Windstar shelves Asia, boosts Tahiti, readies for down under debut

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has cancelled its scheduled cruises in Asia for the northern autumn of 2022, citing the continued uncertainty regarding ports reopening in the region. The decision impacts a couple of close-to-home voyages.

The move comes after Windstar Cruises today reported its highest-grossing week of cruise sales since the start of the pandemic following a sale that ran from 3-13 May 2022. Sales last week alone were one of the biggest in the company’s history.

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“We’re optimistic to see this type of booking activity during our Windstar Week sale which points to a return in demand for vacations and especially small ship cruise vacations,” said Christopher Prelog, Windstar Cruises President. “People are discovering the advantage of small, yacht-like, sailing and all-suite cruising to aspirational destinations.”

Windstar’s cancellation of its Asia program for 2022 affects seven scheduled itineraries on the all-suite Star Breeze, including a crossing of the Pacific from Alaska to Japan, two Grand Japan sailings, Island Hopping through Japan, Windstar Crew Hometowns: Philippines and Indonesia, Hidden Indonesia & the Great Barrier Reef, and Edge of the Outback.

Instead, Star Breeze will extend its Alaska season with an additional itinerary (Alaskan Splendors) in late August, followed by West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza down the coast of the US, a trans-ocean voyage from San Diego to Tahiti, and five sailings in French Polynesia.

During October 2022, Windstar will celebrate its 35th anniversary of operating cruises in Tahiti – one of the first lines to offer overnight cruises in the region. All sailings aboard Wind Spirit and Star Breeze in Tahiti will join in the celebration with special events planned during the cruise.

On 11 November, Star Breeze departs for a trans-ocean journey to Sydney, arriving on 22 November for a scheduled charter cruise. The shift will make the 4 December Tasman Sea Treasures: New Zealand Fjords & South Australia Windstar’s first commercial cruise offered in the region.

2022 marks Windstar’s first time offering comprehensive itineraries to New Zealand and Australia, visiting small, rarely-visited ports of call such Middle Percy Island.

“As Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and South Korea are all currently still closed to cruising, Windstar joins several other cruise lines in making this decision to cancel cruises in Asia for fall,” said Prelog. “We hope our guests rebook on these same fantastic itineraries for next year.”

Itineraries in this region in late 2022 and in 2023 include:

18-day Great Barrier Reef & Down Under Cruise Tour, from Port Douglas to Auckland, departing 30 November 2022 and 10 January 2023 (19-day, reverse itinerary);
14-day Tasman Sea Treasures: New Zealand Fjords and South Australia, between Melbourne and Auckland, departing 4 December 2022 and 10 January 2023 (15-day, reverse itinerary);
12-day Wildlife & Wines of New Zealand, operating from Auckland to Lyttelton (Christchurch), setting off on 18 and 30 December 2022 (11-day, reverse itinerary);
25-day Star Collector: Australia & New Zealand Odyssey, from Auckland to Cairns, departing 10 January 2023;
18-day Deep Dive Down Under: The Great Barrier Reef & Beyond, from Melbourne to Cairns, departing 25 January 2023;
25-day Star Collector: Extended Great Barrier Reef & Indonesian Explorations, from Melbourne to Benoa (Bali), departing 25 January 2023;
13-day Hidden Indonesia & The Great Barrier Reef, between Cairns and Benoa (Bali), departing 4 February 2023 and 26 November 2023 (reverse itinerary);
50-day Star Collector: The Grand Far East Adventure between Osaka and Cairns, departing 20 October 2023;
40-day Star Collector: Koi, Koalas & Komodos – East Asia & Australia, from Yokohama (Tokyo) to Cairns, departing 30 October 2023