Small ship cruise line appoints Kristin Badgett as Vice President of Revenue Management and Itinerary Planning and
Victor Hernandez as Director of Digital Marketing and CRM.
Seattle, WA, October 17, 2017 — “If you wait until retirement to go see the Parthenon, you might not make it up the steps.” Wise words from an anonymous traveler. Windstar Cruises – with small ships visiting 170 ports from Asia to Alaska, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Europe – is applauding a growing trend among its guests: celebrating milestone moments as they define them. We’re talking taking that cruise to Alaska because you crave one more child-free adventure with your friends before baby is born, or you just got divorced and want to enjoy your new happiness with those BFFs who truly support you. People are living more and more in the moment with their friends and family, celebrating these decisions and markers that go far beyond the typical and expected times to commemorate life milestones.
“We have been seeing this trend and decided to do something to support it,” said Steven Kona Simao, vice president of sales for Windstar. “Why just have corporate incentives for groups? Why not let people define their own friends and family group and reward it?”
So they did. So many people are traveling in groups that Windstar, on select dates, will give a free cruise to the eighth cruiser for every seven people booked.
“That’s a major value,” said Simao. “Some people keep the free cruise for themselves, while others divvy up the savings with the rest of the group.”
On higher-demand cruises, it’s one free cruise for every nine people that are booked.
In addition, groups also get a discount off of standard guest fares, as well as a $100 per person shipboard credit to use on things like massages, shore excursions, or a bottle of bubbly.
On certain dates (dubbed Star Advantage dates), travel agents earn a $100 bonus commission for each individual guest booked after the first free cruise is awarded.
However guests choose to celebrate or share the savings, Windstar is also able to help elevate the festivities with a variety of intimate celebration options on board their vessels, which carry no more than 310 guests on itineraries around the globe. From vow renewals performed by the captain with a personalized cake baked by the culinary crew (gluten-free if need be), to private cocktail parties in one of the larger public spaces on board or a guest suite, there are plenty of ways to make moments special together. Windstar may also arrange for memorable shore excursions and other activities exclusively for the group. And of course, there’s also the option of gathering a group to join one of Windstar’s incredible themed cruises, or a delicious foodie-focused sailing on Windstar’s James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise Collection.
This is the beauty of small ship cruising with Windstar: flexibility and completely tailor-made revelries, no matter what milestone you’re celebrating or just because.
For additional information on private yacht-style cruising and organizing a group with Windstar, contact Windstar Cruises at 877-958-7718, visit www.windstarcruises.com or register at Windstar’s Travel Agent Hub.
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Editor’s note: Imagery available for download here: https://windstarcruises.webdamdb.com/bp/#/assets
About Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting 170 ports throughout Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, sailing year-round in Tahiti and the South Pacific, and adding newly announced Alaska, Canada, New England, Asia and Arabia. The boutique cruise line is the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation and the small ships are known for offering an intimate private yacht-style experience, unique itineraries and exclusive access to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors. Windstar’s fleet is the market leader in boutique small ship cruising with a total of 1,242 passenger berths. All ships in the fleet have recently undergone multi-million dollar transformations to embody casually elegant small ship travel. The all-suite Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride serve 212 guests in all-suite accommodations; while sailing ships Wind Spirit and Wind Star sail with up to 148 guests, and Wind Surf serves 310 guests. The small ships cruise to hundreds of quaint and popular ports worldwide. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, known for “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint.” Xanterra’s entities also include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, as well as resorts, railway and tour companies. More information: www.windstarcruises.com..
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Contacts:
Mary Schimmelman, Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Mary.Schimmelman@windstarcruises.com, 206-733-2970
Sally Spaulding, Percepture
sspaulding@percepture.com, 970-986-9063