Windstar Cruises to Return to Tahiti

When Windstar Cruises' guests spoke, the small ship cruise line listened. The recently renovated Wind Spirit plans to say, "ia ora na" (Hello) to Tahiti in 2014 when Windstar Cruises returns to the islands for the first time since 2002. With an "inaugural" voyage on May 2, 2014, Wind Spirit will sail 7-day cruises from Papeete, Tahiti. A total of 28 voyages through the islands are on her schedule, with the last voyage departing on Nov 7, 2014, before returning to Panama and Costa Rica for the winter season.

The week-long Wind Spirit sailings begin in Papeete, Tahiti, the world's definition of paradise, after which they will visit the following islands:

• Moorea (overnight) - the beauty of this unforgettable island of love lies in drama and adventure.
• Taha'a - this fragrant island is known for its abundance of vanilla and offers a glimpse of the traditional tranquil life of the Tahitians.
• Raiatea (overnight) - recognized throughout Tahiti as the 'Sacred Island,' it also serves as the cultural heart of French Polynesia.
• Huahine (overnight) - known as the Garden of Eden, with lush forests, untamed landscape and quaint villages.
• Bora Bora (overnight) - an island paradise in the South Pacific and known worldwide for its natural beauty.

This will be the first time the recently renovated Wind Spirit will sail the South Pacific. With six sails that cover 21,500 square feet, the French-built sailing yacht was made to cruise the French Polynesia Islands under the power of warm breezes and tall billowing sails. The aqua blue water of the South Pacific can be enjoyed at the back of the yacht with Wind Spirit's Watersports Platform, which offers paddle boards, kayaks, hobie cats, wind surfing, snorkeling equipment, and more when the ship is at anchor.

Onboard and ashore, South Pacific culture will be brought to life in Windstar style. Local entertainment, such as traditional Tahitian dancers, will come on board for a magical evening to remember. Regional dishes will be incorporated into Windstar's signature deck barbecue, held under the sails and stars one night per cruise. Shore excursions will be tailored to give guests experiential and romantic options delivered in true French Polynesian style.

"Windstar's return to Tahiti has always been the number one request from our guests and travel partners, even more than a decade later," said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises' chief executive officer. "We've listened and made the decision that now is the perfect time to come back to the beautiful islands of French Polynesia. Birkholz added, "We've looked at what was popular with our guests in the past and we blended it with our luxury small-ship experience today to deliver the best product possible. We couldn't be more thrilled to return to Tahiti."

Windstar's voyages from Tahiti will go on sale to the public in mid-March 2013. To read more, visit Current, the Windstar Cruises blog.

Image Courtesy of Windstar Cruises