Windstar Cruises has a team of sommeliers ready to serve guests on sailings in 270 ports around the world.  Those Windstar sommeliers aim to elevate the at-sea travel experience, drawing on the line’s hotel operations team and their sincere desire to please the discerning palates of experienced travelers.

“Our new sommeliers will offer their all-encompassing knowledge of wine to guests, as well as to our dining room and bar servers by holding frequent tastings and educational classes,” said Windstar Cruises Director of Hotel Operations Peter Tobler.

Windstar Sommeliers Class Of 2018

Ship-with-sails Wind Surf, as well as all-suite motor yachts Star Breeze, Star Pride and Star Legend, are offering travelers kayaking adventures by day followed by culinary and wine indulgences each evening, an attractive pairing.

All Windstar sommeliers were chosen for their training, knowledge, and experience worldwide having worked in a broad spectrum of wineries, restaurants, travel and hospitality providers.  The sommelier team:

• Justin McAuliffe (pictured)
• Antony Graz Pradeep
• Vitor Da Encarnacao Custodio
• Marko Pejic
• Slaven Cosic

Windstar sommeliers lead wine tastings on board each cruise for a nominal fee. In addition, the sommeliers may accompany guests on culinary-themed shore excursions to local wineries and restaurants.

“Travel is an excellent way to expand your wine repertoire,” added Tobler, detailing the experience further. “Our sommeliers will share their wine expertise, tasting tips, and make recommendations for varietals from nearby the ports of call. Most importantly, they will help guests select the best wine to pair with our gourmet food selections. When on holiday, this is the best way to complete each day.”

 

Windstar Sommeliers Featured on James Beard Culinary Cruise Collection Sailings for 2018

Windstar recently announced a multi-year partnership as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation. This year, Windstar continues to embrace James Beard-recognized guest chefs but also beverage experts including top sommeliers from across the United States. SEE the full list here.

Stars like Sommeliers Belinda Chang and Shelley Lindgren are on the roster in the coming months and will join forces with the onboard sommeliers to provide Windstar’s most comprehensive and immersive wine programming. Chang joins Chef Maxime Bilet on June 20 to sail the French Riviera; immediately following on the June 27 Spanish Symphony cruise Sommelier Ashley Santoro, wine director of The Standard East Village joins fellow New Yorker Chef Anthony Sasso, one of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide for Casa Mono.

In August, Europe is the place for epicurean cruising as Sommelier Jon McDaniel of Gage Hospitality unites with Chef Sarah Gruenberg on discovering culinary Gems of the Adriatic on August 7. Also that month, Sommelier Katie Bell joins Chef Evan Hanczor on a Windstar sailing in Norway on August 17, Bell is no stranger to Nordic cuisine wine pairings thanks to her former role at New York City restaurant Agern, known for its time-honored techniques and flavors rooted in Norway.

For something completely different, sail to exotic Tahiti in November as Sommelier Lindgren cruises with Pastry Chef Emily Luchetti, pairing wine with desserts inspired by the island’s vanilla farms.

Beverage Packages: Less Restrictive & More Affordable for Longer Sailings

Windstar is now offering lower daily prices for any beverage package to guests sailing 14-day and longer, back-to-back Star Collector Voyages. The boutique line launched a new beverage package program in fall 2017, allowing for a variety of tiered levels of premium products. The innovative package offerings are available for purchase on a per cruiser basis rather than requiring guests sharing a stateroom to purchase the same package, a welcome change for non-drinkers and companions with different tastes. Like me.

• Voyager’s Adventure Beer & Wine Package – $32 per person per day Choose from all domestic and imported beers and a superb selection of 20 fine wines by the glass, up to $8.50/glass
• Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package – $42 per person per day More to explore – choose from  all domestic and imported beers and 33 premium wines by the glass, up to $11.50/glass
• Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package – $52 per person per day Includes wines, beers, cordials, liqueurs and apertifs, cocktails … even mini bar items.

Learn & Buy: Windstar’s “Get Closer” Event runs through June 15, bringing up to $1,000 shipboard credit on new bookings for 2018 and 2019. To learn more about authentic small ship cruising with Windstar, contact a travel professional or Windstar Cruises by phone at 877-958-7718, email info@windstarcruises.com or visit http://www.windstarcruises.com.

