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.

• Cruise Fever features the way “Windstar Honors Crew in Unique Unexpected Way”
• Windstar Cruises named a top cruise line byCruise Critic
• Our Onboard Cruise Consultant program was recognized by Travel Agent Center
• Popsugar calls out Windstar as a cruise line best for couples

2018 continues to have a strong start, but we need your help to keep the momentum going! WAVE season historically sees the most bookings for the cruise industry and where agents will see the most promotional activity from the cruise suppliers. Thus, we need your help to continually communicate that the Windstar Cruises experience will take travelers in “A Different Direction” by providing a true small-ship experience that get your clients closer to the kind of authentic and unforgettable moments that larger ships can’t reach. We encourage you to book your clients now while we are still offering the best pricing and best availability. We expect fares to increase as itineraries start to sell out.

With the success of our Japan itineraries, we wanted to introduce even more opportunities to cruise the land of the rising sun! Starting this fall, we are introducing more itineraries that feature Japan so that your guests can take full advantage of the fall colors and cherry blossoms. We will also take every opportunity we can to cruise the inland sea of Japan for an even more in-depth experience. In addition, we are making our itineraries 10-12 days so that guests can extend their vacation with inland adventures if they desire.

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.

Welcome your clients to true island spirit. From hidden coves and secret beaches to open air markets and lively cafés, from serene rainforests to engineering marvels, we’ll show your clients the authentic and unspoiled Caribbean and Costa Rica & Panama Canal, including places that only our small ships can reach. Your clients will discover a town swallowed by a volcano during a unique visit to Montserrat. They can absorb the French charm of enchanting Les Saintes, or cruise past the UNESCO World Heritage Site Pitons of St. Lucia. Every itinerary is carefully designed to take you to the must-sees as well as the places most travelers have never heard of.

This January 30, 2018, our parent company, Xanterra parks and resorts wants to help travelers plan their vacation by providing a dynamic quiz that takes into account their travel preferences such as when, where, with whom they want to travel, as well as their interests, to suggest vacation options in some of the most Beautiful Places on Earth®. We encourage you to take advantage of the hype and talk to your clients about different vacationing opportunities and share this quiz with them. It is also a great opportunity to discuss Windstar Cruises, with a wide variety of destinations and a more in-depth, immersive travel experience, our cruises our perfect for travelers who want unforgettable experiences.

If you haven’t already seen, our 2018 Travel Professional Guide is ready!  Filled with information on our destinations, unique selling perspectives, and sales tools, our Travel Professional Guide is an easy reference point perfect for any Travel Agent’s Desk.  You can check out a digital copy here, or request hard copies for your office by emailing Windstar_Sales@WindstarCruises.com.

Join us for a webinar on February 1, 2018 at 10:00 AM PST to learn how to use Windstar's Online Booking Engine! Put the phones down and learn how to book MORE cruises in LESS time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! It's easy, it's quick and easy and allows you to book more cruises every day for your clients!

• Chris Covers spotlights the Windstar Difference while onboard the President’s cruise
• The Andy Ricker Voyage to Southeast Asia is covered by The Daily Meal

• Thrillist included our James Beard Foundation Cruises in the “Best Themed Cruises of 2018”
  Steve’s recent trip to the Caribbean featured in the most recent Recommend

As we head into 2018 once again those of us in cruise sales know that the first months of the year are traditionally known as wave season. Even though our company has strong booking demand throughout the year there is no denying that a number of people plan their vacations in the first few months of the year and thus we are amplifying our message during this period. As our valued partner, we wanted you to be among the first to know the direction we are taking our marketing messaging during this important booking period.

I am very excited to share with you that beginning early next month Windstar Cruises will be launching our wave marketing campaign called "A Different Direction." Quite simply, no one else goes so far to get travelers so close. We will be focusing on the unique aspects of our brand as it relates to true, small ship cruising and our ability to deliver destinations like no other cruise line. Windstar Cruises offers experiences that get your clients closer to the kind of authentic and unforgettable moments that larger ships can't reach. From the intimate atmosphere of a close-knit group of traveling companions to the small group shore excursions free from the crowds, and the onboard experts providing a deeper understanding of the culture to dinners cooked from local ingredients - one might even say that the travel experiences we provide and the long lasting memories a Windstar experience creates are the very reason why your clients are traveling in the first place.

2018 is already off to a strong start. Our campaign is designed to encourage your clients to discover a new immersive way of traveling- experiencing other cultures and seeing the world from a new perspective that is truly 180 degrees from ordinary with Windstar Cruises' small ships. The campaign focuses on all of Windstar Cruises' destinations including many of our new regions such as Alaska, Asia, Canada/New England, and a number of new itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. We encourage you to book your clients now while we are still offering the best pricing and best availability. We expect fares to increase as itineraries start to sell out. Please contact your Windstar Cruises Regional Sales Manager to discuss joint promotions opportunities.

Smooth selling from all of us at Windstar Cruises.

Steven Kona Simao, CTC
Vice President of Sales

From all of us here at Windstar Cruises, we hope you have a joyful and restful Holiday Season and find peace and happiness in the new year. At Windstar Cruises we want to thank you for the great partnership we have enjoyed this year and for your positive endorsement of Windstar Cruises. We are gearing up for the start of WAVE season just after the first of the year so please watch your email next week for details on Windstar Cruises' WAVE season messaging.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

Steve Simao named one of Travel Agents most “Innovative People” in the Cruise Industry
The Travel Channel named Windstar Cruises as the cruise line to “skip the Holidays” on
Windstar Cruises are also named as a top travel gift in Newsday
Seatrade Cruise News covered Steve’s visit in the Caribbean

The Holiday Season can be a very busy time of year for everybody, especially as clients are finishing up their final presents, but it is also important this time of year to sit down and look ahead. What is it that you want to see happen for your business in 2018? With WAVE season happening so quickly after the holidays, it's a good idea to make sure you have your marketing plans in place or a refined selling strategy so you don't miss any opportunities in what are traditionally the most profitable months in the Cruise industry. As such, we suggest you take any lulls in the month of December to familiarize yourself with the brands you love to sell, take some time going to websites, looking at new cruises or new announcements, and order brochures so that you have them ready in your office. In fact, we just made it easier to order brochures directly from our Agent Hub.

To help you in this process, we have themed this whole newsletter with ideas on how best to prepare for WAVE.

I just returned from our first San Juan sailing in the Caribbean, and I can officially say that the Caribbean is open and ready for this Seasons WAVE business, you can read more about my journey below.

If you find yourself with an extra 30 minutes, we invite you to take or retake our Star Specialist Program which you can find on our Travel Agent Hub. Stacked with great information on our brand and filled with selling tips, the Star Specialist Program is a great resource to learn more about the Windstar Experience and to better position the Windstar Cruise experience to your clients. It's an excellent opportunity to improve your pitch, familiarize yourself with the Windstar brand, and learn key Windstar differentiators that can help when closing the sale. Take the Star Specialist Program today!

Regardless of the travel experience you sell, it is always a good idea to look through the entire year and get a sense of other travel opportunities particularly in the brands that you love. This keeps you viable and reactive if your clients are contemplating a variety of experiences. Right now, Windstar Cruises is opening up the rest of the 2018 and 2019 winter season for booking. We invite you to explore our website to see what's new!

You can make 2018 as successful as you would like. Look ahead, think about the marketing initiatives you would like to see happen. Think about ways to increase your social media presence. That's what we are doing! Currently, our in-house marketing people are finalizing our own marketing plans with the larger consortia on a national level, but grassroots initiatives are an excellent way for you to grow yours and Windstar brand presence locally. Talk to your local Windstar Cruises Regional Sales Manager too for a variety of ideas on how to do this, and your RSM can help you by setting up a Cruise Night event at your office and including a $50 Shipboard Credit to give your marketing an exclusive offer. Windstar Cruises values our travel agents, and we value your contributions in keeping Windstar in front of your clients.

A few months ago we watched as two hurricanes crossed the Caribbean almost back-to-back sadly hammering our friends in many of the islands with a path of destruction.  Almost immediately the cruise industry responded with support that appeared in many forms whether it be rescue operations, delivery of critical supplies, or simply remaining committed to sailings within the region providing much needed tourism dollars in a part of the world that greatly depends on travel as a source of jobs and income.

While we did need to alter many of our Caribbean itineraries avoiding some of the hardest hit areas while they rebuild their infrastructure, Windstar remains committed to offering outstanding itineraries within the region. In fact, three of our ships are sailing on updated  itineraries in the Caribbean during this season.

Last week, I had the pleasure of sailing on Star Pride from San Juan, Puerto Rico on our Caribbean Treasures itinerary. I wanted a first-hand look at the region. And I wanted an opportunity to personally show the industry and the traveling public that the Caribbean remains a vibrant vacation option despite the recent events.

On every island I visited, I was greeted with warm, welcoming smiles and local people who wanted me to return from my trip with a simple message: “The Caribbean is open and ready for visitors.” In Old San Juan on the island of Puerto Rico one of the hardest hit islands, a shopkeeper told me that he and his neighbors had electricity, that their stores were open, and all they needed now were customers to come in and buy things. Yes, I saw electrical trucks stringing new wires on new poles, traffic lights that were out with police directing traffic, and areas where vegetation had clearly been destroyed. But I also saw the green grass returning to the area around El Morro Castle, clear roads, and an area quickly recovering, anxious for visitors to return.

Onboard, some of the Star Pride guests told me that they had considered cancelling their vacations out of guilt- that they felt it inappropriate to be on vacation in an area that had recently been hit hard. But by the end of the journey many realized that by continuing with their plans, they had personally contributed to the recovery efforts.

I encourage you to look in more detail at the images and links in this issue from my trip to get your own understanding that a Caribbean cruise remains a great option this winter. And then I ask you to share this story with your clients and ask them to continue traveling to the Caribbean.

Best,
Steve

Vote for Windstar as Best Boutique Cruise Line in USA Today!
View an exclusive interview with John Delaney given by Insider Travel Report

Porthole Cruise Magazine's Most Romantic Cruise Line
HGTV calls out the distinctive style on Windstar’s Wind-class ships

Last year Windstar and the James Beard Foundation launched a partnership to celebrate food- and wine-themed cruises. This season we build on our relationship with a culinary-themed cruise supported by award-winning chefs, special guest appearances and cooking demonstrations by James Beard Foundation chefs on select cruises.

The James Beard Foundation was created to recognize and celebrate the chefs, writers and restaurateurs who advance America's culinary arts. This emphasis on innovation and excellence pairs perfectly with Windstar's superior service, intimate ambiance and drive to constantly innovate our cuisine. That's why we're expanding our culinary events, demonstrations and restaurant menus, giving Windstar guests opportunities to indulge in memorable meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients by some of the most recognized culinary talent in the world. The next two upcoming cruises in the culinary collection are on December 9, 2017, San Juan & the Virgin Islands with Chef Mario Pagán, and January 20th, 2018, Icons of Southeast Asia with Chef Andy Ricker.

You can read their bios here »

Starting in 2018, Windstar Cruises will start serving dishes developed by James Beard Foundation chefs. Your clients can experience the masterpieces of multiple chefs throughout the entirety of their cruise.

Sample menu »

November is certainly a month for gratitude, and we are thankful for all the adventures and success that Windstar Cruises has had this year. To celebrate, we are opening our November One Week Sale, themed to gratitude. Now is the perfect time to book your clients on some of the lowest rates of the season on voyages to Alaska, Tahiti, the Caribbean, Costa Rica & Panama Canal, and more.

Look for more information on our website »

As a special thank you to you, our travel partners, we've opened a Caribbean Take 5 promotion; wherein, when you sell 5 Caribbean voyages, you will earn a complimentary 7-day cruise to the Caribbean.

Read more about it here »

Mid-October we hosted a webinar with our Captain of Expedition Voyages, James Griffiths, and our Product Manager Michele Hanson for our Alaskan Itineraries. The webinar gave exclusive insights into our Alaskan Experience. Just in case you weren't able to attend, we wanted to give you some of the highlights!

·         The Windstar Signature Expeditions program will consist of a team of six, onboard expedition experts with passion for Alaska and the area who sail with the ship for the entirety of the cruise and provide plenty of mingling opportunities with the guests.

·         These geologists, marine biologists, and naturalists, will lead the Signature Expeditions and will get as close as possible to nature and wildlife. Guests will be able to kayak or ride in Zodiacs around glacial ice, see the variety of colors, have a memorable experience that will last forever.

·         Guests will have plenty of time to ask questions, to listen to lectures, and to attend a nightly recap to give them the opportunity to really understand and learn about their adventures.

·         Flexibility is built into the itinerary, which allows the ship to spend more time observing wildlife should the opportunity arise. This is the best program with the most chances to experience Alaska up close.

Star Legend is the perfect vessel for light expeditions, as it is small enough to navigate ice fields easily, without sacrificing the comfort of its passengers. The tender marina allows for Signature Expeditions to launch directly from the ship, and the ship will go into Dry Dock in December for proper outfitting and cold weatherization.

