Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, Ltd. today announced that its 72-passenger S/V Mandalay, a 236-foot, three-masted barquentine, will sail on 6-day voyages of adventure out of Colon, Panama to the beautiful and exotic San Blas islands from June 9 through September 15, 2003. These will be the first regularly scheduled Windjammer cruises out of Panama.

The San Blas Archipelago, one of the most pristine regions of the Caribbean, is composed of 370 islands and lies along the southwestern coast of Panama. Protected on the West by the Panamanian mainland and on the North and East by a great barrier reef, this huge gulf is a true paradise for sea and nature lovers.

"We're very excited about this new itinerary," said Susan Burke, Windjammer's president. "It will give our passengers the unique opportunity to experience both Panama's 'canal zone,' one of the 20th century's engineering marvels, and a culture virtually unchanged by the modern world.

The San Blas region's only native inhabitants, the Kuna Indians, strictly preserve their ancestral way of living. Their quaint, colorful villages occupy a few of the larger islands, leaving the most of the Archipelago occupied by only a few fishermen and their families.

"Apart from fishing, beautiful hand-made crafts are the main activity of the Kuna Indians. Intricate, locally-made "molas," embroidery made of successive layers of material, are well known and exhibited in some of the world's most prestigious art galleries," explained Burke.

White sand beaches, coconut trees, crystal clear waters, and exquisite coral reefs make up these remote islands offer some of the most beautiful and remote anchorages of the Caribbean Sea. The reef virtually team with giant crabs, lobsters, groupers, wahoos, snappers and all other coral fish species. However, leave the tanks at home. Kuna law prohibits fishing in their waters by boats with sophisticated machinery or the taking of anything from the sea that a diver "cannot reach with air from his or her own lungs." Scuba diving is therefore not permitted, but tourists may snorkel in the reef, one of the oldest and best preserved in the world

Shipmates visiting Kuna villages will be treated to outstanding handicraft shopping and wonderful meals of lobster, crab and fish freshly harvested from the sea. They also offer guiding tourists in dugout canoes to small, uninhabited islands with gorgeous beaches and pristine coral reefs.

Adult fares for Mandalay's San Blas adventures begin at $900 for its 6-day cruises. Fares include onboard accommodations, all meals, onboard entertainment and select drinks including early morning Bloody Marys, rum swizzles, wine with dinner, coffee and tea.

Founded in 1947 by WWII Navy Submariner, Mike Burke, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises is the largest operator of tall ships in the world. The fleet of six includes Sailing Vessels: Flying Cloud, Legacy, Mandalay, Polynesia, Yankee Clipper and lone freighter/passenger vessel M.V. Amazing Grace. The fleet sails year-round from the Bahamas to South America on four, five, six, eight & 13-day voyages. For more information about Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, call (305) 672-6453 or visit www.windjammer.com on the Internet.