this award.

“Windstar Cruises is very excited to win the WAVE Award for the best small-ship line,” said Windstar President John Delaney.“Travel Age West is a respected institution in the travel trade; they bring true depth and breadth of experience to the evaluation of nominees and the selection of winners, and we are particularly gratified to receive this endorsement.”

We are dedicated to providing an extraordinary guest experience, and to be recognized as a leader of small ship cruising demonstrates that our efforts are recognized by travel agent professionals. So thank you!

"Thank you for voting us the World’s Best in the 2018 Travel + Leisure Magazine Readers Choice Awards. Our officers and crew are the best in the industry – delivering a vacation unlike any other with personalized and immersive experiences that allow our guests to discover and be inspired by people, places and cultures around the world. This award celebrates their success as the true creators of the Windstar experience."

               -John Delaney, President

We invite your clients to come on board and see for themselves just how exciting a cruise with Windstar can be. Have them join us as we explore the world and seek out new experiences.

“Star Legend squeezes through Ballard Locks” as told by the Puget Sound Business Journal
Chris Cruises covers Windstar’s Unique Alaska
Porthole Cruise highlights how guest can stay out late with Windstar
King 5 News covers Star Legend as the “Largest ship to ever pass through the Ballard Locks”

Without fail, if there is an opportunity to speak about Asia, I will. I am so pleased that the focus of this edition of Trade Winds gives me that opportunity.

As you probably know, Star Legend just finished up with Asia as a region and is embarking on her inaugural season in Alaska. We are very pleased to say that she will be returning to Asia in the fall with even more sailing dates for Grand Japan. This voyage was by far one of the most popular itineraries ever introduced to Windstar’s repertoire. And it’s no wonder why.  With Windstar’s small ship advantage, we are able to cruise Japan’s inland sea, visit ports that larger ships don’t stop at, and truly provide our guests with an authentic experience, all with the same elegantly appointed suite each night.  I like to think that with our second consecutive season in Asia, we’ve taken an extraordinary experience and refined it to the point of exceptional.

In travel planning, timing is everything.  When guests are so busy making sure they are in the right place at the right time for the next tour, ship departure, or hotel check-in, it’s hard to enjoy the journey. Windstar wants to help your clients make the most of their journey stress free by arranging transportation, hotels, tours, even select meals all booked and scheduled for your guests  in addition to their cruise. Incredible views by sea and historical sights on land will make our new Asia Cruise Tours as unforgettable as the region itself. Your clients can…
 

• EXPLORE ANGKOR WAT: By stepping way back in time and marveling at the masterful architecture and detailed art of the Khmer Empire. Guests will see local life in a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. Observe the battle between man-made art and nature at Ta Prohm. Then check this massive UNESCO site off their bucket list.

 

• WALK THE GREAT WALL: Your guests can discover thousands of years of culture and art as they walk a section of the Great Wall, visit the Terracotta Warrior sculptures and tour the enormous Chinese imperial palace known as the Forbidden City. Spectacular views and rich history combine with delicious cuisine like Peking Duck for a land tour that completely complements their cruise.

 

• DISCOVER KYOTO’S CASTLES: Remind your clients to charge their camera for the lovely architecture found on this tour. They will visit the cypress wood UNESCO site of Nijo Castle, and Osaka Castle, the 16th century famous historic landmark surrounded by 15 acres of carefully landscaped park. They will stroll the grounds of the ancient Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion for the shimmering gold leaf that covers it.

Our Star Legend ship photographer, Rhea Regis, and Product Manager, Travis LaMarche, have taken some great photos of the experience your clients will have on their Windstar Asia itinerary. See more here

“It was amazing cruise! I love the ship, itinerary, food, crew. Defiantly going to sell my clients!

Natalie Veprinsky, Owner
Elite Travel & Events Inc.

“We are back from our cruise to South East Asia. We had great time during almost a month voyage on the beautiful Star Legend. Great itinerary, professional and friendly crew, wonderfully relaxed laid-back atmosphere, exceptional food. Big cabin and ideal size of ship.”

Michael Oz, Editor-in-Chief
Vacation Magazine, INC

Layer after layer, Japan’s story unfolds. In Edo-period gardens with their perfectly sculpted karikomi. In Chiran’s exquisitely preserved samurai homes. In the peace memorials of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. And time after time your clients will struggle to describe unforgettable moments, from their first view of Mount Fuji to the fluttering paper cranes of peace at Hiroshima’s Atomic Dome.

