Windstar cancels Star Breeze cruises to get crew vaccinated

The newly extended and updated ship sailed Saturday from St. Maarten but, as earlier reported, most ports in its schedule have a vaccination mandate.

Windstar requires passengers to be fully vaccinated and had tried to ensure its crew would be, too, but only a handful are. 

The scheduled destinations were Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Norman Island and St. Barthélemy.

Crew to get shots in Puerto Rico

A Windstar spokeswoman said there are 177 crew on Star Breeze, a handful of them vaccinated. She said the ship would be going to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 28 to get the rest of the crew the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The spokeswoman did not say how many travelers opted to go ahead with the current cruise — which Windstar offered them free of charge — but a news report said there are 55 passengers on board. Following its lengthening, Star Breeze has capacity for 312 passengers.