1. Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbours and secluded coves in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations, introduces its new 2013 collection of luxury sailing voyages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Northern Europe, Italy, Mediterranean, Greek Isles and Transatlantic Crossings with cruise-only fares starting from just £1,199 per person.

   
   

   Leading Windstar’s offerings for 2013 are seven entirely new voyages, each designed to provide a unique sailing experience in extraordinary destinations. The 2013 schedule is highlighted by two 11-night voyages, Footsteps of Faith, exploring origins of world religions between Athens and Alexandria, and Scandinavian Tapestry, which includes scenic sailing in the Norwegian Fjords and Stockholm Archipelago. New voyages also include intimate explorations through the British Isles, the French coasts and the Canary Islands.

   
   

   Along with an enticing collection of voyages, Windstar also unveils the complete renovation of the line’s three sailing yachts – Wind Star and Wind Spirit, each hosting 148 guests, and Wind Surf, with 312 guests. All three will feature redesigned staterooms, owner’s suites, corridors and public spaces for 2013 sailings. The four-masted Wind Star and Spirit will also introduce new design in The Restaurant, Veranda, Lounge, Pool Bar, Library and WindSpa. Wind Surf, a five-masted sailing yacht, will feature newly designed style in The Restaurant, Degrees, Veranda, Compass Rose, WindSpa, Yacht Club and Pool Bar.
   
   The $18million renovation will bring a new level of casual elegance to Windstar’s landmark cruise experience, large enough to provide guests with world class service and entertainment, yet small enough to access small coves and hidden harbours larger vessels cannot reach.

   
   

   For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

   

WINDSTAR CRUISES’ 2012 CARIBBEAN SEASON FEATURES THREE ITINERARIES WITH 42 SHORE EXCURSIONS

For 2012, Windstar Cruises is featuring three diverse Caribbean itineraries and 42 shore excursions in some of the most beautiful islands including Martinique, Dominica, Antigua and Guadeloupe.

Windstar’s 2012 Caribbean Voyages:

Flavours of the Caribbean: set sail to a unique collection of islands highlighting the diverse countries, styles, landscapes and cultures of the Caribbean. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf roundtrip from Philipsburg, St Maarten visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St Barts. Departures: 14th and 28th January; 11th and 25th February; and 10th and 24th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,577 per person, double occupancy.

Yachtsman’s Caribbean: experience the glitter and glamour of the Caribbean’s yachting scene with overnights in Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf roundtrip from Philipsburg, St Maarten visit Soper’s Hole, Tortola; Jost van Dyke, BVI; Virgin Gorda, BVI; Basseterre, St Kitts; Les Saintes, Guadeloupe; and Gustavia, St Barts. Departures: 7th January; 4th and 18th February; and 3rd and 17th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,577 per person, double occupancy.

Jewels of the Windward Islands: sail the unspoiled islands of the Southern Grenadines highlighted by visits to St Lucia and St Vincent and overnight in the beautiful Tobago Keys. Seven-night sailings on Wind Spirit roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados visit Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Bequia, The Grenadines; Tobago Keys, The Grenadines; Mayreau, The Grenadines; and St George’s, Grenada. Departures: 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th January; 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th February; and 10th and 17th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,419 per person, double occupancy.

Highlights of Windstar’s 2012 Caribbean Shore Excursions:

Basseterre, St Kitts: St Kitts Scenic Railway – circle St Kitts from a double-decker railcar enjoying panoramic views of the island, informative narrative history and island music.

Bequia, St Vincent, Grenadines: Magical Mustique at Leisure – enjoy a rare opportunity to visit exclusive Mustique, a favourite island getaway of movie stars and royalty.

Gustavia, St Barts: Sailing Catamaran Snorkeling Adventure – sail on a catamaran along the beautiful west coast of St Barts before snorkeling at Colombier Bay’s Marine Park.

Les Saintes, FWI: Clear Bottom Kayaking – explore the pristine turquoise waters of Les Saintes onboard a clear-bottom kayak accompanied by a guide and learn about the history of the island and marine life.

Roseau, Dominica: Cooking Caribbean Flavours & Lifestyles – create Caribbean dishes and fruit cocktail blends from local produce while learning about Dominican flavours, traditions and family lifestyles on this Caribbean culinary adventure.

Roseau, Dominica: Champagne Reef Snorkel Trip – a unique snorkeling experience featuring an eco-system of colourful fish and a stream of bubbles that rise from a submerged volcano from the sea floor.