We wanted to take a moment and introduce you to our new category on board all Windstar vessels, the Y Category. The benefit of a Y category is a guarantee of the price regardless of the stateroom or suite in which we place the guests. Guests will be notified of their stateroom or suite up to a week before sailing. This is excellent for guests who are price sensitive, and don’t have preferences on where their cabin is located as it is important to note the Y category does not secure specific stateroom or suite requirements.

Jamie Moore on Cruise Critic “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Windstar Cruises”
Cruise Industry News covers Windstar’s “Triumphant return to Alaska”
Learn more about our onboard Sommeliers through The Avid Cruiser
The Insider Travel Report on our newly unveiled Asia Cruise Tours

My note in this issue is really all about you, our valued Travel Agent partners. Wednesday, May 2, was Travel Agent Appreciation Day. Travel agents sell the vast majority of our cruises. And bookings made by travel agents have a higher yield than bookings that consumers make directly. As a small company, your recommendation of our brand to your clients is very important, and helps us reach new audiences. You are very much a valued partner and while May is always a great opportunity to highlight that appreciation through our Star Promise and the associated programs and initiatives, we try hard to show our appreciation every day of the year.

This month also look for more details on our Get Closer event which highlights Windstar’s unique ability to immerse our guests and your valued clients in some of the world’s most unique destinations while adding value to their cruise purchase with the benefit of a shipboard credit of up to $500.

Get Closer with up to $500 Shipboard Credit

Your clients can get closer to secluded coves, tiny villages, misty fjords. To ancient ruins, medieval alleyways, quaint marinas. To unspoiled beaches, unfamiliar cultures, undiscovered atolls. To enlivening your curiosity and awakening your sense of wonder. Your clients will be closer than ever to the kind of authentic and unforgettable experiences that inspire your sense of wonder. Closer than ever to the kind of authentic and unforgettable experiences that drive your love of travel and give you a fresh perspective on the world.

During our Get Closer Event, your clients will receive shipboard credit to use on shore excursions, beverages, spa treatments and more to get them closer to the Windstar experience.
 

• $150 Shipboard Credit per guest on 6-10 day voyages in an Ocean View Stateroom or Balcony Suite
• $250 Shipboard Credit per guest on 6-10 day voyages in a Classic, Bridge or Owner’s Suite
• $300 Shipboard Credit per guest on 11+ day voyages in an Ocean View Stateroom or Balcony Suite
• $500 Shipboard Credit per guest on 11+ day voyages in a Classic, Bridge or Owner’s Suite

Amy Conover is our fearless leader in the Charter & Incentives side of our department. For many travel agents, booking charter and incentive business can be quite lucrative. Yet, it’s quite different from regular retail business and so seeking out this kind of business can be a bit scary. If you are curious about exploring sales opportunities in this realm, Amy has some tips for you so you might become just as fearless as she is!
 

1. The strength of any business is relationships, so fish out and cultivate relationships with the top incentive houses that have contracts with Fortune 500 companies.
2. As frequently as possible, attend trade shows with top decision makers for award programs. Making time to speak with executives is always the best way to form a strong relationship or create a favorable impression.
3. If you have booked charter clients before, don’t forget to reach out and check in! Invite them to investigate our new itineraries or see firsthand our various improvements to the ships.
4. Keep your eyes out for Travel Agent Appreciation rates, and if you are courting a group invite event planners/decision makers on a familiarization cruise!
5. Keep in mind a retail customer today could be a great C&I client tomorrow or vice-versa. Don’t be afraid to look for cross-sell opportunities.

Look towards companies such as Windstar which, due to their small size and limited numbers of guests, are able to offer many personal touches and customizations to pull off the perfect incentive group!

We’ve listened to guests’ feedback and revamped our beverage packages. Your clients now have the choice of three revamped beverage packages onboard our ships. We’ve also made it more convenient for your clients by allowing each guest the ability to choose their own package or none at all based on their individual preferences.

It’s important to note that select cruises in Europe are subject to V.A.T. However, beverage packages purchased in advance, are not – thus, you can save your clients some money by selling them these packages in advance. Doing so also has its advantages for you, as we commission pre-sales of beverages packages by travel agents at 10%.
 

