Wind Star is in production wave In the small luxury cruise space, a seventh ship debuts.
StarChaser, the line’s first new-build ship in three decades, was unveiled at a christening ceremony in PortMiami on Thursday night.
Designed to be intimate and upscale, Star Seeker is an all-suite ship with only 112 guest rooms, a very small number in today’s cruise world. Each of these 112 accommodations has a full private balcony or floor-to-ceiling windows.
“This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to really build and design a ship that truly encourages the experience that Windstar is known for,” Windstar COO Stijn Creupelandt told TPG of the ship’s highlights, which include many open decks, cozy hidden seating areas and a coffee and cocktail bar area known as the Yacht Club (the brand’s signature feature).
Star Seeker can accommodate 224 guests, and its top-notch amenities include a full-service spa, pool and whirlpool, gym and five dining options – a large number for a ship of this size.
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Executives noted that for adventurous travelers, the ship’s small size provides both an intimate experience and access to ports inaccessible to larger ships.
“I want to see destinations that big ships can’t take me to,” Windstar chief commercial officer Janet Bava told TPG. “I think Windstar will be a great product for active travelers who want experiential, immersive culture, really great cuisine and high-quality food.”
Bava hopes to redefine what cruising is for travelers who associate cruises with large lines, and he believes Star Seeker has “an opportunity to continue to welcome guests to a style of cruising that I feel is unpopular.”
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For example, the ship has a dock where passengers can kayak, snorkel, and paddleboard behind the yacht—amenities found on all Windstar ships but not on most cruise ships.
Windstar is expanding its routes with the addition of new ships to its fleet. Star Seeker will spend its maiden season in the Caribbean but will soon redeploy to Alaska in the summer – a destination the company has not been able to offer since 2023. The company will then head to Japan in late 2026 and 2027.
“The only way we can go back to Alaska, go to Japan, go further, add more destinations is to grow our brand…so I think the biggest connection is really being able to offer more destinations to our guests on a uniquely designed platform,” Creupelandt said.
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The ship’s smaller size allows Starfinder and its soon-to-debut sister ship Star Explorer to not only visit ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships, but also provide more off-the-beaten-path itineraries.
For example, the ship will be able to dock in Venice, Italy, something larger ships are no longer allowed to do, allowing passengers to walk to one of the world’s most famous destinations. Due to new regulations, many large ships now have to travel more than an hour by coach from Venice.
“We were small enough … to be allowed into Venice,” Bava said. “So people, when they say experience means I get off the ship and I can unpack once and see multiple destinations, like a big ship… but the destinations [that Star Seeker can access] I think there are so many more destinations that people want to see when they travel. “
Continuing its expansion into other markets, Star Explorer will debut in December servicing European routes, sailing to river ports and city centres.
The two-hour christening event kicked off with light hors d’oeuvres, followed by remarks from Windstar President Christopher Prelog and Star Seeker Captain Tom Schofield, and a blessing from Star Seeker’s appointed godmother, Libby Anschutz. The spectacular night ended in dazzle as a beautiful fireworks display lit up the Port of Miami.
After the event, the Starfinder said goodbye and officially set sail for San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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