A group of nautical students in Dubrovnik got a glimpse of life at sea when Windstar Cruises welcomed them aboard Wind Surf. The cruise line shared the visit for World Maritime Day, using the occasion to recognize the next generation of maritime professionals.

For the students, stepping onto a working cruise ship offered a chance to picture where their studies could lead. Fourth Officer Ravikant Pandit, whose message Windstar shared, reflected on seeing the young visitors explore shipboard life. Every experienced seafarer, he said, was once a student with a dream. He hoped some of the visitors might one day be officers standing on the bridge of a ship of their own. 

Wind Surf is Windstar’s flagship sailing yacht. Unlike a classroom or training simulator, a visit aboard puts students in the setting where crew carry out their work each day, alongside the people who have chosen a career at sea.

The visit came as the maritime community marked World Maritime Day on September 24. This year’s theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” focuses on putting maritime rules and training into action. Windstar’s post brought a personal side to that message: experienced crew welcoming students who may follow them into the profession.