Windstar Cruises has unveiled its 2019 and 2020 Caribbean and Latin America sailings including new visits to ports in Mexico, Honduras, Grand Cayman, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Cruisers seeking active adventure may choose from 152 departure dates ranging in length from 7 to 56 days. All departures focus on less-visited tropical ports and unusual vacation experiences on board – with the line’s signature Open Bridge and Watersports Platform – to exciting wet landings by Zodiac and handcrafted excursions.
A first for Windstar in 2020, the boutique line debuts a new Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure
aboard Wind Surf, the world’s largest sailing ship. The nearly two-month cruise is a new option for travellers ready for an encyclopedic exploration of the Caribbean’s Greater and Lesser Antilles and Latin America.
The wide-ranging itinerary features a first-time-ever visit to the Panama Canal for Wind Surf, where the ship will bring guests on a remarkable journey through the three-tiered Gatun Locks and the historic Atlantic connector locks, followed by scenic cruising on Gatun Lake, then back to the Caribbean through the Gatun Locks that afternoon. Perfect for destination collectors, the journey offers incredible seafaring depth calling on 38 ports and 27 countries in just 56 days.
“At Windstar we are on a mission to deliver the most authentic destination experiences in small ship
cruising and this Grand Caribbean sailing is a perfect example of how we do things 180 degrees from
ordinary,” said Windstar President John Delaney.
“No other cruise line has ever offered such an expansive sailing in this part of the world, visiting 38 ports and 27 countries. And the fact that we offer this on the world’s largest sailing ship with our ‘open bridge’ policy, complimentary water sports marina and Signature Beach Barbecues will ensure our guests experience the very best of these beautiful, warm-water destinations.”
Windstar’s Caribbean and Latin America cruises provide thoughtful travellers, who appreciate the
region’s stunning beauty, a welcome alternative. The collection of Sea of Cortez, Coastal, Canal, and
Caribbean Sea voyages emphasises hidden harbours on smaller islands and inland coves such as picture-perfect
Bequia and Mayreau in the Grenadines, and lush Bahia Herradura, Costa Rica.
“The beaches, wildlife and rainforests are a sure draw, but the way we plan and approach itineraries is
what sets Windstar apart; we discover the most authentic cultural experiences a destination has to
offer so that adventurous, imaginative travellers can come away with a different view and an enhanced
understanding of their ports of call,” commented Delaney.
Destination authenticity on small ships
Why sail Windstar to the Caribbean & Latin America?
The award-winning small ship cruise line will have four of its six ships sailing in the regions, accessing
tiny harbours like Man-O-War Bay in Tobago, with many itineraries offering late-night and overnight port
calls that allow guests the time to engage in local cultures in a more immersive way. Guests will
appreciate the additional time to wander local markets, sample the many great restaurants and meet
the locals.
All Windstar tropical cruises offer a memorable and indulgent day of beach play and fabulous island
cuisine during a once-a-cruise Signature Beach Barbecue that is only equalled by an extravagant
Signature Onboard Barbecue, featuring an amazing array of food including what may be the largest paella
pan at sea, followed by an enthusiastic deck dance party led by the multi-talented Windstar crew.
All Windstar ships offer complimentary water sports and trained Sports Coordinators to help guests
enjoy water activities, featuring stand-up paddleboards, small sail boats, gigantic floating sun mats,
water trampolines, inflatable tows and waterskiing. The balance of active adventure, culture and
culinary exploration can’t be beaten.
Windstar visits destinations where small-group shore excursions let guests discover a virgin path far
from the crowds, where secluded beaches, aquatic life, adventure, romance and water play is just
around the corner. Variety, depth, and detail are the primary focus that Windstar’s Product
Development travel experts seek when curating and testing each tour. Nothing is offered to guests that
the team hasn’t approved of and personally experienced, with an eye on appealing to a variety of tastes
and activity levels.
New shore excursion standouts for the coming seasons include a private chocolate making tour in
St. Lucia, where guests actually make their own dark chocolate bar made from cocoa nibs broken down
from local, dried trinitario beans. Also on St. Lucia, guests receive expert instruction in a painting class
led by a local artist, taking home their creation as a unique memento of the island. Another new favourite
is power cruising to Mustique, a 14-acre island off Bequia that boasts a coral reef, coves and dazzling
beaches frequented by the rich and famous, with lunch enjoyed at a chic island restaurant.
New Grand Caribbean Adventure Headlines Star Collectors:
Small Ships, Big Adventures Popular Star Collector cruises provide opportunities for travellers to create epic itineraries that are new-era voyages of discovery in 2019/20, starting with the 56-day Grand Caribbean Adventure. Star Collector sailings offer longer voyages that may also be booked in shorter segments to suit cruise guest schedules. Star Collector Voyages combine thoughtful itinerary planning with few (if any) repeat ports,
handcrafted excursions, additional savings and added value with complimentary daily laundry service.
Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure (56 days, 38 ports, 27 countries) – 4 January, 2020.
All the colour, colonial charm, history and on-water and underwater exploration travellers could ever want
are packed into this ultimate Caribbean itinerary. The 56-day Grand Caribbean Adventure includes 38
ports in 27 countries as Wind Surf makes its way from Philipsburg, St. Maarten through the Greater and
Lesser Antilles visiting dozens of diverse island ports en route to Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Belize,
Mexico and back.
