Small ship line cites uncertainty over ports reopening in the region
Small-ship cruise line, Windstar Cruises, has cancelled its scheduled cruises in Asia for autumn 2022, citing the continued uncertainty regarding ports reopening in the region. Seven scheduled itineraries on the all-suite Star Breeze will be affected, including two Grand Japan sailings, a crossing of the Pacific from Alaska to Japan, Island Hopping through Japan, Windstar Crew Hometowns: Edge of the Outback, Philippines and Indonesia, the Great Barrier Reef and Hidden Indonesia.
In late August, the Star Breeze itinerary will be extended with the Alaska season “Alaskan Splendors”, followed by West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza down the US coast, a trans-ocean voyage from San Diego to Tahiti, and 5 sailings in French Polynesia.
Windstar will celebrate its 35th anniversary of operating cruises in Tahiti in October 2022. It is one of the first lines to offer overnight cruises in the region. All sailings aboard Star Breeze and Wind Spirit will join in the celebration with unique events.
Star Breeze departs on 11th November for a trans-ocean journey to Sydney, arriving on 22nd November for a scheduled charter cruise. The shift will make the 4th 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 as 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 the autumn,” says Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog. “We hope our guests rebook on these same fantastic itineraries for next year.”
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