Cruise Master Middle East appointed regional agent for Windstar Cruises

The boutique premium cruise line Windstar Cruises has appointed Dubai-based Cruise Master Middle East as the General Sales Agent (GSA) to source business from the Middle East markets.

Cruise Master Middle East is the leading cruise agency in the Middle East and the general sales agent for Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and P&O Cruises in the Middle East and has partnerships with more than two dozen cruise lines.

Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small, luxury cruise ships that sail to 330 ports in 60 countriesthroughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska, Canada and New England, Central America, Mexico, and the US West Coast.

Windstar also cruises year-round in Tahiti, and regularly cruises from Dubai in the Middle East. During the coming 2023/24 cruise season, the line will homeport in the Arabian Gulf for the first time, cruising roundtrip from Dubai.

“We are very excited with this collaboration. Windstar Cruises’ small ships offer an outstanding value and are able to access smaller ports with many late-night departures, overnights in ports,” said Ashok Kumar, Founder and Managing Director, Cruise Master.

Each of Windstar’s ships carries between 148 and 342 guests. Its fleet includes three conventional cruise ships, as well as three sailing tall ships. The cruise line is known for its immersive and authentic shore excursions and unique, port-intensive itineraries.

“Small ships cater to a niche audience and offer guests a cruise vacation with distinct expertise and focus,” said Dianna Rom, Vice President, Sales, Windstar Cruises.

“Windstar offers a combination of sailing ships and all-suite ships and offers guess a cruise vacation with distinct expertise and focus. Our yacht style cruises offer authentic and bucket list experiences to wine and culinary enthusiasts,” she added.

During its coming Arabian Gulf cruise season, Windstar has revealed a new Formula One experience for its guests during the final race of the 2023 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.

The Middle East cruise season will be operated by Star Legend, one of the line’s three motorized cruise ships. The vessel recently completed a comprehensive refit and refurbishment that saw her cut in half and lengthened.