Shining a highlight on the leaders within the luxurious journey business, 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 challenge that bodily expanded the scale of the ship, added extra cabins and created new celeb chef specialty eating places.
Windstar’s mum or dad firm, Xanterra, is well-known for working most of the high 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, in regards to the three-ship growth challenge, 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, employees tackle many roles so I did the whole lot 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 means, 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 in the intervening time 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 in the intervening time, we’re working at lowered capability to comply with social distancing pointers. As extra folks world wide are vaccinated, we imagine reserving a cruise will turn into a lot simpler. Demand, particularly for 2022, is outstanding.
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 check 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 that means they aren’t uncovered to anybody that has not been vaccinated and examined. Passengers and crew should put on masks in public areas aside from when consuming and consuming. These are all in step with the laws of most of the ports of name we go to, however these insurance policies are reviewed usually. 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 house. They don’t appear to thoughts following most of the similar protocols, for now, at sea, and our open-air decks are the proper place to chill out and really feel secure.
Star Breeze is contemporary from main renovations that expanded the ship. Inform us about that.
Star Breeze is one in all three yachts to endure this transformation, which concerned chopping the ship in half whereas in dry dock. We then inserted a pre-made part within the heart with 50 lovely suites earlier than sealing the hull once more. It’s an engineering marvel, and the yacht is superbly remodeled with new eating places, a bigger spa and health heart, rest pool and redecorated interiors. For the corporate, this represents an almost 27% enhance 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 time without work from crusing to put money into the interiors and upkeep of the fleet, each the Star Plus and Wind Class classes. All the cabins sport new high-quality bedding and mattresses; this similar funding was made for crew cabins, as properly. There are new TV methods, art work in hallways, fully reworked loos with double vanities, new furnishings and décor, and even 4 new (extra eco-friendly) engines.
What’s your favourite half in regards to the newly designed ships?
I actually like the way in which 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 worth of the cruise, and we needed our friends 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 the whole lot 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 international locations, and our friends 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 among the slow-cooked meats the evening earlier than.
Each celeb cooks got here on board the ship to coach the employees on learn how 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 among the Windstar signature facilities?
We’ve got a seaside barbecue on each crusing, which is extraordinarily in style. All of our ships function beneath an open-deck coverage that means that friends can watch the crew in motion and ask questions. Included in all sailings are non-alcoholic drinks, complimentary 24-hour room service and the usage of non-motorized watersport gear that friends can use from a platform in the back of the yacht.
Sail away is a dramatic expertise that features taking part in a newly created theatrical track recorded by the Seattle Symphony because the ship leaves every port.
Our sailings goal clients which are on the lookout for customizable, high-end experiences that enable native immersion and onboard leisure. Lots of them are additionally frequent river cruisers and respect the flexibility 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 youngsters over the age of eight, however we normally 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 may have two vessels in Tahiti this yr. We’re seeing loads of pent-up demand, particularly amongst “new to the model” friends. Coming in 2022 is one other first for Windstar once we ship a yacht to Australia and New Zealand. Since these ships may have new engines, they’re able to sail sooner. They’ll go to each marquis, in style ports in addition to smaller locations that enormous ships are usually not capable of go to.
Photograph courtesy: Windstar Cruises