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Windstar expands included Private Events to all 2015 cruises

Windstar expands included Private Events to all 2015 cruises
Starting in 2015, all Windstar Cruises itineraries will feature an included shoreside Private Event. These range from an after-hours tour and dinner under the stars at the Celsus Library of Ephesus to a private ballet performance in the Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The company's product managers toured the regions sampling cuisines, talking to locals and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites to create the best experience possible, according to Windstar ceo Hans Birkholz.

The line introduced the first Private Event on its 'Dreams of Tahiti' voyage in May. Included on all 2014 sailings through the South Pacific, this is an evening of entertainment with music and fire dancers on a secluded island, or motu. The evening includes a Tahitian dinner with suckling pig steamed in a traditional ahima’a earth oven.

Among the new Private Events for 2015 is 'A Feast for the Senses' in Phuket on the 'Singapore & Malay Peninsula' voyage. The evening starts with local dancers and a Long Drum Parade, followed by dinner at the award-winning Sala Bua (Pavilion of Lotus) restaurant overlooking the Andaman Sea, and a Thai dance performance.

'Temples and Tombs on the Nile' is featured on the 'Wonders of Arabia' and 'Wonders of Civilization' cruise-tours. Participants travel to Luxor for a two-day tour that includes an evening showing of the sound and light display at Karnak Temple and an overnight in the Hilton Luxor. On the second day, participants explore the Valley of the Kings, followed by lunch aboard a felucca, a traditional Nile sailboat.

'The Tantalizing Tastes of Greece' is offered at Rhodes on the 'Greek Isles & Turkish Delights' cruise. Participants will be wined and dined at the award-winning Hatzikelis Fish Taverna where they'll sample traditional and modern fare with wines from the local Cair Winery, followed by a music and dance performance.

'Artistry in Architecture and Dance,' at Odessa, is part of the 'Black Sea Tapestry' voyage. It includes an exclusive ballet performance in the Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theatre with champagne and canapés during intermission.

Among the Caribbean's Private Events is 'Island Beach Party' at Prickly Pear Beach, a nature refuge in the British Virgin Islands. Offered on the 'Yachtsman's Caribbean' voyage, this includes water skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, beach volleyball, horseshoes and bocce ball, with a lunch of grilled fresh local seafood.

Private Events in Northern Europe include 'A Perfect Blend,' in Bordeaux, part of the 'Culinary & Wine Delights of Spain & France' cruise. Participants will have a wine tasting and estate tour of the Chateau Giscours, a French cooking class at the Halle Suzanne and dinner accompanied by a classical music quartet.

'An Evening with Princes and the Gods,' in Copenhagen, is featured on the 'Spectacular Scandinavia' and 'Scandinavian Tapestry' voyages. It provides a canal cruise through Copenhagen and a tour of the National Museum, closed to the public for Windstar’s exclusive use. A Danish smørgåsbord paired with local beverages is included.