Global InformationWindjammer Barefoot Cruises information
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| Company type | Cruise line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Defunct | Services: 2007 Company: 2008 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy in late 2007, liquidation in September 2008 |
| Headquarters | Miami Beach, Florida |
| Products | Cruises |
| Website | windjammer.com |
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises was a leisure cruise line based in Miami Beach, Florida.[1] Founded in 1947 by Michael Burke, the company scheduled one and two week cruises in the Caribbean and Central America, using a fleet of sailing tall ships. The ships were former yachts and commercial vessels that were refurbished as cruise vessels, accommodating 60 to 100 paying passengers and 20 to 40 officers and crewmembers. The ships were refitted to resemble 19th century sailing vessels called windjammers.
Caribbean itineraries included the British Virgin Islands, French West Indies, Grenadines, the ABC islands and The Bahamas. Central American itineraries included Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.
In September 2007, Windjammer's entire fleet was suspended from operating any further cruises. Although the company initially stated that it intended to resume service, no significant steps in that direction took place. Customers who were already booked on future cruises did not receive refunds from the canceled voyages. All remaining parts of the company that were still operating were shut down in April 2008. Later that year, the company's assets were auctioned off. The four ships in their fleet as of the shut down were all laid up and were left in a neglected state of condition.[2][3]
Active ships at the time the company shut down:
- S/V Legacy
- S/V Polynesia -- sold to Portuguese Navy
- S/V Mandalay
- S/V Yankee Clipper -- permanently docked in Trinidad
Retired ships:
- S/V Yankee Clipper
- S/V Flying Cloud
- M/V Amazing Grace
- S/V Fantome (sunk in 1998)
- ^ "Contact Us." Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. February 2, 2004. Retrieved on January 9, 2010.
- ^ "Windjammer Cruises Officially Out Of Business". April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
- ^ Motter, Paul (November 16, 2007). "Windjammer Barefoot Cruises: The End of an Empire". cruisemates.com. Retrieved December 24, 2008.