Windstar Launches 40th Anniversary Celebration in Kusadasi

Windstar Launches 40th Anniversary Celebration in Kusadasi

Windstar Cruises has officially launched its 40th anniversary celebration, commemorating four decades of cruising and its close-knit crew, described in a press release as a “shipboard family.”

The milestone event took place in Kusadasi, Turkey, where two of Windstar’s ships, the 312-guest Star Legend and the 148-guest Wind Spirit, docked together. Guests and crew disembarked for an exclusive event at the ruins of Ephesus, featuring Windstar’s largest dinner ever hosted at the site. Executives, captains, crew and guests from both ships enjoyed a special evening among ancient ruins.

The event featured additional entertainment from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra, a progressive cocktail party and speeches celebrating the company’s 40-year journey.

Windstar’s Chief Commercial Officer Janet Bava and Chief Operations Officer Stijn Creupelandt welcomed attendees, recognizing returning Yacht Club Members and first-time guests.

Wind Spirit’s Captain Mark Rowden and Star Legend’s Captain Pedro Pinto shared their experiences in the industry and acknowledged crew members’ dedication, many of whom have been with the company for over 20 years.

“Windstar wouldn’t be the company it is today without the love and support of our owners at Xanterra Travel Collection and The Anschutz Corporation,” said Bava. “With their support, we were able to survive the most challenging years in cruise history while expanding the fleet and renovating our ships when the whole world was standing still. With the acquisition of two new ships and the investments being made to elevate our existing fleet, including our beloved Wind class ships that will be completely renovated by 2027, we are so excited for the next 40 years of Windstar.” 

Windstar will celebrate its 40th-anniversary fleetwide through October 2025 with various activities, including complimentary Ruby Anniversary cocktails at a trivia event where winners can enter to win a cruise for two on Star Seeker’s inaugural cruise. The celebration will also feature limited edition seabags, which are bespoke bags made from Windstar’s recycled sails. Windstar’s social media channels will also share special moments and staff recognition throughout the year using the hashtag #40yearsofWindstar.

 

Cruise lines and tour ops cancel visits to Ukraine, Crimea

By Michelle Baran

As Russia annexed Crimea and the Ukraine government began to withdraw its military personnel from the peninsula this week, travel suppliers began cancelling visits to Ukraine and Russia, as well as to Crimean destinations.

Cruise lines have begun altering some of their Black Sea sailings to bypass previously scheduled port stops in Odessa, Sevastopol and Yalta.

Windstar, Oceania, MSC, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara have substituted port calls in alternative countries, including Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Silversea canceled calls to the Crimean peninsula for the April 25 Black Sea sailing of the Silver Wind and for the July 21 departure of the Silver Spirit. However, should the situation in Crimea improve, the line said it would consider returning to its original itineraries.

Viking Cruises has a 12-day Footsteps of the Cossacks river cruise on the 196-passenger Viking Sineus, which sails from Kiev into the heart of the Crimean peninsula, with port stops in Sevastopol and Yalta. But its Ukraine departures begin in May, and the company has yet to decide if it will cancel any sailings.

“Though we know our passengers are paying attention to the developments on the ground, we have not yet seen significant cancellations,” Richard Marnell, Viking’s senior vice president of marketing, wrote in an email.

During a speech earlier this month at a dinner event to celebrate the christening of its latest generation of river cruise ships, Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen said that while nearly all of Viking’s river cruise capacity through the end of October was sold out, space was still available on its Ukraine sailings.

Many tour operators have already canceled either part or all of their 2014 tour itineraries that include stops in Crimea, offering affected passengers refunds or the option to rebook travel elsewhere.

Globus canceled all 2014 departures of its Ukraine and Crimea tour; Insight Vacations is no longer offering its 12-day Ukraine, Moldova and Crimea tour; and Intrepid Travel has canceled three Ukraine departures through mid-June.

Cruise lines and tour ops cancel visits to Ukraine, Crimea

By Michelle Baran

As Russia annexed Crimea and the Ukraine government began to withdraw its military personnel from the peninsula this week, travel suppliers began cancelling visits to Ukraine and Russia, as well as to Crimean destinations.

Cruise lines have begun altering some of their Black Sea sailings to bypass previously scheduled port stops in Odessa, Sevastopol and Yalta.

Windstar, Oceania, MSC, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara have substituted port calls in alternative countries, including Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Silversea canceled calls to the Crimean peninsula for the April 25 Black Sea sailing of the Silver Wind and for the July 21 departure of the Silver Spirit. However, should the situation in Crimea improve, the line said it would consider returning to its original itineraries.

Viking Cruises has a 12-day Footsteps of the Cossacks river cruise on the 196-passenger Viking Sineus, which sails from Kiev into the heart of the Crimean peninsula, with port stops in Sevastopol and Yalta. But its Ukraine departures begin in May, and the company has yet to decide if it will cancel any sailings.

“Though we know our passengers are paying attention to the developments on the ground, we have not yet seen significant cancellations,” Richard Marnell, Viking’s senior vice president of marketing, wrote in an email.

During a speech earlier this month at a dinner event to celebrate the christening of its latest generation of river cruise ships, Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen said that while nearly all of Viking’s river cruise capacity through the end of October was sold out, space was still available on its Ukraine sailings.

Many tour operators have already canceled either part or all of their 2014 tour itineraries that include stops in Crimea, offering affected passengers refunds or the option to rebook travel elsewhere.

Globus canceled all 2014 departures of its Ukraine and Crimea tour; Insight Vacations is no longer offering its 12-day Ukraine, Moldova and Crimea tour; and Intrepid Travel has canceled three Ukraine departures through mid-June.