Have you ever puzzled how Windstar plans its itineraries, chooses the wines for its onboard wine lists and develops shore excursions in ports of name? Welcome to Windstar’s new Winds of Change podcast, simply launched in January 2025, which is all about providing insider entry to how cruises are developed.
Winds of Change has been a long-planned dream for Janet Bava, its chief business officer. “That is one thing I wished to do from day one right here at Windstar,” she says, simply after the pilot episode dropped. “The purpose is that it must be academic, insightful and sometimes provide shock and delight moments, which to me is a mirrored image of Windstar itself: an informal, fun-loving, cruise line for the well-traveled visitor.
Please bookmark this web page and are available again, typically, to test on what Bava and her colleagues and mates are as much as with Windstar. We’ll provide quick recaps of every episode (which you’ll watch by way of supplied hyperlinks or subscribe to YouTube or Spotify for updates on new podcasts) and submit your feedback, reactions, questions and recommendations within the feedback under. Bava reads each one.
Please bookmark this web page and are available again, typically, to test on what Bava and her colleagues and mates are as much as with Windstar. We’ll provide quick recaps of every episode (which you’ll watch by way of supplied hyperlinks or subscribe to YouTube or Spotify for updates on new podcasts) and submit your feedback, reactions, questions and recommendations within the feedback under. Bava reads each one.
“It’s a dialog between people who find themselves a part of Windstar, from our crew to our company and hopefully we’ll all be revealing new insights, particulars, recommendation, and suggestions.”
The podcast “showcases the individuals of Windstar, together with crew, workers and fellow company,” she says. “It tells the story behind our 40-year historical past. And it affords a deeper discovery of the locations our ships go — from French Polynesia by yacht to the Greek Isles underneath sail.”
Please bookmark this web page and are available again, typically, to test on what Bava and her colleagues and mates are as much as with Windstar. We’ll provide quick recaps of every episode (which you’ll watch by way of supplied hyperlinks or subscribe to YouTube or Spotify for updates on new podcasts) and submit your feedback, reactions, questions and recommendations within the feedback under. Bava reads each one.
Episode 5: A Imaginative and prescient for Cruising: Windstar’s President Chris Prelog Speaks
Chris Prelog, a local of Austria, was curious sufficient about touring the world that the hospitality graduate accepted his first job on a cruise ship (the then-Seabourn Legend) as a waiter. It wasn’t a straightforward begin; boarding in Sydney and crossing the notoriously tough Tasmanian Sea, he had his first tastes of homesickness and seasickness, each. However he persevered, and in “A Imaginative and prescient of Cruising,” Windstar’s president talks about his cruise profession.
Favourite line: Janet notes that he’s referred to as Mr. Tahiti across the workplace. “You’re both speaking about Tahiti otherwise you’re in Tahiti….”
One other favourite line: It’s our crew. “There’s a component of freedom they’ve as they work together with our company. We permit them to make use of their very own genuine means…everyone seems to be allowed to be themselves. The quantity of hugs I gave yesterday on the Wind Surf…that’s one thing I cherish about Windstar.”
“Tahiti is the core of what cruising means to me. It’s the place my love of cruising ignited. The primary time you go it’s the sweetness and the panorama. Each different go to it’s all about its individuals and their tradition.”
–Chris Prelog
Nonetheless one other favourite reveal: “Solo journey is on the rise, and sure, we all know this. We’re providing reductions and decreased solo journey charges. Past that, why come to Windstar as a solo traveler? You might be a part of the Windstar household. We’re creating occasions for our company and you’ll be a part of the group. You’ll by no means be alone. That’s why our solo vacationers benefit from the ambiance, the camaraderie. As effectively, it’s a protected solution to journey.”
Q&A: What new locations are you most enthusiastic about at Windstar? Quickly, Chris reveals, you possibly can go to Tahiti and see a Windstar ship from a Windstar ship (as its including Wind Star to the area in 2026. “We’re additionally enthusiastic about Alaska and Japan on Star Seeker. Search for new itineraries to come back in southeast Asia. And the Canary Islands is one other vacation spot I’m enthusiastic about. It’s the Hawaii of Europe. We’re placing a crusing ship there for the winter. These are wealthy cultural islands with an exceptional meals and wine custom. And for our company who love Europe, it’s a brand new and thrilling solution to expertise it.”
Intrigued by this dialog? After you watch the podcast, try Chris’ Instagram web page to study secrets and techniques and insights about Windstar.
Episode 4: Crusing Via Europe & Tahiti Yr-Spherical
On Winds of Change’s 4th episode, host Janet Bava welcomes company Jess Peterson, Windstar’s director of itinerary planning, and Paul Allen, a cruise business veteran who’s a mission advisor for the road. The dialog focuses on two of Windstar’s most iconic areas: Tahiti and Europe, each year-round locations.
