Seattle-based Windstar Cruises is a comparatively small line, but it surely affords a giant loyalty program that may convey you all kinds of nice perks should you sail recurrently with the model.
Dubbed the Yacht Membership, the four-tier program, which was massively upgraded in late 2020, affords its higher-tier members such worthwhile perks as a $100-per-person onboard credit score for each crusing, free laundry service on ships and free Wi-Fi. Larger-tier members additionally get vital reductions on cruises, beverage packages, shore excursions and extra.
For extra cruise guides, information and suggestions, join TPG’s cruise publication.
This system was upgraded on the identical time that the six-ship line expanded its capability with a large makeover and enlargement of three of its vessels. The $250-million Star Plus Initiative, because it was referred to as, introduced new suites, eating places, pool decks and extra to the road’s three yacht-like motor vessels — Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Delight.
All three of the vessels additionally had been lengthened by round 20%.
Methods to earn factors
The Yacht Membership point-earning system is comparatively simple. Most often, members earn 1 level for daily they sail on a Windstar vessel. The one exception is for passengers staying in prime suites. Clients staying in Wind Class suites or Deluxe suites on Star Plus Class ships will get 1.5 factors for daily they sail. These staying in Proprietor’s suites and Traditional suites on Star Plus Class vessels will get 2 factors for daily they sail, as will passengers staying within the Bridge Suite on the Wind Surf.
Program tiers and advantages
There are 4 tiers to the Yacht Membership program:
- One Star (1 to fifteen factors)
- Two Star (16 to 39 factors)
- Three Star (40 to 89 factors)
- 4 Star (90 or extra factors)
Even on the lowest One Star stage, the perks are pretty strong, not less than as in comparison with loyalty packages of lots of Windstar’s small-ship cruise line opponents.
Every day Publication
Rewarding studying in lower than 5 minutes
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Yacht Membership members in any respect 4 tiers get a 5% low cost on fares when reserving a cruise. That is a fantastic perk, because it quantities to actual cash in your pocket. Nevertheless it will get even higher should you guide a cruise whereas on board a Windstar ship or inside 60 days of departing one. In such instances, Yacht Membership members will get a further 5% low cost on fares — bringing the entire financial savings to 10%.
Associated: A newbie’s information to cruise line loyalty packages
In choose instances, Yacht Membership members might be rewarded for his or her loyalty with even greater reductions. As a part of this system, members can snag an excellent heftier 20% low cost on choose Yacht Membership member sailings. One caveat: The 20% low cost will not be combinable with different affords.
As well as, all Yacht Membership members get:
- Advance notification of latest deployments
- Advance notification of gross sales occasions
- Members-only personal gross sales
- A $100 shipboard credit score when referring a brand new buyer to Windstar. The shopper additionally will obtain a $100 onboard credit score.
- Unique members-only cocktail celebration with ship officers
- Unique onboard tote
- Further reductions at sister Xanterra Journey Assortment manufacturers (extra on that beneath)
Plus, beginning on the One Star stage, prospects get a 5% low cost on laundry service, Wi-Fi and Windstar merchandise each time they sail with the road. Be aware that the Wi-Fi low cost solely applies to Wi-Fi bought individually and never as a part of the road’s All-Inclusive Fares.
On the Two Star stage, prospects get all of the above plus a 5% low cost on shore excursions and beverage packages (once more, the latter low cost doesn’t apply to the road’s All-Inclusive Fares). Additionally they get a $50 per particular person onboard credit score for each cruise they take.
The elite stage that makes a distinction
We’re impressed with all 4 ranges of the Windstar Yacht Membership loyalty program. Even on the lowest tier, it brings actual financial savings for loyal passengers. And the shore tour and beverage bundle reductions that include the Two Star stage are engaging in our eyes.
That stated, we begin to get actually excited in regards to the Three Star tier. It bumps the reductions for laundry service, Wi-Fi, shore excursions and Windstar merchandise to 10%. When you’re the type of cruiser who does a shore tour in each port and recurrently makes use of onboard companies, akin to laundry and Wi-Fi, this might prevent $100 or extra on a typical seven-night cruise.
