Windstar Cruises Is Adding Two New Ships to Its Fleet

Image: The two new ships will each have 112 suites (Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises)

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 4:55 PM ET, Wed April 10, 2024

The small-ship line is adding two all-suite motor yachts to its existing fleet of six ships. The first, Star Seeker, is slated for delivery in December 2025, followed by the second, Star Explorer, in December 2026.

“Our goal was to ensure these ships are unmistakably Windstar, and a significant amount of effort has gone into achieving this,” says Christopher Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises.

The new ships will allow Windstar to expand its presence in French Polynesia, where it’s been sailing for the last 36 years. The cruise line plans to send one of its smaller classic sailing yachts, the 148-passenger Wind Star, to French Polynesia in 2027. There, it will join the 312-passenger Star Breeze, which replaced Wind Spirit in the region in February.

The two new ships will each have 112 suites, with full private verandas and infinity windows. They’ll also boast two owner’s suites with wraparound balconies in the aft. The total capacity will be 224 guests, which will allow for a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2.

The vessels will have other features that guests are familiar with, including the Watersports Platform, the Yacht Club café and lounge, and the hot tub on the bow. Al fresco dining will be available at both the Star Grill and at Amphora, which is also being reimagined on the new ships.

The two ships will have ice-strengthened hulls, which will allow Windstar to sail to new destinations (though the cruise line didn’t reveal where it might send the vessels). They’ll also be outfitted with forward-facing sonar, pump jet thrusters, Rolls Royce engines, shore power hookups, advanced wastewater treatment systems and other advanced technologies.

Windstar purchased its three existing motor yachts—Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride—from Seabourn in 2013. The company spent $250 million to renovate the three motor yachts, and also recently kicked off a project to renovate its three classic sailing yachts.

“As part of our company’s expanding portfolio, Windstar Cruises is poised for remarkable growth and an exciting future ahead,” says Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra Travel Collection, the cruise line’s parent company. “We’re excited about the possibilities of where Windstar will sail and the opportunities it brings our officers, crew and staff and our guests."

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.