We have recently also opened our Pre- and Post- Voyage Land Tours for Alaska!  Starting in either Fairbanks or Seward depending on the itinerary, currently available on Alaskan Splendors and Wonders of Alaska , your clients will enjoy a 4-night, 5-day escorted stay with in-depth tours, a motor coach tour through Denali National Park, exclusive reception and farewell dinners, talks from local experts such as local bush pilots, mountain climbers, park rangers, and more.  Invite your clients to make the most of their Alaska stay.

Introducing new packages to fit your clients' beverage preferences. From wine dabblers and wine connoisseurs to cocktail and spirits lovers, be sure to find the perfect beverage package to compliment your clients' cruise. By popular request, these packages are now available to individual guests, not only by stateroom.

For a limited time, Windstar Cruises is offering fantastic savings for single travelers to the Caribbean and Costa Rica. Now is the time for you to reach out to any clients who have been interested in traveling alone, but have been deterred by single occupancy rates. Or perhaps you have clients with an odd-sized group of friends interested in traveling together. This could be a closing tool needed to secure the booking.

Captain James Griffiths, our Captain of Expedition Voyages, is a veteran in the field with more than 17 years of experience in the cruise industry.  Starting as a Deck Officer Cadet with Cunard, Captain Griffiths would work his way to become Chief Officer on the Queen Mary 2, then the largest passenger ship in service, by the age of 25. Captain Griffiths’ interest in cruising and ships began very young, once declaring he wanted to “drive the boat” when he grew up, after disembarking a cruise with his parents and sister.  In his mid-twenties, Captain Griffiths studied engineering, only to realize that his heart would always be at sea and he returned to the industry. He first began on the expedition side of the industry in 2008 after joining National Geographic Explorer for her native Antarctic season, and quickly realized that expedition cruising was his passion, eventually going on to command both the National Geographic Explorer and the National Geographic Orion. When designing the Windstar Signature Expeditions program, Captain James Griffiths has leaned heavily on his experience.  Star Legend is being outfitted with the best quality equipment and our Expedition Team will be world class. Star Legend was built as an ice-strengthened ship, the only one of the Windstar fleet to hold this rating, and she has many attributes which will make her the perfect base for soft expedition cruising (the Watersports Platform, 212 guests, highly maneuverable etc.).   Alaska is a wonderful region and one that really must be explored on board a small ship with an expert team of guides.  What excites Captain Griffiths most about the Windstar experience in Alaska is the combination of the fantastic Windstar service and hospitality that adds a whole new dimension to expedition cruising. While Captain Griffiths enjoys many regions of the world, he is happiest in remote wilderness locations like Iceland, Antarctica, Northern Norway, Greenland, and of course Alaska. With Windstar Cruises, Captain Griffiths has commanded Wind Star, Wind Spirit, and Star Legend for the past 2.5 years as Captain.  His highlights on these ships so far have been his time in Iceland and sailing through the Norwegian Fjords. Captain Griffiths is from Wales in the UK, and completed his maritime training in Southampton, England.  He was first appointed Captain at age 29 and had visited all continents by the time he was 25. As a fun fact, he works as an Ice Pilot in the Polar Regions when time allows.  Windstar Cruises is lucky to have such an accomplished captain.

The Globe and Mail writes on benefits of Culinary Tours
Travel Pulse covers what it means to be a first time Windstar Cruises 
Luxury Travel Agent talks about Chef Andy Ricker coming on board
The Knot features Windstar Cruises when discussing a honeymoon cruise
Enter to Win the Unexpected Sweepstakes before it ends Monday, November 13th!
 

Earlier this year we traveled to Agadir, Morocco to capture the vibrant and immersive travel experience that Windstar delivers. Windstar Cruises is destination authenticity; it is opportunities to learn and experience things that are wholly new; it is not just simply being a tourist, but becoming a part of the local culture. We want our new look and feel to convey this experience. I hope you saw our cover on last week’s edition of Travel Weekly, featuring camels taken during this photo shoot. You’ll notice that we’re starting to use different language to better describe the Windstar experience and striking imagery, like the goats in trees, to stir the senses. And we are opening our Unexpected campaign this week to celebrate discovering more of these magical moments in travel, featuring tiered shipboard credits depending on the length of each voyage. While the photo shoot took place in Agadir, this approach to cruising can be found in all of our destinations. I encourage you to join the webinar that will happen on October 12, 2017. You will learn how Windstar’s Alaska is different the typical Alaska cruise and have the distinct opportunity to hear from our Captain of the Star Legend and hear insider knowledge on what makes Windstar’s Alaska so special.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

Do you want to learn about what makes Windstar’s Alaska unique?  Join us for an exclusive webinar on October 12, 2017 at 10 AM PST with James Griffiths, Captain, Expedition Operations.  As a highly experienced Expedition Captain, Captain Griffiths will give insights on what the true small-ship cruising experience is in Alaska.  Your clients will cruise with a team of highly experienced expedition leaders, and Captain Griffiths will be able to give you insider knowledge on what adventures they can look forward to having on their cruise, exclusive knowledge on tours and insights, and a firsthand perspective on the thrill of Windstar’s Alaska. Star Legend is the perfect vessel for navigating ice fields, and with only 212 fellow guests and spacious suites and common areas, your clients can sit cozily and relaxed with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of wine to watch the icebergs and wildlife pass by.

Our 2018 Voyage Collection is here! 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 2018 Voyage Collection brochure. Featuring 49 new itineraries to new destinations and classic favorites, it is your guide to authentic experiences, exotic cultures, and intimate ports of call. We now offer travelers more shore excursions and longer back-to-back voyages, as well as immersive pre- and post-cruise local land tours that provide additional opportunities to customize and extend your journey - start planning your clients' 2018 vacation now.

OR

Windstar Land Tours are available before or after more than 20 departure dates on 12 itineraries in Asia. Extend your adventure and connect with thousands of years of rich history and spectacular architecture in this exotic region. These tours are available pre- or post- cruise and include meals, hotels, and tours, everything your clients need to enjoy an immersive, extended stay stress free.

·         Kyoto/Osaka Land Tour

·         Beijing & Xian Land Tour

·         Angkor Wat Land Tour to/from Singapore or Bangkok

As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, we have partnered with them for the Taste America and Windstar cruise giveaway!  With a ship specifically designed for Tahiti, Windstar’s Wind Spirit is the iconic sailing ship of the South Pacific.

This November Jaymi Kiehle, our Supervisor of the Reservation Development, will celebrate four years at Windstar Cruises. In her role, Jaymi staffs the call center, trains new hires, provides continued education to existing agents, and supports our Reservation system. Jaymi began as an accomplished hair stylist, became attracted to working for the cruise industry after she booked her first cruise, and has been working for Windstar ever since.

While the sailing ships have a special place in her heart (she was proposed to on Wind Spirit while she and her husband sailed between Papeete and Moorea) her favorites are the all-suite power ships. Specifically, the couches that span the entire back of the ship in Compass Rose. They are absolutely perfect for leaning back, kicking your feet up, and watching the sea disappear into the horizon as you listen to live music and sip a glass of wine. For Jaymi, they are absolutely the most relaxing place on the ship.

In addition to her goal to visit absolutely as many countries as possible, Jaymi's travel aspirations are to road trip to all states in the lower 48!

If you are ever in Ko Yo Noi, Thailand, she recommends trying small blue crabs cooked in a garlic sauce. Despite there being enough garlic to bring the strongest vampire to their knees, Jaymi swears it's the best crab she's ever had in her entire life (and she lives in the Pacific Northwest). When she isn't traveling, Jaymi enjoys camping, fishing, and all forms of music.

Her best travel moment, other than trying the small blue crabs in Thailand, was getting to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Blue Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, the second largest in the world. She wore traditional clothing and removed her shoes; it was a truly unique and authentic moment that allowed her to experience another culture very intimately. For that, she feels lucky and grateful.

Travel Pulse covers a "Foodie Adventure on the High Seas"
Experience a first-time cruise with Mallory on Travel
Irish Times interviews our onboard Spa Manager
Windstar wins big with Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards
Latte Luxury News covers our New Land Tours


 

There have been many initiatives of Star Promise that have taken off over the past year, but a key component to growing as a company is listening to our partners. There are many great travel shows coming up in the fall, and we want to hear from you!  Tell us about your experiences with Windstar Cruises over the past year.  If you won’t be able to attend any upcoming trade shows, email us at Windstar_Sales@WindstarCruises.com . We value your opinion and input as we continue to innovate and grow in future years. You can also connect with us by following our Windstar Sales Facebook page; my Instagram account, or our President John Delaney’s Twitter account, links can all be found at the bottom of this newsletter. 

For an added twist, I will be taking over the Windstar Cruises Instagram tomorrow, you can follow my day-to-day posts by following our official company account here!

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

It’s been a year since we dropped to one knee and gave our valued partners a ring and our Star Promise, reconfirming our commitment to travel agents.  We promised to continue giving an extraordinary guest experience, outstanding educational programs, fresh sales tools & support, and excellent agent service.  A year later we can confidently say we kept our promise.  We delivered book WINDSTAR ONLINE, an online booking engine that allows you to access and make reservations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We introduced a newly redesigned Travel Agent Hub and Groups Program, giving you better access to promotions and tools to help sell groups.  We introduced this newsletter, a monthly webinar series, a refreshed Star Specialist Program, and even more opportunities to get on board so that you can have the best education on Windstar Cruises.  We continually introduce new destinations like Alaska, Asia, Arabia, and Canada & New England, new itineraries, and improved opportunities for back-to-back voyages with added benefits.  We are proud that we have been able to deliver on the promises we made to you, and we look forward to another year of growth and opportunity together.

For 2018 we really wanted to bring new itineraries to the table, featuring new ports of call and new itineraries, so we wanted to bring your attention to two of our favorites: Arctic Circle & North Cape Escape and Norway’s Famous Fjords. Each itinerary is fortified with breathtaking scenic days and the fjords so famous in Norway.  On Arctic Circle & North Cape Escape , your clients will cross the Arctic Circle – a first for Windstar – and visit Europe’s most Northern point, a small ship exclusive experience in Trollfjord,  and the Lofoten Islands, for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Both voyages are round trip Copenhagen and feature many of Norway’s well-known cities.

Learn more about Arctic Circle & North Cape Escape »

Learn more about Norway's Famous Fjords »

Did you know you can avoid waiting on hold and within minutes find the following answers for your guests on bookWINDSTAR ONLINE?

·         Book, reconfirm or change shore excursions, pre/post hotels and transfers!

·         Make special requests such a gluten-free diet, extra pillows, diet cokes in the cabin fridge - you name it, we love accommodating your clients' special requests that make them feel the most comfortable!

·         Make deposits and final payments.

·         Make more bookings, which means more commissions for you!

Don't forget, until September 30th you can earn a $25 Amazon gift card on any booking made on bookWINDSTAR ONLINE.

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises announces the appointment of George Howell to the position of Senior Director of Guest Services starting immediately. Howell brings nearly four decades of travel-related experience to Windstar. In his new role, Howell will be responsible for leading the upscale line’s call center operations, air-sea department, customer service, document fulfillment, and will manage the team of staff responsible for sales and service on all reservations for the award-winning line.

Howell will be responsible for Windstar’s Vacation Planning department of more than 50 customer service professionals who support sales and customer service. Howell will provide leadership and direction to support the team’s delivery of accurate and timely information and product knowledge, superior sales performance and service delivery, and problem resolution to deliver excellent overall customer satisfaction. Howell will also oversee staffing; sales and service training, policies and procedures; departmental budgets; competitive analysis; air contracts; reservations system management; support for Windstar’s guest loyalty program; and will head up future expansion of guest add-on services including insurance, hotel packages, shore excursions and air offerings.

Vote for Windstar Cruises as the Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean!
Windstar Agents talk about the Small Ship difference in Travel Agent Central

Empire Style of Mind discovers a Lisbon to Barcelona voyage
Food Fun Travel names Windstar Cruises as a top cruise for Foodies
USA Today reviews Windstar's Around Iceland voyage

I remember when I was young; August was always such a bittersweet month.  With the summer months closing, I knew that school was just around the corner.  While I knew I was going to miss the sunny days, there had always been an innate excitement about learning something new and taking the opportunity to improve myself. With this in mind, I wanted to theme this week’s newsletter on education, both of our partners and our guests.  We talk about aspects of our online booking engine that you may not have discovered yet, our new concierge collection of shore excursions that enriches your clients with a deeper understanding of their destination, and announce our new monthly webinars -- designed so that you always have the opportunity for continued education on Windstar.  And don’t forget, we have a refreshed Star Specialist Program that has even more graduate benefits, so I encourage you to check this on our Agent Hub.  Happy learning!

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

bookWINDSTAR ONLINE has some pretty useful features that we wanted to highlight for you, just in case you haven't discovered them yet.

1.    No waiting on the phone!

2.    With our past guest records, you are able to search if your client has been a Windstar Guest.

3.    Not only will you find our most current pricing, you can view every promotion that is available to your agency, so that you can book the scenario that best suits your client's travel style.

4.    Discover all pricing for hotels, transfers, and shore excursions available via Windstar Cruises for your reservations.

5.    View all available cabins for your clients and pick the one that best suits their needs.

Book online now and until September 30^th, you can earn a $25 gift card! With bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, you can book your clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year when it is convenient for YOU! Did we mention no more calling?

