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Windstar unveils product enhancement plans

Windstar unveils product enhancement plans
Windstar Cruises outlined a new phase of its ‘Degrees of Difference’ initiative to add amenities and enhancements that will be completed in stages, finishing in the summer. Windstar president Diane Moore said the program will raise the bar in dining, accommodations and service.


The Restaurant menus on all three ships will be reinvigorated with new dishes, including the flavors of destinations visited. Wind Surf’s alternative restaurant, Degrees, will gain a new rotating menu of seasonal Mediterranean dishes. Examples include Tuscan shrimp and white beans, grilled lamb loin chops with green olives, lemon and spinach, and baked snapper with Nicoise olives, tomato and basil.

Other dining enhancements include the addition of a spa menu and redesigned menu holders. Also, Wind Surf’s Yacht Club will transform into a contemporary wine bar featuring by-the-glass selections from California, Washington, Oregon, New Zealand and Australia. On each ship, during every sailing, passengers will be able to participate in sommelier-led tastings featuring crystal stemware by Riedel.

When it comes to accommodations, Wind Surf will gain spa suites with special bedding and linens, spa amenities and credits for certified organic spa services and fitness classes in WindSpa provided by The OnboardSpa Company’s O SPA London.

New poolside spa treatments across the fleet include a 30-minute reflexology session, a foot and ankle massage with Himalayan salt scrub and an hour-long traditional sports massage or Swedish massage. Spa reservations are now bookable in advance by phone, with online bookings available in December at www.windstarcruises.com.

Wind Surf’s fitness center and Wind Star and Wind Spirit’s gyms will receive new equipment including weight machines, treadmills, bikes and stair climbers from Technogym.

Over the summer, Windstar introduced an inflatable island trampoline to Wind Surf’s watersports platform equipment. New watersports items will be added on all three ships.

The fleet’s library DVD collection has been expanded along with new titles for stateroom viewing. New travel and guide books will be added to the library. In addition to the existing iPod check-out program, Windstar will offer Kindles for reading e-books and other digital media.

In further moves, the line is adding enrichment and port lectures, and expanding on its Concierge Collection of Shore Excursions, limited to groups of six to 25 participants, by adding private excursions and customized pre- and post-cruise packages. Windstar will also add personal iPod Discovery Walks in Italy, Croatia, France, Greece, Monaco, Portugal and Spain.

In the coming year, e-Sail Docs will get a new look and feel and include additional information on ship services.