Frequently Asked Questions
Booking and documents
How to book?
In order to book a journey, go to the page of your chosen Journey and click “Book this journey” button on the right. You will be directed to an online form where we ask some of your personal details (like your passport number, address and birthday). These are necessary to provide harbour customs with a passenger list. We will also ask you to fill out the health statement in order to ensure your safety and comfort during the journey.
You will receive one email right after booking – please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t get it within a few minutes. We normally process the bookings within 3 business days; we will contact you with a booking confirmation and an invoice for a down payment then.
How to pay?
You will get details of payment options by email with an invoice. Most of Windseeker journeys are covered by the STO Garant, so you do not pay the booking fee to Windseeker, but instead into the escrow account which holds your payment in reserve until the journeyhas come to an end.
This means you will receive two emails:
– an email from Windseeker with the invoice,
– an email from STO Garant (info@sto-garant.nl) containing information about how you can pay for the booking.
If you need more assistance, please email admin@windseeker.org.
What insurance do I need for my trip and my stay on board?
You are required to carry with you the proof of being enrolled in the following:
1. Medical health insurance, for your home country, and
2. Travel insurance, which covers medical expenses abroad, loss of luggage and third-party liability. Make sure that it includes sea sailing.
Please be aware that you need both of those in order to sail.
Your travel insurance will cover your journey from home to the ship and back. Make sure to include the travel days in the insurance coverage, not just the days you are actually on board.
Unless stated otherwise, cancellation insurance is not obligatory, but recommended. If your journey gets cancelled, you will only receive reimbursement of your journey fee but not any additional costs (like flights). It will also be helpful if you need to cancel the journey yourself.
Each Tall Ship has a “Protection and Indemnity insurance” that covers you in the event you’re hurt by actions that the crew take (or fail to take).
Click here for more information and travel insurance recommendations.
What is your cancellation policy?
The full Windseeker cancellation policy is described in Article 12 of General Conditions Windseeker. Please refer to that document for details.
In case of a trainee cancellation, an administrative costs fee of € 25 will apply, as well as the following charges, depending on the time of cancellation:
- After reservation: 15% of the total journey price,
- 6-5 months prior to sailing: 20%,
- 5-4 months prior to sailing: 30%,
- 4-3 months prior to sailing: 40%,
- 3-2 months prior to sailing: 50%,
- 2 months – 31 days prior to sailing: 75%,
- 30 days or less prior to sailing: 100%.
You can find another person to replace you, provided they meet the requirements for participation.
At this point most of the vessels don’t offer free cancellation due to trainee illness, which is why we encourage you to obtain a cancellation insurance.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on the area of sailing and your nationality. It’s always best to check with the foreign embassy in your own country or with your ministry for foreign affairs.
Since 2025, all European citizens entering the UK need an electronic travel authorisaion (ETA) – click here to learn more.
Be aware that sometimes entering a country by sea will require different documents than entering by air (for example in the USA).
Organizing travel documents is the responsibility of the trainee. If you encounter any problems, let us know.
Entering the UK - an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
From the 2nd of April 2025, all people entering the UK from the EU/Schengen countries will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), along with a valid passport.
The applications are done online. You will need to upload or take photos of the passport that you will be traveling with, and of your face. You will also have to pay a fee.
To read more and apply go to the official website here.
What if my passport or ID expires before the Journey?
Please use your old document to fill out the registration form – we need to confirm your personal data – and apply for a new one as soon as possible.
As soon as you have a new document, use this online form to update it. Before you embark, we will have to send the updated information to the Ship for the official crew manifest so your data in our system has to be correct.
Am I protected if Windseeker or my ship becomes financially insolvent?
All Windseeker journeys are covered by the STO Garant. This means that you do not pay the booking amount to Windseeker but instead into an escrow account. This account holds your payment in reserve until your journey’s end. The booking amount is then released on the day after your trip ends.
If Windseeker or the ship should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. You can read more about this here.
Preparations and travel
Can I get assistance with organising transfers to and from ports?
We understand that finding and booking the best traveling options can be difficult. Our travel counsellor Manon Eeken can book your transfers for you. Manon is a sailor and a travel agent with 25 years of experience.
Contact Manon Eeken at manon.eeken@travelcounsellors.nl +31 23 5762105.
Can a minor trainee travel alone to the ship?
All minors (younger than 18) travelling alone, or with adults who are not their legal guardian, or with only one parent, may need an extra (official) document signed by their parents, second parent or legal guardian(s) authorising them to travel internationally.
There are no EU rules on this matter, each country decides if it requires the traveller to have an official authorisation from their parent(s) or guardian. Check the exact rules for the countries you are travelling to and from.
For Dutch trainees – click here for more info and the official form.
Please be aware that airlines might have additional rules in place regarding an unaccompanied travel of minors.
What do I need to bring?
When your booking is confirmed, we will send you a kitlist.
