Windstar Cruises has ventured far beyond the seas and into the world of international show jumping. The cruise line has teamed up with Grand Prix rider Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Serenity Farm Show Stables in Wellington, Florida, to introduce Windstar, a champion-in-the-making show-jumping horse.
Windstar, the horse’s namesake, was officially christened on Dec. 25, uniting elite equestrian sports with the world of cruise travel. The collaboration makes Windstar Cruises the first-ever cruise line to align with an international show-jumping athlete and horse.
A Champion in the Making
Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog expressed enthusiasm for this venture.
“We are thrilled to welcome this extraordinary horse to our Windstar family,” said Prelog, in a press statemenet “Our unique collaboration aims to bring awareness to the travel community about what it takes to train a champion show-jumping horse. We are fortunate to be aligned with such skilled professionals to provide Windstar with the meticulous training needed to enter the field.”
At the helm of Windstar’s training is Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen, an emerging star in the world of show jumping and currently ranked among the top 300 riders globally. As the resident Grand Prix rider for Serenity Farm Show Stables, she is no stranger to elite competition.
“This is truly an incredible opportunity on multiple fronts,” said Cruciotti Vanderveen, in a recent press statement. “Windstar Cruises is such a unique company with a fantastic focus on luxury and fun. When they approached us with the concept to blend their ‘180º From Ordinary’ philosophy with the prestige of the show-jumping industry, I knew this was going to be a game changer.”
The Road to the 2028 Olympics
Purchased as a young horse, Windstar is being carefully developed with the ambitious goal of competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The horse will debut in major 2025 equestrian events, including the Winter Equestrian Festival, World Equestrian Center, Tryon International, The Hampton Classic and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
For more information, visit windstarcruises.com.
