Windstar Cruises
Encyclopedia
Windstar Cruises is a cruise ship
line notable for its modern computer-controlled sailing ship
s.
The line was established as Windstar Sail Cruises in 1984, and its first ship, the msy Wind Star, launched in 1986, followed by the Wind Song
and Wind Spirit
. Two additional ships were ordered from the French
"Ateliers et chantiers du Havre" shipyard: the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga. These two ships were to be larger than the originals, holding over twice the amount of passengers and reaching a length of 660 ft compared to the smaller vessels of 440 ft in length.
Holland America Line
purchased 50% of Windstar Sail Cruises in 1987 and purchased the balance of the company in 1988. HAL became a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc
in 1989. The option to continue building the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga was passed up by HAL. With assistance from the French Government the two larger ships were built for Club Med as Club Med I and Club Med II, with HAL / Carnival retaining rights of first refusal for purchase.
In 1998, Windstar acquired the sail cruiser Club Med I from Club Med Cruises, and rechristened her to her original name Wind Surf.
In 2002, the Wind Song was damaged by an engine room fire in Tahiti
causing great damage to the vessel. Subsequently classed as a total loss, with permission of the Tahitian Government the ship was cleaned and later scuttled in Tahitian waters between Moorea and Tahit in approximately 3,000 feet of water.
In the summer months the Windstar fleet sails the Mediterranean shores and in the Winter months the company sails the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Windstar is considered a high-end cruise line, with its ships typically getting a four-star (out of five) rating. The ships are relatively small, with the Wind Surf having a capacity for about 300 passengers, and the others about 150.
The ships are registered in the Bahamas. Under this flag they are some of the few cruise ships in the world where passengers are still allowed on the bridge (though not when entering or leaving port). Given their small size the service is very personal, and interaction with the ship's officers is easy. With a shallow draft of only 14' the ships can enter ports that are inaccessible to larger cruise liners. In some cases passengers need to take smaller boats into port (such as to Lipari
) when the ship is at anchor, but access on and off a shipboard ramp is easily made.
In March 2007, Carnival sold Windstar to Ambassadors International for $100 million.
On April 1 2011, Windstar's parent company Ambassadors International filled for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Windstar was planned to be sold to a company in White Plains
, New York
known as Whippoorwill Associates, Inc. But through a Bankruptcy court in Delaware, a two day bid was held and Anschutz Corp. won Windstar Cruises which had the best bid of $39 Million. They in turn sold the company and Xanterra are now the parent company.
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
line notable for its modern computer-controlled sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s.
The line was established as Windstar Sail Cruises in 1984, and its first ship, the msy Wind Star, launched in 1986, followed by the Wind Song
Msy Wind Song
The msy Wind Song was a 4-masted motor sailing yacht used as a cruise ship by Windstar Cruises from 1987 until 2002, when the ship suffered an engine room fire....
and Wind Spirit
Msy Wind Spirit
The msy Wind Spirit is a motor sailing yacht, sailing as a cruise ship for Windstar Cruises. She is one of an unusual class of only three vessels , designed as a modern cruise ship but carrying an elaborate system of computer-controlled sails on four masts.Capacity: 148Crew: 88Tonnage: 5,350Length:...
. Two additional ships were ordered from the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
"Ateliers et chantiers du Havre" shipyard: the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga. These two ships were to be larger than the originals, holding over twice the amount of passengers and reaching a length of 660 ft compared to the smaller vessels of 440 ft in length.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line
The Holland America Line is a cruise shipping company. It was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company , a shipping and passenger line. Headquartered in Rotterdam and providing service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line...
purchased 50% of Windstar Sail Cruises in 1987 and purchased the balance of the company in 1988. HAL became a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc , is a American-British Company, and the world's largest cruise ship operator. It is a dual listed company, with headquarters at Carnival Place in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida, USA, and at Carnival House in Southampton, England, UK...
in 1989. The option to continue building the Wind Surf and the Wind Saga was passed up by HAL. With assistance from the French Government the two larger ships were built for Club Med as Club Med I and Club Med II, with HAL / Carnival retaining rights of first refusal for purchase.
In 2002, the Wind Song was damaged by an engine room fire in Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
causing great damage to the vessel. Subsequently classed as a total loss, with permission of the Tahitian Government the ship was cleaned and later scuttled in Tahitian waters between Moorea and Tahit in approximately 3,000 feet of water.
In the summer months the Windstar fleet sails the Mediterranean shores and in the Winter months the company sails the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Windstar is considered a high-end cruise line, with its ships typically getting a four-star (out of five) rating. The ships are relatively small, with the Wind Surf having a capacity for about 300 passengers, and the others about 150.
The ships are registered in the Bahamas. Under this flag they are some of the few cruise ships in the world where passengers are still allowed on the bridge (though not when entering or leaving port). Given their small size the service is very personal, and interaction with the ship's officers is easy. With a shallow draft of only 14' the ships can enter ports that are inaccessible to larger cruise liners. In some cases passengers need to take smaller boats into port (such as to Lipari
Lipari
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and the name of the island's main town. It has a permanent population of 11,231; during the May–September tourist season, its population may reach up to 20,000....
) when the ship is at anchor, but access on and off a shipboard ramp is easily made.
In March 2007, Carnival sold Windstar to Ambassadors International for $100 million.
On April 1 2011, Windstar's parent company Ambassadors International filled for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Windstar was planned to be sold to a company in White Plains
White Plains
White Plains may refer to:Places* White Plains, New York* White Plains, Georgia* White Plains, Kentucky* White Plains, Maryland* White Plains, North Carolina*White Plains , listed on the NRHP in South Carolina...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
known as Whippoorwill Associates, Inc. But through a Bankruptcy court in Delaware, a two day bid was held and Anschutz Corp. won Windstar Cruises which had the best bid of $39 Million. They in turn sold the company and Xanterra are now the parent company.
Fleet
- msy Wind SpiritMsy Wind SpiritThe msy Wind Spirit is a motor sailing yacht, sailing as a cruise ship for Windstar Cruises. She is one of an unusual class of only three vessels , designed as a modern cruise ship but carrying an elaborate system of computer-controlled sails on four masts.Capacity: 148Crew: 88Tonnage: 5,350Length:...
- msy Wind Star
- msy Wind Surf