Windstar Cruises Will Add 2 New All-suite Ships to Its Fleet in 2025 and 2026

BRING ALASKA’S WILD BEAUTY INTO FOCUS as you discover small towns and big cities, cruise far up narrow fjords to the twin Sawyer Glaciers or Dawes Glacier, and launch Zodiacs right from the ship into pristine wilderness on Windstar Signature Expeditions. Star Breeze will get you closer to scenic shorelines along the Inside Passage, Kenai Fjords and the wildlife-rich Inian Islands, and you’ll enjoy the best wildlife viewing opportunities as we adjust our schedule to linger whenever whales are present. Paying tribute to the golden age of tall ships, Wind Star -- a four-mast, motor-sailing yacht -- is the namesake ship in Windstar Cruises' informal-yet-upscale fleet. The 148-passenger ship specializes in taking cruisers to exotic destinations around the world, highlighting smaller ports big ships can't access. Though Wind Star debuted in 1986, don't let the ship's age fool you; routine maintenance and bow-to-stern refurbishments guarantee it can deftly maneuver across waves and look sexy doing it. Many wireless carriers are now offering affordable, convenient and accessible cruise plans so you can receive calls and texts from your mobile number any- where on the yacht while at sea where your shore service is not available.

Windstar Cruises is growing again with 2 new ships

Relax into the destinations you’re visiting at the new World Spa by Windstar, which will offer regional spa treatments, including massage styles like Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi. An Officer’s Suite, which might be the only one of its kind, provides you with the chance to stay in the heart of the officer quarters tucked right behind the Bridge. On any day, our 342-guest flagship, Wind Surf, the world’s largest sailing ship, draws admiring glances as she glides majestically into port with her tall sails billowing. During their cruise, you will find the perfect setting for ‘making an entrance’ in the beautiful reception area – and, appropriately, that’s only the beginning.

Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands Air + Hotel Package from LAX

In addition, a tip of 15 percent is automatically added to bar and spa bills. At night, the dress code becomes Casual Elegance, meaning T-shirts, shorts, jeans, flip-flops and hats are prohibited in the main dining room (but acceptable in Candles, the ship's casual outdoor dinner venue). Women commonly wear a dress, skirt and blouse or pantsuit, and men sport slacks with dress shirts or collared shirts. We didn't see any men on our cruise wearing a suit and tie, as they're not required or even suggested.

Luggage Shipping Service

Other changes to the current design of each of the vessels will include adding a new pool and a two-story spa. For example, both of the vessels will get water sports platforms, something that isn't currently part of their design. Water sports platforms are a signature feature of Windstar vessels. Prelog called the acquisition of the two vessels from another company "an amazing opportunity" that would allow Windstar to double the number of ships it operates in French Polynesia, one of its core markets.

Ships Positioning in Ports (Anchor or Berth)

Currently operating for Quark as World Explorer, it'll be renamed Star Explorer and also have room for 224 passengers. For family groups booking multiple staterooms, the minimum age for at least one person in each stateroom is 18 years of age, provided they are traveling with a parent, guardian or chaperone. The ships are relatively small, with the Wind Surf having a capacity for about 300 passengers, and the others about 150. Star Pride carries up to 212 passengers in 106 suites as well as sister ships Star Legend and Star Breeze. On the sailing ships, the top deck will always be packed if the sails are scheduled to be unfurled. The line does have a robust partnership with the James Beard Foundation, with culinary demonstrations on every sailing that give passengers access to chef secrets.

What about the popular ice cream machine found on the Star Class ships?

Windstar Star Pride Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

Windstar Star Pride Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:19:30 GMT [source]

From the 17th to 19th centuries, it was a rite of passage for young aristocrats to embark on a Grand Tour. This extended journey to the world’s great cities was a way to breathe life into their classical education, broadening their horizons and gifting them with knowledge and understanding that would enrich their own lives and their society. Windstar's Grand Adventures offer homage to those extended journeys with meticulously curated voyages spanning multiple destinations over multiple months, each one highlighting a region unique in its cultural and natural heritage. Visit places both on and off the beaten track, checking must-sees off your bucket list and discovering secret places that few travelers ever see. Take the time to get to know people who still live much as their ancestors did. And spend relaxing days on deserted islands, in Japanese gardens, or cruising stunning fjords and canals.

