VOICE OF LUXURY
Windstar vessels Wind Surf (left) and Star Legend
Wind Star
in the winter. We’ll need to implement a communication and awareness strategy around having a year-round European vessel, but I’m really pleased we’re making that commitment, because there are so many beautiful destinations to be explored regardless of the season.
Q. How much of a focus are your Quick Getaways, including those departing from London? We’re really excited to be offering these three to five-night itineraries in 2026 and 2027 because they give people who may not have experienced Windstar a taste of what makes the line so special. They’re scattered across Europe, including a three-night sailing from Rome to Portofino or – my personal
favourite – from Barcelona to the south coast of France. Star Pride is offering itineraries from London, starting by passing through Tower Bridge – which is a cool experience in itself – to destinations including Bruges and Antwerp in Belgium and Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Our small ships mean guests can experience the destinations in completely different ways by stopping off at less-explored ports. These shorter itineraries can be a great entry-way into larger bookings, so they’re a valuable segment of our collection.
Q. How important is the UK trade in your growth strategy? The trade is the foundation of how we’re planning to expand Windstar in the UK as we enter 2026. We don’t really do a lot of direct-to-consumer marketing – almost everything is trade- focused. We work closely with about 20 UK agencies currently, and I’m looking forward to broadening and deepening that network. We’re blessed to have a vibrant industry with lots of different cruise lines for varying tastes, and agents are best placed to select the right brand for each client. We never take our foot off the pedal with agent education, so this year they can expect more webinars, training programmes and one-on-one communication. The trade really is fundamental to everything we do.
Q. What is one of the biggest trends you’ve noticed in luxury cruising in recent years? One of the most interesting recent developments is the arrival of luxury hotel brands in the cruise space – think The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts and Aman at Sea. I’m excited by it because these fabulous brands are bringing their loyal database of clients onto the sea, which extends opportunities to other high-end cruise brands that travellers might want to dip their toes into. It’s bringing fresh eyes into the world of cruise.
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
JANUARY 2026 ASPIRE
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