Shining a highlight on the leaders within the luxurious journey trade, Pursuitist presents an unique interview with Chris Prelog, Windstar Cruises President, dropped at you by Ramsey Qubein.
Small-ship cruising has by no means been hotter as vacationers search for experiences that give them the liberty to discover new locations by ship, however with fewer passengers. Three of Windstar Cruises’ yachts, as they’re referred to as, are contemporary from a $250 million renovation mission that bodily expanded the dimensions of the ship, added extra cabins and created new movie star chef specialty eating places.
Windstar’s guardian firm, Xanterra, is well-known for working lots of the prime lodges inside the U.S. nationwide park system. This high-end, small-ship cruise model is one other feather in Xanterra’s cap and is poised for progress as pent-up journey demand lastly takes to the seas.
We spoke with Chris Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises, concerning the three-ship growth mission, what it’s wish to sail once more after almost a yr’s hiatus and what’s in retailer for its six-strong fleet of luxurious yachts and sailboats.
You bought your begin engaged on a ship. What did you do?
I labored aboard the Seabourn Legend as a server. On a small ship, workers tackle many roles so I did every little thing from polish silverware to ship meals. Apparently, the Seabourn Legend is now a part of the Windstar fleet because the Star Legend so, in a manner, I’ve come full circle.
What’s it wish to re-launch operations throughout a pandemic?
We’re so excited to be again at sea. We’ve got the Wind Star crusing the Greek islands for the time being in addition to Star Breeze within the Caribbean.
We’re navigating laws that change in a short time. Issues are going to stay in flux for awhile as governments modify their guidelines, vaccination necessities and testing protocols week by week. Our largest ship can carry 342 passengers, however for the time being, we’re working at diminished capability to comply with social distancing pointers. As extra individuals around the globe are vaccinated, we imagine reserving a cruise will change into a lot simpler. Demand, particularly for 2022, is phenomenal.
On board our six ships, intensive sanitation and cleansing protocols make it extraordinarily secure. All of our crew have been vaccinated, and our passengers should obtain a unfavourable Covid-19 take a look at on the pier earlier than boarding in addition to present their vaccination playing cards. Different protocols embody fixed cleansing of high-touch surfaces, electrostatic spraying of passenger baggage and changing buffets to staff-served stations.
The crew undergoes weekly testing, and so they stay on the ship which means they aren’t uncovered to anybody that has not been vaccinated and examined. Passengers and crew should put on masks in public areas apart from when consuming and consuming. These are all consistent with the laws of lots of the ports of name we go to, however these insurance policies are reviewed frequently. Whereas it’s not the identical as earlier than the pandemic, our passengers are excited to be again to cruising and are used to those necessities from residence. They don’t appear to thoughts following lots of the identical protocols, for now, at sea, and our open-air decks are the proper place to loosen up and really feel secure.
Star Breeze is contemporary from main renovations that expanded the ship. Inform us about that.
Star Breeze is considered one of three yachts to bear this transformation, which concerned chopping the ship in half whereas in dry dock. We then inserted a pre-made part within the middle with 50 stunning suites earlier than sealing the hull once more. It’s an engineering marvel, and the yacht is fantastically reworked with new eating places, a bigger spa and health middle, leisure pool and redecorated interiors. For the corporate, this represents a virtually 27% improve in capability for our three “Star Plus-category” ships.
Often called the Star Plus initiative, our ships didn’t simply sit idle. We took the break day from crusing to spend money on the interiors and upkeep of the fleet, each the Star Plus and Wind Class classes. The entire cabins sport new high-quality bedding and mattresses; this identical funding was made for crew cabins, as nicely. There are new TV techniques, paintings in hallways, utterly transformed loos with double vanities, new furnishings and décor, and even 4 new (extra eco-friendly) engines.
What’s your favourite half concerning the newly designed ships?
I actually like the best way the spa has been redesigned in addition to the pool deck, which sports activities new teak wooden and handrails plus a plunge pool with glass wall and waterfall characteristic. There are two whirlpools together with one on the pool deck and one other on the very entrance of the ship.
The Star Breeze has two new specialty eating places. Is there an upcharge to dine there?
Our specialty eating places are included within the value of the cruise, and we wished our company to have extra choices of when and the place to dine. Cuadro 44, a Spanish tapas restaurant beneath Michelin-starred chef and James Beard Basis member Anthony Sasso serves every little thing from “jamon iberico” sliced contemporary to genuine Galician octopus. There are a number of vegetarian specialties, too.
Star Grill is one other new open-air grill restaurant. We do all of our personal smoked meats and put together them on a rotisserie utilizing recipes and bespoke spice rubs from Steven Raichlen. He hosts three totally different cooking reveals in three totally different nations, and our company merely love the tasty menu he curated for our three Star Plus ships. We comply with all of his pointers typically starting the method for a few of the slow-cooked meats the evening earlier than.
Each movie star cooks got here on board the ship to coach the workers on easy methods to put together and current all of the menu objects. Windstar has a partnership with the James Beard Basis, which incorporates internet hosting a number of crusing itineraries primarily based on food-themed itineraries.
What are a few of the Windstar signature facilities?
We’ve got a seaside barbecue on each crusing, which is extraordinarily standard. All of our ships function beneath an open-deck coverage which means that company can watch the crew in motion and ask questions. Included in all sailings are non-alcoholic drinks, complimentary 24-hour room service and using non-motorized watersport gear that company can use from a platform in the back of the yacht.
Sail away is a dramatic expertise that features enjoying a newly created theatrical tune recorded by the Seattle Symphony because the ship leaves every port.
Our sailings goal clients which might be in search of customizable, high-end experiences that enable native immersion and onboard leisure. Lots of them are additionally frequent river cruisers and respect the power to go to smaller ports with late evening or in a single day stays that give them time to discover a vacation spot. We welcome households with kids over the age of eight, however we often are likely to see them solely through the summer season months.
What’s sooner or later for Windstar?
We’re taking our yachts again to Alaska, and for the primary time ever, we could have two vessels in Tahiti this yr. We’re seeing loads of pent-up demand, particularly amongst “new to the model” company. Coming in 2022 is one other first for Windstar after we ship a yacht to Australia and New Zealand. Since these ships could have new engines, they’re able to sail sooner. They are going to go to each marquis, standard ports in addition to smaller locations that giant ships should not capable of go to.
Photograph courtesy: Windstar Cruises