Concierge Collection Shore Excursions

Our Concierge Collection shore excursions give your clients to an even deeper understanding of their destinations in limited sized groups and offer even more intimate experience. Whether it's learning how to shop and cook an authentic Sevillian meal with Amelia, a local chef, taking an in-depth tour of the galleries and art studios found in Skagan, or harvesting your own black Tahitian Pearl in Raiatea, your clients will have even more opportunities to make memories that will last a lifetime. Look for the special concierge icon to help you identify them. Here is a short list of some of our favorites;

·         Akureyri, Iceland Concierge Collection: Glacier Canyon River Rafting

·         Cannes, France Concierge Collection: The Ultimate Olive Oil Experience

·         Gozo, Malta Concierge Collection: Foraging and Farmhouse Cooking

·         Malaga, Spain Concierge Collection: Horseback Riding the Mijas Mountains

Bora Bora, French Polynesia Concierge Collection: Lagoon & Cultural Tour

 

Instead of a harried Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, give your clients a season full of magical moments in paradise this year. They choose the way they spend their days, cruising to hidden wonders and less-traveled waterways only a small ship can reach. They can relax over a rum cocktail, feeling the beat of melodic steel drums in Tortola. Or they can paddle along the karst limestone cliffs exploring rock formations and sea caves of Thailand's Ao Phang-Nga National Marine Park; or sail through the spectacular Society Islands and out to the remote and mysterious Tuamotu Islands.

Now is the time for them to plan their holiday getaway and get the best value and availability - plus a $100 bonus shipboard credit - on select cruises. Book them today, and look forward to an unforgettable journey that is 180 degrees from ordinary.

To insure our agents have access to abundant learning opportunities, we are introducing a new monthly series of webinars designed to give you more knowledge of Windstar Cruises, hosted by our Director of National Accounts, Gina McGinnis.  You can join us for a webinar this week to learn about bookWINDSTAR ONLINE.  It’s easy, it’s quick and allows you to book more cruises every day for your clients

For the 11:00 AM, August 8th webinar, register here »

For the 1:00 PM, August 9th webinar, register here »

Just Imagine Vacations gives helpful advice on what to do in French Polynesia
Traveller shines a spotlight on our Star Collector Voyages
The Wind Class ships counts as a reason to book your cruise according to BT.com
Travel Weekly talks about how Windstar's Alaska is 'beyond the ordinary'

One year ago we introduced this newsletter dedicated to delivering the latest news and strengthening our communications with our travel partners. This past year has provided a lot of exciting changes at Windstar, new faces joining our already experienced management team who in turn developed new and improved programs across the board, both for our guests and our agents. We have introduced new destinations and itineraries and are working on enhancing our onboard enrichment and destination authenticity. We have launched new travel agent sites, introduced closing tools and better groups programs, and launched bookWINDSTAR ONLINE to better assist you in making bookings quickly and efficiently. And there is more to come! In fact, just this month we are introducing a completely refreshed and easier to use Star Specialist Program with enhanced benefits to our partners for graduating - learn more about learning more in this issue!

On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of this newsletter we've refreshed its design to make it easier for you to navigate and quickly understand what you need to know about Windstar Cruises. With the new design comes a new name - one that ties together our company with you, our travel trade partners, quite nicely - "Trade Winds." Look for Trade Winds to breeze into your inbox approximately twice a month with the latest news and information as well as tools to make you successful.

We appreciate your partnership and will continue to work hard to ensure Windstar Cruises is the leader in small ship cruising.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

Become an expert today on Windstar Cruises and earn a $100 bonus commission on your first booking made within 120 days after graduation. Our redesigned Star Specialist education program not only shares the secrets of success to selling Windstar, but offers incentives and support for our trusted travel agent partners. Throughout this comprehensive online course, you will discover what makes the Windstar experience so distinct, how to sell our unique cruises, and how to grow your business with our impressive return guest percentage.

When you complete your online course, you will receive:

• A frame-worthy Certificate of Graduation, naming you as a Star Specialist
• 2 CEU credits from The Travel Institute or 3 credits from the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) and 5 CLIA elective credits
• $100 bonus commission when you make your first booking within 120 days after graduation
• Priority confirmation for Travel Agent Appreciation rate bookings.

Already took our course? Don’t worry, take our refreshed course and you become eligible again for the $100 bonus commission!

Take the Star Specialist Program online today!

Windstar Cruises is proud to announce a new collection of itineraries designed for clients looking to explore a destination in more depth by spending more time in the region. A longer collector's voyage is also a great way for your clients to maximize the cost of their airfare across a more comprehensive experience. Our Star Collector Voyages feature itineraries with 14+ days and few repeated ports if any. New menu cycles will ensure that your clients will continue to have a variety of quality food on board. Not only will your clients be able to spend more time exploring the regions they love, they can pack light, as each Star Collector Voyage features FREE daily laundry. Your clients can come on board, unpack once, and spend more time exploring new ports, sampling exotic cuisines, experiencing new cultures.

If none of our Star Collector Voyages appeals to your clients, you can help them create their own custom back-to-back cruise, which will also qualify for FREE laundry and a 5% discount on the original price of the combined sailings. 

Your clients can experience the full majesty of Costa Rica and Panama’s natural and man-made wonders on this 10- or 11-day cruise. With every wet landing , your clients will step into the pristine nature and wildlife this area has to offer, far away from the noise and kerfuffle caused by larger crowds on larger ships.  As your clients wiggle their toes in Panama’s white-sand beaches, world-famous Playa Flamingo beach, and the black sands of Bahia Herradura, they will see the rainforests and cloudforests that are bastions of biodiversity. This itinerary is perfect for active clients looking for a relaxing itinerary spiced with the excitement found in ziplining, hikes, and other tropical adventures. When they transit the Panama Canal, they will be able to appreciating its incredible scale and the triumph of engineering in a way those on mega-cruise ships never will. 

Michele Hanson is another member of our esteemed Product Development team, who as you may know by now, is responsible for finding and developing some of the best shore excursions around the world for our guests. As a member of this team, she helps with Itinerary Development, and is responsible for Onboard Entertainment, Guest Lectures, Pre & Post Programs, and Hotels & Transfers. Product Development Managers often work hand in hand with the Voyage Leaders on board the ships to execute the best experience possible for our guests. Personally, Michele is responsible for the Caribbean, Southern Spain, Morocco, Canary Islands, and Alaska.

Michele has worked at Windstar Cruises for 2 Years and enjoys being in Product Development because it gives her the opportunity to see different parts of the world. While she loves traveling for work, Michele also does quite a lot of adventuring on her own. Currently Michele is looking forward to visiting Antarctica, but her all-time travel aspiration at the moment is to take an African Safari.

While loves all of the Windstar ships, she does find the sailing ships to be extraordinarily special. When on board, she loves to meet guests from all over the world and indulge in the delicious cuisines. As with most people in the travel industry, Michele enjoys travelling to new places and wine tastings. Her favorite meal abroad was pizza and homemade lemonade in Palma de Mallorca. It was a meal made divine because of its simplicity. When in Barcelona, she recommends you take a moment to tour and learn about the Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona and travel to Granada for the Alhambra.

Michele feels very lucky to be a part of the Windstar Cruises family and grateful to work with so many fantastic and dedicated people. She truly believes that Windstar has an amazing and unique product that is constantly improving so we can all deliver the best experience to our Windstar guests.

With all her travel experience, Michele's favorite places are the Grenadines in the Caribbean, Mijas in Southern Spain, Dubrovnik in Croatia, and Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska.

The Avid Cruiser covers our new Star Collector Voyages
Discover Windstar's new North Atlantic sailings in USA Today
Peter Tobler advises on how to handle your booze at sea for Luxury Travel Advisor
Travel Age West talks about an experience in a Costa Rican animal sanctuary

Windstar Cruises continues to innovate and be the leader in small ship cruising. Over the course of the last few months we have announced a number of new itineraries and destinations for your clients to choose from for their next overseas adventures. I was just at a conference this week and was speaking with a number of our travel agent partners. The breadth of Windstar's itineraries was a topic of positive conversation with everyone I spoke with. With 6 ships offering such a wide variety of destinations and with Windstar's high repeat guest factor these travel agents told me recommending Windstar Cruises was an obvious and profitable choice for them. To make even more choices available to your clients we recently introduced Star Collector Voyages in which we have taken popular back to back sailings and combined them into a single voyage with minimal port overlap. We are also working on a number of other enhancements to our onboard experience including new beverage packages which will be announced soon; so watch for this and more in upcoming Yacht's Up newsletters.

Our small ships embrace the shoreline and bring your clients closer to the world with less than 300 fellow passengers and a friendly, knowledgeable crew devoted to personalized service. From the moment your clients rise in their well-appointed stateroom or suite to their final dance under the stars, their days aboard are relaxed and blissful, with dining and dancing, sophistication and elegance. They can join intimate shore excursions tucked away in hidden harbors, sharing the stories and customs of locals and gain a newfound perspective of the world. It's a star-lit vacation that will stir their souls - and create memories for a lifetime.

And now, when you book before July 7, your clients get the best values for our upcoming voyages, starting at $1,099 per guest.

With our online reservation booking incentive well under way, we have received a couple of questions about the Travel Agent Hub and bookWINDSTAR ONLINE. So we thought we would take a moment in this issue of Yacht’s Up to explain a bit more about the differences and how to use each tool.
 

• Travel Agent Hub – this is our main site for travel agent support. Here you will find links to many of our resources; such as, bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, the Image Library, the Star Specialist program, past press releases, information on our ships, etc. Access to this site does not require any set up, other than your registration.

 

• bookWINDSTAR ONLINE – is our online reservations system.  Here you will be able to access sailings, book your clients, quote your clients, make payments, or hold space.  This system requires different login credentials from our Hub, although you do register for bookWINDSTAR ONLINE on a link found on our hub. Access requires a few days as we need to verify and set you up in our booking system.

 

Do your clients fancy July weather in December? Invite them on board a Windstar yacht to spend their holiday vacations in a stress-free environment with intuitive service, tropical weather, and scrumptious food. They can celebrate the holidays on the high seas, complete with festive ship decorations, a delicious Christmas dinner, and a Captain's holiday party, featuring caroling and holiday drinks.

Amy Conover is Windstar’s Director of Charters & Incentives, where she focuses on building relationships with incentive houses, decision makers of Fortune 500 companies and travel planners.  She works hard to educate the people she talks to on the differences that a Windstar small ship experience has for their clients as the darling of the incentive world.  And with a private-yacht style of cruising, Windstar does provide an excellent location for charter and incentive groups.

It was the prospect of traveling the world that first inspired Amy to get into the travel industry, and after nearly four decades she still loves to sit on the deck of any one of our yachts and watch the world go by. While she has been all over the world, Amy still can’t get enough of the Italian coast and the Mediterranean.  It makes good sense. When asked about her favorite pastime she was quick to respond food & wine ... and golf.  Among her most prized memories is Windstar’s own Destination Discovery Event in Kusadasi: Evening in Ephesus.  Particularly it was that feeling she got of being so thoroughly immersed in European history, sitting with only 200 fellow guests, enjoying fantastic food and watching day turn to night.

Amy has sailed on over 100 cruises, all different lines, and she still feels that working for Windstar is one of her greatest achievements.

Travel Research Online interviews Steve
"10 Things You Need to Know about Windstar Cruises" by Tips for Travelers
Discover "Islands of the West Med" with AFAR
Cruise Critic's "Best Summer Cruise Deals 2017" includes Tahiti

With summer upon us and a happy shift in the weather, it is no surprise that many consumers are focusing on their travel plans.  The Europe booking season is close to ending, and soon consumers will be turning their attention on warmer water destinations.  It’s a good time to check in with your clients, ask them what they’re interested in for their cruise vacation.  Is it to visit a wide range of places with excellent outdoor activities – such as ziplining, hiking, or watersports?  Is it the opulent dining experiences found on board one of our James Beard Foundation hosted cruises?  The bustle and excitement of a local market? Or is it the relaxation that can be found on a tranquil beach with a coconut drink in hand?  Windstar Cruises provides a wide range of vacation experiences, so there is a good chance that one of our itineraries will align with your clients’ interests.  Book them using bookWINDSTAR ONLINE before September 30, 2017 and we will send you a $25 gift card as a thank you for our continued partnership.

The Windstar Culinary Cruise Collection kicked off on May 6 with a cooking demonstration and meal presented by Denver restaurant powerhouse Chef Jan Jasinski, a James Beard Foundation award-winner for Best Chef Southwest. With restaurants Rioja and Bistro Vendôme focusing on Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine, Chef Jasinski was a natural fit to host the Western Mediterranean cruise from Rome to Barcelona. Over half of the onboard cruisers attended her cooking demonstration, followed by a near-capacity dinner in AmphorA . Her dishes were the clear favorite, with offerings ranging from an heirloom tomato consommé with goat cheese ravioli, to seared sea scallops on a coconut risotto cake with mango salad and Thai green curry sauce.

You can still book your client’s on Lands of the Midnight Sun with Chef Paul Berglund!  Based in Minneapolis, his restaurant, the Bachelor Farmer, focuses on Scandinavian food heritage, with fresh and simple dishes that change daily.