Virgin Gorda, BVI: Baths at Virgin Gorda – discover the Baths – Virgin Gorda’s best known natural wonder – a cluster of enormous granite boulders, partially buried in the sand, which form underwater caves, pools and channels.

Pigeon Island, St Lucia: Rainforest Canopy Adventure – view island birds and plant life in St Lucia’s rainforest soaring high above the ground on this zipline adventure.

Pigeon Island, St Lucia: Helicopter Flightseeing Tour – see spectacular sights of St Lucia, the stunning Pitons, Castries Harbour, Marigot Bay and Soufriere including a view of the island’s volcanic hot springs and tropical rainforest.

St George’s, Grenada: River Tubing Grenada’s Greatest River – a thrilling river tubing experience on the Balthazar River which features exotic views of tropical vegetation and wildlife.

Windstar’s 2012 voyages are available to book now. For more information on Windstar’s 2012 itineraries, visit www.windstarcruises.co.uk or the Cruise Line

WINDSTAR CRUISES INTRODUCES BIKE PROGRAMME TO ALL THREE YACHTS

Windstar Cruises, operator of a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, has added a bike programme to its fleet for guests who enjoy exploring destinations under their own steam.

Windstar’s new bike programme features 7000-series, aluminum frame Dragon Marine Folding Bikes. Wind Surf has eight bikes and Wind Spirit and Wind Star each have four bikes. The bikes are available for half day or full day rental. Rates are $39 for a half-day rental (4 hours), or $59 for a full-day rental (8 hours). Bike helmets, locks and chains are provided.

Bikes are available for rental in most ports and guests can reserve bikes through Windstar’s Destination Manager onboard each yacht.
Call Windstar Cruises on 020 7292 2369 or visit www.windstarcruises.co.uk

Windstar's New Cruises

Windstar Cruises, operator of a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, has unveiled its new 2012 collection of luxury voyages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Baltic, Italy, Mediterranean and Greek Isles, with nine new itineraries and the lowest introductory pricing in years.

In addition, guests who book by June 30 will receive a $200 shipboard credit per cabin. Windstar’s Foremast Members receive an additional 5% discount on all itineraries.

The 2012 programme features a unique collection of islands, highlighting diverse countries, styles, landscapes and cultures of the Caribbean. For example, seven-night sailings on Wind Surf round-trip from Philipsburg, St Maarten, visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St Barts, with cruise-only prices from £1,577 per person.

Or how about the Treasures of Northern Europe? Discover six of the region's most captivating countries with 11-night sailings on Wind Surf between Lisbon and Oslo, visiting Le Havre, Dover, Antwerp and Amsterdam and cruise-only prices from £2,376 per person.

Windstar’s 2012 voyages are available to book now. For more info, visit www.windstarcruises.com

WINDSTAR CRUISES UNVEILS NEW 2012 COLLECTION OF LUXURY SAILINGS

Windstar Cruises, operator of a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, has unveiled its new 2012 collection of luxury voyages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Baltic, Italy, Mediterranean and Greek Isles.

Windstar’s new 2012 collection of luxury voyages visit enchanting destinations and provide unforgettable experiences at exceptional values. In addition to receiving the lowest introductory pricing in years, guests who book by 30th June 2011 will receive a $200 shipboard credit per cabin. Windstar’s Foremast Members receive an additional 5% discount on all itineraries.

Flavours of the Caribbean

Features a unique collection of islands highlighting diverse countries, styles, landscapes and cultures of the Caribbean. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf round-trip from Philipsburg, St Maarten visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St Barts. Departures on 31st December 2011; 14th and 28th January; 11th and 25th February; and 10th and 24th March. Cruise only prices from £1,577 per person.

Passage Through Panama

Natural and manmade wonders unite on an exotic voyage encompassing Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, islands of Panama and a transit through the Panama Canal. Seven-night sailings on Wind Star from Puerto Caldera to Colon visit Bahia Drake, Costa Rica; Golfito, Costa Rica; Isla de Coiba, Panama; Panama Canal Transit; and San Blas, Panama. Departures on 31st December 2011; 7th, 21st and 28th January; 11th February; and 24th March. Cruise only prices from £1,636 per person.

Treasures of Northern Europe

Discover six of Northern Europe’s most captivating countries. Eleven-night sailings on Wind Surf between Lisbon and Oslo visit Le Havre; Dover; Antwerp; and Amsterdam. Departures on 16th July and 26th August 2012. Cruise only prices from £2,376 per person.

