Windstar Cruises received the 2018 TravelAge West WAVE Award for Best Small-Ship Cruise Line at last night’s gala held at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. The annual black-tie event brings together representatives from across the travel industry with West Coast travel agents to celebrate the best across many categories from air, hotel, and rail, to cruise line entertainment, family travel and more. Winners are determined by a rigorous process that includes a careful analysis of product offerings, on-site visits, travel agent surveys and intensive research.
For 2018 TravelAge West established a travel agent advisory board which brought additional insight and perspective to the deliberations of the venerated publisher’s editorial board. WAVE Award winners represent the leaders in providing superior products, amazing customer service and good relations with the travel agent community. The combination of these professionals from the publishing and travel trade world in determining top performers, makes these awards particularly coveted in the industry.
Windstar has been recognized with many awards and honors over time as a cruise line best for adventure, romance, and dining. Most recently Windstar was named Global Traveler magazine’s Best Adventure Cruise Line as part of their sixth annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. The winners were recently feted at a cocktail reception on the rooftop of Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in May. Global Traveler conducted a survey of its readers with open-ended questions for the best in many categories of leisure, luxury and lifestyle travel.
Windstar also was named by The Affluent Traveler Collection as the Best Specialty Cruise Line. Voted on by Affluent Traveler agents, the award will be highlighted in The Affluent Traveler’s Summer/Fall issue, which emphasizes some of the world’s finest travel experiences.
Exploring the world by small ship allows guests aboard Windstar Cruises to go more places, see more things and connect more authentically with local culture than is possible on a traditional cruise ship. The small ships of Windstar offer a yacht-like feel for passengers in addition to being able to navigate smaller waterways. To create travel experiences that are truly 180° from Ordinary, Windstar also offers features that enrich each itinerary. More than 45 percent of Windstar’s cruises include late-night or overnight port calls which allow guests to connect more fully with local cultures and everyday customs; Signature Deck Barbecues in some of the world’s most spectacular locations – like the mouth of the Panama Canal or a Norwegian fjord – and Destination Discovery Events create lasting highlights for guests. Combined with an exceptional culinary program, shipboard spa and fitness amenities, and expert insight into the destinations visited, the Windstar experience is the perfect way for cultural explorers to see the world.
To learn more about authentic small ship cruising with Windstar, contact a travel professional or Windstar Cruises by phone at 877-958-7718, or visit www.windstarcruises.com.
