Sail the Mediterranean with Windstar Cruises in 2006

Windstar Cruises' three motor sailing yachts will spend seven months this year sailing the Mediterranean Sea. The Wind Star and Wind Spirit will have 38 sailings of the Greek Isles between Athens and Istanbul, and the Wind Surf will be positioned in the western Mediterranean. In July and August, the Wind Star will sail a series of eight cruises between Athens and Venice, stopping at small ports in Italy, Greece, and Croatia inaccessible to large cruise ships.

Photo Courtesy of Windstar Cruises


Windstar Cruises' Three Sailing Ships Explore the Waters from the Western Med to the Greek Isles in 2006

Windstar Adds New Itinerary and More Departures in the Greek Isles

Seattle, WA, March 8, 2006 -Windstar Cruises' three elegant and intimate motor sailing yachts will spend seven months this year sailing in the Mediterranean and Greek Islands.

Windstar's Greek Islands cruises have proven extremely popular, and the company is increasing its number of sailings in 2006 from 27 to 38. The Wind Star and Wind Spirit will both sail the popular Athens to Istanbul itinerary, visiting Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum and Kusadasi. New for 2006, the Wind Spirit will sail five Greek Islands cruises on a new itinerary between Istanbul and Athens that includes visits to Canakkale and Izmir Turkey; Patmos, Agios, Kos and Naxos, Greece; and Nikolaos, Crete. The new itinerary allows guest to combine two Greek Island cruises for a 14-day voyage with no repeating ports of call.

Between April and November, the 308-guest Wind Surf and 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit will sail a total of 40 voyages in Europe. Homeports include Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Monte Carlo, Málaga, Marseille, Nice and Venice. The Wind Surf will sail the Western Mediterranean from April through November including a 14-day Nice-to-Nice itinerary to coincide with the Grand Prix race in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Wind Star and Wind Spirit will each sail three seven-day cruises beginning late April and then again in late October.

"Europe is a very popular cruise destination for us," says Diane Moore, vice president of marketing and sales for Windstar Cruises. "Our new Greek Isles sailings feature a new itinerary with smaller, unique ports. There's no better way to see the beautiful Greek Isles than by sea, especially aboard a casually elegant Windstar ship."

The Wind Star will also operate a series of eight cruises between Athens and Venice in July and August. Ports of call on the Athens to Venice itinerary include Monemvasia, Katakolon, and Corfu, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Venice to Athens itinerary visits Rimini, Italy; Hvar and Dubrovnik, Croatia and Cephalonia and Kythira, Greece.

The company has adjusted its itineraries to allow for later departures and more overnights in ports, so guests can enjoy more time for shopping, shore excursions and nightlife in favorites such as Monte Carlo, Monaco; Ibiza, Spain; Santorini, Greece; Sorrento, Italy; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Taking the adventure from ship to shore, Windstar has organized shore excursions in port ranging from active and adventurous to relaxing and luxurious.

"We've done all the research and booked with the best tour operators," says Moore. "We take care of all the details with attention paid to the quality and safety of each excursion so that our guests can spend their day enjoying themselves."

If romance is in the air, a gullet ride for two in Bodrum, Turkey is a romantic sailing experience through the magnificent coves of the Bodrum Peninsula. A delicious lunch of local specialties and chilled white wine will be served on board. For adventure, see Monaco by helicopter or take the tram 3,000 feet up to the top of Mount Capanne in Portoferraio, Italy.

Windstar has made reservations at fine dining hot spots. At the Hotel Splendido overlooking the picturesque harbor in Portofino, Windstar has arranged for the maitre d'hotel to meet guests, present the lunch menu, and discuss different types of olive oil used in Italian cuisine. In Mykonos, dinner is served at La Maison de Katrin, a romantic and classy restaurant in town often visited by stars. In Monaco, a private helicopter whisks guests to Moustiers village for lunch at La Bastide de Moustiers. Famous Chef Alain Ducasse prepares a three-course lunch of French Provençal cuisine.

New Windstar Tours for 2006
In Canakkale, Turkey, Ancient Troy takes guests to the famous site of the legendary city destroyed in the Trojan War. In Izmir, Turkey, the Pergamum Acropolis & Asclepion tour visits the site's ruins and includes a lunch of Turkish cuisine in the city center

In Katákolon, Greece, Ancient Olympia takes guests 2,000 years into the past. A guided tour includes one of the seven wonders of the ancient world-the Temple of Zeus.

The Deluxe Granada & the Alhambra tour in Málaga, Spain visits the stunning Muslim-Hispano 14th century Alhambra. Lunch will be served at Ruta del Veleta, one of Spain's finest restaurants. Often visited by Spain's royal family, the restaurant is known for their creativity with Spanish and Andalusian cuisine.

In Portofino, guests may opt for the five-hour tour to Genoa, the main commercial port of Italy, also known as a genteel seaside resort. A guide will narrate the town's history and sights.

In 2006, a collection of 20 voyages are designated "Foremast Sailings" for alumni. On these sailings, alumni guests will receive 50% or more off the brochure tariff.

For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent or call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245. Visit Windstar Cruises online at www.windstarcruises.com.

Press Release Source: Windstar Cruises
Dateline: March 2006