 

Capitals of Scandinavia

Explore the capital cities of Scandinavia while sailing from sea to sea. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf between Oslo and Stockholm visit Stromstad; Copenhagen; Rugen; and Bornholm. Departures on 27th July and 19th August 2012. Cruise only prices from £2,497 per person.

Best of the Baltic

East and West convergence of Baltic culture, architecture and history highlighted by an overnight in St Petersburg. Eight-night sailings on Wind Surf round-trip from Stockholm visit Mariehamn; St Petersburg (overnight); Helsinki; Tallinn; and Sandhamn. Departures on 3rd and 11th August 2012. Cruise only prices from £2,949 per person.

 

Islands of Italy

Experience classic Rome and the unspoiled, intimate islands popular with Italian locals. Seven-night sailings on Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf from Rome to Rome visit Ischia; Sorrento; Lipari; scenic cruising by Stromboli; Porto Cervo; and Porto Vecchio. Departures on 21st and 28th April; 4th August; and 6th October 2012. Cruise only prices from £1993 per person.

 

Classic Mediterranean

Discover the ancient wonders and modern lifestyles of classic Greek and Italian cities. Seven- and eight-night sailings on Wind Spirit and Wind Star between Rome and Athens visit Ischia; Sorrento; Lipari; Giardini Naxos; Gythion; and Monemvasia. Departures on 28th April; 7th July; 11th August; 27th October; and 3rd November 2012. Cruise only prices from £1,993 per person.

Greek Isles and the Mysteries of Malta

A true microcosm of the Mediterranean – Greek, Italian and Arabic and North African influences are artfully represented in the architecture, cuisine and culture of this journey. Seven-night sailings on Wind Spirit between Athens and Valletta visiting Gythion; Argostoli/Cephalonia; Butrint National Park, Albania; Siracusa; and Gozo. Departures on 30th June; 7th July; 11th and 18th August; and 20th and 27th October 2012. Cruise only prices from £2,427 per person.

 

Transatlantic Crossing

Sail across the Atlantic Ocean reconnecting, recharging and indulging in Windstar luxury on a 21-night journey on Wind Star from Colon, Panama to Hamilton, Bermuda and ending in Lisbon. Departure on 31st March 2012. Cruise only prices from £824 per person.

Windstar’s 2012 voyages are available to book now. For more information on Windstar’s 2012 itineraries, please visit call 020 7292 2369 or visit http://www.windstarcruises.co.uk/

COURT APPROVES SALE OF WINDSTAR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS TO TAC CRUISE LLC

Windstar Cruises Continues Operating As Usual; Honouring All Fares and Reservations and Maintaining High Level of Attention To Guest Service

Ambassadors International, Inc. (“Ambassadors”) today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has granted an order approving the sale of substantially all of Ambassadors’ assets, including its principal operating unit, Windstar Cruises, to TAC Cruise LLC, an affiliate of Xanterra Holding Corporation. The sale is expected to close next week.

All of Windstar’s luxury yachts are sailing as scheduled, serving customers and guests with a high level of attention to their travel experience.

During a court-supervised competitive bidding process in compliance with Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, TAC Cruise LLC submitted a winning bid of $39 million in cash.  Windstar will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xanterra Holding Corporation of Greenwood Village, CO. Xanterra Holding Corporation and its affiliates have operated in the hospitality and leisure industry for more than 100 years.

“Windstar emerged as a tremendous long-term opportunity due to the line’s exceptional product, loyal following and high level of guest satisfaction in the luxury travel market,” said Andrew N. Todd, CEO of Xanterra Holding Corporation. “Xanterra intends to maintain Windstar’s business and operations and to invest in Windstar’s growth following the close of the sale.”

Hans Birkholz, CEO of Ambassadors and Windstar, said, “Windstar is very pleased with the successful outcome of this sale process and expects to complete it by early next week. Windstar is excited to have its new owner join in building Windstar’s world class brand. Windstar will be well-positioned for long-term profitability and success under new ownership and we will continue to provide exceptional service and extraordinary luxury travel experiences for our guests.”

It is expected that Ambassadors’ stockholders and holders of Ambassadors’ convertible notes will not receive any distribution following the sale and these securities will likely have little, if any, value following Ambassadors’ Chapter 11 proceeding.