ONBOARD STAR PRIDE — Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog shared his company’s philosophy – and a few personal fun facts – with Travelweek during the recent President’s Cruise onboard Star Pride from the Canary Islands to Portugal.

Throughout the eight-day sailing, the affable and unpretentious executive – known as Chris to all onboard – hosted cocktail parties, Q&A sessions, and mingled with guests daily. In a candid conversation, Travelweek learned about his approach to Windstar, along with a few personal fun facts.

Hailing from Graz, Austria, Prelog started his career at sea in 1997 as a waiter onboard Seabourn Cruises. “It was a very tough time, and I was going to quit. But my father said to me, this is what you chose to do, you should stick with it. That was his Austrian tough love!” he recalled. His discipline and perseverance paid off and by 2002, he moved into fleet management at Seabourn. In 2017, he joined Windstar and eventually became President in 2020.

Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze

An adrenaline junkie, Prelog loves to race his car and is an avid Formula 1 fan. He is extremely approachable and quick to laugh, as observed in his interactions with Star Pride’s guests and crew. But his trademark is his fashionable eyewear. Begun as a fun form of self-expression, his unique glasses collection – made by SEE Eyewear – now numbers 32 pairs, and he takes a different pair for each day when he travels (and yes, we witnessed eight different pairs during our cruise).

THE WINDSTAR EXPERIENCE

Windstar Cruises was founded in 1984 with three classic ‘Wind Class’ sailing yachts. Today, the fleet has grown to include three all-suite ‘Star Class’ motor yachts, acquired from Seabourn Cruises in 2013.

The Windstar cruise experience is unregimented, relaxed, but port-intensive. Prelog likes to say: “we bring you to the country, not through the country.” In addition to immersive excursions, guests on our cruise feasted on seafood, cheeses, and charcuterie procured from local farmers’ markets. Windstar also organized a traditional whistling demonstration in La Gomera and a Fado performance in Funchal. Our turndown treats included Madeira wine and honey cakes, and Canary Islands almonds.

But mostly, Windstar is known for its stellar crew, providing gracious and caring service. As a past crew member himself, Prelog values the importance of a happy crew. “I grew up in the industry, and I firmly believe it’s our team and people who make things happen,” he said. “We are relatable, approachable, and we don’t always take ourselves too seriously.”

When Hotel Manager Andreas inadvertently raised the Windstar flag upside down during sailaway, everyone laughed it off, and it became a running joke for the remainder of the cruise, with his staff often wearing their name tags upside down. Cleary, the guests, officers, and crew onboard Star Pride are like family. As such, Windstar has one of the highest crew return ratios and guest repeat factors. On our sailing of 276 guests, over 120 were past passengers, and on average, Star Pride carries between 90 and 120 repeaters on every sailing.

Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride at Lanzarote in the Canary Islands (photo courtesy Ming Tappin)

NEW SHIPS

Windstar will welcome two 224-guest ships – named World Seeker and World Explorer – in December 2025 and December 2026 respectively. World Explorer is currently sailing under a different brand, and World Seeker is under construction in Portugal.

The ships will have full balconies, which will be a welcome enhancement to the fleet but will still be small enough, according to Prelog, to retain the Windstar ambiance.

“We’re not about getting bigger and bigger like the other cruise lines. We’re not trying to be anything else, we’re going to be Windstar,” he said.

NEW ITINERARIES

With a larger fleet, Windstar will be able to offer new destinations, and enhance existing itineraries with longer sailings and new ports of call.

Announced so far are the Canary Islands for this upcoming winter season, South America in 2025, and a second ship in Tahiti in 2027.

Prelog confirmed that a return to Asia and Alaska is also being considered. Expect to see deployment news this summer.

TRAVEL ADVISOR SUPPORT

Windstar’s Advisor Hub contains sales resources, and their Canadian resident rates program offers up to 30 percent savings.

Their new booking engine will offer Canadian dollars, and advisors can also contact Andrea Mendelsohn-East, Windstar’s Canadian regional sales manager, for additional support at andrea.mendelsohn@windstarcruises.com.

What is Prelog’s message to advisors?

“We’re in a relationship business,” he said. “There’s not a day where we don’t discuss how we can do a better job in supporting the (travel advisor) community. We don’t have a big corporate feel, we are all approachable. So come talk to us, we’d love to work with you.”

For more information about Windstar Cruises see windstarcruises.com