Windstar Cruises’ second of three ships to undergo the latest phase of Degrees of Difference upgrades, the 148-guest motor sailing yacht Wind Spirit, begins a five-week work period on March 17, 2007.

All stateroom bathrooms will be remodeled for a more contemporary look with new fixtures, open glass shelves, new cabinets, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, and a magnifying mirror. Refinished teak floors retain the popular nautical style. In staterooms, full length mirrors and slippers will be added, and cell phone service will be available at sea.

The 308-guest msy Wind Surf sails an eight-day cruise departing December 30 roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados. A get-away-from-it-all itinerary first visits Castries, St. Lucia where the ship will stay until 2:00am to ring in the new year. Continuing on, the ship visits Charlotteville, Tobago; Bequia, The Grenadines; Roseau, Dominica; Kingstown, St. Vincent; and Mayreau, The Grenadines.

The 148-guest Wind Spirit sails a seven-day cruise departing December 30 from St. Thomas. New Year’s Eve day is spent at the lush island of St. John. The ship departs at 6:00pm for a New Year’s Eve celebration at sea with the next day spent at sea for optimal relaxation. Other islands visited include St. Barthélemy, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda.

At the New Year’s Eve party, a champagne toast in the lounge is accompanied by a ship tradition. The ship’s bell is brought from the Bridge to the lounge where the oldest member of the crew rings out the old year, and the youngest rings in the new year. Party hats and noisemakers are festive accompaniments.

Lazing in the sun on a white sand beach, snorkeling among colorful schools of fish, exploring islands and enjoying gourmet dining aboard the ship fill the days. Complimentary water sports activities from the water sports platform include kayaking, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing and ski tubing. Snorkeling gear may be checked out for the week. Scuba diving excursions for novice and experienced divers are available for a fee and organized shore excursions are available in most ports.

As part of the line’s Degrees of Difference initiative, a multi-million dollar investment will be made in all three ships in 2006 and 2007. For the Caribbean season, the Wind Surf will be fresh from a five-week work period in the fall. Work on the Wind Surf will include improvements to the WindSpa, the creation of two new suites, renovated bathrooms, and a new gathering spot on the main deck called the Yacht Club.

Rates for the Wind Surf’s eight-day New Year’s cruise begin at ,549 per person, based on double occupancy. Rates for the Wind Spirit’s seven-day New Year’s cruise begin at ,349 per person, based on double occupancy.  Call us at 888-286-9827 to book this special Windstar voyage.

“Shore excursions are a key component of our guests’ vacation experience,” says Diane Moore, Windstar’s vice president of marketing and sales.  “The ability to pre-book activities ensures first pick of desired excursions in each port and completes the planning process for guests’ cruise vacation.  Anticipation is part of the fun in travel, and now guests have an even more detailed itinerary to look forward to.”

Guests already booked on either the motor sailing yacht Wind Star, msy Wind Spirit or msy Wind Surf may pre-book shore excursions by visiting www.windstarcruises.com and clicking on “Shore Excursions.”  Guests will need to enter their booking number in order to proceed with reserving excursions for their cruise.  After entering a booking number, guests will see excursions only applicable to their sailing itinerary.  Full descriptions and pricing will be shown along with tour duration and symbols denoting general information to help guests select tours of interest to them.

Seattle, WA, April 24 —Guests wishing to book longer cruises on Windstar Cruises’ fleet of upscale motor sailing yachts will find a wider selection of back-to-back options on the 2007 and 2008 deployment calendar.

 “We’ve thoughtfully planned our itineraries to offer not only spectacular seven-day sailings, but also unforgettable 14-day cruises,” says Diane Moore, Windstar’s vice president of marketing and sales.  “Our Connoisseurs’ Collection identifies the ideal seven-day itineraries suited for back-to-back sailings.“

 Itineraries featured as part of the Connoisseurs’ Collection feature different itineraries week to week to facilitate 14-day cruises on the same ship. Guests booking back-to-back receive 5-10% off the total cost of the cruise depending on date and itinerary.  

 Mediterranean Connoisseurs’ Collection

The 308-guest Wind Surf features the largest selection of 14-day cruises in the Mediterranean.  The ship sails seven-day cruises in the Western Med from Lisbon, along the coast of Spain, France and Italy to its easternmost port of Venice.  Possible combinations include the enticing 14-day cruise from Monte Carlo to Rome to Venice or Rome to Barcelona to Lisbon.   Guests wishing to fly in and out of the same city may book a back-to-back cruise returning to the same port such as Rome to Venice to Rome.

