Windjammer’s SV Polonysia chained in Aruba

It’s been almost one year since Windjammer cruises ceased operations across the Caribbean. Last year I read an article in The New York Times which stated that Windjammer was in financial jeopardy. Soon after that article, Windjammer ships were seized all over the Caribbean.

In Aruba’s main port in Oranjestad, Windjammer’s SV Polonysia was seized as well. According to Aruba’s port authority they decided to take this course of action in order to guarantee payments the company running Windjammer owed the harbor. Judging from above picture taken this week, the harbor is still waiting for payments.

When the ship was chained last year there were still passengers on board. Eventually they were flown out. Meanwhile the staff waited for their situation to be resolved. There was hope of a take-over from another party, but that hope was short lived. After help from the Red Cross and island officials, the staff was repatriated to their countries of origin. Windjammer was a popular Caribbean cruise known for being very informal, stayed long at ports and had sharp prices. It surely was different. I’m afraid that the next destination of SV Polonysia is the ocean floor.