• Voyagers Adventure Beer & Wine Package: A fantastic package with great variety and exceptional value including wines from California, Washington, France, Italy, New Zealand and Spain. $32 per guest per day.
• Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package: A truly premium by-the-glass wine selection including everything in the Voyager’s Adventure Package, PLUS 13 premium offerings covering all major varietal categories as well as top wine appellations in the United States, France and Italy. $42 per guest per day
• Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package: Includes wines, beers, cordials, liqueurs and aperitifs, AND cocktails … even mini bar items. $52 per guest per day.

VP of Sales Steve Simao, RSM Melissa Nessonson, and Drew Daly of Cruise One/Dream Vacations attend the CLIA trade show.

For a small ship cruise line, Windstar had a strong presence at the recent Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) Cruise 360 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cruise 360 is the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry, bringing together travel professionals, cruise line representatives, ports and destinations, industry suppliers and CLIA preferred partners. Representing Windstar at this important conference were President John Delaney, Vice President of Sales Steve Simao, Regional Sales Managers Melissa Nessenson and Dianna Rom, and Trade Marketing Manager Megan Hagar. Also at the conference was Corporate Director of Sales at Xanterra Travel Collection Erick Valdez.

More than 1200 travel agents were at the event, and approximately 500 of them attended Windstar Cruises' new branding breakfast presentation hosted by John Delaney, who also spoke on the small ship panel later that week. Windstar representatives participated in the Cruise Line Showcases and the Marketplace Trade Show where our new backdrop was debuted with the phrase, "The cruise line for people who aren't especially into cruises.

Stephanie, who joined Windstar just a few days ago, feels right at home with Windstar as Stephanie worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Holland America Line during the time when Windstar Cruises was a part of that organization! She has additional experience supporting the Travel Agent community as a Business Development Manager for Disney Cruise Line.

Stephanie fell in love with the small ship cruise experience the moment she set foot on her first Windstar Cruise because the focus on service and cuisine make such a big difference and she found the crew to be so personable, attentive and skilled. A self-proclaimed foodie she is especially excited about Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation, and the innovative and exciting menus on board. Prior to her current position with Windstar Cruises, Stephanie was involved in the culinary industry as a business entrepreneur and a restaurant owner.

Travel is her first love however, having caught the bug early in life. A Seattleite originally, she has also lived in London and toured Europe extensively. She spent more than a year in Hawaii, on the tiny pineapple island of Lana’i.

Some memorable Windstar experiences include exploring the jungle of Dominica by canoe. Her group was accompanied by the Captain of the ship, who later showed off his drumming skills with a local band brought on board for a sunset party! She also recalls a time cruising the spectacular Amalfi Coast. There she experienced a Windstar exclusive tour to a locally famous, family run mozzarella cheese factory, perched on the side of a cliff. These are the moments that make Windstar truly 180° from ordinary.

Stephanie is so excited to be back ‘on board’ with Windstar Cruises. She is so pleased to have the honor of working with our Key Accounts and will devote significant time to deepening the relationship with our International partners.

Cruise Critic gave a shout out to how awesome our Watersports Platform is for staying active on a cruise
Windstar Cruises was given as an example for its Unique Ports and Itineraries in Channel Mag’s “5 reasons why you should try small ship cruises”
Mountain Meetings discussed Windstar Cruises Nordic and Alaskan itineraries as a meaningful alternative to meeting mountains
Read about Global Traveler’s experience on Pearls of the Indian Ocean

With WAVE season tapering off during March, now is the time to really focus on how you can keep sales going strongly for the rest of the year. There is still opportunity for last minute sales on our Europe and Alaska programs this summer. Asia has a longer booking window than most, so if you have clients who are intrigued by visiting this part of the world, we recently opened our 2018 Winter and 2019 Spring Asia itineraries. To help you with these sales, Windstar is opening up our “Get Closer Event” on April 9th, which will feature a tiered SBC program. For longer voyages or for booking suites, your clients will earn more SBC for their bookings. This will be an excellent tool to incite your clients to book now rather than later, you can see the SBC tiers of the promotion below:

• $150 Shipboard Credit per guest on 6-10 day voyages in an Ocean View Stateroom or Balcony Suite
• $250 Shipboard Credit per guest on 6-10 day voyages in a Classic, Bridge or Owner’s Suite
• $300 Shipboard Credit per guest on 11+ day voyages in an Ocean View Stateroom or Balcony Suite
• $500 Shipboard Credit per guest on 11+ day voyages in a Classic, Bridge or Owner’s Suite

If you are registered for CLIA Cruise 360, we invite you to join us for a Breakfast Seminar on April 18, 2018 from 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM! CLIA Cruise 360 is an annual trade show that solely focuses on the professional development of travel agents. It’s a wonderful opportunity to become a certified travel agent and learn more about the destinations and the cruise lines that go there firsthand by the industry leaders. As such, what better way to start out the day than by coming to breakfast and learning firsthand from our President what makes Windstar Cruises a leader in the small ship category of cruising?

