Lindblad & Windstar Are On Board With Vaccination For Passengers & Crew

Lindblad & Windstar Are On Board With Vaccination

By Anne Kalosh.

Two more small-ship lines, Lindblad Expeditions and Windstar Cruises, plan to resume sailing with COVID-19 vaccination mandates.

These apply to passengers at both lines. However, Lindblad exempts those under 16, while Windstar does not, acknowledging that this means younger guests probably won’t be able to sail initially.

Lindblad’s return is set for early June in Alaska and the Galápagos, and Windstar’s in mid-June starts with two ships, one in the Caribbean and one in the Mediterranean.

Lindblad travelers will be diving into Alaska this summer. * Photo: Doug Gould for Lindblad Expeditions

Crew Vaccination?

As for crew vaccination, Lindblad said that will be required, “with limited exception for individual crew members who are unable to obtain vaccines due to limitations in their country of residence.”

Crew will subject to multiple tests and quarantine prior to beginning their duties, routine continued testing, mask-wearing and restrictions on interacting and engaging with anyone outside the Lindblad voyage.

Windstar likewise said its crew will be required to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them. “Not all crew may have access to vaccines by the time we resume sailing,” the company stated. “Whether vaccinated or not, crew will wear masks, socially distance and go through regimented COVID-19-related surveillance continuously and be COVID-19 tested weekly.”

Vaccination for Windstar President Chris Prelog

Windstar President Chris Prelog gets his COVID-19 vaccination. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

Layers Of Protocols

Both Lindblad Expeditions and Windstar Cruises have layers of additional health safety measures.

For Lindblad, key components include two negative COVID-19 tests for passengers (one PCR, one antigen) prior to embarking, daily temperature checks and thorough sanitation protocols. From start to finish, the line said, guests will travel exclusively with their expedition community.

Masks will be mandated indoors (except when actively eating or drinking), in the mudroom and while aboard Zodiacs and shoreside transportation. Once ashore in the wilderness, masks will not be required (unless by local regulation) but social distancing will be strongly encouraged.

At Windstar, protocols include a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarking, heightened sanitation and air filtration and mask-wearing indoors in public spaces and on deck. The line’s open bridge policy will be adjusted to allow just a few visitors into the space at once, on a schedule.

And, for the near term, travelers will need to book a Windstar excursion in order to go ashore.

RELATED. Lindblad’s COVID protocols.

RELATED: Windstar’s COVID protocols.

Lindblad in Alaska with vaccinations for passengers and crew

Lindblad will have two 100-passenger ships in Alaska, just the right Quirky size! * Photo: Max Siegal for Lindblad Expeditions

When Windstar Will Sail

Following its latest update, Windstar’s first ships scheduled to sail are the newly lengthened and updated Star Breeze in the Caribbean and Wind Star in the Mediterranean, both on June 19.

Otherwise, Wind Spirit in Tahiti was set back to July 15, Wind Surf in the Mediterranean to Aug. 8, Star Legend in Northern Europe to Sept. 4 and Star Pride in the Caribbean to Nov. 3.

Wind Surf is scheduled to begin sailing Aug. 8 in the Mediterranean. Here, the vessel is off Capri. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

Lindblad’s Resumption

In resuming travel to Alaska, Lindblad intends to head deep into the wide-open spaces, focusing on nature and wildlife.

The season will begin with six- and eight-day itineraries aboard the 100-passenger, U.S.-flag sister ships National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture, with the first departures June 5 and June 6.

The first Galápagos cruise is planned for June 4, a 10-day voyage on the 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavour ll.

Vaccination for Passengers & Crew in Galapagos with Lindblad

Galápagos vista. * Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins for Lindblad Expeditions

New Lindblad CEO

In other Lindblad news, the company has a new CEO as its founder and longtime chief executive Sven-Olof Lindblad moves to co-chair Lindblad Expeditions Holdings.

The incoming president and CEO is Dolf Berle, CEO of Topgolf Entertainment Group since 2018. Before that, he was president and COO of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the CEO of Lindblad Expeditions since founding the company in 1979, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished over the last 40 years,” Lindblad said. “We’ve built a business based on the respect and understanding of geography and connecting our more than hundreds of thousands of loyal guests and new audiences worldwide with nature, culture and an opportunity to explore the world.”

Lindblad added he’s “pleased to hand the baton to Dolf, who I have gotten to know well and for whom I have great respect and admiration. I am confident that his outstanding leadership, integrity and character make him the right choice to serve as our next leader.”

Dolf Berle & Sven Lindblad.

Continued Involvement

Further, Lindblad said he looks forward to his continued involvement with the company as co-chair with Mark Ein.

According to Ein, Berle “understands the importance of delivering unmatched guest experiences and creating communities where guests want to return time and again.”

Ein also credited Sven Lindblad for building “one of the world’s greatest expedition and adventure travel companies by pioneering innovative ways to connect people and places. It is because of his leadership that Lindblad Expeditions is synonymous with life-changing adventures for so many people.”