The company’s purchase of three Seabourn ships could see itineraries spreading as far as Asia, Australia and New Zealand. TWO of the world’s most luxurious lines have unveiled significant transformations in the style and size of their fleets. Windstar Cruises, under the project name Global Windstar, has overnight claimed the...
The company’s purchase of
three Seabourn ships could see
itineraries spreading as far as
Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
TWO of the world’s most luxurious lines have
unveiled significant transformations in the
style and size of their fleets.
Windstar Cruises, under the project name
Global Windstar, has overnight claimed the
title of “market leader in small-ship cruising
with 300 or fewer passengers” after snapping
up half of rival Seabourn’s six-ship fleet.
The acquisition doubles Windstar’s
operation, which had previously consisted of
three masted sailing yachts.
Meanwhile, Seabourn has shed its smallest
ships, whose maximum 208-pax capacity used
to be one of its signature attractions.
Seabourn instead is holding onto its 450-pax
Quest, Sojourn and Odyssey and ordering a
fourth vessel of a similar size.
This addition would give Seabourn the
newest fleet in the industry.
Windstar’s acquisition of Seabourn Pride,
Legend and Spirit will open up access to Asia
and South America, the company said, in
addition to the 50 countries already on its
program.
Last month, the line announced a return to
Tahiti next year.
So, will any of the Seabourn trio, which are
past visitors to the seas down under, sail
further into the South Pacific?
Hans Birkholz, Windstar’s CEO, told CW:
“We’ve had our eye on the Australia and
New Zealand region as a Windstar cruise
destination and are seriously considering it for
future deployment.”
An email also confirmed that Windstar had
no intention of retiring or selling its other
vessels, the recently renovated Wind Star,
Wind Surf and Wind Spirit.
“We will be keeping all of the sailing yachts,”
a company spokesperson said.
The delivery of the three 104 all-suite ships
will take place over the next two years in the
Mediterranean, with Seabourn Pride the first
to enter into Windstar’s luxury fleet in April
2014.
The ship will be renamed and set sail a
month later, with bookings expected to open
in May this year.
Windstar Cruises will then take possession of
Legend in April 2015 and Spirit in May 2015.
No current published Seabourn voyages will
be affected by the sale.
The three-ship deal, signed on 15 Feb, was
one of several recent purchases by Windstar’s
owner, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, including
adventure travel company VBT and The Grand
Hotel in Arizona.
“Windstar Cruises has experienced four
straight years of revenue growth,” said
Xanterra’s CEO Andy Todd.
“Global Windstar enables us to extend our
unique small-ship experience throughout the
world.”