We hope to see you there!

Chef Maxime Bilet and Sommelier Belinda Chang will join us for our June 20, 2018 sailing of Hidden Harbors of the Côte D’Azur. Chef Bilet is the co-author of Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking and is a leader and innovator in the culinary world.  Sommelier Belinda Chang is an esteemed writer of wine notes for cookbooks, a multiple James Beard Award winner, and a frequent contributor to many venerable wine events.  This itinerary is specifically designed to give guests personal access to these superstars of the culinary world, featuring a hosted dinner with Chef Bilet, including wine pairings skillfully curated by Belinda Chang; cooking demonstrations and wine tastings throughout the cruise; and local market tours with each expert (where available). The 7-day journey of coastal cuisine will sail through the French Riviera, stopping to explore the authentic and less developed ports of Bastia, Antibes, Le Lavandou, Marseille, Sanary-sur-Mer and Palamos, before culminating in Barcelona. As always, passengers can also enjoy Windstar’s signature service, activities, and unique shore excursions on this cruise.

A brand as unique as Windstar Cruises is sold through storytelling. We invite you to see and taste firsthand our culinary excellence, and personalized service to craft your own stories. Not only will that give you a deeper understanding of our unique selling points, it will give you authenticity in what you say. We wanted to personally thank you and everyone on Star Pride June 28 – July 6, 2017 for an amazing yachting experience.  My husband and I were fortunate to be invited by my Regional Sales Manager Dianna Rom on a FAM.  Everyone who worked on Star Pride was so proud and happy to be working for Windstar which was very impressive.  I hope this letter will not be too lengthy but I was so impressed and thankful for everyone on the ship that I want you to know, your crew is Out of the Ordinary. I know I cannot write about everyone, but I do have some stand- outs that I want you to know about. Amanda Miller, our Guest Services Manager, is “Over the Top.”  She worked endlessly to find our luggage.  Every day she would make sure she saw us to give us an update and also put a letter on our door with an update.  When do you ever get service like that?  I know this might be trivial to you, but I needed a band for my hair and could not find one in town.  She gave me 3 of her personal bands.  It made me so happy.  When I was finally able to find clothes that fit me, she wanted to make sure I felt great when I came to dinner that night Amanda arranged for me to go to the salon to get my hair blow dried.  When my husband and I walked into the dining room for dinner everyone cheered and clapped.  I could go on and on and tell you all the wonderful things she did for us, but I know you know she is one of The BEST!!"   Melody & Jim Sadleir Elite Travel & Events Inc.

• Cruise Critic spoke to our product manager Melissa Witsoe for “Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions”
• Travel Weekly highlights on the ways becoming more agent focused paid off
• Experience “the Largest Yacht in the World” with Luxurious Magazine
• Cruise Industry News focuses on how “Windstar Upgrades the Culinary Experience”

We are currently finishing up a fantastic season in Asia. It marks Windstar's first return to Asia since Star Pride’s inaugural season, and it had some gems. One of the highlights was probably the President’s Cruise this past February, where we welcomed crew members' families on board and had a special event for everybody! Another one of the gems was a recent photoshoot in Vietnam which gave us some truly remarkable and inspiring images. You can read about some of the behind the scenes perspectives below. In this edition of Trade Winds we decided to be more destination focused, highlighting two of 2019’s unique itineraries.

The whole idea behind our recent photoshoot aboard Star Legend’s Icons of Southeast Asia cruise was to capture more of the alluring destinations that Windstar Cruises travels to, specifically with a focus on the authentic cultures your clients will have the pleasure of learning about. We visited Halong Bay, Hoi An, and My Son for some inspiring images that you will see featured in many of our upcoming campaigns. Here is a little bit about why we chose each destination.