Hop ashore to the enchanted landscapes of the Marquesas, explore the origins of Polynesian culture in Raiatea, or spend the night in an overwater bungalow for a romantic experience you'll have a hard time topping. Revel at a feast during our Destination Discovery Event complete with fire dancers in Bora Bora. Jump into a beautiful palm-fringed lagoon from the Watersports Platform on the yacht’s stern.

You’ll explore the most unique UNESCO Heritage sites, enjoy the most unusual regional delicacies, and discover the most story-worthy cultural insights. These are unforgettable voyages for all those who feel they’ve “been there and done that,” designed by the Windstar destination experts who have themselves, “been there and done that,” in every corner of the world, on every sea. Designed for the savvy traveler, these Select Sailings are Windstar’s must-do voyages to must-see destinations. We scour the world for amazing places just this side of unreachable, then seek out the most authentic ways for guests to experience them - in small groups that are easily absorbed by local cultures rather than intruding on them. Our itineraries are port intensive, often with exclusive landfalls larger ships can't access. And we often stay late into the evening or even overnight in places where neon dims the stars.

Al fresco dining options are available at both Amphora and the Star Grill, complemented by a specialty restaurant and 24-hour room service. In June 2024 we plan to have itineraries confirmed and bookable for Star Seeker; the ship will be delivered to Windstar in December 2025. Star Explorer will be delivered in December 2026 and cruises will begin operation in January 2027. We’ll keep you posted about when these voyages will be available for sale.

There also are no theme nights necessitating costumes or special attire. Please review your air and cruise documents to ensure that your tickets are correct. We recommend that you call the airline 72 hours prior to your departure time to reconfirm your flight. (These are international flights, and departure times may change without prior notice.) Plan to check in at the airline ticket counter at least 3 hours before flight time for international passport/security checks.

“These will be full-on Windstar ships,” Prelog says, noting that in both cases, ships will receive Windstar-specific additions that are consistent with Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze, its other motor yachts. “They will offer a full-on Windstar experience, where everything you know will be onboard. That means our great crew, facilities, service, marina, ambience, dining options, open bridge policy – and even our popular whirlpool on the bow.

Windstar attracts adults all the way from 30 to 90 years, including honeymooners and people celebrating milestone birthdays or anniversaries. The core age, however, is 55 to 75, with most coming from North America; others come from New Zealand and Australia, the U.K. You won't find younger families onboard as Windstar draws the line at kids under 8. From a small ship moorage in Sausalito to the bustling metropolis of Manhattan, join Windstar to experience the very essence of what makes the U.S. so unique. Explore the hotbed of American culture along the Eastern seaboard with the world’s most iconic skyline in New York, the rich history of Philadelphia, and the unmistakable Southern charm of Charleston.

Many passengers take advantage of the water sports platform that's on most ships and all the toys that go with it. In the evening, passengers will chat in the main lounge, and while a house band might play for a little while, most cruisers get to bed early to take advantage of a full day in port the next day. You can slip past the crowds to discover smaller ports and get to know the local culture on more intimate excursions. Windstar's 148 to 342-guest small ships and personalized approach bring you closer to each destination and every port, so you can see the world from new perspectives. We offer two different yacht styles — the iconic sailing Wind Class and all-suite Star Plus Class — with custom-crafted journeys that highlight their unique attributes, whether island-hopping in Tahiti or cruising the Norwegian fjords. No wonder Windstar was voted the World’s Best midsize-ship ocean cruise line by the readers of Travel + Leisure in 2022.

Cruise the Guadalquivir River, the only navigable river in Spain spanning 408 miles, to Seville. Anchor in the heart of Old Town Dubrovnik as larger cruise ships pass by. Visit a local Mediterranean market with our Windstar Chef, enjoy local experiences in interesting locales such as Giardini Naxos, Portofino, and Mallorca and see a new port almost every day with never more than one sea day.