In the kitlist you will find the information on:
– how to pack,
– which documents you might need,
– recommended clothes, shoes, and personal items,
– bedding and towels (please be aware that this will be different for each vessel.)
You can find the general kitlist here, but keep in mind that it might be slightly different for your voyage, so do read the one we send you – and don’t leave it until last minute!
How can I prepare for my first journey?
Go social! Join us on Facebook or Instagram for interesting articles, pictures and videos. Visit our Life on Board page to get the sense of the atmosphere on a ship.
Read the kitlist carefully and make sure you’ve packed everything you need.
If you’re participating in an Exchange@sea, we will invite you to a closed group where you can connect with your fellow trainees.
Most of all, though – don’t stress! Going sailing for the first time is a scary prospect, but the crew will make sure that you will feel right at home after only a couple of days on board!
Life on Board
What is it like aboard a ship on the high seas?
At sea, you keep watch. That is more than just looking out over the water in search of land! During watch, you are responsible for the ship, together with the rest of the watch-keepers and the professional crew. Manoeuvring, climbing the masts, setting the sails, making coffee or providing a snack… Usually, there is a three-watch 4-hour system aboard.
During an Exchange@sea, the watch-keepers are mixed as much as possible. Every watch-keeper has duty twice a day. For example, your watch could be from 08.00 to 12.00 hours and from 20.00 to 24.00 hours. On board, every day is different. The weather, the wind, the view. From sunshine to rain, and from dolphins swimming along the bow to a beautiful sunset: Windseekers know no boredom!
What is a trainee?
When you set course on a Windseeker Journey, your official rank on board is that of trainee. A trainee is non-professional crew member on board a Sail Training vessel, sailing the ship together with professional crew members.
What is Sail Training?
Sail Training is an experiential learning program where you learn by doing. Aside from practical aspects of seamanship, Sail Training teaches leadership, teamwork and responsibility. It builds confidence. Most of all, it’s a fun adventure you will remember for a long time!
Is there wi-fi on board? What about the mobile phone reception?
There is no wi-fi on board. If you participate in the Tall Ships Races or Regattas, you can use the Crew Center in ports, which has wi-fi and computers available for the trainees.
There is no mobile phone reception once you’re farther than 20 nautical miles from the shore. Enjoy the digital detox!
In case of emergency the Ships are equipped with a satellite phone – after all, safety comes first!
What is so special about an Exchange@sea?
The nice thing about the Exchange@sea is that not only do you learn about sailing and life on board, but also get in contact with other cultures and countries. Apart from sailing, there are daily intercultural activities.
Some of the Exchanges have an additional theme of sustainability. Joining these journeys means conducting plastic research with an environmental educator from The Ocean Movement, doing climate actions on shore and putting theory into practice every day.
I have a Seaman’s book, can I use my journey to record my sailing time?
Of course! Just bring your Seaman’s book with you and inform the captain (or mate). When you are in your port of disembarkation, ask your captain to sign it off.
Other situations
Am I too old to join a Sail Training adventure?
No! Sail Training is for everyone who loves sailing on tall ships – or who would like to try it! As long as there are no health-related contraindications and you are reasonably fit – you’re welcome on board.
Some vessels might require a doctor’s note from trainees over a certain age.
Certain ships and events have additional age restrictions, which will be visible in the journey description.
I follow a certain diet, is this a problem?
No, this is not a problem if you let us know at the time of booking.
For A-class ships it’s easier to take into account an individual diet than for smaller vessels.
If you are a vegetarian, almost all of the ships can provide meals for you. Halal prepared meat and vegan food are a bit more tricky, but some ships can accommodate those requirements. Most vessels are okay with minor food allergies, but will not be able to have trainees with severe allergies, due to the risk of contamination.
I am 14 years old, can I join the Tall Ships Races?
No, according to the Sail Training International the minimum age for the Tall Ships Races is 15 years at the beginning of the journey.
Contact info@windseeker.org about sailing opportunities for younger trainees.
I'd like to sail but I don't have enough money. Can you help me?
Windseekers don’t give up! We realise that Sail Training might be an expensive adventure so we’ve come up with the Windseeker Dinghy Programme. The Dinghy is an online fundraising training and mentorship which will guide you through the process of raising the funds for your own journey. Read more about the Dinghy here.
Young Windseekers joining the Tall Ships Races can apply for the Oman Bursary scheme. Each year young people between 15 and 25, who would like to join the Tall Ships Races or Regattas for the first time, can apply for the coverage of (some of) the journey fee – up to a certain amount. 100 people are awarded the bursary every year, enabling disadvantaged youth to join in the Sail Training experience.
For application form and more information email info@windseeker.org
I’m going alone, is that a problem?
No problem at all! A lot of people travel by themselves; making new friends is a part of your journey! On a tall ship, getting to know other people takes very little time. Especially when you keep watch together. During Exchange@sea there are different nationalities in one watch, which creates diversity and a lot of fun. Windseekers make friends for life!