• Halong Bay – A truly iconic destination, Halong Bay offers your clients some of the most breathtaking vistas there are to see. Even so, Windstar takes the path 180 degrees from ordinary and will take your clients off the beaten path to find serene rice paddies at Yen Duc village or the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng. Your clients will have a firsthand experience of a sampan and meeting the locals who use traditional tools in their harvesting of rice.
• Hoi An – Your clients will explore the vibrant markets of Hoi An with our ship’s chef. With opportunities to learn about the beautiful lanterns this ancient town is known for, we were lucky enough to capture the tradition of wishing lanterns that are lit and floated down the Thu Bon River almost nightly, and the hanging lanterns give it an extra special ambiance. The town has a monthly lantern festival for those interested in larger festivities. As an insider tip, we recommend the famous egg coffee and the cao lau (the legendary noodles of Hoi An).
• My Son – Finally, we visited the Hindu Champa ruins of My Son that whispered of legends from kingdoms past. Those drizzling skies and moss flecked bricks held so many secrets that honestly can’t be captured by camera and must be seen firsthand, but the pictures are still very pretty.

We can’t wait to show you more of the photoshoot, so look for it in our upcoming campaigns and trade shows. Come with us or a memorable journey and see the world from Windstar’s perspective.
 

Especially on our Comprehensive Indonesia Exploration itinerary:

1. Outdoor Activities – If your clients enjoy any sort of physical activity or nature, Indonesia is the place for them. Just about 50% of the country is covered with forest, which provides incredible vistas for cycling, hiking, or swimming at many of the country’s astounding beaches. And for the divers out there, Indonesia is an epicenter of biodiversity, with one of the greatest varieties of marine life concentrated in one area. With almost 17,504 islands and hundreds of national parks, there is always something new for your clients to explore!
2. Bali – Colloquially known as a backpackers’ paradise – and the new resort hotspot – Bali also offers a wide assortment of culture and shopping. While Indonesia as a whole represents a diverse cultural spectrum, Bali has developed a cultural imprint all its own, largely influenced by traditions rooted in Hinduism. Be sure your clients check out the distinct artisanal style of the Balinese in their shopping adventures!
3. Komodo National Park – If you didn’t know already, Komodo Dragons are the largest living species of lizard and only found in Indonesia, and the Komodo National Park is home to 5,700 of them! Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve, invite your clients to learn all about this unique beast and the other notable wildlife found in abundance here.
4. The Cultures and Landscape of Java – Java has long been considered the heartland of Indonesia, and has been the leader of Indonesia culturally, economically, and politically. As the main contact point for the Indian traders of yore, Java has long been a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Javanese, Indian, Arabian, and European cultures with more than 300 ethnic groups speaking 200 different languages. We recommend diving in deep in the region. The eastern landscape of the island is dominated by Mount Bromo, an active volcano and probably the most well-known mountain in Indonesia because of its magnificent sunrise views. Java also houses hundreds of ancient stone monuments, with the majority being built between 780 CE and 860 CE. With truly magnificent edifices, your clients will not only be astounded by their immanence, but also afforded a rare historical look into the past.
5. Lombok – Compared to its much busier neighbor, Bali, Lombok is a slower paced, rarely visited port that offers a look at island life and beautiful beaches, but without the hallmarks of tourism that go along with larger resorts. This is an excellent place for your clients to find a quiet beach, and let the crashing of the waves lull them into a restful sleep.

Do you have clients who particular love leisurely journeys, collecting as many countries as possible, or have previously taken world cruises or other long trips? Or perhaps a client who has recently retired and is looking for a big celebration? Accomplishments of a lifetime deserve vacations of a lifetime, and this 51-day cruise spanning the length of the Mediterranean is a perfect reward for milestones big and small. Your clients will depart from Lisbon and sail down the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula where they’ll learn the secrets behind grape growing and the long history of sherry aging and sample dry, bready “fino” and dark, nutty “oloroso” sherries in the countryside outside Cadiz, Spain. Admire colorful mosaics and detailed stone latticework as your clients learn about kings and caliphs tied to the Moorish palace of the Alhambra above the port city of Almeria.

They can wander a medieval castle in Catania and learn how geology and nearby Mount Etna carried this coastal fortification nearly a mile inland. Or listen to a private concert and attend an exclusive dinner among the towering pillars of the Celsus Library in the ruins of Ephesus, Turkey at our complimentary Destination Discovery Event. With unique opportunities to wander the ancient baths, markets and forum at the excavated archaeological site of Pompeii your clients will be afforded a glimpse into a history almost perfectly preserved. They can stroll between century-old olive trees and vineyards surrounding an old French farmhouse outside Sanary-sur-Mer, then sample wines and olive oils in the intimate company of winery staff.