Learn More About Windstar Cruises

Want to know more about Windstar Cruises?  See these assets from our recent sailing

• Here We Go: Follow Along On Our Windstar Cruise Through The Philippines
• Unique Windstar Feature: Hugging Upon Boarding
• A Fortunate Walk In The Woods With Windstar Cruises
• Better, Smarter Windstar Does Not Play Hide The Destination Game
• I’ll See Your Top Deck Attraction And Raise You Someone Who Cares
• 18 Thousand Words About Windstar Cruises Visiting Coron
• The Unexpected Windstar Cruises Family Day
• Cruise Unexpected Enabled By Windstar Focus On Crew Family

Posted In Reflection
After Travel- another look at our Windstar cruise, port by port

• The Republic Of Singapore- Windstar Embarkation In Singapore A Breeze
• Kuching, Malaysia- First Malasia Stop Highlights Hearty Windstar Travelers
• The Kingdom Of Brunei- Behold: The Kingdom Of Brunei
• Kota Kinabalu, The Philippines- Kota Kinabalu: One Of Those Places I Want To See Again
• Puerto Princessa, Palawan, The Philippines- Puerto Princessa: Destination Authenticity Confirmed
  
• Coron, The Philippines- Windstar Cruises In The Philippines: Crysta Clear Coron
  
• Manila, The Philippines- Windstar’s Brilliant Commitment To Doing It Right, Really Right
  
• Hundred Islands, The Philippines- Windstar Cruise Unexpected: Specific Examples

Posted In Reflection

Deeper On Related Topics Of Interest

On ChrisCruises:

• One From Each Place: Windstar Philippines & Borneo 
• Windstar’s Brilliant Commitment To Doing It Right, Really Right
• Windstar Cruise Unexpected: Specific Examples
• Windstar Onboard Booking, Yacht Club Bring Bonus Value
• Our Last Trip: The Windstar Instagram Version
• Seen In Port: The Philippines
• Windstar Culinary Collaboration: Extended. Enhanced. Unexpected.
• Review: Emirates To Singapore

At The Windstar Blog

• Windstar President’s Cruise Honors Crew, Promotes Understanding

At CruiseFever.net

• Windstar Honors Crew In Unique Unexpected Way

On Instagram

[soliloquy id=”75235″]

Facebook Photo Albums

• Windstar President’s Cruise 2018– a recap of each day, posted as we traveled
• Singapore With Windstar Cruises
• Windstar Beautifully Brunei
• The Lovely People Of The Philippines

Flickr Photo Albums

1. Emirates To Singapore
2. Singapore
3. Westin Singapore
4. Singapore Embarkation
5. Star Legend Suite 305
6. T-Mobile Country Count
7. AmphorA
8. Signature Sailaways
9. Star Legend Room Service
10. Star Legend Philippines Instagram Photos
11. James Beard Menu
12. Kuching, Malaysia
13. South China Sea Sunrise
14. The Kingdom Of Brunei
15. Kota Kinabalu Heritage Center
16. Kota Kinabalu Wet Market
17. Kota Kinabalu Beach Lunch
18. Puerto Princessa Philippines Port
19. Puerto Princessa Welcome
20. Puerto Princessa On Tour
21. Puerto Princessa Lunch
22. Puerto Princessa Basket Weaving
23. Puerto Princessa Shopping
24. Puerto Princessa Locals Onboard
25. Puerto Princessa Sail Away
26. Coron, Philippines
27. Coron, the Philippines On Tour
28. Windstar Chef Nightly Briefing
29. Chef Graeme Cockburn
30. Star Legend Crew Barbecue
31. Boracay, Philippines
32. Graeme Cockburn Cooking Demo
33. Manila Tour
34. Port Of Manila
35. Manila Arrival
36. Manila Crew Families
37. Manila Locals Onboard
38. Manila Family Day Lunch
39. Manila Hotel
40. Manila Sail Away
41. Watersports Marina Deployed
42. Beach Barbecue Setup
43. Hundred Islands Tour
44. Hundred Islands Beach Barbecue
45. Hundred Islands Welcome
46. Hong Kong
47. Intercontinental Hong Kong
48. Hong Kong Night On The Town
49. Emirates Return Flight Plan

Pinterest– A variety of favorite photo experiences, posted in reflection after travel.

• Windstar Cruises Philippines & Borneo President’s Cruise
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Singapore
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Brunei
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Coron, The Philippines
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Family Day In Manila 
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Kota Kinabalu
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Puerto Princessa
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Touring Manila
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Hundred Islands
• Windstar Philippines & Borneo Cruise- Hong Kong

 

Exposure Photo Storybooks

Exposure Photo Storybooks- Usually created after sailing and reflection, these full-size images provide a distinctly different view of destinations and events also depicted elsewhere. Actually, you can preview the Windstar Experience via our storybook Windstar’s Costa Rica & Panama Canal. Our first time sailing with Windstar, this is the reason we came back.

• The Philippines With Windstar Cruises