Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises is a cruise ship line notable for its modern computer-controlled sailing ships.

History Prior to 1988

The line was established as Windstar Sail Cruises in 1984, and its first ship, the msy Wind Star, launched in 1986, followed by the Wind Song and Wind Spirit. Two additional ships were ordered from the French "Ateliers et chantiers du Havre" shipyard: the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga. These two ships were to be larger than the originals, holding over twice the amount of passengers and reaching a length of 660 ft compared to the smaller vessels of 440 ft in length.

Purchase by Holland America Line

Holland America Line purchased 50% of Windstar Sail Cruises in 1987 and purchased the balance of the company in 1988. HAL became a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc in 1989. The option to continue building the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga was passed up by HAL. With assistance from the French Government the two larger ships were built for Club Med as Club Med I and Club Med II, with HAL / Carnival retaining rights of first refusal for purchase.

msy Wind Surf

In 1998, Windstar acquired the sail cruiser Club Med I from Club Med Cruises, and rechristened her to her original name Wind Surf.

In 2002, the Wind Song was damaged by an engine room fire in Tahiti causing great damage to the vessel. Subsequently classed as a total loss, with permission of the Tahitian Government the ship was cleaned and later scuttled in Tahitian waters between Moorea and Tahiti in approximately 3,000 meters of water.

In the summer months the Windstar fleet sails the Mediterranean shores and in the Winter months the company sails the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Windstar is considered a high-end cruise line, with its ships typically getting a four-star (out of five) rating. The ships are relatively small, with the Wind Surf having a capacity for about 300 passengers, and the others about 150.

The ships are registered in the Bahamas. Under this flag they are some of the few cruise ships in the world where passengers are still allowed on the bridge (though not when entering or leaving port). Given their small size the service is very personal, and interaction with the ship's officers is easy. With a shallow draft of only 14' the ships can enter ports that are inaccessible to larger cruise liners. In some cases passengers need to take smaller boats into port (such as to Lipari) when the ship is at anchor, but access on and off a shipboard ramp is easily made.

Sale of Windstar to Ambassadors International

In March 2007, Carnival sold Windstar to Ambassadors International for $100 million.

On April 1 2011, Windstar's parent company Ambassadors International filled for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Windstar was planned to be sold to a company in White Plains, New York known as Whippoorwill Associates, Inc. But through a Bankruptcy court in Delaware, a two day bid was held and Anschutz Corporation won Windstar Cruises which had the best bid of $39 Million. They in turn sold the company, and Xanterra Parks and Resorts are now the parent company.

Recent History

It was announced on February 19, 2013 that Windstar completed the purchase of Seabourn Cruise Line's Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Spirit. The Seabourn Pride will enter service in May 2014, sisters Seabourn Legend & Seabourn Spirit will enter service in May 2015 following a dry dock period.

Fleet

Name	Built	Builder	Entered service for Windstar	Gross Tonnage	Flag	Notes
msy Wind Star	1986	?	1986 - Present	5,350 tons	Bahamas
msy Wind Spirit	1988	?	1988 - Present	5,350 tons	Bahamas
msy Wind Surf	1989	?	1998 - Present	14,745 tons	Bahamas	Previously Club Med I.

Former Fleet

Name	Built	Builder	Entered service for Windstar	Gross Tonnage	Flag	Notes
msy Wind Song	1987	?	1987 - 2002	5,350 tons	Bahamas	Ship was lost following an engine room fire in 2002.

Future Fleet

Currently	Built	Builder	Entering service for Windstar	Gross Tonnage	Planned Flag	Notes
Seabourn Pride	1988	Schichau Seebeckwerft	May 2014	10,000 tons	Bahamas	Departing Seabourn fleet in April 2014.
Seabourn Spirit	1988	Schichau Seebeckwerft	May 2015	10,000 tons	Bahamas	Departing Seabourn fleet in May 2015
Seabourn Legend	1990	Schichau Seebeckwerft	May 2015	10,000 tons	Bahamas	Departing Seabourn fleet in April 2015

See also

• List of large sailing vessels

External links

• Official website