A highlight for cruise and sailing enthusiasts will be the chance to pass through the century-old Gatun Locks on the way to a day of sailing Gatun Lake, with a visit to the Gatun Lake Yacht Club before returning to the Caribbean for more adventure. The ship will be first raised and later lowered approximately 26 metres as it passes through the triple flight of the mighty Gatun Locks, made up of three chambers that connect the Atlantic to large Gatun Lake, south of Colón. Wind Surf will sail 33 kilometres of open water across the Isthmus of Panama.
Rates start at US$11,924 per person (based on double occupancy) and include complimentary daily laundry.
Star Collector: 3 Americas (39 days, 29 ports, 8 countries)
The 39-day 3 Americas expedition aboard Star Legend takes the full measure of the Americas from
Vancouver down the Pacific Coast of the U.S. and Mexico and through the Panama Canal, concluding
in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A portion of the cruise is a James Beard Foundation culinary-themed cruise,
exploring delicious cuisine, wine and beer delights all down the coast of the Western United States. The
cruise departs on 24 September 2019.
Rates start at US$9,999 per person (based on double occupancy).
New: 2 Cruises – Sail the Pacific Coast, Mexico & The Sea of Cortez (7 days).
Cruise aboard Star Legend from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta. The magical Sea of Cortez is packed
with sea life and surrounded by laid-back village culture that charmed John Steinbeck and Jacques
Cousteau. It is seven days of seafaring, snorkelling (with sea lions) and fishing that are unforgettable.
Southern Mexico: Fish Tales & Mayan Trails (8 days)
Rates for the two new itineraries visiting Mexico’s Pacific Coast start at US$2,499 per person, double occupancy.
Caribbean and Latin America – 7 new itineraries join popular favourites
Windstar’s Caribbean season in 2019/20 will return to islands including St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, the
British Virgin Islands, Dominica and St. Bart’s with classic itineraries like Classic Caribbean and
Yachtsman’s Caribbean, but the new cruises below reflect additional offerings for the company. Rates
for the cruises below start at US$1,799 per person, double occupancy and vary by sail date and destination.
- The Spanish Main: Rise of the New World (7 days)
This voyage from Colón, Panama to San Juan, Puerto Rico is perfect for the history buff – whether
ancient, colonial or pirate – who loves to snorkel, paddle and hike. Star Legend takes guests to the San
Blas Archipelago, accessible only by small ship, and Cartagena, a UNESCO site, jewel of the Spanish
Main and re-emergent must-see of South America. - In the Wake of the Spanish Armadas (9 days)
Wind Surf makes its way from Oranjestad, Aruba to Colón, Panama; the cruise route traces the history
of Spanish exploration in the region. It will mark the first time Wind Surf has entered the famous
Panama Canal and will be the closest this gorgeous ship has ever come to the Pacific Ocean. On this
journey, guests can explore the fortresses of Aruba and Cartagena, the engineering triumph of the
Panama Canal and the lush rainforest canopies of the region. - Mayan Legacies (8 days)
Travellers are not done with this region until they have explored the uncommon Caribbean along the
Gulf of Honduras, from Colón to Cozumel aboard Wind Surf. This is a fantastic voyage for nature
adventurers studded with chalk-white beaches, underground waterfalls, up-close encounters with
howler monkeys and sea turtles, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and Isla San Andres, part of a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve accessible only to small ships, and capped with some of the most
breathtaking sites of Mayan history. - Lush & Lovely Islands of the Lesser Antilles (7 days)
Sail from chic St. Maarten to relaxed Barbados enjoying a mix of must-see Caribbean towns and
harbours off the beaten path as the ship sails the royal beauties of the Lesser Antilles Islands. Explore
colonial history in pastel waterfronts, weathered forts and former sugar plantations. See the Caribbean
at its most wild and beautiful on Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Join the jet-setters on St. Barts, and
make a rare visit to Montserrat, the “Pompeii of the Caribbean.” - Stars of the Greater Antilles (11 days)
This cruise from Cozumel to St. Maarten aboard Wind Surf will take guests to magical places that fell
off the map and tiny gems that were never on it in the first place. This itinerary explores beyond the
crowds and beneath the sea including diving on pirate shipwrecks. - Windward Ways & Tobago Cays (7 days)
This Wind Surf transit from Barbados to Aruba is the perfect adventure for those who put water sports
and diving at the top of their Caribbean vacation to-do list. With stops at multiple marine parks including
Tobago Cays Marine Park and Bonaire National Marine Park and plenty of beach time, the action is on
the ocean. Visits to four colonial towns will indulge guests in a taste of yesteryear. - Dutch Treats Steel Drum Beats (11 days)
Wind Star island-hops the colonial confections of the Dutch Caribbean from St. Maarten through
Willemstad and on to Colón. St. Bart’s pink-sand beaches and Bonaire’s blue tangs keep excursions
colorful for guests immersing themselves in the parks, sites and culture of this itinerary.
Visit www.windstarcruises.com.