Learn Gardening Secrets From Award-Winning Garden Designer Anthea Guthrie on Windstar

SEATTLE, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations, offers guests the opportunity to learn gardening secrets from award-winning British garden designer Anthea Guthrie on Wind Surf's January 9, 2011, Barbados to Barbados voyage.

Windstar's Signature Collection Host Series adds a fascinating dimension to Windstar Cruises and features distinguished guests throughout the 2011 season including Guthrie. Since 2003, Guthrie has been awarded 13 Royal Horticultural Society medals, including four gold medals, and one for best creative garden and best small garden. Her love of history combined with a passion for gardening, led to the creation of a garden based on the story of Ann Boleyn, a theatre garden at the world famous Chelsea at Flower Show for the wife of Charles I, and a Shakespearean garden based on the play "As You Like It" at Hampton Court Palace. Guthrie has also been a guest on the BBC series "A Passion for Plants," and on various radio shows, hosted Gardener's Question Time at Hampton Court Palace and is a well-known speaker at various garden clubs. Her specialty is restoring old gardens to their former glory and she enjoys helping people with their gardens so that they can relax and enjoy them more.

During a lecture, Guthrie will share her extensive gardening experiences, her foray into creating gardens for famous garden shows, along with chronicling the plants transported on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to America including which plants were considered essential to take and how the plants battled to survive. During a special tips and techniques session, Guthrie will provide practical solutions and secrets to garden issues and she encourages guests to bring photos of their garden so she can offer advice.    

Wind Surf's January 9, 2011, Barbados to Barbados sailing visits the ports of Bequia, The Grenadines; St. George's, Grenada; Mayreau, The Grenadines; Portsmouth, Dominica; and Pigeon Island, St. Lucia. Cruise rates start from $1,859 per person, double occupancy.

To complement this sailing, Guthrie will host an exclusive Windstar shore excursion to the Soufriere Estate Botanical Gardens on the west coast of St. Lucia. The beautiful gardens are planted amongst plantation trees and feature tropical flowers and shrubs and locally grown fruits and vegetables. After a scenic drive from Pigeon Island to the estate in Soufriere, guests tour the gardens and enjoy a refreshment, returning back to the ship after the visit. The 5-hour excursion is $49 per person and can be purchased online at www.windstarcruises.com.  

Wind Surf accommodates 312 guests, offering deluxe, oceanview staterooms that include beds with luxury linens and mattresses, flat-screen TV and DVD player, Bose SoundDock speakers for Apple iPods, waffle-weave robes with slippers and sumptuous L'Occitane products. Suites also include an extra bath, TV and sitting area. Wind Surf recently introduced new spa suites which include all the amenities of a suite along with luxurious microfiber linens, spa robes, an orchid flower arrangement, specialty pillow menu, daily fresh fruit platter, O SPA London products, WindSpa spa experiences and events as well as unlimited Pilates and Yoga classes. Bridge Suites offer everything in a suite along with the additional luxury of a spacious private living room and relaxing whirlpool spa. Guests enjoy culinary wonders in Wind Surf's The Restaurant, Degrees, Le Marche and Candles. Wind Surf also features a lounge, Yacht Club, WindSpa, casino, three bars, two pools, two hot tubs, a shop, photo gallery and watersports platform.

About Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts known for their pampering without pretense and their ability to visit the hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations. Carrying just 148 to 312 guests, the luxurious ships of Windstar cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. For more information including rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent or call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245. Visit Windstar Cruises online at www.windstarcruises.com.

Windstar is a division of Ambassadors International Cruise Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC.

SOURCE Windstar Cruises