The second Windstar Cruises’ ship to undergo an end-to-end transformation has been delivered back to the cruise line by the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy.

Windstar Cruises has added two new tools to make it easier for travel advisors to share the line’s videos, news, and special offers. Travels advisors can sign up for both programs free via Windstar’s Advisor Hub.

Windstar Cruises will make a second attempt at a local deployment in Australia and New Zealand in 2022/23 after abandoning its 2020/21 program due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Windstar Cruises has taken back possession of Star Breeze following a near 12-month-long extension and modernisation of the vessel by shipbuilder Fincantieri. Star Breeze is one of three ‘Star Class’ ships operated by Windstar to undergo the enhancement as part of the $250-million Star Plus overhaul.

Windstar Cruises has appointed Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Prelog, as the company’s President, filling the void left vacant by John Delaney who stood down earlier this year after nearly four years in the role.

Bookings have opened for Windstar Cruises’ 2022 voyages around the globe, which includes whistle-stop visits to Australia.

Windstar Cruises’ President of nearly four years, John Delaney, is stepping down from his position “to focus on personal priorities,” the luxury cruise company has confirmed.

Work on the first of three Windstar Cruises’ Star Class ships to have a 25.6-metre insertion added is underway in Palermo, Italy. Star Breeze had the final cut to its hull last week ahead of its ‘stretching’ exercise which will see it  transformed into a larger and more versatile ship with additional deck space and new restaurants.

Windstar Cruises has announced its 2021 Alaska season will feature nine different journeys from June through September on four itineraries, including a new seven-day option from Vancouver to Juneau and the reverse. The program will feature coastal wilderness cruising along the Canadian Inside Passage, as well as time in Alaska’s Misty Fjords, Tracy or Endicott Arms, with stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway (a first-time port for Windstar), and Juneau.

Windstar Cruises continues to expand its shore excursion program, more than doubling its options for guests to upwards of 2,500 choices in the past three years. The increase is a direct result of the line’s expanded global deployment to new regions like Alaska, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and the Holy Land.

Shipbuilder Fincantieri has cut the first section of steel for Windstar Cruises’ second star-class ship extension as part of the small ship cruise line’s US$250 million Star Plus initiative.

Windstar Cruises has announced a new culinary partnership with grill expert Steven Raichlen. The arrangement will see Windstar introduce a casual outdoor restaurant called Star Grill by Steven Raichlen, offering a modern, casual, alfresco eatery dishing up grilled, smoked and rotisserie specialties including seafood, meats and vegetables.