Wind Goes Out of Windjammer's Sails

Windjammer Barefoot Cruise Company, a Miami-based cruise company that operates sailing vessels in the Caribbean and Central America, appears to be on the verge of financial collapse.

Rumors are circulating that the company has begun paying port fees in cash and that customers have been left stranded in ports in Trinidad, Mandalay, Panama, Grenada, Aruba, and elsewhere. Phone calls to Windjammer earlier this week proved fruitless and the company's Web site is disabled.

Windjammer's financial situation has been precarious ever since a reported buyout of the company fell through this summer. Since then stories have surfaced about the financial status of the cruise line. Earlier this week Consumer Affairs ran a story on Windjammer, citing first-person accounts of boats being stranded in port cities. On Thursday, USA Today revealed that Travelex Insurance will no longer provide cancellation insurance for Windjammer.

If you've booked a journey with Windjammer, check the status of your trip with Windjammer headquarters in Miami (305/672-6453).