From Hong Kong and Bangkok's energetic embrace of east and west to Halong Bay's soul-stirring beauty, this journey will capture your clients' hearts. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are everywhere on this itinerary: the ancient trading city of Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Hue, Halong Bay. And between them lie miles of emerald jungle, brilliant smiles, and time at sea to make Star Legend feel like their very own yacht.

Windstar Cruises Asian itineraries are specifically curated for different travel styles.  Icons of Southeast Asia is a good option for clients looking to touch on historical sites with a healthy mix of spectacular natural vistas and markets that epitomize the Vietnamese experience.  For clients looking to relax on serene beaches, recommend The Best of the Philippines & Borneo.  Clients who enjoy being in the heart of bigger cities and cultural epicenters would enjoy Splendors of Japan & South Korea.

When you register for Windstar’s new online reservation system you will be able to quote your clients in real time, quickly compare different promotions and benefits, submit final payments, and circumvent any potential hold times.  And with our $25 gift card incentive on all bookings made via bookWINDSTAR ONLINE starting June 1^st to September 30^th, now is the best time to register.

Melissa Witsoe, Windstar's Product Manager for our Mediterranean and Asia & Arabia regions, has worked for Windstar Cruises 5 years. In her role, she secures all shore excursions, hotels and onboard local entertainment for the WSC Guests. She also helps with deployment.

Her interest in the travel industry began when she took a summer job working as a Driver/Guide in Juneau, Alaska. Having enjoyed her job and time spent in Alaska, she went back for another year, and then started working in a myriad of positions at Holland America Line, which opened the door to Windstar Cruises.

Whenever she is on one of our ships Melissa enjoys getting up early in the morning and watching the sun rise over the water with a nice cup of coffee. This is only made better when her family is able to travel with her. Some of her favorite Windstar food memories include eating seafood in Greece, chocolate in France, or the Market Tour at a Sicilian Market in Catania, where she learned about fresh fish and cannoli.

A good portion of her job involves scouting for tour ideas and talking to locals. When she was in Dubrovnik, Melissa stopped in a local artisan shop where she learned about the tradition of silk worms. When a girl turns 13, she is gifted silk worms to care for and feed mulberry leaves. The young girl is responsible for her own silk to create traditional items for celebratory occasions. Melissa watched the artist boil the cocoons and spin the silk, with the silk worm hammocks suspended from the ceiling overhead. From this experience "The Best of Traditional Dubrovnik" shore excursion tour was developed.

Once onboard Wind Surf, Melissa met a couple who were excited about all the excursions they had booked and their additional hotel nights. Melissa enjoyed getting to know them throughout the cruise and it wasn't until the very end that she found out the wife was in between chemotherapy treatments and they had decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing Italy and Croatia. When developing her programs, Melissa likes to keep this couple in mind as well as thinking about all the people who will learn from and enjoy them, and how you can never really know a person's story until you have an authentic connection.

Luxury Travel Advisor features Icons of Southeast Asia when looking at Adventure Travel
The Windstar Experience is covered by Traveller
Windstar Cruises wins “Best Small Ship Cruise Line” in the Cruise Report
Travel Pulse notes the buzz Windstar Cruises has been creating with Baby Boomers

Windstar’s iconic sailing ships with their tall masts, billowing sails, sleek body, and shallow drafts were specifically designed with the French Polynesian islands and tropical waters in mind.  Making their inaugural sailings in 1986 and 1987, Wind Star and Wind Song debuted in the Caribbean and Tahiti respectively.  Now, we keep their sister ship Wind Spirit in Tahiti all year long so that guests can experience the cerulean waters by sailing yacht whenever they please.  There are no more classic Windstar cruises than aboard our Dreams of Tahiti and Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands itineraries.  Perfect for honeymooners, couples celebrating important anniversaries, or empty nesters looking to fly the coop for a week, Windstar’s Tahitian itineraries provide the perfect combination of the award-winning small ship cruising experience in an absolutely breathtaking location.  Learn more about Windstar Cruises Tahiti cruises in this issue.

Wind Spirit underwent extensive renovations recently, traveling from Tahiti to Auckland, New Zealand where it was in the dry dock facility for 12 days. There is no better way to experience the awe-inspiriting Islands of Tahiti than our gorgeous 148-guest masted sailing yacht MSY Wind Spirit. Sincere thanks and congratulations to the officers, crew, project managers, planners, contractors, and vendors and many others who all had a hand in completion of this major investment in the ships and the Windstar brand.

In our analysis of guest booking behavior, 60% of past guests will rebook a Windstar Cruise again. This affirms our commitment to you as part of Star Promise - to deliver an Extraordinary Guest Experience for your clients. We encourage you to follow up with your clients as soon as they return from their vacation! Ask them what they enjoyed. Did they like the destination? Would they consider the same experience for a future vacation? From there, it is your opportunity while they are still fresh from their recent experience to suggest that they rebook. To assist you with this, Windstar offers our past guests who rebook within 60 days of their cruise receive double their Yacht Club Member discount. It's also a great time to get your clients working for you with our Referral Program.

In celebration of the launch of bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, we want to offer our travel partners an additional $25 gift card for every new booking made via bookWINDSTAR ONLINE.

You can register online for your gift card with the booking confirmation here .

After your booking is paid in full, you can expect your gift card in your email inbox. This promotion will expire September 30, 2017.

On our 10- or 11-Day voyage in French Polynesia, your clients can experience one of earth's most beautiful - and most rare - places. Fakarava, with an ecosystem so diverse it has been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The trade winds of French Polynesia, which have enticed sailors for centuries, fill the sails of Wind Spirit as they sail through the windward and leeward Society Islands to the serene natural beauty of the Tuamotu Islands, where pristine atolls and crystal lagoons welcome them to a hidden paradise.

Jennifer has worked with Windstar Cruises for 5 years, returning to Windstar after a brief 8-year stint with Holland America Line. Jennifer fondly says that her job at Windstar Cruises is to bug every other department there, although others might say she works for Charter & Incentive Sales. Her current role is a comprehensive one, assisting her groups in sales, itinerary planning, accounting, reservations, onboard operations, shore excursions, and event planning - in essence, she helps facilitate the guests in almost every aspect of their cruise experience.

Originally, Jennifer had a degree in Teaching and pursued that career for a time before she realized that her love and attraction to travel was far too strong. Having visited over 35 countries, she is an excellent facilitator and a wealth of knowledge in helping guests achieve their dream vacation experience. She started working in the travel industry, moving away from teaching, when a previous colleague began managing an Australia/New Zealand/ South Pacific wholesale company. In this role, she had the opportunity to travel all around the South Pacific. With her knowledge and Windstar Cruises' affiliation with the French Polynesian Islands, Jennifer found her work home, and in her own words, one of the best bosses ever.

When asked what her favorite ship was, Jennifer demurely declined to answer. In her words, "It's like asking to choose your favorite child, I just can't do it." Onboard however, Jennifer takes a particular delight in learning about the upcoming ports given her affinity to travel. Preferring a more organic style of travel, she likes to figure out what she wants to see right before she sees it, often with the advice and insights from the staff on board. When she is not planning her next travel outing, she likes to relax in the onboard restaurants, marveling at the skill of the chefs and the quality of food on board the yachts.

Having been to over 35 countries, one has to wonder where Jennifer will go next. She would love to someday do a few-months-long overland expedition tour in Africa or the Middle East, but is very much looking forward to taking one of the Windstar Cruises in the Baltics or Asia more immediately. Jennifer has always had a wonderful time onboard ours ships, from cruising past active volcanos off the coast of Italy, to touring ruins in Albania, learning how silkworms make silk in Montenegro, swimming with rays and sharks in Tahiti, bartering for rugs in Morocco, or riding a camel in the Canary Islands ... and best of all sharing these immersive experiences with her loved ones.

Suffice to say, Jennifer's passion is travel. Although with summer coming up in Seattle, she is also looking forward to some river floats.

Windstar's Mediterranean made the Best of List with Thrillist
Adventures in Sery covers her time in Croatia and Montenegro
Eat, Sleep, Love and Travel recommends Honeymooners to Windstar Cruises
The editors of Cruise Critic review Wind Star

Where is your favorite place in the world to travel? And what is your favorite thing to do there? For me, I absolutely love Japan. It fits in well with my personal passion for photography. (Thus I am really excited about Windstar's upcoming Asia itineraries!) The concept behind Windstar's "Have You Ever?" promotion is to evoke that same interest and passion for travel from your clients. It prompts your clients to pursue their travel dreams and shows them perhaps some unique aspects of that destination previously unknown; or perhaps it may help them find a region they have not yet explored. The world is made up of so many fascinating places to visit with unique cultures and histories to experience for the first time. This is an arena where I truly believe that Windstar excels, delivering the world 180 Degrees from Ordinary, and it is the art of the Travel Professional to align their clients with a vacation experience that propels them out of their everyday routine.

Have your clients ever cruised the Mediterranean on a ship so intimate and casually elegant it felt like their own private yacht? Dropped by the Bridge to have coffee with the Captain? Or learned about regional cuisine from a James Beard Foundation chef? Windstar Cruises brings your clients beyond the reach of larger ships to hidden wonders, unique ports of call, and less-traveled waterways. Only on Windstar's small ships can your clients relax amid the undeveloped beauty of Ko Kut, Thailand, Little Bay, Montserrat, and Isla Parida in Panama. Launch a Zodiac to explore Alaska's coastline directly from the ship, discover the tropical one-road paradise of Ko Yao Noi, and thread your way through the narrow Corinth Canal - all beyond the reach of larger cruise lines.

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since our announcement of the New Groups Program. To celebrate, we thought we would introduce some exciting new features:

• NEW! Have you ever considered escorting a group but been unsure if you would be successful enough to earn a free berth for yourself with the TC credits? Now, Windstar is making it easier for you. While we all want your promotion to be successful and will do everything possible to help you find that success, now, as long as you sell 3 staterooms in your group, we will offer you (conditions apply) a reduced rate stateroom if you do not earn a TC.
• NEW! On select Star Advantage Dates, the ability to earn a tour conductor credit is even easier with some dates being available at a ratio of 1:7!

Coming to your inbox soon will be an offer to register for bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, our new online reservation system. With bookWINDSTAR ONLINE, you will have access to our online reservation system 24-7, showing real time pricing and inventory, allowing you to respond to your clients' inquiries faster. This is a great opportunity to shorten your closing times with your clients.

If you do not want to wait for this invitation, please visit our Travel Agent Hub for more details!

We recently took a cruise on Star Pride from Tenerife to Casablanca (Morocco & the Canary Islands)...departing April 13.

This was our 1st experience with a Windstar power yacht and it was fantastic. We were concerned that the vibe would be different but it was "Windstar" all the way. The laid back feeling, the friendliness of the crew, the food, the number of guests (we had 188) was there.

The shore excursions that we took were very well done - rather than filling one bus for an excursion with 50 plus guests, Windstar had two buses so everyone could be comfortable. This makes all the difference!

The "Destination Discovery Event" - A Moroccan meal and entertainment in a desert tent in Agadir - was a very special evening.

Can't wait to take another Windstar cruise! I want to get to 17 cruises like two of the guests we met.

Thank you Windstar for a great week!

-Nany Lambrechts, Altour American Express

Kelly Hubbard is our Director of Product Development which means that Kelly and her team are responsible for all shore excursions, Pre- and Post-cruise land tours, hotels, transfers and hospitality arrangements, Destination Discovery Events, local onboard entertainment, and enrichment lecturers. One of Kelly's favorite aspects of her job is how she contributes to the Deployment and Itinerary Planning team, because it allows her to create the quintessential dream vacation. Another favorite aspect is being on board, sailing with the guests, and taking the shore excursions. She says, "It is always great to connect with guests and find out what they are enjoying and what they would like to see. When you see their delight in the experiences that my team has a hand in creating, it is a magical moment, both for them, and for me."

Kelly has worked at Windstar for 7 years, coming to us from a similar position at Cruise West. She has spent her entire career in the travel industry and has loved every second of it. If you ever meet Kelly, however, don't ask her what is her favorite country to visit; she finds it too hard to choose. Especially because she is working at Windstar, where all the destinations are so unique, and the small ship cruise experience is so personal. Working in the position she does, Kelly is a huge advocate of finding the true local experiences when traveling and will always seek out the coffee shop where locals frequent or a restaurant featuring typical dishes from the region, many of which wind up on our tour menus, as opposed to the American branded venues.

What she also finds unique about Windstar is that the yachts' size allows an experience that feels more integrated to the places visited. Looking for local, authentic experiences is a big part of her job. The Windstar Product Development team spends countless hours canvassing the world for experiences 180 degrees from ordinary, and in her opinion, it pays off. The guests she talks to are always so impressed and appreciative that the Windstar team goes on board, talks to the guests, monitors the quality of the experiences, and takes feedback.

