SEATTLE — Windstar Cruises has officially resumed operations, with its first voyage since the start of the pandemic setting sail on June 19 from Athens.

Carrying fully vaccinated guests and crew onboard, the 148-maximum guest, four-masted sailing yacht, Wind Star, embarked on a seven-day roundtrip voyage to the Greek Isles, visiting Nafplio, Monemvasia, Patmos, Santorini and Mykonos. Windstar plans for the yacht to sail the itinerary on near-weekly dates through October.

Windstar is returning to operations in a phased manner, with its fleet of six yachts debuting on various dates through November. In addition to being vaccinated against COVID-19, passengers will be required to follow health and safety precautions such as testing, social distancing and mask wearing. High-tech air filtration has also been implemented onboard its yachts.

All of Windstar’s crew aboard Wind Sar have been vaccinated, and the company is ensuring that crew are vaccinated on all Windstar yachts when it begins sailing on revenue cruises with guests. 

Windstar was among the first cruise lines to require vaccinations for guests, with a goal of full crew vaccinations. According to the company, procuring doses for Windstar’s primarily international crew has been “challenging,” but line officials have now successfully sourced vaccinations for crew aboard all six yachts.