Xanterra Parks & Resorts Completes the Purchase of Windstar Cruises

As expected, Xanterra Parks and Resorts completed the purchase of Windstar Cruises on Wednesday, May 25, after approval was granted by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 19, 2011 for the sale of the assets of Ambassadors International, Inc. Windstar was Ambassadors’ principal operating unit. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Windstar Cruises will sail all published 2011 and 2012 voyages, maintain its customer programs and policies, and honor Windstar fares and reservations, including charter contracts.

“The first order of business for Windstar Cruises is that it is full sail ahead,” said Andrew N. Todd, President and CEO of Xanterra Parks and Resorts. “Going forward, we intend to maintain Windstar’s business and operations and invest in Windstar’s growth for the long term. We are very excited to have Windstar Cruises become part of Xanterra’s 135-year legacy in hospitality.”

Windstar Cruises operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. The company sails two ships that carry just 148 guests each (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) and a third ship that carries 312 guests (Wind Surf, pictured above). For more information, visit Windstar Cruises online at WindstarCruises.com.

Hans Birkholz, CEO of Windstar announced, “Now that the sale of Windstar Cruises has closed successfully, Windstar will be financially stronger and well-positioned for long-term profitability and success under new ownership. Windstar’s 2012 collection of luxury voyages was just announced, and we will continue to provide our guests exceptional luxury travel experiences and the highest level of service. We will also continue to strive to exceed our guests’ expectations aboard our luxury yachts for many years to come.”

So, you may be wondering just who and what is Xanterra and what qualifies them to run a cruise line? The company traces its history in the hospitality industry back to 1876 with the Fred Harvey Company, known throughout the West for its pioneering efforts to develop and operate first-class hotels and restaurants along the route of the Santa Fe Railroad, including the world-famous El Tovar on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Harvey devised a system of alerting his restaurant kitchen staff of the imminent arrival of train passengers via the telegraph wire, thus allowing his dining room and hotel staffs to anticipate the needs of countless travelers prior to their arrival. His innovations and expertise led to first-class and luxury travel service standards that were ahead of their time. In 1968, the Fred Harvey Company was purchased by Xanterra Parks and Resorts, then called Amfac Parks and Resorts.

Sounds to us like they know what they are doing.

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