Eventually your clients’ epic odyssey must ultimately conclude in the Catalonian capital of Barcelona, where they can board a cable car bound for Montjuïc Castle, or wind their way along Las Ramblas, an iconic, pedestrian mall lined with tapas bars, small shops and kiosk vendors. It’s an ideal way for your clients to find their own space to sip Catalonian Grenache red wine and reflect on their once in a lifetime journey.

If you are a travel agent who earns 12% on your Windstar Cruises, you could roughly expect an intro commission of $2,158 based on double occupancy in our lowest category.

In honor of our reduced and waived single supplement, we worked with a traveling guru on a special blog post on why taking a solo cruise can be one of the best things that you ever do for yourself. Feel free to share this with your clients if you think they are interested in having a solo adventure.

• The Avid Cruiser covers the Windstar Cruises and James Beard Foundation partnership

• Chris Cruises displays some amazing shots from his time on Star Legend in the Philippines

• Windstar is #1 in Go Travel With Me’s  “Top 6 Small Cruise Ship Experiences”

• Insider Travel Report interviews John Delaney about the Onboard Cruise Consulting Program

It is always exciting when we have a brand new itinerary to announce, and I am personally very excited about our new Comprehensive Indonesian Exploration and expanded date selection of our popular Grand Japan cruise. One of my favorite regions in the world to cruise is Asia. Because the food is outstandingly delicious, the temples are decadent, and the people are wonderful. And for your clients new to traveling to Asia, coming by small ship offers the perfect opportunity to get off the ship and explore the different ports that are known as cultural epicenters filled with bustling markets and renowned historical sites and then return to the familiar comfort of their suite each night. In this edition of Trade Winds, you can also register for another exclusive webinar on our Alaska itineraries with Captain James Griffiths and learn more about our culinary partnership with the James Beard Foundation.

Our most exciting news is that we will soon be announcing a brand new itinerary in Indonesia, from Singapore to Bali!  Look for this itinerary announcement in March! These exciting new itineraries start in September and will end in April.

Back by popular demand, Captain Griffiths has agreed to do one more exclusive webinar on Thursday, March 8th, at 10:00 AM PST, hosted by Gina McGinnis, Director National Accounts and you’re invited! Come learn more about our New Windstar Signature Expeditions, and the knowledgeable Expeditions leaders, and the experiences your clients can look forward to on their Alaska cruises, by the mastermind of the program himself!

Yes, our ships are beautiful, but their real beauty lies in how close they can get your clients to the kind of authentic, immersive experiences they’re looking for. They can have dinner with a Croatian family in their village home, and see what life is like from a local perspective. Or they can take a culinary tour in Da Nang, and see the cultural role food plays in Vietnam. Our carefully curated onboard lecturers deepen and enhance your clients’ experiences with an insider’s look at intriguing local topics, like the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Get closer to each destination through the best small ports and hidden harbors, for access to different cultures and far-off lands.

Welcome to Windstar. An immersive way to experience other cultures and see the world from a new perspective.

If your clients enjoyed sailing on one of our James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise Collection itineraries or the incomparable meals on their Windstar cruises, then they might also enjoy the All-Star Chef Classic, LA’s favorite food event which returns March 7-10! We are excited to offer a special discount to your clients: 20% off tickets to experience Vegetable Masters Dinner presented by Blue Shield of California, a fine dining, multi-course dinner featuring 5 top chefs lending their expertise to elevate vegetable cooking. Each dish will highlight creative cooking methods to showcase the exciting flavors of seasonal produce with specially selected champagnes or wine paired with each course. The dinner takes place in Restaurant Stadium™ by Pacific Sales where guests sit around the kitchen as the All-Star Chefs prepare your meal. Windstar Cruises is pleased to offer you and your clients 20% off All-Star Chef Classic tickets! Just click on the link below and use code: WINDSTAR.

We have renewed our inimitable travel-culinary partnership with the James Beard Foundation.  Inspired by the past success of our relationship, the partnership renewal will extend until January 2021.  This means more scrumptious bites at sea with James Beard-affiliated guest-chefs and sommelier/mixologists onboard our intimate small ships.  These exclusive culinary themed itineraries will charm your guests with food and beverage demonstrations, special menu items, unique culinary shore excursions, and local market tours where guests will help the chefs choose ingredients that will be featured on later meals.  All guests can revel in James Beard Foundation featured menu items every dinner served nightly in AmphorA.