Recommend spotlights our JBF Culinary Collection
"Take Mom to Croatia" says U.S. News
"Jumpstart Your Cruise Sales" with Agent @Home
Travel Age West reviews Wind Star

I recently had the pleasure of attending CLIA Cruise 360 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one of the travel industry's most important trade events. Attending trade shows is actually one of my favorite things to do working in Sales as it's a great opportunity to interface with all of our partners and learn about your perspectives and how we can work together moving forward. I had the pleasure of talking with many of you, so thank you for taking the time to come over to our booth and learn about Windstar Cruises. It seems that we have created quite the buzz with many of our new destinations - Alaska, Asia, Arabia, Canada & New England - as well as our new itineraries. That's why this newsletter could not be better timed; below you can learn about our new 2018 European itineraries.

It is our pleasure to announce that our new 2018 European itineraries are available for bookings! You may note that we have many new exciting itineraries and you can encourage your clients to check them out.  Invite them to discover the hidden ports and emerald gems of Ireland, the nooks and crannies of Norway’s Famous Fjords and the mosaic of islands and cultures found in the Mediterranean.
We are offering a wider selection of more boutique itineraries:

• With a more diverse range of cruise lengths
• Featuring a number of new ports of call where Windstar has not visited before
• Designed to promote back-to-back sailings for your clients wanting even longer cruises
• Redesigned to allow for longer stays in port
• Where our iconic sailing ships will stay in the Mediterranean allowing our all-suite yachts a more explorative range in Northern Europe

Did you catch us at CLIA Cruise 360? In April, the Windstar Sales Team attended CLIA Cruise 360, the official conference of the global cruise industry. With Cruise Line Members, Executive Partner Members, Travel Agency Members, and Individual Agent Members, it is one of the greatest opportunities for Travel Professionals to gain valuable insights into the industry. Windstar President, John Delaney, and our VP of Sales, Steve Simao, gave engaging talks on the merits of Windstar Cruises and how best to position the cruises to your clients, and our sales team supported our booth in the Trade Show. It's always great to be able to connect with our trade partners face to face. We hope to see you there next year!

Together with the James Beard Foundation, Windstar Cruises hosted a luncheon early last week at the storied James Beard Foundation House in New York City. Our curated collection of itineraries will welcome on board notable James Beard Foundation affiliated chefs who will demonstrate masterful culinary techniques and nightly James Beard Foundation signature recipes. 

• Chef Jen Jasinski will be on Islands of the West Med, May 6, 2017
• Chef Paul Berglund will be on Lands of the Midnight Sun, Aug. 4, 2017
• Chef Hugh Acheson and sommelier Steven Grubbs will be on James Beard Foundation Epicurean Explorations of France, Spain and Portugal, Aug. 15, 2017
• Chef Renee Erickson will be on Gaelic Explorers, Sep. 2, 2017
• Chef Amy Brandwein will be on Islands of the West Med, Oct. 18, 2017
• Chef Keith Rhodes will be on Jewels of The Windward Islands, Nov. 10, 2017
• Chef Mario Pagan will be on San Juan & the Virgin Islands, Dec. 9, 2017

Chef Lee Anne Wong will be on Icons of Southeast Asia, Jan. 20, 2018

Invite your clients to enjoy the world’s premier yachting playgrounds on a beautiful small ship that feels like your own private yacht. The chic ports found on the Glitter & Glam of the Rivieras itinerary, string together like perfect pearls, each glowing with its own special beauty. Your clients can spend a day wandering among the rich and famous in Cannes, France – the chic epicenter of the French Riviera – a world of exclusive boutiques, palm-fringed boulevards, sun-drenched beaches, and elegant sidewalk cafés. Or they  can meander the streets of Portofino, Italy, with its golden ochre and terracotta buildings that represent the height of Italian artistry and sophistication. Sip a cappuccino along the fabled marina or enjoy a day of shopping in one of the town’s tempting little boutiques. Every port offers a different enchantment, and your clients can discover the mystique and magic of the Rivieras that only an intimate yacht can show them.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Graeme Cockburn to Windstar Cruises as our new Corporate Executive Chef overseeing menu and recipe development; culinary talent retention, recruitment and training; and creation and implementation of coming innovations for Windstar Cruises.

"We are energized by welcoming aboard Graeme to round out our team of experienced and inspired culinary professionals. Graeme's breadth of experience and caliber of cuisine will enhance our cruise guests' experience exponentially to rival the best land restaurants, hotels and resorts," remarked Peter Tobler, Director of Hotel Operations.

Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career established early on as an innovator affiliated with the crème de la crème of cuisine, including formative training at world-famous The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland, the Royal Scotsman train, London's exclusive Boodles private club, and the Pompadour Restaurant Edinburgh which was named top restaurant of Scotland during Cockburn's tenure. The celebrated chef trained with Michelin-awarded chefs including; Michel Roux, London; Michel Guerard, South of France; and at the Hotel de Crillon, Paris.

Chef Cockburn begins immediately and is responsible for elevating the guest dining experience developing destination-centric recipes and menu cycles that celebrate the authentic cuisine of the regions.

Windstar was recently named the "Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation," and as such, Cockburn also will be responsible for developing the onboard "Culinary Demonstrations Powered by the James Beard Foundation."

One of the pillars of our Star Promise to Travel Agents is providing continued Extraordinary Guest Experiences. This most commonly comes into play with the personable and memorable attention from our crew, in-depth and intimate shore excursions, and our comfortable and elegant onboard accommodations. A key component, however, is the ports of call and the regions we visit. The small ship advantage allows our yachts to provide a different perspective on even the most popular destinations. It creates a uniquely Windstar style of cruising, and we are always seeking to see the world 180° from ordinary. That is why we are excited when we announce new regions or itineraries.

This year, Windstar Cruises is pleased to announce that we will be cruising to Canada & New England for the very first time in Windstar history. This is both a milestone for our company, and an advantage to our guests, bringing the Windstar Cruises experience even closer to home.

Condé Nast's 2017 Readers' Choice Awards are prestigious awards voted on by passionate, savvy travelers. Voting for these awards is now open and we would be honored to have you support Windstar and also share the opportunity to vote with your Windstar guests and on your social media channels. You don’t have to be a subscriber and you can vote once for EACH Windstar ship you have sailed on, simply enter the name: Wind Surf, Wind Star, Wind Spirit, Star Breeze, Star Legend, and/or Star Pride – vote for one, a few or all! To vote, please click  here to share your experience and also have a chance to win a cruise for two awarded by Condé Nast.

Thank you for your time and we hope to see you on board!

Windstar is pleased to introduce a marketing campaign which highlights the differences in small ship cruising in Europe.

Have your clients ever wanted to hear the visceral roar of the Monaco Grand Prix from premier grandstand seats? Watch a live Russian ballet performance ... in Russia? Taste mouthwatering mezes and ouzo under a cerulean Greek sky? With these special low fares, your clients can turn every "I've never" into a "Yes, I have!"

Thank you for your support in the past few weeks! With your help, Windstar Cruises has had one of the biggest booking weeks for Tahiti in the company's history. It is clear that the popularity of small ship cruising is a fast growing trend in travel and cruising, and there is no better example than our award-winning Tahitian itineraries with sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear waters, incredible sea life, and exotic tropical island ports best seen by private yacht style cruising.

Windstar Cruises is proud to add an industry veteran to our ranks. Paul Barrett is now our VP of Technical Operations, overseeing safety and regulatory compliance, inventory control and purchasing, shipyard projects and refits, and all aspects of our Engine Department.

"We are continuing to build incredible bench strength of industry leading talent in our efforts to be the world’s best small ship cruise line," said President John Delaney. "We are holding ourselves to a higher standard of operational excellence in everything that we do, which is why we are thrilled to have a consummate professional like Paul join Windstar's team."

LandLopers' “6 Favorite Moments” in Tahiti
SeaTrade Cruise News covers Windstar’s Canada & New England
Costa Rican Adventures by Travel Weekly
See Panama & Costa Rica through Recommend’s Eyes

I had the pleasure of sailing with our President John Delaney aboard Star Pride as part of Windstar Cruises’ first annual President’s Cruise.  In one week I soared across the Costa Rican canopy by zipline, learned all about cacao at a chocolate farm, spotted wild macaws and other exotic birds, howler monkeys, lizards, and sloths, transited the Panama Canal, watched 2 different Costa Rican folkloric dance shows, and spent a relaxing day on a remote Panamanian island.   I also had the pleasure of enjoying Windstar’s delectable cuisine and the personal service of the Officers, Staff, and Crew of Star Pride while on board.   Some special events were held in honor of the sailing being a President’s Cruise but quite simply it was the informal interactions between our executive leadership team and our guests that only a small ship cruise can afford that was the highlight of the trip.

Reflecting back at my week on board it reminded me of many of the true Windstar differences that we offer to our guests, your clients, each and every day aboard all of our 6 yachts.   Windstar Cruises truly lives up to our motto of being 180 degrees from ordinary.   This newsletter is designed to help you understand these differences and in turn be able to successfully sell our brand.  Let us know how we can help and we look forward to welcoming your clients and hopefully even you personally aboard one of our yachts soon.

At the end of February, John Delaney hosted his first ever President’s Cruise on the Costa Rica & Panama Canal itinerary. Welcoming many of the industry’s top leaders and reporters to Star Pride’s gleaming decks, John Delaney and other Windstar executives spent the week discussing the future of Windstar Cruises.  John is excited to announce that the next President’s Cruise will be The Best of the Philippines & Borneo on January 6, 2018.  This is a great opportunity for Windstar Cruises fanatics to have an uncommon cruise and learn about the company in depth.

Starting this month, we are announcing a new weekly promotion.  Every Thursday we will send out a 7 for 7 email detailing 7 of the best valued Windstar cruises each week.  This is a great opportunity to build a rapport with your clients who are deal focused.  We encourage you to look for and forward these emails to your mailing base, but remember to move quickly, the prices will only last for the week.

We want to start bringing you the inside scoop on some of the Windstar Team’s favorite activities to do in each itinerary.  This week we chose A Taste of Sardinia on Windstar’s Islands of the West Med.  This tour in particular does an excellent job displaying the quaint vistas and is a wonderful choice for any Windstar guest looking for an authentic destination experience.

The tour begins with a panoramic drive to Capo Caccia, a short distance from Alghero on the southern point of a huge limestone triangle that juts out into the sea. It is famous for the underground labyrinth of mysterious caves discovered in 1700. After a short stop to admire the impressive view, your clients continue on to a local winemaker’s farmhouse for touring and a wine tasting. Afterwards, they will enjoy a walking tour of Alghero to discover the town’s churches in their fascinating Catalan-Gothic architecture, the towers and wall which surround the old town and the Aragon palaces overlooking the main square. Alghero was one of the most important towns in the history of Sardinia: the Aragonese landed here in 1353 and the Catalan influence is still felt in its streets, shops, language, food, and traditions.

Windstar Cruises is pleased to have been awarded 17 individual awards in the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards.  Notably claiming 2 of the top 5 awards for the Best Overall Small Ships, you can see some of the placements below:

• Wind Surf placing #2 for Best Overall Small Ship
• Star Legend took #5 for Best Overall Small Ship
• Wind Surf also won the #1 top spot for Best Small Ship Dining
• Star Legend won #1 for Best Small Ship Cabins
• Star Breeze named #2 for Best Small Ship Cabins
• Wind Surf took the #4 spot with 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom suites that boast separate living/dining room and sleeping areas

We are proud to welcome Andrea Mendelsohn into the Windstar Family as the first ever Regional Sales Manager of Canada.

Andrea comes to us with a wealth of travel experience having worked in varied facets of the industry, including DeNureTours, Fairmont Hotels, Rocky Mountaineer and Sabre.

Prior to immigrating to Canada from South Africa, she worked for 9 years with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Andrea is excited to bring her experience and strong agency relationships to Windstar where she is committed to working closely with the trade, maintaining current and building new lasting relationships to mutually drive sales for both the agencies and Windstar Cruises.

"I couldn't be more proud and delighted to be working for a globally recognized, multiple-awarded cruise line such as Windstar and to be part of an amazing Sales Team." Andrea is looking forward to cruising on Wind Surf later this month, with our VP of Sales, Steve Simao, and will be more than happy to share her Windstar Cruises experience, so please don't be afraid to ask!

We would also like to take a moment to thank Vanessa Lee and her team at Cruise Strategies. Vanessa and Cruise Strategies did a wonderful job cultivating the Windstar Cruises presence in Canada. Thank you very much!

We are committed to our Canadian Travel Agents, and look forward to growing the Windstar Cruises business together.

• Cruise Critic’s “From the Bridge” covers the President’s Cruise
• Aaron Saunders, Avid Cruiser, on Windstar in Alaska
• "Commerce, history along the Panama Canal" by Travel Weekly
• Honeymoon do over on the Today Show

Greetings from the "World's Most Romantic Cruise Line" - Windstar Cruises! I know you are all busy mid-WAVE season, but I wanted to let you know of the amazing opportunities to sail with Windstar Cruises in the upcoming months. Today, we are announcing new Star FAM dates in the Caribbean and Costa Rica & Panama Canal. We invite you on board to experience our private yacht style cruising first hand. I am personally sailing aboard Wind Surf on the March 18th departure and would love to spend 7 wonderful days aboard our flagship together with you. For your ease, we have included the application form for our Star FAMs in this newsletter below.

