Windstar Cruises started crusing this yr to the Marquesas Islands — a distant, South Pacific paradise that welcomes only a few thousand guests per yr. In July, the Marquesas acquired broad worldwide recognition by being named one of many world’s latest UNESCO World Heritage websites.
Windstar is commemorating the second by providing a celebration cruise departing September twenty sixth, hosted by Windstar’s French Polynesian Attaché Hironui Johnston, together with three Marquesas Islands mayors. An extra celebratory crusing will happen on March 27, 2025.
UNESCO acknowledged the Marquesas for its beautiful geography and distant location, along with the encompassing waters being “among the world’s last marine wilderness areas.” UNESCO additionally acknowledged the Marquesas’ distinctive tradition and heritage.
Windstar has been crusing in French Polynesia for over 36 years, creating deep relationships and partnerships with native officers throughout the area. With the growth to incorporate the distant Marquesas, the whole variety of islands the road visits within the South Pacific is 11. Windstar’s year-round cruises (additionally together with the Society Islands and the Tuamotus) carry the tradition of French Polynesia onboard with a delegated cultural ambassador for all sailings.
All itineraries embody a complimentary Bora Bora Celebration Vacation spot Discovery Occasion, which is a personal feast on a seaside with native performances from music to fireside dancing. Native meals and beer/spirits are highlighted onboard, whereas curated shore excursions led by locals enrich the cruise.
“We are honored to host the mayors of these incredible islands on board Star Breeze for this celebration of the UNESCO World Heritage status,” mentioned Stijn Creupelandt, vp of lodge operations at Windstar Cruises. “This designation is a testament to their work at preserving their culture and environment.”
The mayors from the Marquesas’ Ua Huka, Fatu Hiva, and Tahuata becoming a member of Windstar on the September twenty sixth celebration crusing (a 14-day spherical journey voyage from Papeete) will communicate to the method and journey of being acknowledged as an UNESCO website. They can even talk about rāhui – a standard community-based strategy to useful resource administration; why the mayors of the Marquesas work collectively and the legends that encourage this cooperation; and the way they’re empowering the subsequent technology to preserve and shield the vacation spot.
Workshops can even be led on board with hands-on matters like conventional Marquesas lei crafting, Haka Manu (Hen Dance) classes, and culinary demonstrations on learn how to make I’a mito (the Marquesas’ model of poisson cru – a dish just like ceviche) and Keukeu, which is a standard dish of goat with coconut milk. Moreover, skilled photographers Pat and Rosemarie Keough will spherical out the programming with pictures workshops geared toward expertly capturing the island’s pure magnificence and teeming underwater life.
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