Windstar Cruises Announces New Travel Assurance Booking Policy

SEATTLE, WA: APRIL 11, 2020: On April 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced an extension to its “No Sail” order for cruise ships carrying more than 250 people in the United States. Windstar Cruises is reviewing this new policy and reassessing voyage plans. Please be patient as we work through our plans and subsequent communications to booked guests and travel advisors. Please check this page for further updates.

The health and safety of our guests and crew are a top priority. Windstar Cruises meets or exceeds all Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) guidelines for pre-boarding health communications, pre-boarding health screenings and onboard sanitation programs and protocols. During this pause in operations, we are assessing our procedures, protocols, systems and operations to further enhance the health and safety of our yachts and small ships.

Temporary Suspension of Operations due to Coronavirus COVID-19

On March 12, 2020, Windstar Cruises temporarily suspended operations of all sailings embarking on March 14 through April 30, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon further review on March 31, 2020, Windstar decided to extend the voluntary suspension of operations until May 21, 2020. Cruises will begin operating again according to schedule on or after May 22, 2020.

Windstar Cruises regrets the cancellation of travelers’ vacations. Guests booked on cruises cancelled by Windstar will be contacted by Windstar’s reservations team or their travel agent with an offer for a Future Cruise Credit or refund. Please be patient as the team works through this process.
Please note that Windstar does not cover third party (non-Windstar) travel expenses.

Star Breeze – cancellation of coastal cruises and Alaska 2020
Due to the impact the pandemic has had on Italy where Star Breeze is currently under renovation, all West Coast and Alaska cruises scheduled in 2020 are also cancelled. Star Breeze will spend summer 2020 sailing in the Mediterranean before heading to Australia in the fall.
Travel Assurance Booking Policy

Windstar believes vacations enrich people’s lives. The new Travel Assurance Booking Policy is an extra effort to ensure travelers feel comfortable booking a well-deserved cruise vacation now without fearing loss should they need to cancel.

Windstar’s interim Travel Assurance Booking Policy is effective beginning February 27, 2020 and automatically applies to new and existing cruises departing through December 31, 2021. Travelers who cancel a cruise booking up to 15 days prior to departure will receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit to be used on another Windstar departure by December 31, 2021. The offer is good for cruise fare only.

Click here to see Windstar Cruises specifics: See Terms and Conditions

Liam Cusack

Liam P. Cusack is the Managing Editor of Cruise & Travel Report (www.cruiseandtravelreport.com), a publication dedicated to providing travelers the same news that industry insiders receive. A self-described “travel nerd”, Liam is an Ocean Liner and Cruise Industry historian who has traveled to more than 60 countries, every US state and sailed on more than 60 cruises. After nearly two decades as an award-winning political journalist and investigative reporter at a major NYC daily newspaper, he decided to dedicate his career to helping avid travelers, like himself, be more well-informed. With Cruise & Travel Report, Liam strives to provide news and tips to make every vacation a dream vacation.