Also, in this newsletter you can learn about an exciting expanded partnership Windstar Cruises is making with the James Beard Foundation, how to make more money by selling Windstar Cruises' new Asia voyages, and connect with one of our Regional Sales Managers, Anthony Iozzia.

Windstar Cruises is competing for “World’s Best Cruise Line” in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best voting.  We would certainly appreciate your support.  You can place your vote for Windstar Cruises here.

One of the best ways to increase your sales with Windstar Cruises is to sail with us yourself. Now is the time to get on a Windstar yacht and experience what our guests rave about. Immerse yourself in Windstar casual elegance and relaxation on select dates where you only pay NDAs, gratuities, taxes, fees, and port expenses with our Star FAMs But don't just take our word for it; hear it from one of your colleagues, Wendy Hicks at Wright Travel Agency:

"Windstar has an awesome experience. We all loved the smaller ship and the ability to squeeze through the Corinth Canal, and dock when larger ships had to tender in to smaller ports. It was wonderful to feel like by the end of the cruise you really knew everyone, at least by face.

Also remarkable was that the crew somehow knew everyone by name after the very first day. That is really impressive and made you really feel at home and that the crew all really cared about the guests.

Cruising with Windstar was a great experience, and I would go again in a heartbeat!!! Thanks so much to Windstar for providing this great opportunity for agents to experience your ships."

Boutique cruise line Windstar Cruises and the venerable James Beard Foundation join forces again in 2017, announcing an exclusive, new partnership that will result in even more scrumptious bites at sea. A hallmark of the partnership is a special themed food and wine cruise hosted by acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and author Hugh Acheson . Other components of this partnership include a series of guest chef visits aboard the James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise Collection, culinary demonstrations of James Beard Award-Winning chef recipes (by Windstar chefs), and the addition of James Beard Foundation Signature Recipes aboard all Windstar sailings.

“The Foundation’s deep roster of award-winning chefs and culinary leaders will help chart a course for unique dishes on Windstar, using local ingredients whenever possible and bringing guests closer to the destination one meal at a time,” says Windstar President John Delaney. 

Asia is known for so many things within the cruise industry. Delectable foods, a spectacular contrast between modern and antiquity, glimpses into other cultures and traditions that will certainly broaden the perspective of any well-versed traveler. In many ways, it is the perfect pairing for Windstar Cruises, whose small ship advantage gives guests more time in the heart of cities and access to serene, pristine beaches, but the comfort and security of the same luxurious, Egyptian-sheet-clad bed every night. While we believe that the destination distinguishes itself, we wanted to give you the Windstar Cruises edge. That's why we made the majority of our Asian voyages eligible Star Advantage departures under our Groups program. Guests of Star Advantage dates receive an additional 10% from savings fares, Tour Conductor Credit at 9 guests, an amenity of $100 per person Shipboard Credit, and a complimentary cocktail party with hors d'oeuvres at 18 or more guests. Additionally, as our valued partners, you receive a $100 per person Travel Agent Bonus Commission.

Do you have clients who are wondering what to do on their Dreams of Tahiti or Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands Voyages? We suggest the Snorkel Safari in Moorea or Bora Bora or Drift Snorkeling in Tahaa.  On the Snorkel Safari your guests will board a comfortable boat with a covering to protect from the direct rays of the sun and travel along a colorful warm lagoon. When they are ready to see the spectacular marine life housed by local coral, they simply need to step off the boat into the bath-tub warm waters.  There may even be opportunities for guests, with their guide’s assistance, to swim with and pet stingrays, affectionately known as the puppies of the sea. There’s no need for them to be skilled snorkelers for this is a beginners’ snorkeling adventure. Or when in Tahaa, encourage more experienced snorkelers to try the Coral Garden Drift Snorkeling.  This amazing coral garden is located between two picturesque motus.  Starting at the top of the islet, the experienced guide leads guests through a spectacular variety of tropical fish and amazing corals as the natural current carries you along back to the boat.

While the above are two of our personal favorites in Tahiti, there is no want of more adventures.  Everything from hikes, bike rides, to learning about vanilla or pearl farming on guided tours.

In celebration of his two-year anniversary at Windstar Cruises (celebrated on January 5^th), we wanted to turn the spotlight on our very own Anthony Iozzia!

Anthony works as our Northeast Regional Sales Manager, covering 13 states from Maine to Virginia.  He is tasked with working closely with our travel agent partners in these regions to grow their Windstar Cruises business.  Through the creation of marketing plans, training sessions, and by attending trade/consumer shows, Anthony helps spread the word on Windstar Cruises.

With 25 years in the travel industry, Anthony knows the ins and the outs of the business.  But more specifically, he has a true love and passion for cruising, having been on over 37 cruises ranging from the more intimate experience of River Cruising, to being on large cruise liners with 3,000+ other passengers.  He does find though, as he matures in age, that he enjoys the finer things in life, such as the experience that Windstar Cruises provides its guests.

Every week, Anthony shares in great memories with travel agents and guests about their experiences with Windstar Cruises, ranging from the food, service, shore excursions, to the ports of call, etc.  In his own words, “We have an incredible product but I never get tired of hearing it explained from one of our past guests.”  His personal favorite itinerary is Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast , which just so happens to have been his very first cruise on a Windstar boutique yacht.  Anthony always recommends taking advantage of the amazing food in the main dining room, and enjoying the water toys off the Watersports Platform.

Just recently, Anthony did a consumer show where he recognized a couple who came to his booth to talk about Windstar.  Together, they went through their life histories to figure out why each other looked so familiar.  They talked about high schools, colleges, past jobs, and still couldn’t figure it out.  It finally hit Anthony, when he realized they had played black jack at the same table in Monte Carlo while sailing on the Glitter & Glam of the Rivieras itinerary.  To Anthony, that is the epitome of Windstar Cruises, creating “Small World” experiences that allow guests to truly connect with one another and the world around them.

To quote John Delaney, Windstar's President, "The center of gravity for small ship cruising is moving to Windstar!" - we would like to invite you to be a part of that movement! As you know, beginning with the announcement of Star Promise, our commitment to travel agents, in June of last year, Windstar Cruises has been on the move announcing a number of initiatives to support you in selling our brand as well as announcing a new deployment to Asia. One of our promises to you is providing an Excellent Guest Experience and we have been enhancing our Executive Management team with a number of new appointments to support that promise. A few issues ago, I talked about Chris Prelog, our new VP of Fleet Operations and the talent and experience he was bringing to Windstar Cruises. In this article, we are introducing you to another new talented addition to our team, Peter Tobler our new Director of Hotel Operations.

I encourage you to watch Windstar Cruises over the coming weeks and months as we will continue to innovate and have a long list of upcoming announcements involving our onboard experience, culinary programs, and some exciting additional deployment announcements including a big one in this very issue - Alaska in 2018!

Our Tahiti specific Sell 3, Sail Free is still up and running until Valentine's Day - it has never been easier to earn a FREE cruise in Tahiti. I am also excited to announce that we have recently redesigned our Travel Agent Hub. Offering a sleek and easily navigable interface, we hope you enjoy the new look! Finally, we had a flash sale open Wednesday, so book your clients now for some of the best rates before our tropics season closes.

We want to be your small ship cruise line of choice. We are here to help. Let us know what we can do to earn your business.

Smooth Selling,

The Windstar Team

Windstar's Alaska beckons guests to slow down over leisurely journeys. With voyages starting at 11 days, there is ample time for scenic cruising in both Canada's and Alaska's famed inside passages - where guests can look for orcas, bears, and bald eagles from the comfort of their elegant ship. Guests can enjoy a cup of cocoa on deck as they sail through Misty Fjords National Monument and Kenai Fjords National Park, experiences usually booked via a shore excursion because the "big ships" just don't go there.

Each Windstar Alaska itinerary includes sailing through Tracy Arm Fjord - so close that noise of the ice breaking and falling into the water during glacier calving will surprise you. Enthusiastic park rangers, scientists, glaciologists, geologists, and other experts will be aboard each cruise to provide education, perspective, one-on-one discussions, and ample opportunities for individual discovery in America's "last frontier."

As part of our commitment to excellent Agent Service & Support under the Star Promise initiative, we are excited to roll out our newly redesigned Travel Agent Hub!  With the latest in Windstar news, access to training tools, updates on promotions, an archive of Yacht’s Up? and more – this is your one stop shop for all things Windstar Cruises.  After a simple registration process, you will be granted immediate access to all the great resources that we have.

Windstar Cruises is very excited to announce the addition of Peter Tobler as the new Director of Marine Hotel Operations. Director of Marine Hotel Operations oversees the overarching culture of our hotel management including food and beverage operations, revenue, product development, service standards, and employee training and development. Peter Tobler brings to the role over 30-plus years experience in the hospitality, travel and cruise industry and a very impressive pedigree.

"Peter Tobler is one of the most recognized hotel operations professionals in the industry and a very detailed culinarian. Peter possesses a unique expertise and finds his true passion for hotel operations in helping his team become the best in the industry," noted Vice President of Fleet Operations Christopher Prelog. "Peter has been an idol of mine and a leader for many others in hospitality for years. His leadership will set the standard for hospitality excellence in small ship cruising."

On Windstar Cruises’ Gaelic Explorers itinerary, your clients will journey through hills and highlands, idyllic islands, and lyrical landscapes and make their way from the castles of Edinburgh to the pubs of Dublin. Here in the land of good Scotch and great golf, your clients will experience astonishing natural beauty as it meets refined elegance in beautiful ports and exclusive marinas. They will celebrate Scotland's iconic past and lively present – and toast the spirit of the Emerald Isle.

Enrich their cruise experience even more with the Windstar Cruises Pick Your Perk Event going on until March 3, 2017! For a limited time, your clients enjoy reduced fares and one FREE perk per cabin on select voyages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Europe, as well as our new collection of Asia & Arabia voyages sailing in the winter of 2017 - 2018. Choose your FREE perk from a list of four great amenities including up to 2 free hotel nights, premium beverage package, unlimited WI-FI or up to $1,000 shipboard credit.

• Discouver our Culinary Cruises with Pratesi Living
• Travel Pulse muses on what smal ship expansions means for Windstar Cruises
• Porthole Magazine features Spanish Serenade
• Seatrade spotlights John Delaney's first President's Cruise

It's hard to believe it's January already. As you know, the arrival of January means the arrival of WAVE season and while WAVE is less important today because cruises are sold year-round, it is still a very important booking period.

Let's think for a moment about what WAVE season means. WAVE is traditionally thought of as the wave of bookings because of consumer interest in booking cruises. And that's true. But can we make it even better? We at Windstar Cruises are doing our part by making "waves" - crafting new itineraries and destinations with our launch of new Asia and Arabia itineraries. Our Star Perks Event was very popular in the fall and thus, we have relaunched this promotion - encouraging your clients to book with valuable perks while keeping pricing and thus your commissions high.

Also in this issue are details on how YOU can quickly and easily earn a FREE romantic Windstar Tahiti Cruise simply by making 3 Windstar Tahiti bookings before Valentine's Day, February 14, 2017.

Talk to your Windstar Regional Sales Manager today on how we can partner together making Windstar Waves this WAVE Season!

Smooth Selling,

The Windstar Team

Dining under sail and tropical stars, pampered personalized service on a secluded motu, sunset walks along shimmering white sands - Windstar Cruises' Tahitian voyages are the perfect romantic gift for your clients to give this Valentine's Day. Make 3 Tahiti bookings by February 14, 2017, and you will earn a FREE Dreams of Tahiti cruise for yourself and a guest.

Dreams of Tahiti is consistently lauded as one of the most romantic itineraries, and a winner of a BRIDES Honeymoon Award. Extend your clients stay among the sapphire seas and remote islands with our 10- or 11-day Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands cruise featuring the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fakarava.

Incite romance this year, and treat yourself to a cruise that is oh so sweet.

For an even more in-depth perspective on sales and the company, you can follow our President, John Delaney, and Vice President of Sales, Steve Simao, at @JohnDelaneyWSC and @WindstarSteve.

Beyond ardently reading our "Yacht's Up?" newsletter on a bi-monthly basis, there are a great number of other ways to stay up-to-date with Windstar's latest news. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @WindstarCruises and see a dazzling array of our best yacht glamour shots and epic destination pictures. You can see the newest promotions and announcements on our Facebook page. Or read insider scoops on our favorite Windstar Stories, must see attractions at some of our ports of call, and favorite recipes at Windstar's Blog.

• Windstar Crusies wins "Best Boutique Cruise Line" with USA Today
• Skift has a deskside chat with our President, John Delaney
• The Cruise Report, reports on Star Pride
• Global Adventures explores French Polynsia with Windstar Cruises

With the holidays upon us, we at Windstar want to wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year. As our valued travel partners, we recognize everything you do to make Windstar Cruises successful, and we are committed to bringing you excellent agent service, the freshest sales tools, outstanding educational experiences, and continuing to uphold extraordinary guest experiences. Cheers to another year of working together.

I would also like to take a moment to introduce Gina McGinnis, our new Director of National Accounts. In this role Gina is responsible for our relationships with many key partners. Please join us in welcoming Gina and read more about her below.

