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Windstar Cruises has announced 2019 and 2020 Caribbean and Latin America sailings will include new visits to ports in Mexico, Honduras, Grand Cayman, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Travellers seeking active adventure may choose from an impressive 152 departure dates ranging from seven to 56 days. All departures focus on less-visited tropical ports and unusual holiday experiences on board including the line’s signature Open Bridge and Watersports Platform, exciting wet landings by Zodiac and hand-crafted excursions.

A first for Windstar in 2020, the boutique line debuts a new Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure aboard Wind Surf, the world’s largest sailing ship. The nearly two-month cruise is a new option for travellers ready for an encyclopedic exploration of the Caribbean’s Greater and Lesser Antilles and Latin America.

The wide-ranging itinerary features a first-time visit to the Panama Canal for Wind Surf where the ship will bring guests on a remarkable journey through the three-tiered Gatun Locks, the historic Atlantic connector locks, followed by scenic cruising on Gatun Lake, then back to the Caribbean through the Gatun Locks that afternoon. Perfect for destination collectors, the journey offers incredible seafaring depth calling on 38 ports and 27 countries in 56 days.

“At Windstar we are on a mission to deliver the most authentic destination experiences in small ship cruising and this Grand Caribbean sailing is a perfect example of how we do things 180 degrees from ordinary,” said Windstar President John Delaney.

“No other cruise line has ever offered such an expansive sailing in this part of the world, visiting 38 ports and 27 countries. And the fact that we offer this on the world’s largest sailing ship with our open bridge policy, complimentary water sports marina and Signature Beach Barbecues will ensure our guests experience the very best of these beautiful warm water destinations.”

Windstar’s Caribbean and Latin America cruises provide thoughtful travellers, who appreciate the region’s stunning beauty, a welcome alternative. The collection of Sea of Cortez, Coastal, Canal, and Caribbean Sea voyages emphasises hidden harbours on smaller islands and inland coves like picture-perfect Bequia and Mayreau in the Grenadines, and lush Bahia Herradura, Costa Rica.

“The beaches, wildlife and rainforests are a sure draw, but the way we plan and approach itineraries is what sets Windstar apart – we discover the most authentic cultural experiences a destination has to offer so that adventurous, imaginative travellers can come away with a different view and an enhanced understanding of their ports of call,” said Mr Delaney.

Destination Authenticity on Small Ships: Why Sail Windstar to the Caribbean & Latin America

Windstar will have four of its six ships sailing in the regions accessing tiny harbours, like Man-O-War Bay in Tobago, with many itineraries offering late-night and overnight port calls that allow guests the time to engage in local cultures in a more immersive way. Guests will appreciate the additional time to wander local markets, sample the many great restaurants and meet the locals.

All Windstar tropical cruises offer a memorable and indulgent day of beach play and fabulous island cuisine during a once-a-cruise Signature Beach Barbecue that is only equalled by an extravagant Signature Onboard Barbecue featuring amazing food including arguably the largest paella pan at sea followed by an enthusiastic deck dance party led by the multi-talented Windstar crew.

All Windstar ships offer complimentary watersports and trained Sports Coordinators to help guests enjoy water activities, featuring stand-up paddle boards, small sail boats, gigantic floating sun mats, water trampolines, inflatable tows and waterskiing.

Windstar visits destinations where small group shore excursions let guests discover a virgin path far from the crowds; where secluded beaches, aquatic life, adventure, romance and water play is just around the corner. Variety, depth and detail are the primary focus that Windstar’s Product Development travel experts seek when curating and testing each tour. Nothing is offered to guests that the team has not approved and personally experienced with an eye to appealing to variety of tastes and activity levels.

New shore excursion standouts for the coming seasons include a private chocolate-making tour in St. Lucia where guests make their own dark chocolate bar made from cocoa nibs broken down from local, dried trinitario beans. Also on St. Lucia, guests receive expert instruction in a painting class led by a local artist, taking home their creation as a unique memory of the island. Another new favourite is power cruising to Mustique, a 5 ½ hectare island off Bequia that boasts a coral reef, coves and dazzling beaches frequented by the rich and famous with lunch enjoyed at a chic island restaurant.

Long-standing favourite tours let travellers go cave tubing in Belize, windsurfing off Bonaire, snorkelling with friendly sea turtles and rays in waters as clear as glass, climbing the battlements of colonial forts and scaling the arrowhead peak of famous Gros Piton in St. Lucia.

Cuisine Meets Culture in the Caribbean: JBF Culinary Cruise Collection

Water shapes the region’s food and beverage heritage, and Windstar’s culinary program and affiliation as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation (JBF) is especially valuable as guests find their way through the cultures that blend Mayan, European and Afro-Caribbean influences. Upcoming JBF Culinary Collection Sailings offer multiple food and beverage fusions, taking place in the region – on 5 December 2018 round trip from San Juan; 5 January 2019 from San Juan to Bridgetown; and 16 February 2019 from Puerto Caldera to Colón.

The 2020 sailings will be announced at a later date.

New Grand Caribbean Adventure Headlines Star Collectors: Small Ships, Big Adventures

Popular Star Collector cruises provide opportunities for travellers to create epic itineraries that are new era voyages of discovery in 2019/20 starting with the 56-day Grand Caribbean Adventure. Star Collector sailings offer longer voyages that may also be booked in shorter segments to suit cruise guest schedules. Star Collector Voyages combine thoughtful itinerary planning with few (if any) repeat ports, hand-crafted excursions, additional savings and added value with complimentary daily laundry service.

Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure (56 days, 38 ports, 27 countries)

All the colour, colonial charm, history and on-water and underwater exploration travellers could ever want are packed into this ultimate Caribbean itinerary. The 56-day Grand Caribbean Adventure includes 38 ports in 27 countries as Wind Surf makes its way from Philipsburg, St. Maarten through the Greater and Lesser Antilles visiting dozens of diverse island ports en route to Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, and back.

A true highlight for cruise and sailing enthusiasts will be the chance to pass through the century-old Gatun Locks on the way to a day of sailing Gatun Lake with a visit to the Gatun Lake Yacht Club before returning to the Caribbean for more adventure. The ship will be first raised and later lowered approximately 26 metres as it passes through the triple flight of the mighty Gatun Locks made up of three chambers that connect the Atlantic to large Gatun Lake, south of Colón. Wind Surf will sail 33 kilometres of open water across the Isthmus of Panama.

Wind Surf, the world’s largest sailing ship with 6400 metres of sparkling sail cloth, hosts just 310 guests. The Grand Caribbean voyage departs from Philipsburg, St. Maarten on 4 January 2020 and completes the expansive circumnavigation of the Caribbean Sea on 29 February. Rates start at $13,028 per person twin share and include complimentary daily laundry.

Star Collector: 3 Americas (39 days, 29 ports, 8 countries)

The 39-day 3 Americas expedition aboard Star Legend takes the full measure of the Americas from Vancouver down the Pacific Coast of the US and Mexico and through the Panama Canal, concluding in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A portion of the cruise is a James Beard Foundation culinary themed cruise, exploring delicious cuisine, wine and beer delights all down the coast of the Western United States. The cruise departs 24 September 2019, with rates starting at $11,229 per person twin share.

New! 2 Cruises Sail the Pacific Coast, Mexico & the Sea of Cortez on the All-suite Star Legend

Fishing for the Sea of Cortez (7 days)

Cruise aboard Star Legend from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta. The magical Sea of Cortez is packed with sea life and surrounded by laid-back village culture that charmed John Steinbeck and Jacques Cousteau. It is seven days of seafaring, snorkelling (with sea lions) and fishing that are unforgettable.

Southern Mexico: Fish Tales & Mayan Trails (8 days)

Star Legend carries travellers from Puerto Vallarta to Puerto Caldera on a journey that explores Mayan ruins, volcanic summits and UNESCO-designated cultural and snorkelling sites. This trip pairs the adventure of trekking and snorkelling with a glimpse into an important site in the origin of civilisations. Cruise rates for the two new itineraries visiting Mexico’s Pacific Coast start at $3,784 per person twin share.

Caribbean and Latin America – 7 New Itineraries Join Popular Cruises

Windstar’s Caribbean season in 2019/20 will return to islands including St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica and St. Bart’s with classic itineraries like Classic Caribbean and Yachtsman’s Caribbean, but the new cruises below reflect additional offerings for the company. Rates for the cruises below start at $3,099 per person twin share and vary by sail date and destination.

The Spanish Main: Rise of the New World (7 days)

This voyage from Colón, Panama to San Juan, Puerto Rico is perfect for the history buff – whether ancient, colonial or pirate – who loves to snorkel, paddle and hike. Star Legend takes guests to the San Blas Archipelago, accessible only by small ship, and Cartagena, a UNESCO site, jewel of the Spanish Main and re-emergent must-see of South America.

In the Wake of the Spanish Armadas (9 days)

Wind Surf makes its way from Oranjestad, Aruba to Colón, Panama, the cruise route tracing the history of Spanish exploration in the region. It will mark the first time Wind Surf has entered the famous Panama Canal and will be the closest this ship has ever come to the Pacific Ocean. On this journey, guests can explore the fortresses of Aruba and Cartagena, the engineering triumph of the Panama Canal and the lush rainforest canopies of the region.

Mayan Legacies (8 days)

Travellers are not done with this region until they have explored the uncommon Caribbean along the Gulf of Honduras, from Colón to Cozumel aboard Wind Surf. This is a fantastic voyage for nature adventurers studded with chalk-white beaches, underground waterfalls, up-close encounters with howler monkeys and sea turtles, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and Isla San Andres, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve accessible only to small ships and capped with some of the most breathtaking sites of Mayan history.

Lush& Lovely Islands of the Lesser Antilles (7 days)

Sail from chic St. Maarten to relaxed Barbados enjoying a mix of must-see Caribbean towns and harbours off the beaten path as the ship sails the royal beauties of the Lesser Antilles islands. Explore colonial history in pastel waterfronts, weathered forts and former sugar plantations. See the Caribbean at its most wild and beautiful on Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Join the jetsetters on St. Barts and make a rare visit to Montserrat, the “Pompeii of the Caribbean”,

Stars of the Greater Antilles (11 days)

This cruise from Cozumel to St. Maarten aboard Wind Surf will take guests to magical places that fell off the map and tiny gems that were never on it in the first place. This itinerary explores beyond the crowds and beneath the sea including diving on pirate shipwrecks.

Windward Ways & Tobago Cays (7 days)

This Wind Surf transit from Barbados to Aruba is the perfect adventure for those who put watersports and diving at the top of their Caribbean vacation to-do list. With stops at multiple marine parks including Tobago Cays Marine Park and Bonaire National Marine Park and plenty of beach time, the action is on the ocean. Visits to four colonial towns will indulge guests in a taste of yesteryear.

Dutch Treats Steel Drum Beats (11 days)

Wind Star island-hops the colonial confections of the Dutch Caribbean from St. Maarten through Willemstad and on to Colón. St. Bart’s pink-sand beaches and Bonaire’s blue tangs keep excursions colourful for guests immersing themselves in the parks, sites, and culture of this itinerary.