.jpg)
Seattle, November 2014 – Windstar Cruises is thrilled to announce plans to sail year-round in the South Pacific, allowing guests to explore the Society and Tuamotu Islands of Tahiti. Continuous voyages begin May 26, 2015 aboard the beautifully renovated, 148-passenger Wind Spirit sailing yacht.
Itineraries will include the seven day “Dreams of Tahiti” voyage, which was launched in May of 2014 after Windstar’s 10 year hiatus from the region, as well as a new extended 10 or 11-day journey including stops in the Tuamotu Islands. The Tuamotus are widely known as a diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise.
“When we returned to Tahiti this year, we knew it would be a popular choice for our guests,” says Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises’ chief executive officer. “Now with the addition of our Star Breeze and Star Legend power yachts, which debut in May of 2015, we’re able to extend our sailings in Tahiti year-round to accommodate the demand from our customers. We can’t wait to sail throughout the year in paradise.”
In addition to the new itinerary, Windstar also is expanding its shore excursion offerings to include bespoke adventures such as private snorkeling at a Tahitian black pearl farm in Raiatea. Guests can find and keep their own pearls while learning about the art of pearl production, followed by a champagne sunset cruise along the coral reef where blacktip sharks are known to make an appearance.
The “Dreams of Tahiti” voyage begins in Papeete aboard the Wind Sprit and sails to Moorea, Tahaa, Raiatea, Huahine, and Bora Bora.
The “Tahiti and the Tuamotu Islands” itinerary offers a 10 or 11 day voyage, which will occur four times in 2015 and seven in 2016, includes the above itinerary plus stops in Takapoto and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, as well as two days at sea on the South Pacific. The 11-day voyage features a visit in Fakarava, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for the preservation of rare species.
With six sails, the French-built Wind Spirit sailing yacht is ideal for cruising in the French Polynesian islands under the power of warm breezes and billowing sails. Just before setting sail in Tahiti in May of 2015, the yacht’s 73 staterooms will undergo a renovation. The new staterooms will include a transformed seating area for relaxing on a sofa, as well as new, chic dressers and a more open layout. The upgrades quickly follow up Windstar’s $18 million fleet-wide renovation project from 2012, which enhanced staterooms and corridors.
Guests can enjoy the aqua blue water of the South Pacific at the back of the Wind Spirit on the unique Water Sports Platform, which offers stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, water skiing, wind surfing, and more. Windstar’s signature dive program offers guests an excellent way to discover the sport, and for certified divers, Windstar’s one- and two-tank dives offer the best in deep-sea sightseeing. Upon boarding the yacht, each guest receives complimentary snorkel equipment for their personal use throughout the journey.
A true highlight of the journey includes Windstar’s new complimentary Private Event in Bora Bora, where guests are transported by catamaran to a private island (or motu) for a traditional Tahitian dinner cooked largely in an ahima’a – a Tahitian earth oven. Prepared by locals and Windstar chefs, traditional dishes like Poisson Cru (Tahitian ceviche); Uru (breadfruit); Fe’i (bananas); Fafa (local water spinach); Cochon (roasted pig), and Po’e (fruit pudding) give guests a better insight into life on the islands. The meal is followed by traditional dancing and a fire show. Beginning in 2015, each Windstar voyage around the globe includes a complimentary Private Event, which offers unique insight into the region.
