View From the Bridge - DIANE MOORE
DIANE MOORE
PRESIDENT
Sales & Marketing
Windstar Cruises
Before Windstar, Diane Moore held senior executive positions with Holland America, Virtuoso, Crystal Cruises and Royal Cruise Line.
Windstar’s New Degrees of Difference
Creating Value and Personalized Experiences for Cruise Guests
By Diane MooreWindstar Cruises operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts. Our casual elegance and personalized, small-ship cruise experience allows guests to connect, relax and explore enjoying luxurious accommodations, alternative dining venues, a diversity of shore excursions, a complimentary water sports program and deluxe spa facilities. Guests are able to explore the hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations in Europe, the Greek Isles, the Caribbean and Cost Rica. It all adds up to a luxurious vacation that is truly “180 Degrees From Ordinary.”
We are excited to announce that Windstar is embarking on a new Degrees of Difference initiative which will take the ships to a new degree of excellence. With this latest initiative, we look forward to creating even more value for our guests and delivering an experience that continues to raise the bar. The new amenities and enhancements will be completed in stages and finish the summer of 2010 in the areas of dining, accommodations, spa, fitness, entertainment and shore excursions.
The Restaurant menus on all three ships will be reinvigorated with innovative new dishes from land and sea, bringing the flavors of the world to guest plates. This unique culinary dining experience will exhibit flavors of the destinations that Windstar Cruises visits. Other dining enhancements include the addition of a spa dining menu and redesigned menu holders with sleek and elegant lines.
Wind Surf’s alternative restaurant Degrees will feature a new rotating menu reflecting the fresh and seasonal preparations of Mediterranean cooking. The menu highlights popular flavors of Mediterranean Rim cuisines showcasing the use of authentic ingredients and simple techniques. The spirited menu will also highlight the regional and local cooking reflective of the areas visited.
Wind Surf’s Yacht Club will be transformed into a contemporary wine bar featuring a selection of luscious California, Washington, Oregon, New Zealand and Australian wines by the glass. On each ship, during each sailing, guests will be able to partake in special wine tastings featuring crystal stemware by Riedel and led by a sommelier.
For those looking for a retreat for the mind, body and soul, Windstar will introduce relaxing spa suites on Wind Surf. Spa suites will feature 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. All guests will be able to enjoy new rejuvenating poolside spa treatments that take pampering to a whole new level.
Wind Surf’s Fitness Center and Wind Star and Wind Spirit’s Gyms will receive new state-of-the-art fitness equipment including weight machines, treadmills, bikes and stair climbers from Technogym, a world leader in the design of fitness equipment. We will also be investing in new watersports equipment on all three ships.
In addition to Windstar’s iPod program, where guests check out an iPod to listen to music during their sailing, Windstar will offer a Kindle program for booklovers for reading e-books and other digital media.
This year, Windstar’s Signature Collection Host Series returned by popular demand allowing guests the opportunity to travel with luminaries in the world of food, wine, photography, art and sports. Windstar will continue to offer the program in 2010 and beyond and will also add enrichment and port lectures on sailings.
Earlier this year, Windstar launched its exclusive Concierge Collection of Shore Excursions designed to appeal to guests who were looking for extraordinary experiences in Europe and celebrating these destinations in a special way—limited to small groups of 6 to 25 guests. Expanding on this concept and offering personalized service, Windstar will arrange private shore excursions and customized pre- and post-cruise packages for guests.
With this new initiative, Windstar looks forward to creating new value for guests, designing a personalized experience for them that continues to exceed expectations.
For more information visit Winstar Cruises at:http://www.windstarcruises.com