Jess is an uber traveler
At Windstar, Jess is director of itinerary planning and is commonly working three years forward of the present season. He’s simply again from a significant scouting journey to increase Windstar’s Asian footprint past its presently scheduled 2026 and 2027 sailings. And, after we spoke, he was heading to Tahiti – for his first ever go to.
Favourite line: “With small ships, it’s all in regards to the vacation spot, not transferring a floating resort round.”
One other favourite line: “Why is the magic of a day at sea (or extra) so laborious to explain? It’s the rhythm. When you will have a few sea days, you simply settle into a calming rhythm.”
Q&A: What’s subsequent? I’m heading to Tahiti, our hottest vacation spot. I’ve by no means been! I’m going there to study it as a result of we’re including capability there quickly (Wind Star in 2027). It’s the long-lasting Windstar cruise.
Editor’s Notice: Spoiler alert, Jess’ podcast was taped just a few weeks in the past and he’s now simply again from that journey and tells me “I’ve no notes.” What does that imply? It’s that he has no considerations, no worries, about any facet of the area. “It units the bar for what a Windstar expertise must be.”
For me what blew my thoughts about Tahiti is the barrier reefs, which makes the seashores on the islands so calm. You’ll be able to see the waves breaking out on the horizon, and also you’re sitting on this seaside and you may take pleasure in little wavelets. The ships can sail inside the reefs and there’s simply attractive paths between islands like Raiatea and our non-public motu (seaside) expertise.
–Jess Peterson
Within the cruise business, Paul Allen is taken into account “Mr. Alaska” however his favourite vacation spot may shock you
A longtime cruise marketer, Paul Allen, a mission advisor for Windstar, is among the line’s best-traveled Yacht Membership members. In his skilled function, he’s greatest identified for his Alaska experience. In his non-public travels, you’ll in all probability discover him planning – or taking – journeys to the Greek Isles.
Favourite line: What units Windstar aside in Europe? Nice number of itineraries, the chance to sail from each iconic locations and locations you’ve by no means been to. For example, we had been in Sicily visiting historic Greek temples….
One other line: “Tahiti is a really particular vacation spot. I’m probably not a seaside individual however I really like its nature. For me it’s the possibility to see the earth respiration.”
Q&A: Favourite cruise? Allen tells us it’s Windstar’s Greek Isles 7-night cruise however right here’s the kicker: his favourite port of name on that itinerary is definitely in Turkey’s Ephesus. That archeological website was based as an historic Greek metropolis earlier than remodeling into the capital of the Roman world. It dates again to six,000 B.C. What he loves, he says, is that Ephesus is the positioning of a Windstar Vacation spot Discovery Occasion the place not solely do you get to expertise it with out crowds but in addition that Windstar serves a stunning dinner on website.
Episode 3: The Buddies We’ve Made Alongside the Method (and a Magical Thriller Cruise)
What does a comparatively new-to-Windstar influencer have in frequent with a pair who’s racked up 500 nights onboard? They each had been onboard for Windstar’s Magical Thriller cruise final yr. Chances are you’ll recall this was the standard Tahiti “Society Islands” voyage that abruptly, due to approaching cyclones, acquired rerouted for Windstar’s first-ever go to to the Marquesas, one of many world’s most distant archipelagos.
First, Janet chats with Tara Zimmerman, whose @fabulouslyadrift Instagram account chronicles travels on land and at sea. A Mediterranean “locals” cruise on Star Legend final winter was her first style of a small ship expertise and he or she returned for what she thought was going to be a primary timers’ style of Tahiti. “An journey is one solution to put it,” she tells Janet. “It was the journey of a lifetime in additional methods than one.”
Favourite line: Janet sketches in just a little element about how that journey was so unexpectedly uncommon. After the ship’s first port of name, an atoll referred to as Fakarava, “the captain approaches us and says ‘there’s a cyclone coming our means and we’re going to need to make some selections.’ The choices? Keep put in Bora Bora for three-to-four windy and wet days till the storm passes or we will go to a different distant vacation spot that’s completely out of the best way. 900 miles out of the best way, because it seems. And off we went to the Marquesas.”
One other favourite line: “The theme you’re listening to,” Janet tells us, is that “professionals are main this firm. When every part is easy crusing, all cruises are nice. When issues get robust, which traces are going to be sure you stillhave enjoyable? And keep protected? We do a very good job of adjusting and pivoting.”