 The Wind Surf also explores new ports of call in Spain in 2007.  Valencia is one of the liveliest cities in Spain with beaches in the heart of the city.  In southeast Andalucia, the city of Almeria has a striking Arab fortress, the Alcazaba, built in the 10^th century on a hill overlooking the city.  The lunar landscape around Almeria makes it a popular location for the film industry—Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here.  Palamos, founded in 1277, is located at the foot of the coastal mountains in the heart of Spain's Costa Brava region.  The town still retains its fishing industry roots with the day’s catch auctioned off quayside.  Cartagena is a naval seaport in the southeast of Spain with a walled town center and many archaeological sites to visit. Tarragona, just 60 miles southwest of Barcelona, is known for its Roman ruins, fine wine and lively café scene serving tapas.

 The 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit also offer opportunities for 14-day voyages in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles.  The Wind Spirit sails two different itineraries in the Greek Isles allowing guests to book a two-week cruise roundtrip from Istanbul.  The Wind Star’s spring and fall itineraries in the Mediterranean are ideal for longer cruises with options such as Rome to Athens to Istanbul and Athens to Rome to Barcelona.

 Caribbean Connoisseurs’ Collection

In the Caribbean, the Wind Surf sails alternating northbound and southbound itineraries roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados. Each of the two itineraries are unique and offer an ideal opportunity to sail for 14-days visiting islands in the windward and leeward chain. 

 “The longer voyage is a great way to experience the wide array of different islands in the Caribbean,” says Moore. “An advantage of sailing with Windstar is our ships are able to visit smaller islands that are less developed, such as Bequia and Dominica.  Guests enjoy a wider variety of islands because we sprinkle in these lesser known gems along with the favorites such as St. Bart’s.”

 Windstar’s elegant motor sailing yachts have recently received a multi-million dollar investment in luxury amenities.  New plush euro-top mattresses and luxury linens dress up all staterooms along with shea butter bathroom amenities by L’Occitane and flatscreen televisions and DVD/CD players.  High-tech amenities include wireless Internet, Apple iPod Nanos, and Bose SoundDock speakers especially for playing music from the Nanos or other MP3 players.

 In The Restaurant, new Signature Cuisine menus created by acclaimed Chef Joachim Splichal of L.A.’s Patina Group are served on Rosenthal china.  Reidel stemware graces the tabletop.  The fine dining experience has been elevated with special touches such as an amuse-bouche, or little bite, compliments of the chef; a cheese course featuring fresh, artisan cheeses; and petit-fours served as a final sweet treat at the end of the meal.  Menus in The Restaurant will change each evening over the course of the 14-day cruise.  A longer menu rotation has been created with the increase in back-to-back bookings in mind.

 The Wind Surf’s alternative restaurant, The Bistro, has been redecorated with new furnishings and dinnerware turning it into a steak house four nights a week.  Alternate nights feature cuisine from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia.

 On deck, hammocks built for two offer spectacular views from the top deck of the ships.  Lemon-scented frozen towels and sorbet served in chilled orange halves keep guests cool and comfortable on hot days.  Complimentary water sports from the water sports platform include kayaking, wind surfing, boat rides, sailing, water skiing and ski tubing.  Snorkeling gear may be checked out for the week.  Scuba diving excursions for novice and experienced divers are available for a fee.

 About Windstar Cruises

Seattle-based Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts known for their pampering without pretense and their ability to visit the hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations.  Carrying just 148 to 308 guests, the luxurious ships of Windstar cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. Windstar offers optional trip cancellation protection that provides cash back when you cancel for any reason prior to 24-hours before departure. For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries contact us at 888-286-9827.

Windstar Cruises’ second of three ships to undergo the latest phase of Degrees of Difference upgrades, the 148-guest motor sailing yacht Wind Spirit, begins a five-week work period on March 17, 2007.

All stateroom bathrooms will be remodeled for a more contemporary look with new fixtures, open glass shelves, new cabinets, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, and a magnifying mirror. Refinished teak floors retain the popular nautical style. In staterooms, full length mirrors and slippers will be added, and cell phone service will be available at sea.