Travel Advisory
September 23, 2021
We are back! Four out of six yachts are back on the water and cruising in scenic places around the world. We are continually monitoring COVID-related travel policies and are following our successful Beyond Ordinary Care plan to keep guests aboard and people in the communities we visit healthy. Adjustments are made when necessary and our small yachts have the advantage of being flexible and visiting smaller ports not available to the larger ships.
Wind Star was the first yacht to sail on June 19 in the Greek Isles. Star Breeze sailed an inaugural cruise around St. Maarten in the Caribbean on June 19 before beginning its published schedule of Caribbean cruises on June 27. Wind Spirit returned to cruising in Tahiti on July 15. The yacht is on pause until Sept 6 due to new travel restrictions instituted by the government to help curb a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases. Wind Surf began sailing in the Mediterranean on August 8.
The next two all-suite Star Plus Class yachts to emerge from their transformation and set sail are Star Legend on September 27 in the Mediterranean and Star Pride in April 2022 in the Mediterranean.
New COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
Windstar Cruises will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all guests sailing aboard Windstar’s yachts. At the cruise terminal prior to embarkation, guests will be required to provide proof of a current completed vaccine course (one or two shots, depending on the brand) finished at least 14 days prior to the guest’s embarkation date.
If you are unable to meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, we will gladly provide you a refund for cancellations that occur greater than 60 days prior to sailing, and a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) will be issued for cancellations occurring within 60 days before sailing for 2021 cruises. Please contact your travel advisor or Windstar guest services to request a refund. Windstar will process the refund to the original form(s) of payment at 100% of the amount paid to Windstar Cruises. Please note Windstar does not reimburse third party (non-Windstar) travel expenses or fees.
In our preparations to return to sailing, we continue to review and update our health and safety practices including enhanced sanitation protocols, health screenings, additional medical staff on board, flexible indoor and outdoor dining, and crew training. Our new Beyond Ordinary Care program is a multi-layered strategy with key hospital-grade elements: HEPA filters and UV-C ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to filter and disinfect circulated air, plus electrostatic sprayers to sanitize all surfaces throughout our yachts. Learn more about these measures here.
Travel Assurance Booking Policy
Windstar believes vacations enrich people’s lives. The new Travel Assurance Booking Policy is an extra effort to ensure travelers feel comfortable booking a well-deserved cruise vacation now without fearing loss should they need to cancel.
EFFECTIVE AS OF August 5, 2021:
Travelers with a cruise departing on or before March 31, 2022 may cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of the cancellation fees collected excluding fees collected for air, transportation, and hotels. All Future Cruise Credits must be used within 24 months of issuance on another Windstar departure.
Windstar Cruises is part of the Xanterra Travel Collection, a group of global hospitality and travel companies, one of which traces its history back over a hundred years of operating our country’s iconic national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, Death Valley, and many others. Xanterra Travel Collection is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, the ultimate owner of the Broadmoor, Sea Island, and entertainment giant AEG, Anschutz Entertainment Group.