Seattle, February 11, 2016 – Yesterday, Cruise Critic released its 2016 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, withWindstar Cruises winning the top honor for Best Service for Star Breeze. Star Breeze debuted in May 2015, and is one of Windstar’s newest yachts. Windstar was also honored with the top award for Best for Embarkation in the small ship category for Wind Surf.
“At Windstar, we are committed to excellent service,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises’ chief executive officer. “One of our primary goals is to exceed service standards across the industry, and really give guests the feeling of being among family. We handpick our staff on each ship, focusing on service attitude and personality. It is wonderful to be recognized by Cruise Critic and by our guests for our commitment to service with a smile.”
Windstar truly does look for “service with a smile” when hiring their staff members. Before the debut of Star Breeze and sister yacht Star Legend in May 2015, Alan McGrory, the vice president of operations at Windstar Cruises, spent three weeks on a world hiring tour (with a focus on the Philippines) handpicking the crews for Windstar’s two newest yachts. Over the course of the trip, McGrory interviewed over 600 people, hiring only those who came in with a genuine smile on their face.
Cruise Critic also honored Windstar Cruises with several top five honors: Best for Value (Wind Surf), Best for Cabins (Star Pride), Best for Dining (Star Pride), and Best for Fitness & Recreation (Wind Surf). The Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards are based on the compilation of consumer reviews for cruises that sailed in 2015 and are announced annually on CruiseCritic.com.
About Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships known for its intimate yacht style experience and unique voyages to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors. Its three recently renovated sailing yachts carry just 148 to 310 guests and cruise to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America. In May 2014, Star Pride, the first of three newly acquired power yachts, joined the fleet. In May 2015 the company launched Star Breeze and Star Legend. The power yachts, with a capacity of 212 guests each, double the size of Windstar’s fleet, making the company the market leader in small ship cruising with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,242 berths. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, which is known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint.” Xanterra’s entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, as well as resorts, a cruise line, railway and tour companies.
For more information including rates and itineraries, contact a travel professional or call Windstar Cruises at800.258.7245, or visit www.windstarcruises.com.
