Have you wondered how Windstar plans its itineraries, chooses the wines for its onboard wine lists and develops shore excursions in ports of call? Welcome to Windstar’s new Winds of Change podcast, just launched in January 2025, which is all about offering insider access to how cruises are developed.
Winds of Change has been a long-planned dream for Janet Bava, its chief commercial officer. “This is something I wanted to do from day one here at Windstar,” she says, just after the pilot episode dropped. “The point is that it should be educational, insightful and occasionally offer surprise and delight moments, which to me is a reflection of Windstar itself: a casual, fun-loving, cruise line for the well-traveled guest.
“It’s a conversation between people who are part of Windstar, from our crew to our guests and hopefully we’ll all be revealing new insights, details, advice, and tips.”
The podcast, she added, “will showcase the people of Windstar, including crew, staff and fellow guests,” she says. “It will tell the story behind our 40-year history. And it will offer a deeper discovery of the places our ships go — from French Polynesia by yacht to the Greek Isles under sail.”
Please bookmark this page and come back, often, to check on what Bava and her colleagues and friends are up to with Windstar. We’ll offer short recaps of each episode (which you can watch via provided links or subscribe to YouTube for updates on new podcasts) and post your comments, reactions, questions and suggestions in the comments below. Bava reads every one.
Episode 1, The People Behind Windstar
Bava hosts Dianna Rom, vice president of sales, who, with over 25 years at parent company Xanterra, reminisces about the day that Xanterra Travel Collection acquired Windstar in 2011.
Favorite line: “A lot has changed since then. At that time Xanterra was about managing parks and park systems, and today… it’s about where we can leave an imprint on the world.”
Q&A: What’s the best itinerary for new-to-Windstar travelers? “A really good starter is Italy and the Dalmatian coast,” Rom says, particularly recommending that travelers start in Venice, because its sailaway is so magical. “These days, very few lines sail in and out of Venice [due to new restrictions that require ships longer than 180 meters to dock outside of the city]. Unfurling the sails, you are listening to ‘1492: Conquest of Paradise,’ and well, if you don’t feel like a pirate then, you never will.”
“Not only did I enjoy the Windstar podcast, my 11-year-old grandson put his morning cartoons on hold to listen with me! Then actively questioned which ships we had been on and what areas of the world we have been to.” — @susanwauer7182
Next up is Hotel General Manager Andreas Pitsch, who is calling in from Wind Surf. Pitsch oversees about 80% of a ship’s operation, including culinary, housekeeping, spa, dining and provisioning.
Favorite Line: “The biggest risk is not to take a risk,” he says, reflecting back on his decision to join Windstar. “I called my wife and I said, ‘If I would have known how wonderful atmosphere on a small ship was, I would have changed 20 years earlier.’”
Q&A: What is your favorite itinerary? “I get this question often and I always give the same answer. My favorite itineraries are in the Mediterranean, Spain, Monaco, Italy and Greece.” He loves the weather and the culinary scene, too; in fact, Pitsch loves the region so much he makes his home on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