Smooth selling,

The Windstar Team

On a small ship large enough to pamper and indulge, a Windstar voyage offers many perks. Whether it's the personalized service, sumptuous cuisine, or a cruising experience that feels like a private yacht vacation, your clients will find something they are sure to enjoy. And now with our Star Perks Event, your clients have the opportunity to enhance their experience even more with a choice of up to 2 FREE Hotel Nights OR FREE premium beverage package OR FREE unlimited Wi-Fi package OR up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite on our Asia, Arabia, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mediterranean, Italy, Northern Europe, and Ocean Crossing voyages - Windstar truly offers something for everyone.

Your clients are able to choose the benefit that makes the most sense for their itinerary or personal preference. On itineraries 6-10 days in length, they can earn one FREE hotel night or up to $400 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite. On itineraries 11 days or more, they can earn two FREE hotel nights or up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite. Offer runs through February 24, 2017.

We are happy to see Wind Surf sailing the pristine Caribbean waters once more after a successful Dry Dock in November.  With new upholstery throughout the ship, new furniture in the Yacht Club and Veranda, carpet refresh, 2 new hot tubs, and some refinished teak decks, Wind Surf is looking better than ever.

As part of our commitment to extraordinary guest experiences, we continually update our six yachts so that they are always pristine and looking their best.

Welcome the Wind Surf back to service and suggest to your clients that they go check her out, conveniently sailing from St. Maarten on our 7 day Yachtsman's Caribbean and Classic Caribbean voyages.

Your clients will relish the yachting lifestyle at its very pinnacle with an insider’s experience at Monaco’s legendary Grand Prix.  Windstar offers this exclusive themed voyage with preferred seating for Saturday preliminaries and the Sunday Grand Prix Race in Section K. Grand Prix Formula One® speaker Bob Varsha will host on board through out the voyage. There will be a special Grand Prix themed cocktail party and dinner on board Star Breeze, a private cocktail reception and dinner in downtown Monte Carlo, race day brunch onboard Star Breeze , and a commemorative gift package, including a pair of high definition binoculars. Or guests can experience the Grand Prix as an add-on package for our Wind Surf Riviera Enchantment voyage sailing on May 25, 2017!

Book your clients by January 9, 2017 to secure their Grand Prix Tickets!

• Dine Onboard Wind Surf with BonVoyageurs
• Expert Cruiser looks at the 8 NEW Asia & Arabia Cruises
• Landlopers revels in boutiwue style cruising
• Aaron Saunders Discusses the Windstar Brand

It seems 2016 is rapidly coming to a close. For those of you in the USA, I trust you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you were able to spend some quality time with family and loved ones. On behalf of all of us at Windstar Cruises, we are thankful for YOU, our valued travel agent partners. This year we have already seen a number of exciting changes and new things happening at Windstar Cruises and in this issue I am pleased to be able to share with you even more! In this issue, I would like to introduce you to a friend and former colleague - Chris Prelog, our new VP of Fleet Operations. Chris is a true professional and will bring a lot of innovation to the Windstar brand. Chris and the Windstar Operations Team are truly dedicated to creating an extraordinary guest experience. While the holidays will soon be upon us, Windstar has one more sales promotion to launch before year end. Details are in this issue about our holiday sale, entitled "Nautical and Nice." Give your clients the gift of amazing savings on a number of great Windstar itineraries. Also, be a hero to your clients and suggest they cruise with the President of our company on our Costa Rica & Panama Canal cruise on February 25, 2017. This is an excellent opportunity for your guests to truly have a unique Windstar experience. Smooth selling, The Windstar Team

Windstar's annual Holiday Sale will open on December 12, 2016. Give your clients everything they wish for this holiday season with Windstar's Nautical & Nice Holiday Sale. Choose from a sack full of blissful itineraries to favorite destinations at up to 82% off and fares as low as $1,079 per guest. Book by December 23, 2016 and your clients will additionally receive a $100 pp shipboard credit.

It's the perfect way to help your clients wrap up their holiday shopping and start 2017 with some extra jingle in their pockets.

Vote today! Windstar Cruises has been nominated in our latest 10 Best Readers' Choice travel award contest! USA Today's expert panel selected Windstar Cruises as Best Boutique Cruise Line and Best Ocean Cruise Line. A person can vote once a day through Monday, December 19th, 2016. Help Windstar win by voting each day and sharing with other Windstar fans! Thank you for being the best guests around!

• Asia Exclusive from Cruise Critic
• Landlopers Discovers Tahiti on Wind Spirit
• Star Pride Shows Off New "Million Dollar" Owner's Suites
• "Small ship cruising is distinguished by a mindset." - JUST LUXE

Today is an exciting day as Windstar is launching two major initiatives - our Star Perks Event as well as officially announcing our 2018 Winter Voyage Collection. As part of Star Promise, we committed to offering you Fresh Sales Tools and Support. The Star Perks Event is designed to support your Windstar sales efforts and is an amenity-based promotion rather than lowering pricing thus keeping your commissions high. Star Promise also is our commitment to you to consistently offer an outstanding guest experience for your clients and what better way to enhance that guest experience than offering you new and exciting itineraries! I am very excited to share with you that at the end of our 2017 Europe season, Windstar will be returning to Asia, offering intriguing itineraries in Arabia as we position Star Legend to Southeast Asia. More details on both these initiatives are highlighted in this special edition of Yacht's Up. I will write to you again in two weeks and will have yet another exciting announcement at that time.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

With fewer than 300 pampered guests, a Windstar voyage offers many perks. Whether it's the personalized service, sumptuous cuisine, or a cruising experience that feels like a private yacht vacation, your clients will find something they are sure to enjoy. And now with our Star Perks Event, your clients have the opportunity to enhance their experience even more - with a choice of up to 2 FREE Hotel Nights, FREE premium beverage package, FREE unlimited Wi-Fi package, or up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite on our Asia, Arabia, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mediterranean, Italy, Northern Europe, and Ocean Crossings - Windstar truly offers something for everyone.

Your clients are able to choose the benefit that makes the most sense for their itinerary or personal preference. On itineraries 6-10 days in length, they can earn one FREE hotel night or up to $400 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite. On itineraries 11 days or more, they can earn two FREE hotel nights or up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite. Offer runs through December 9, 2016.

Starting with our 2018 Winter Collection, Windstar will return to Asia and Arabia on Star Legend featuring a host of new itineraries. We will take your clients to the heart of cosmopolitan marvels like Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Bangkok and to the ancient wonders of Egypt and China to a diverse selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites throughout India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Malaysia. Nowhere else will your clients find such a stunning juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, and Windstar's small ships will take your clients where larger vessels cannot reach.

You may remember that Star Pride debuted in Asia and Arabia, and we are going back by popular demand. Our itineraries will feature in depth lectures, unique ports of calls, and a stunning range of experiences from days spent in cultural epicenters to relaxing afternoons passed on tranquil shores of small villages and unspoiled islands. And with our Star Perks Event, your clients can get even more from their Windstar Voyage. Here are but a few of the itineraries that we will be featuring in the region:

Best of the Philipines & Borneo - a 14-day sailing from Singapore to Hong Kong via Malaysian Borneo, Brunei, and the Philippines, stopping at some of the most beautiful islands in the world like Palawan and Boracay. With an overnight in Manila and a stop at the oft-overlooked (and infrequently visited by cruises) Hundred Island National Park, the voyage is a perfect mash-up of culture meets beach vacation.

Singapore &Thai Treasures - a one-time-only holiday voyage over Christmas, and New Year's Eve sails 14-days round trip from Singapore. The cruise kicks off with an overnight in Singapore, allowing guests to skip the hassle of booking holiday hotel rooms and jump into the joy of "unpacking once" that cruising affords. After exploring Singapore, it's onto Malaysia, with a special late stay in Penang (with plenty of time to enjoy a cooking class with lunch at a spice garden). In Thailand, Ko Yao Noi is a standout stop that is truly off the beaten path (Windstar is the only cruise line that goes there), with scenic and secluded beaches perfect for exploring. New Year's Eve takes place in Ko Phi Phi, with a late stay to allow maximum celebration. While in port, Windstar will open Star Legend's Watersports Platform if the weather allows, bringing an array of water toys to the party. Ko Phi Phi is(famous as the setting for The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Then it's back to Malaysia for additional stops and a return to Singapore. A pre- or post-cruise land tour may also be added to Myanmar for temple sightseeing in Bagan and time in bustling Yangon.

Icons of Southeast Asia - a new Hong Kong to Bangkok (and reverse) 14-day itinerary is a traveler's dream - accessing Thailand, Vietnam, and China on a single voyage with standout experiences like an overnight stop in Halong Bay, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and gateway to Hanoi, and mystical seascapes that top the intrepid traveler's "bucket list." The itinerary also boasts overnights in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a signature small ship experience of docking in the heart of Bangkok (where the big cruise lines must use a port more than two hours away). A pre- or post-cruise land tour to Cambodia's temples in Angkor Wat is available from Bangkok.

Wonders of Arabia - this Athens to Dubai sailing takes place over 18 incredible days and allows Star Legend to reposition from Europe in the fall of 2017 to Asia for the winter season. With a daylight transit of the Suez Canal, and opportunity to view King Tut's Tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, a stop along the Frankincense trail in Oman, and an ending in over-the-top Dubai, the itinerary redefines what a "repositioning" cruise can be by stopping in some of the most intriguing places on the planet.

Starting in October, we will be releasing the Yacht's Up? two times a month! We want to increase our communications with our partners to ensure that you know the most current news as soon as possible. It is important that all of our partners are the most knowledgeable about our yachts, which is why we want you to get onboard and experience Windstar first hand. We encourage you to take advantage of our Star FAMS and Travel Agent Appreciation fares to really see and understand why Windstar is consistently ranked among the World's Best.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

On our recent Best of Europe's West Coast itinerary, the Wind Surf guests experienced an impromptu magical moment when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Princess Kate, cruised out on a pilot boat for an exclusive royal sail by our majestic flagship at anchor in the U.K.'s Scilly Islands!

When guests aren't treated to royal sightings on this itinerary, they are treated to Portugal's fine port wine and soulful fado music. Ireland's delicate crystal and stout Guinness. Galicia's famed seafood, and Brittany's multitude of granite castles and chateaux. This voyage is full of fascinating discoveries.

One of the best ways to increase your sales with Windstar Cruises is to sail with us yourself. Now is the time to get on a Windstar yacht and experience for yourself what our guests rave about. Immerse yourself in Windstar casual elegance and relaxation on select dates You only pay NDAs, gratuities, and taxes with our STAR Fams which are available on select 2016 and early 2017 dates; or our Travel Professional Appreciation Rates provide exceptional opportunities for agents to experience even more of our extraordinary destinations. But don't just take our word for it; hear it from one of your colleagues:

"I am back from my first Windstar cruise! Wow, sailing on the Star Legend from Athens to Venice was amazing. The feel of the small ship with 200 guests was the perfect way to travel. In a manner similar to River Cruise clients, Windstar is another great option to experience the destination. While we enjoyed lunch on the deck we could see over 1000 people lined up to get on the tenders back to their big ship. On this sailing, the Corinth Canal and sailing into Venice were highlights. The Captain on this ship (James) was a young guy with a wild sense of humor. The suite with a walk-in closet and tub had a large sofa.... it was very nice to come back too. The food and service was as good as I have experienced on Crystal and Oceania. How smart of you to put Travel Agents on board to experience this first hand. Thank you for the opportunity to sail on Windstar!"

-Debbie Carpenter, Camarillo Travel

Windstar's new Charter & Incentive Brochure, "A Departure from Ordinary," is now available for fulfillment. Windstar Cruises' yachts are the ideal size for Charters with our small ship advantage. Charter clients can customize the itinerary, onboard amenities, and even food. The whole experience can be totally theirs. Learn about all the unique Windstar features that make our small ship yachts so perfect for Charters and Incentive groups. To request the brochure, you can email chartersandincentives@windstarcruises.com and enter your order request, address, and agency information.

On the Charter and Incentives team, Tony Ventola is one of the most valued players. Tony started with the company almost 20 years ago when he transferred over from Holland America Line. He began in Charter & Incentive Sales 12 years ago in October 2004.

In the Charter & Incentives Department, Tony is a Sales & Program Specialist. Tony negotiates the contracts from inception, and then works to make sure that everything the client wants on board is ready to go when they embark for sailing. While Tony always takes pride in his job, back in 2006 he assisted a charter that he remembers very fondly - a couple chartered the Wind Spirit for his 70th birthday party. They filled the yacht with all their friends and family members. After the cruise's completion, Tony received a lengthy letter from the group, thanking him for his hard work. The family and friends all had the best time, even stating that they had the trip of a lifetime.

Tony's personal favorite memory on board is when the Wind Song returned to Tahiti in May 2002 after a cruising hiatus. At each port of the 10-day itinerary, the locals gave a special welcome back performance. While this is his favorite memory, his all-time favorite activity is to simply relax on deck and enjoy the view.

