Travel Experts Point to Windstar as the Gold Standard for Small Ship Cruises

Windstar’s team on board and ashore is thrilled to be awarded by one of the leading travel agent publications – Travel Weekly as a “Gold Winner in Overall Small Cruise Ship” again! In total, we took home three Gold Magellans and two Silver Magellans in the 2017 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.

Windstar also earned accolades for its exceptional shore excursions, intriguing itineraries, one-of-a-kind advertising and marketing campaigns, and captivating blog. The Magellans come on the heels of another recent accolade, as Windstar was named to the Platinum List by American Airlines’ Celebrated Living magazine for Best Boutique Cruising Experience. In 2017, Windstar enhanced the overall guest experience, notably with an expanded culinary partnership as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation.

The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all. The awards are judged by a panel consisting of top-notch travel experts, bringing more weight to the award than the five-pound gold and silver statuettes that accompany the titles.

The Celebrated Living Platinum List Awards are featured in the current issue on board American Airlines’ flights, displaying their annual selection of the best of the best in luxury travel across 21 categories. A list of nominees were chosen by fourteen esteemed experts in the fields of media, hospitality, fashion, and the arts and then voted upon by the publication’s readers in an online poll.

“We’ve had an exceptional year and these awards are a reminder of just that. We couldn’t be happier or more honored to be recognized by both readers and industry greats as both a Platinum List Winner, and Gold and Silver Magellan Awardee and for our small ship cruise experiences, which we constantly strive to improve on so that no two experiences are alike.”

~ Windstar President John Delaney

 

Travel Weekly Magellan Awards recognized Windstar Cruises in the following categories:

2017 Gold Magellan Award Winner – Small Cruise Ship (500 Passengers or Under)

Known for delivering exemplary service from charming staff, the line’s sleek ships offer ample open decks, watersports, and modern, nautical décor coupled with rare travel opportunities. Guests enjoy in-port overnights, adventures ashore with local experts, personalized experiences and world-class cuisine. Windstar continues to be a leading innovator in small ship cruising adding 49 new itineraries and 147 maiden ports of call for the 2018 Voyage Collection, get your brochure today.

2017 Gold Magellan Award Winner – Expeditions – Shore Excursions (Grand Japan)

Windstar has put together a fantastic array of shore excursions on its Grand Japan itinerary, creating unforgettable moments from Tokyo to Osaka over a 10-day period on board Star Legend, with highlights of exquisitely preserved samurai homes and perfectly sculpted Japanese gardens. Each shore excursion is cleverly designed and crafted by Windstar’s team of in-house destination experts who personally curate, scout and inspect each site and activity, evaluating each potential guest experience along with well-established local tour operators. Windstar’s destination experts excel at crafting totally tailored and truly authentic local experiences especially for well-traveled cruise guests – the ones true travelers seek.

2017 Gold Magellan Award Winner – Advertising & Marketing Campaign (“Have You Ever”)

Launched in 2016, the brilliant “Have You Ever” Advertising & Marketing campaign helped turn “never have I evers” into “yes, I haves” for many of its guests. The innovative marketing concept reflected how the small ship cruise line could bring impossible travel scenarios to fruition, presenting the best, most exclusive, and off-the-beaten-path locations to its travelers.

2017 Silver Magellan Award Winner – Shore Excursion (Windstar’s Concierge Collection: Dubrovnik Dinner at a Local Family Village Estate)

Windstar’s Concierge Collection was designed to appeal to discerning guests looking for exclusive and bespoke experiences in Europe. One such special journey is the Dubrovnik Dinner at a Local Family Village Estate. Guests are taken to the fertile Konavle Valley where their host and chef prepare local specialties. The tour is available on Venetian Passageways, Quintessential Croatia, Marvels of the Croatian Coast & Greece, and Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast itineraries.

2017 Silver Magellan Award Winner – Overall Blog (Windstar “Our Stories” Blog)

You’re here! Essentially, all noteworthy Windstar-related topics can be found on this award-winning blog. Complementing Windstar’s expertise in personalizing travel experiences and creating unique journeys, the Our Stories blog provides another level of insight into Windstar for those looking to plan their next holiday or read up on the upscale cruise line.

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