Executive Summary
Windstar Cruises partnered with Americas Great Resorts to increase direct bookings, expand brand reach, and re-engage high-value luxury travelers through a targeted email marketing campaign. AGR executed a data-driven, experience-focused strategy that delivered exceptional engagement and a meaningful lift in direct bookings for Windstar’s intimate, small-ship cruise experience.
Client Profile:
Windstar Cruises is an award-winning luxury cruise line operating a global fleet of small ships known for immersive itineraries, intimate onboard experiences, exceptional service, and destination-rich voyages. Windstar appeals to affluent travelers seeking upscale, culturally enriching, small-ship adventures across Europe, Tahiti, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Background:
With increasing competition in the luxury cruise sector, Windstar sought a direct booking strategy that would introduce the brand to new travelers, highlight the value of small-ship cruising, and convert prospects who were actively planning their next voyage. The goal: create a measurable impact on bookings and revenue while strengthening brand awareness.
Client’s Challenges:
- Attracting new-to-brand luxury travelers
Windstar needed fresh exposure to upscale travelers who fit their demographic profile but had not engaged with the cruise line previously. - Standing out in a crowded luxury cruise marketplace
With major cruise brands targeting similar affluent audiences, relevance and timing were critical. - Driving direct bookings without heavy discounting
Windstar wanted to maintain its premium brand positioning while increasing conversions. - Reaching active travel planners during peak booking windows
High engagement is essential when travelers are researching upcoming cruise options.
Solution:
Americas Great Resorts developed a luxury cruise email marketing campaign focused on high-quality creative, precise audience targeting, destination-driven storytelling, and strategic delivery. AGR leveraged proprietary data to identify cruise-interested travelers most likely to respond to Windstar’s unique value proposition: small ships, personalized service, and unforgettable destinations.
Implementation:
- Precision Audience Segmentation
AGR identified travelers with demonstrated interest in luxury vacations, cruise experiences, and premium travel brands—ensuring Windstar’s message reached the highest-value prospects. - Destination-Driven Email Creative
AGR produced polished HTML email creative highlighting Windstar’s iconic itineraries, intimate ship design, onboard service, and experiential travel focus. - Compelling, Experience-Forward Messaging
Copy emphasized small-ship advantages—cultural immersion, rare ports, open-sea sailing, and truly personalized service—to elevate perceived value and inspire bookings. - Optimized Deployment & Conversion Strategy
The campaign was delivered during a peak planning window using optimized subject lines, CTA placement, and timing to maximize engagement and conversions.
Results:
- Two Deployments of 100,000 Emails Each
AGR executed two targeted deployments of 100,000 emails each, spaced two weeks apart to align with active planning windows and maximize conversion opportunity. - 143 Bookings Generated
The campaign produced 143 confirmed bookings attributable to the email deployments. - 36:1 Return on Investment
The campaign delivered a 36:1 ROI — converting owned demand into measurable booking revenue at exceptional efficiency.
Conclusion:
Americas Great Resorts partnered with Windstar Cruises to execute two targeted email deployments of 100,000 recipients each, spaced two weeks apart, generating 143 bookings and delivering a 36:1 ROI. The result was measurable direct-booking performance and revenue impact — driven by luxury-aligned creative, precision audience targeting, and strategically timed delivery.
To see how our approach performs across both resorts and cruises, explore our Ventana Big Sur Hotel Email Marketing Case Study.
