Cruise line doing its bit for the environment

Cruise ships do not always have the best reputation when it comes to looking after the environment, but small ship cruising company Windstar Cruises is bucking that trend. 

For the past year, Windstar has partnered with Coral Gardeners, a Moorea (French Polynesia)-based organisation that aims to revolutionise ocean conservation and create a global movement to save coral reefs through reef restoration, awareness activities, and innovative solutions. 

Windstar Cruises has just announced new efforts to support Coral Gardeners including the expansion of its coral reef adoption program for cruise guests, a new educational shore excursion in Tahiti, and its recently launched informative speaker series on coral reef preservation.

The partnership launched in October 2022 onboard Star Breeze in Moorea with the option for all guests sailing on a cruise in French Polynesia to adopt a coral for a $35 per person donation.

Windstar has now expanded the program allowing all guests sailing in any destination the opportunity to adopt a coral.

To date, Windstar, along with its guests, has adopted over 2,400 corals and expect to exceed its goal of 2,500 by the end of the year. 

The cruise line’s goal is to open a dedicated nursery supporting 5,000 corals in 2025.

Beginning in 2024 in Tahiti, when Star Breeze returns to this region with a brand-new itinerary including the Marquesas, Windstar will introduce a new shore excursion taking guests to the Coral Gardeners facility to meet the team, visit the nurseries, and learn about the importance of protecting the corals. 

Staff from Coral Gardeners will explain their process of selecting heat-resistant coral, growing coral in nurseries, and replanting healthy coral on damaged reefs to restore the ecosystem and bring back marine diversity.

In an effort to continue to raise awareness, Windstar Cruises has also recently launched an engagement speaker series on board ships calling in Moorea.

"We are proud of this important partnership with Coral Gardeners and the support and interest from our guests,” said Windstar president Christopher Prelog. 

"Having sailed in Tahiti for more than 35 years, Windstar has a deep-rooted relationship with the destination and is excited about the work and positive impact Coral Gardeners is making for the health of our oceans. By working with Coral Gardeners, we can actively contribute to the preservation of these fragile ecosystems and inspire meaningful change."

Learn more about Windstar Cruises’ partnership with Coral Gardeners here. For more information on Windstar Cruises visit www.windstarcruises.com. 

The all-suite 312-guest Star Breeze takes over from Wind Spirit in February 2024 as the year-round ship in Tahiti.