Windstar sails Mayan routes

Cruise Travel, Nov-Dec, 2004

Windstar Cruises sets its sails on a new tropical itinerary in 2005 with voyages to Mexico's Mayan Riviera, Belize, and Honduras. The voyages on an upscale five-masted motor sailing yacht promise to be a unique escape as guests can experience a spectacular combination of island scenery, soft adventure excursions, watersports--including some of the world's finest snorkeling and diving--and explorations of the great ruins of the Mayan civilization.

The 308-passenger Wind Surf sets sail on 11 cruises to the Mayan Riviera from January 16 to April 3. Each voyage is a seven-day roundtrip from the island of Cozumel, Mexico, with calls at the Honduran Bay Islands of Isla de Utila and West End (Roatan Island); stops on the Honduran mainland at Puerto Cortez and Omoa; a visit to Belize City, Belize; and a call at Costa Maya, Mexico, before returning to Cozumel.

Trained naturalists will be onboard every voyage to interpret and help guests discover the vast array of flora and fauna of the region. Passengers are offered many opportunities to explore historic ports and several magnificent ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization--many of the ruins are among the most intact and least-visited Mayan sites in the region Each cruise also features exceptional watersports and recreation both atop and under the water, including a full range of diving excursions led by PADI certified divers. Snorkelers can enjoy brilliant reefs packed with colorful fish, and paddlers can take one of the ship's kayaks out for a tour of turquoise waters.

For more information contact your travel agent or Windstar Cruises (Cruise Travel Magazine), 300 Elliott Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119 or log on to www.windstarcruises.com.