Windstar to fit ships with new hygiene equipment

The luxury line said its Beyond Ordinary Care programme will be implemented across its fleet of six yachts, including the installation of HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration systems as well as “zapping” the air with ultraviolet light to kill any coronavirus, known as germicidal irradiation.

Windstar Cruises chief executive Andrew Todd said: “We are taking extensive measures and making multi-million dollar investments to operate our yachts more safely in this new environment.

“The Beyond Ordinary Care programme implements a layered system of science-led best practices aimed at keeping everyone aboard healthy.”

Like the rest of the cruise industry, Windstar’s cruises are currently suspended with Wind Spirit scheduled to be the first to return to service in Tahiti on 10 September followed by ships in the Mediterranean in October and the Caribbean in November.

Other hygiene measures onboard ships will include using a “powerful” sanitiser to disinfect all types of surfaces in all cabins, public areas and crew quarters. The line will also carry more regular cleaning throughout the ships.

Todd added that Windstar has created the Beyond Ordinary Care programme through working closely with health experts and following the guidelines of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).