Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

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)