The Three Star tier additionally comes with an onboard credit score of $75 per particular person for each cruise you are taking. That is extra actual cash in your pocket.
Finest elite perk
It is a robust name on the very best elite perk of the Windstar Cruises Yacht Membership loyalty program. In contrast to some frequent cruiser packages, there is not one clear standout perk, such because the free cruise that Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society members get after reaching the highest Pinnacle Membership stage.
On the prime 4 Star tier stage of the Yacht Membership program, passengers get free laundry service and free Wi-Fi on each crusing, that are each worthwhile perks. However probably the most beneficiant perk would be the 15% low cost on shore excursions that comes with 4 Star standing. That is assuming you’re the kind of cruiser who indicators up for lots of cruise line-organized shore excursions. When you spend $1,000 every week on excursions, that perk alone is price $150 per seven-night cruise.
Associated: The final word information to selecting a cruise line
On the 4 Star stage, members additionally get a 15% credit score on Windstar merchandise and a ten% low cost on beverage packages. The onboard credit score will increase to $100 per particular person for each cruise you are taking.
One factor we like in regards to the Yacht Membership program is that it does not take all that many cruises to succeed in the highest 4 Star stage. For somebody staying in a normal cabin, it could require the completion of 13 seven-night cruises. That is not all that tough to do in simply 4 or 5 years, assuming you cruise two or 3 times a 12 months. However, should you keep in suites, you might hit the 4 Star stage much more rapidly. It will take simply seven seven-night cruises.
You may hit the highest 4 Star stage much more rapidly should you join Windstar’s longer “Star Collector” voyages of 14 to 60 days. With the correct mix of such sailings, you might attain 4 Star standing in simply two or three sailings.
Associated: Windstar will allow you to guide a cabin in a crew space
Certainly, somebody staying in a prime suite on one of many longer Star Collector sailings, in idea, may hit the 4 Star stage after only a single cruise.
Be aware that, as is commonly the case with cruise line loyalty packages, Windstar prospects would not have to re-qualify for standing annually. Yacht Membership members preserve their factors on the finish of every 12 months and proceed to accrue factors indefinitely. That implies that somebody who hits 4 Star standing will stay at that prime tier stage ceaselessly (or till Windstar makes a change to this system).
Such “ceaselessly standing” is likely one of the nice allures of cruise line frequent cruiser packages. Many airline frequent flyer packages, against this, require loyalty members to re-qualify for standing annually.
Advantages at Xanterra Journey Assortment manufacturers
Along with reductions and different perks at Windstar, Yacht Membership loyalty program members are entitled to particular perks at lodges, lodges and different journey distributors owned by Windstar’s dad or mum firm, The Anschutz Company.
Based mostly in Denver, The Anschutz Company owns such iconic lodges as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the Sea Island Resort simply off the Georgia coast. It additionally owns two resort properties close to nationwide parks (The Grand Resort close to the Grand Canyon and Cedar Creek Lodge close to Glacier Nationwide Park) and is the biggest nationwide and state park concessioner in the US. Among the many nationwide parks the place it’s the concessionaire are Yellowstone Nationwide Park, Grand Canyon Nationwide Park and Glacier Nationwide Park.
Associated: Learn how to plan a cruise with factors and miles
Different Anschutz journey holdings embrace the Grand Canyon Railway & Resort and tour corporations VBT Bicycling Holidays, Nation Walkers and Vacation Holidays.
Collectively, all the lodges, lodges and journey corporations are often called the Xanterra Journey Assortment. The perks accessible to Yacht Membership members at Xanterra Journey Assortment entities range however usually take the type of credit score. On the Sea Island Resort, for example, members are entitled to a $200 resort credit score.
Backside line
It is uncommon for a cruise line as small as Windstar to have such a fantastic loyalty program. Massively upgraded in October 2020, Windstar’s four-tier Yacht Membership loyalty program brings numerous nice perks even on the lowest One Star tier stage, together with across-the-board reductions on cruise fares. On the highest 4 Star stage, it brings a big quantity of worth.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