It's hard to believe that it was only in June that we first announced Star Promise - our Travel Agent Initiative. Since then we have seen an increase in groups under our newly launched Star Groups Program, many of our travel agent partners taking advantage of our Star FAMS, and we have received a lot of positive feedback from agents on our new commitment to supporting them. That is why we are so thrilled to be recognized by Travel Weekly for our Star Promise campaign with a Silver Magellan Award. Rest assured that the award doesn't mark the end; you can continue to expect many new and exciting announcements into 2017 and beyond.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

It is with great pleasure that Windstar Cruises receives three Gold Magellans and one Silver Magellan in the 2016 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. Windstar was recognized as a leader in small ship cruising, winning shore excursions, inventive itineraries, and unique advertising and marketing campaigns for Star Promise.

"I'm particularly proud of these awards, as they are all at the heart of our business and what makes us unique in the cruise industry. We are all about small ship cruising - focusing on unique destinations and itineraries that only a small yacht can access. By recognizing Windstar as a leader in the Small Cruise Ship category, highlighting our one-of-a-kind Around Iceland itinerary, tipping their hat at our complimentary Destination Discovery Events, and giving note to our new travel-agent marketing initiative Star Promise, Travel Weekly has honored the very core programs and values of Windstar that truly set us apart." — John Delany, President, Windstar Cruises

Officially announced in the October 31 issue of the magazine, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all. The awards are judged by a panel consisting of top-notch travel experts, bringing more weight to the award than the 5-pound gold and silver statuettes that accompany the recognition.

Windstar has always been known for cruising to less-visited ports and hidden harbors, and its Around Iceland itinerary is a prime example. The 212-guest Star Legend departed on the 7-night itinerary's first-ever sailing in July 2016. The itinerary is a unique circumnavigation of Iceland from Reykjavik that takes guests beyond the tourist hotspots to remote fjords and tiny fishing villages. Among other points of interest, cruisers pass one of the world's youngest islands, Surtsey, which rose from the sea in the 1960s, and visit Heimaey Island where a 1973 volcanic eruption left behind a modern-day Pompeii. The itinerary includes an overnight stay in colorful Seydisfjordur, a gateway to some of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls.

The itinerary has in fact proven so popular that Windstar has doubled the number of sailings planned for 2017, adding Star Pride to the region along with sister yacht Star Legend to help accommodate traveler demand.

Each October, CLIA hosts an annual Plan a Cruise Month on a global scale to showcase the many cruise options consumers have when booking holiday vacations. It is also a nice opportunity to get a jump start on 2017 bookings ahead of the typical wave season. In fact, Windstar has traditionally seen very strong bookings in the fall months. In support of CLIA October cruise month, Windstar is offering a special promotion. For all bookings during the month of October on our 2016 Winter and 2017 Spring Panama Canal and Caribbean sailings, Windstar Cruises will offer a SBC of $150 per person.

There is no better way to spend the frigid winter season than on a Windstar yacht sailing from one tropical island to the next in the Caribbean or by discovering man-made and natural wonders in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. Suggest to your clients they board a Windstar Cruise and offer them a special perk. Offer expires on October 31, 2016 and you must reference the promo code CLIA-16 when booking. As part of CLIA's #CruiseSmile promotion, Windstar has donated two cruises to CLIA to give away. Be sure to tell your clients and post your favorite Windstar Cruises photo along with #CruiseSmile and #WindstarCruises for your chance to win.

For more information, visit www.cruisesmile.org.

Every Windstar stateroom is designed for the comfort of your clients - each with breathtaking views of the ocean. The suites provide a decadent touch.

On our flagship Wind Surf, suites offer a spacious 376 square feet with plenty of room for guests to relax on the luxurious Egyptian cotton linens, or lounge in waffle-weave robe and slippers. Our Vice President of Sales Steve Simao refers to these suites as "relationship-saver suites," as they offer two full bathrooms - providing plenty of personal space for happy couples. Also on Wind Surf is the option for the opulent Bridge Suites, which provide the ultimate in space and style with 495 square feet of pure indulgence. A separate bedroom and living room provide space to entertain, or to simply watch the ocean pass by after an invigorating soak in the suite's whirlpool spa tub or massage shower. On Wind Star and Wind Spirit, the Owner's Suite offers an expansive 220 square feet and features a beautifully appointed sitting area and separate in-room dining space.

Not to be outdone, Star Pride, Star Legend, and Star Breeze are actually ALL-SUITE yachts. Each of 100 spacious 277 square foot suite features a walk-in closet and marble bathrooms along with gorgeous ocean views. Your clients will enjoy full-size soaking tubs along with luscious L'Occitane® bath amenities. The sitting areas allow the perfect respite after a morning of shore excursions to either enjoy the fresh fruit brought daily or the delicate aroma of the fresh flowers. There are 36 Balcony Suites on these beautiful yachts offering open-air cruising with sliding doors that open right on to their own personal and unobstructed waterfront view. Two 575 square foot Owner's Suites offer separate living room, dining, and sleeping areas. With a full master bath and separate powder room, your clients will indulge in spacious comfort.

All Windstar staterooms feature a queen-size bed with Egyptian cotton linens, waffle weave robe and slippers, flat screen TV with DVD player, fully stocked mini bar, safe, direct dial phone, L'Occitane® Bath Amenities, fresh flowers, fresh fruit, walk-in closet and ample drawer space, and a bathroom with granite countertop and shower.

Dwight came to Windstar Cruises after having worked at Virtuoso for 14 years. Well acquainted with the cruise industry, he has been spreading knowledge and awareness of Windstar for over three years as our Sales Operations Manager. In this role he manages our inside sales and provides support to the Regional Sales Managers throughout North America. Much like the superhero of the sales department, he proudly represents Windstar Cruises at trade and consumer shows whenever and wherever he's needed, providing the back end support in coordinating with the travel consortia and travel organizations. Beyond being an encyclopedia of Windstar facts, he helps coordinate the ordering and distribution of most all the sales collateral and provides product training for travel professionals.

Dwight has been very fortunate to provide FAM support on most of our yachts firsthand, and thinks they are each spectacular in their own right while consistently providing the renowned Windstar warmth and friendly service that our guests have come to expect. While he has trouble picking a favorite yacht, his favorite experience is sitting on deck watching the spinner dolphins frolic in the wake of the Wind Spirit or the unique 18 hours sails-only cruising experience on some of the Caribbean Wind Surf itineraries.

Should you see Dwight at a trade show, he encourages you to ask him about the yachts, dining venues, unique itineraries, and the ports that Windstar visits.

As the 2016 sailing year cruises into fall, we at Windstar are in full swing planning 2017 and beyond. One of the things we are focusing on is making it easier for you, our valued partners, to promote next year's itineraries. In 2017 alone we have over 230 Star Group dates available with nearly two-thirds offering top tier Star Advantage benefits. To help support you when you promote Star Groups, or any other Windstar cruise, we recently introduced an agency promotion offering your clients an additional $50 per guest shipboard credit for a select promotional period. Simply host a Windstar-themed cruise night or include Windstar in a direct mail, email campaign, or any other marketing driver for Windstar's itineraries and contact your regional sales representative to finalize. Plus, when your clients take advantage of our early booking savings, they can now rest easy, knowing they have received the best available price with Windstar's Price Assurance policy. We hope these tools will help make your 2017 a phenomenal one.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

For your clients looking to travel solo, Windstar offers an affordable option. Starting in October on select tropical voyages, Windstar reduces single supplements from 75% to as low as 15%. With exceptional pricing, personable service, elegant accommodations, and the luxurious amenities that Windstar is known for, now your solo clients can see the tropics as they were meant to be seen. They will anchor off quiet islands accessible only by small ships and explore the vivid, dream-like Caribbean, or traverse the tropical jungles of Costa Rica and the man-made marvel of the Panama Canal in an experience so intimate it feels like their own personal yacht. Learn more here.

Windstar's Cruise Atlas is now available for fulfillment. To request 2017 brochures, you can visit our website or email windstar_sales@windstarcruises.com and enter your order request, address, and pertinent agency information (Name, IATA number, etc.). You can preview the digital edition of the brochure here!

Are your clients dreading the frozen frenzy that comes with being home during the holidays? We may have the perfect solution. Instead of a stressful Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's at home, suggest to your clients they board a Windstar Cruise and enjoy a season full of magical moments 180° From Ordinary.

Your client can celebrate Christmas on the high seas with one of our tropical holiday voyages, complete with festive ship decorations, a delicious Christmas dinner, and a Captain's holiday party, featuring caroling and holiday drinks. Or, if your clients are looking to extend their holiday vacation, Windstar is now offering a 15-day Grand Caribbean Holiday voyage to 11 unique islands, including the quaint destinations of Soper's Hole and Roseau. Explore the hidden harbors and legendary ports that the Caribbean is known for, in extended stay fashion.

Tahiti is a place to take it slow, experience warm, laid-back island culture both on shore and on board, and dive into the vivid turquoise lagoons. Beautiful fish, dolphins, and turtles inhabit these clear-water coral gardens, which are perfect for snorkeling and swimming.

Your clients will experience French Polynesian culture when Windstar brings Tahiti on board. They will enjoy lei making and a pareo showcase while they sip the specialty craft cocktail of the day or complimentary cappuccino as they listen to a local Polynesian band. Your clients can shop for Tahitian Pearls like a pro after they learn about the market when a local expert gives an exclusive pearl presentation in the lounge. Or they can learn more about the French Polynesian culture and island community when a local orator speaks for an evening. And don't forget about the Destination Discovery Event , which delivers an even more intimate experience of Tahiti with an exquisite feast of local Tahitian fare and a fire dancing performance.

Take advantage of our incredible offer and enjoy a casually elegant 7-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise with airfare, hotels, and transfers included from only $3,999 per guest. Or encourage your clients to relax in paradise a little longer with the 10- or 11-day Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands voyage with all of the same inclusions starting from $5,199 per guest.

I am excited about working for Windstar Cruises for many reasons. Windstar is a solid, highly respected, established company which has shown remarkable, recent growth (having doubled its fleet with the acquisition of three all-suite power yachts) and continues to grow at such a steady pace. Under our new leadership team, I am confident that Windstar Cruises will continue to be successful and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help grow the Southeastern U.S. territory.

Windstar Cruises is a great fit with my personal and professional background. I have worked in the cruise and travel industry in sales and marketing for many years. I have strong family roots in the travel, cruise, and marine industries. In addition to many family cruises, I spent the summers yachting with my family, visiting charming harbor towns around the Great Lakes. I love to be on the water and enjoy visiting new places.

Ever since I was in high school, I've known that I wanted to work in the travel industry to help others see the world and experience different cultures, geography, and historical sites.

When I first joined, a lot of people asked me what voyage I was most looking forward to experiencing. While the honest answer is that I'd be happy on ANY of Windstar's itineraries, there is one voyage in particular on my "bucket list." One of my great grandparents grew up in Sopot, a seaside spa town on the Baltic Coast, near the port of Gdansk, which is a port of call on Windstar's Baltic Delights sailings. I am thrilled that Windstar has an itinerary that would allow me a personal experience from my past. Another stop on that fantastic voyage is St. Petersburg, Russia. I toured there as a student many years ago (when it was known as Leningrad), and I would enjoy reconnecting with the city.

I look forward to helping Windstar agents create these types of experiences for your clients.

Sincerely,

Melissa

From all of us at Windstar, I'm excited to present to you the August issue of Yacht's Up?, our trade-focused newsletter. This month, we're launching our New Star Promise, Windstar's Price Assurance Policy, as well as increasing the visibility of both classes of our small ship yachts in our marketing materials. We're also increasing our general presence in trade marketing for all our regions, to better showcase our breadth of offerings. In addition, voting has recently opened for Travel Weekly 's Readers' Choice Awards, and the first round will close August 19th. We would certainly appreciate your nods to Windstar in any of the applicable cruise categories. Vote here.

Smooth selling,
The Windstar Team

We are committed to helping support you when you promote Windstar Cruises. When you host a cruise night, include Windstar in a direct mail or email campaign, or other marketing endeavors, we will contribute by providing an exclusive promotion for your agency. A $50 per guest shipboard credit will be available for all bookings made by your agency during an approved promotional period of a maximum of two weeks, and this opportunity is available to your agency each quarter up to a maximum of four times a year. Reach out to your Regional Sales Manager for help setting up this promotion.

Natural and man-made wonders combine when you experience transiting the Panama Canal on board a Windstar Yacht. In a 48-mile journey, our guests marvel at the engineering of being raised or lowered 85 feet in one of the Canal's three sets of locks. With Windstar's small and intimate yachts, our guests can really experience the poignant grandiosity of the Canal, how impressive this engineering accomplishment is still to this day after 102 years. And with Windstar, they can take advantage of the ample deck space to view the scenery in quiet contemplation or learn the inner workings, history, and day to day operations in a more personalized atmosphere when a Canal expert comes on board to narrate the journey. With an itinerary specifically designed around the Panama Canal and Costa Rica, Windstar offers our guests a more focused experience in the region and with local culture. On board a Windstar yacht, our guests truly experience the wonders of the Panama Canal firsthand. Learn more here.

 

One of the best ways to learn how to sell Windstar is to experience a voyage yourself, and with our competitive FAM programs it has never been easier. Choose from destinations in the South Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe - whatever areas your clientele visits most. Get all the details here. Here's what some of your fellow travel agents have to say about Windstar FAM.

The Wind Spirit and Tahiti - what a perfect match! I can't think of