One other cruise line is rising its fleet! Windstar Cruises, a frontrunner in luxurious small-ship cruising, has introduced plans for 2 model new, all-suite motor yachts to hitch its fleet in 2025 and 2026.
Star Seeker and Star Explorer to Be part of Windstar Cruises Fleet
Boutique cruise line Windstar Cruises is rising from six ships to eight within the subsequent two years. Star Seeker and Star Explorer, which is able to be a part of the small-ship cruise line’s Star Plus Class, will enter service in December 2025 and December 2026, respectively.
“We’re thrilled for this growth, constructing on the success of our game-changing Star Class in small-ship cruising with company and journey companions, whereas providing new experiences,” stated Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog.
The brand new additions will be a part of fellow Star Plus Class ships Star Pleasure, Star Breeze, and Star Legend – all of which may accommodate as much as 312 passengers throughout 156 suites per crusing.
In the meantime, Wind Surf, Wind Star, and Wind Spirit make up the small-ship cruise line’s iconic Wind Class. These luxurious ships carry between 148 to 342 company and have a mixture of extra typical staterooms and suites.
Full itineraries for the brand new Star Seeker shall be launched in late June 2024, and no timeline has been introduced for when Star Explorer’s itineraries shall be launched. However the cruise line already is aware of that the addition of the brand new ships will permit it to extend its presence in locations like Tahiti, the place the cruise line has been crusing for greater than 36 years.
Whereas Windstar is thought for providing European cruises year-round, its French Polynesian cruises are additionally a fan favourite. The brand new ships may also permit the luxurious cruise operator to ship Wind Star to Tahiti in 2027, the place it would be a part of Star Breeze, which is already crusing on 7 to 11-day voyages all through French Polynesia.
“This progress displays the dedication of our unbelievable crew and crew, permitting us to broaden our vacation spot portfolio and even deliver certainly one of our Wind Class sail ships again to Tahiti,” added Prelog.
Along with Europe and Tahiti, Windstar additionally presents small-ship cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, New England, Jap Canada, South America, and the South Pacific.
What To Count on From Windstar’s New Ships
Star Seeker is at the moment underneath development on the WestSEA shipyard in Northern Portugal, and development is but to start on Star Explorer, which is able to enter service a 12 months after its sister ship. Even so, Windstar Cruises already has a good suggestion of what crusing on their latest ships will appear like.
Each ships will accommodate as much as 224 company throughout 112 suites, every of which is able to characteristic full personal verandas and infinity home windows. Moreover, each ships will characteristic two new VIP suites, known as the Proprietor’s Suites, which shall be positioned on the aft (or rear) of the ship and include personal wrap-around balconies.
Windstar’s dedication to wonderful delicacies may also attain new heights within the re-imagined principal eating room, named Amphora, which is able to serve quite a lot of upscale and revolutionary meals.
Because the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Basis, a New York Metropolis-based non-profit that works to raise America’s meals tradition and the expertise behind it, Windstar ships typically welcome affiliated visitor cooks from the group to prepare dinner onboard for a restricted time.
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Moreover, the brand new Star Class ships will characteristic ice-strengthened hulls and shall be geared up with the newest expertise in security, propulsion, and navigation, together with pump jet thrusters and forward-facing Sonar.
The small vessels may also have tier III Nox rated Rolls Royce engines and can be capable of connect with shore energy, minimizing port emissions, and can characteristic superior wastewater remedy techniques to advertise sustainability at sea.
Whereas a lot of enhancements are within the works for the brand new ships, Windstar cruisers may also acknowledge lots of their favourite facilities they’ve seen from the cruise line prior to now. These embody the Watersports Platform with all-new staircase entry, the Yacht Membership café and lounge, a state-of-the-art spa and health facility, and deck barbecues.
