Windstar Cruises to offer hotel packages

Post image for Windstar Cruises to offer hotel packages

October 19, 2011

We talk a lot here about pre or post-cruise hotel stays, a great way to insure we are on hand to board any given sailing on time or to linger a bit after as switch back to the “real world”.  Most often offered and booked separately from a cruise booking, some cruise lines offer pre or post-cruise hotel stays as an add-on, making for a seamless package.

Windstar Cruises has introduced pre- and post-cruise Hotel Packages in using a selection of 24 hotels that were hand-selected by Windstar and are located near sightseeing attractions and restaurants. Hotel Packages include accommodations for one, two or three nights, taxes, luggage handling, and breakfast at most properties.

Hotel Packages are available in Athens, Greece; Bridgetown, Barbados; Barcelona, Spain; Colon, Panama; Istanbul, Turkey; Le Havre, France; Lisbon, Portugal; Nice, France; Oslo, Norway; Rome, Italy; San Jose, Costa Rica; St. Maarten; St. Martin; Stockholm, Sweden; and Venice, Italy. For a list of the hotels in the program and rates, visit WindstarCruises.com.  Hotel Packages can be booked through a travel professional or by calling Windstar Cruises at 1-800-258-7245.

Windstar recently announced its $18 million fleet refurbishment plan, which will be completed in phases beginning this fall. Each yacht will receive stylish, new furniture, upholstery, art, lighting, wall coverings, carpeting, ceiling finishes, window treatments, and floor coverings, elevating the look and feel to ultimate luxury at sea, providing an unparalleled guest experience.

Windstar Cruises has been recognized by some of the most notable names in the travel and lifestyle world in 2011. Windstar was voted a “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line” in Conde Nast Traveler‘s Readers’ Choice Awards, honored on the magazine’s annual Gold List of “Best Cruise Lines” and all three Windstar yachts were recognized in Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best Small Ships” Reader’s Poll. Celebrated Living, American Airlines’ prestigious publication for first class passengers, named Windstar Cruises “Top Small-Ship/Midsize Cruise Line” on their Platinum List for the fifth time in a row. Earlier this year, Windstar was selected by Travel + Leisure as one of the top five “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines.”

For more information including rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent or call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245.  Visit Windstar Cruises online at WindstarCruises.com. Windstar Cruises can also be followed on Windstar’s Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
  • JannaLiliya

    If visiting Istanbul and residing near Sultanahmet then you will be hounded by several tour guides offering you a hop-on hop-off tour of the Bhosphorus. I strongly recommend arranging tours through your hotel with http://www.privatetoursinistanbul.com I opted for the full day tour of the Bosphorus (on a boat) and Dolmabahce Palace Package Bear in mind that Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Monday and Thursday, and you cannot enter the palace without a guide. The agency will collect you from your hotel in the morning and you will be taken on a slow private boat cruise through the Golden Horn and along the Bosphorus. This is an amazing experience which enables you to take in the Ottoman architecture (including Topakapi Palace), the old city and the new city from a wonderful angle, and because the cruise begins at the Golden Horn you can view the entire peninsula and see Istanbul properly (utterly breathtaking). Additionally, a guide will explain all the buildings and their significance throughout which adds that little bit more. The cruise is followed by a drive and short walk towards Pierre Loti Hill and a cable car ride down the hill so you can view Istanbuls real skyline and amazing beauty. Subsequently, you are given a three-course meal (covered in the price of the tour) and en-route to lunch you will pass Constantinople’s city walls which guidance throughout. Post-lunch you will spend 2.5 hours going through the Palace. The Palace is huge and not all rooms are open to view, but the tour takes your through the main quarters and each aspect is explained. You cannot take pictures inside the palace but the gardens are beautiful and you will have ample oppurtunity to snap away outside the garden. Finally, the tour drives you over the famous Bosphorus Bridge taking you from Europe into Asia and leading you towards Camlica Hill (highest peak in Istanbul). The view here is beyond description and you will be in utter amazement. The best thing about the experience was having a tour guide who was passionate about his history and culture.