Windstar Cruises has announced the cancellation of cruises in Asia for fall 2022 due to ongoing uncertainty over the reopening of ports in the region.

The cancellations impact seven scheduled itineraries on the all-suite Star Breeze, including a crossing of the Pacific from Alaska to Japan, two ‘Grand Japan’ sailings, ‘Island Hopping through Japan,’ ‘Windstar Crew Hometowns: Philippines and Indonesia,’ Hidden Indonesia & the Great Barrier Reef’ and ‘Edge of the Outback.’

Instead, Star Breeze will extend its Alaska season with an additional itinerary (‘Alaskan Splendors’) in late August, followed by ‘West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza’ down the coast of the United States, a trans-ocean voyage from San Diego to Tahiti, and five sailings in French Polynesia.

During October 2022, Windstar will celebrate its 35th anniversary of operations in Tahiti, where it was one of the first lines to offer overnight cruises in the region. All sailings aboard Wind Spirit and Star Breeze in Tahiti will join in the celebration with special events during cruises.

On Nov. 11, 2022, Star Breeze will depart for a trans-ocean journey to Sydney, arriving on Nov. 22 for a scheduled charter cruise. The shift will make the Dec. 4 ‘Tasman Sea Treasures: New Zealand Fjords & South Australia’ itinerary Windstar’s first commercial cruise offered in the region. This year marks the first time Windstar will be offering itineraries to New Zealand and Australia, visiting small, rarely visited ports of call like Middle Percy Island.

“As Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and South Korea are all currently still closed to cruising, Windstar joins several other cruise lines in making this decision to cancel cruises in Asia for fall,” says Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog. “We hope our guests rebook on these same fantastic itineraries for next year.”

Source: Travelweek