In dialog with Anne Arnold and Jerry Baker, skilled Windstar vacationers who additionally occurred to be on board for the “magical thriller crusing” additionally mentioned the Marquesas journey. On that voyage, the spotlight, which the couple had by no means earlier than skilled, was “not figuring out what our subsequent day was going to convey,” Anne says, “and figuring out that Windstar was doing such an distinctive job of getting every part deliberate for us within the Marquesas. It was unbelievable.”
Anne and Jerry had been eating at Amphora with Windstar President Chris Prelog one evening and the subject turned to how a lot enjoyable it was to not know precisely what to anticipate in your itinerary. Chris prompt that Windstar may really plan a thriller cruise – and so Windstar has created the first-ever 2025 President’s Thriller Cruise. The 8-night voyage, roundtrip from Athens, departs on April 19, 2025 – and except for that capital metropolis, company will solely study the place they’re going the evening earlier than. Anne and Jerry had been the primary to signal on for it.
Q&A: The couple, who’ve achieved 500 nights aboard Windstar’s yachts, solutions this one: What brings you again? “The crew, the Windstar household. We really feel like they’re our household.”
Episode 2: Shaping the Previous, Current, and Way forward for Windstar
On this episode of Winds of Change, Janet’s visitor is Stijn Creupelandt, Windstar’s chief business officer. Stijn began his cruise profession as a waiter on then-Seabourn Delight earlier than rising by means of the onboard hospitality ranks; subsequent positions included receptionist and chief purser. He joined Windstar in 2021 as vp of lodge operations and was promoted to his chief business officer in 2023. On this function, Stijn nonetheless oversees hotel-related tasks (all guest-facing, akin to meals and beverage, leisure, housekeeping, shore excursions and administration). He’s added the nautical and engineering sides, as effectively, overseeing Windstar’s shipbuilding and refurbishment packages.
On this podcast, Janet and Stijn cowl matters akin to cultural and culinary immersion, the brand new Basil + Bamboo restaurant that simply debuted on Star Breeze, and why Star Seeker’s Horizon Suite is the suite to e book.
Favourite line: “Giving a brand new life to a 30-year-old ship is the most important type of sustainability in my eyes.”
One other favourite line: When “our favourite pesto maker comes on board in Italy…it’s an expertise that company keep in mind. It’s not a lot in regards to the pesto, it’s about his ardour, and connecting with locals and sharing of their tradition.”
Q&A: What’s one of the best itinerary for new-to-Windstar vacationers? “I positively wish to advocate Tahiti…the reference to the locals is wonderful. when you’ve got New Yr’s resolutions,, I’d say additionally, take a wellness cruise, take time, step again. We’re providing 5 “Thoughts, Physique and Spirit” journeys this yr. And for 2026, the tulip season in Holland is a tremendous itinerary. Three sailings, from mid-April to early Could. Begins in Amsterdam and winds up in Belgium, my residence nation.”
Episode 1, The Folks Behind Windstar
Janet hosts Dianna Rom, vp of gross sales, who, with over 25 years at dad or mum firm Xanterra, reminisces in regards to the day that Xanterra Journey Assortment acquired Windstar in 2011.
Favourite line: “Loads has modified since then. At the moment Xanterra was about managing parks and park methods, and as we speak… it’s about the place we will go away an imprint on the world.”
Q&A: What’s one of the best itinerary for new-to-Windstar vacationers? “A very good starter is Italy and the Dalmatian coast,” Rom says, notably recommending that vacationers begin in Venice, as a result of its sailaway is so magical. “Nowadays, only a few traces sail out and in of Venice [due to new restrictions that require ships longer than 180 meters to dock outside of the city]. Unfurling the sails, you’re listening to ‘1492: Conquest of Paradise,’ and effectively, should you don’t really feel like a pirate then, you by no means will.”
“Not solely did I benefit from the Windstar podcast, my 11-year-old grandson put his morning cartoons on maintain to hear with me! Then actively questioned which ships we had been on and what areas of the world we now have been to.” — @susanwauer7182
Subsequent up is Lodge Normal Supervisor Andreas Pitsch, who is looking in from Wind Surf. Pitsch oversees about 80% of a ship’s operation, together with culinary, housekeeping, spa, eating and provisioning.
Favourite Line: “The most important threat is to not take a threat,” he says, reflecting again on his resolution to hitch Windstar. “I referred to as my spouse and I stated, ‘If I’d have identified how fantastic ambiance on a small ship was, I’d have modified 20 years earlier.’”
Q&A: What’s your favourite itinerary? “I get this query typically and I at all times give the identical reply. My favourite itineraries are within the Mediterranean, Spain, Monaco, Italy and Greece.” He loves the climate and the culinary scene, too; in reality, Pitsch loves the area a lot he makes his residence on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
