Elite Traveler Summer 2021

81

etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021

WINDSTAR CRUISES Not quite as small as Tahiti’s famous outrigger canoes, Windstar Cruises’ fleet of six yacht-like vessels take to the seas with authenticity, intimacy and elegance. Cruise ships made for breeze-loving sailors, Windstar’s fleet promises billowing sails, a sense of hovering just above the water, and nearly 360-degree views of the horizons. Able to navigate into places that larger boats cannot, Windstar sails myriad itineraries from ports across the globe. The highly lauded French Polynesian voyages, for example, stop on private islands and in iconic lagoon ports such as Bora Bora. With three vessels sporting new, environmentally friendly engines and advanced wastewater systems this year, the brand has broadened its already solid commitment to green practices. “So much of the technology aimed at addressing sustainability — like our new engines with reduced fuel consumption/carbon emission savings — are hard to see from the guest perspective, but they are vital to a sustainable cruise line that is committed to sailing the world with a softer footprint,” says Paul Barrett, vice president of technical operations. “Behind every successful Windstar itinerary is a captain and a team working hard to minimize fuel consumption. Everything is considered, including speed of port arrival and departure, continuous speeds at sea, optimal operation of the engines, cleanliness and smoothness of the hull, and even electricity use on board.” windstarcruises.com