Windstar Cruises Adds Three Seabourn Ships To Its Fleet

Don't tell Hans Birkholz, CEO of Windstar Cruises that his industry is slowly dying--he has a different opinion on the matter.

While news is focused on the Carnival Triumph and the fire that resulted in passengers being stranded, Birkholz has announced that his company is expanding.

"The addition of three [new] ships at Windstar Cruises over the next two years will result in a wide range of new itineraries at the line," Birkholz told USA Today.

The acquisition of three Seabourn Cruise Line vessels means that the line is doubling its fleet and can now offer its intimate, casually elegant cruising in many more places around the globe.

"All of the things that the guests really love (about Windstar), we are going to be able to do in areas (where) we have never done it before," Birkholz said, according to USA Today.

Birkholz added that the three Seabourn ships will be renovated, re-named and re-branded before heading back out to sea under the Windstar banner. The experience on board the ships after they reemerge will be similar to what is found on Windstar's existing ships, reported USA Today.

He also made sure to state that "they'll all provide that same private yacht-style experience that Windstar is known for," stated USA Today.

Windstar's current fleet consists of the 148-passenger Wind Spirit, 148-passenger Wind Star and 312-passenger Wind Surf - all of which are what's known as sailing motor yachts as they can be propelled both by sails and motors. The three Seabourn ships are more traditional cruise ships with a capacity of 208 passengers each, according to USA Today.

Birkholz claims that the differences between the two sets of ships will be a positive for the line as it gives customers more options, reported USA Today.

"It's wonderful (for customers) to have choices," he told to USA Today.

But, he doesn't want the company to forget why their repeating customers keep coming back.

"When we really dove deep into what the brand essence (of Windstar) is all about, (we found) sailing does play a role, but what our guest really raved about was the private yacht side of the experience," Birkholz says. When asked what they love most about Windstar, "they came back over and over again saying this private yacht thing, the places you go, the service that I get, the food I eat, the whole atmosphere," he said, according to USA Today.