Windstar Cruises has entered a new chapter in its 40-year history with the debut of Star Seeker, a boutique all-suite yacht that began its maiden voyage on December 28, 2025.

The long-anticipated arrival of the 224-guest ship marks Windstar’s first purpose-built newbuild in more than three decades and signals an ambitious expansion of the line’s small-ship offerings in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

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A Milestone Maiden Crossing From Málaga

Star Seeker’s first voyage is a 16-night transatlantic crossing that departed from Málaga, Spain, on December 28, 2025, positioning the ship for its inaugural Caribbean season.

The sailing traces a scenic route through the Canary Islands and the Bahamas before the vessel reaches Miami in early 2026, giving guests a longer, more immersive introduction to the new yacht than a typical short shakedown cruise.

A centerpiece of the maiden itinerary is a festive call in Tenerife, where Star Seeker is scheduled to be docked for New Year’s Eve.

Guests on board are ringing in 2026 under the fireworks of the Canary Islands, a symbolic moment for a company positioning Star Seeker as a flagship for its next phase of growth. Additional calls include Freeport in the Bahamas, setting the stage for the ship’s entry into Caribbean waters and its formal introduction to the North American market.

Windstar took delivery of Star Seeker earlier in December from the WestSEA shipyard in Portugal, following final sea trials and outfitting that brought senior officers and crew onboard in the autumn.

The ship’s first paying guests stepped aboard in Málaga, where Windstar executives framed the maiden voyage as both a celebration and a real-time showcase of the line’s evolving approach to small-ship luxury.

Caribbean Season Sets the Tone for the New Yacht

Following its arrival in Miami in January, Star Seeker is scheduled to launch a series of Caribbean sailings that will introduce the yacht to Windstar’s core audience of North American cruisers.

Early itineraries focus on the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, with routes that pair marquee ports with smaller islands that can accommodate a 224-guest ship more easily than a megavessel.

Among the highlight sailings is an eight-night voyage from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico, that doubles as one of Star Seeker’s early North American showcase cruises.

The itinerary includes calls in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands, blending established beach destinations with quieter harbors suited to Windstar’s emphasis on yacht-style cruising, where overnights and late departures are common.

Later in the season, the ship is scheduled to transit the Panama Canal, carving a path between the Caribbean and the Pacific that will eventually position Star Seeker for its summer deployment in Alaska.

For Windstar loyalists, the Caribbean season offers the first extended opportunity to experience new onboard features, including enhanced watersports facilities and expanded suite categories, within familiar tropical surroundings.

Southeast Asia and Japan Mark a Return to the Region

While Star Seeker’s first months are focused on the Caribbean and the Americas, Windstar has made clear that Southeast Asia will be a defining region for the new yacht beginning in late 2026.

The line has already outlined new land-and-sea programs built around Star Seeker in Asia, with itineraries designed to combine sailing and inland experiences in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Windstar’s published deployment plan sends Star Seeker first to Alaska for the summer of 2026, followed by a season in Japan.

From there, the ship continues south into Southeast Asia, tying together port calls with curated pre- and post-cruise tours that take guests deeper into regional culture, food, and history. The resulting combinations allow for flexible trip lengths and multiple permutations on two core itineraries.

This renewed focus on Asia reflects Windstar’s confidence in demand for smaller, more destination-focused ships in the region.

By using Star Seeker’s size to access less congested harbors and combining port days with extended overland components, Windstar aims to distinguish its Southeast Asia program from the large-ship cruises that dominate many of the region’s marquee ports.

All-Suite Design and Elevated Onboard Experience

At the heart of the launch is Star Seeker’s all-suite configuration, a first for a newbuild Windstar yacht. The ship carries 112 ocean-view suites, nearly all of which feature either a full private veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window.

Only a handful of accommodations do not offer direct outdoor or panoramic access, positioning the ship firmly at the higher end of the small-ship market.

Windstar’s design team has leaned into a calm, residential look that mirrors the rest of the Star Class fleet, emphasizing light woods and a palette of soft blues, greens, and neutrals.

Suites are configured to feel more like contemporary boutique hotel rooms than traditional cruise cabins, with expanded storage, integrated technology, and upgraded bathrooms intended to support longer voyages across multiple regions.

Public areas have been created with similar intent. Star Seeker debuts five dining venues, all included within Windstar’s standard cruise fare, including the brand-new Basil + Bamboo, a Mediterranean and Asian fusion restaurant that nods to the yacht’s future deployments in both the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.

A reimagined Yacht Club café and lounge, expanded WorldSpa, and multi-level fitness and wellness zone round out the main social and relaxation spaces.

Watersports Platform, Marina and Outdoor Living

Star Seeker seeks to amplify one of Windstar’s long-standing signatures: direct access to the sea. The yacht features a newly designed watersports platform at the stern that functions as a compact marina, allowing guests to swim, kayak, paddleboard, or enjoy other water-based activities directly from the ship when conditions and local regulations permit.

The platform concept has been refined compared with earlier Star Class vessels to feel more like an infinity edge over the ocean, blurring the line between ship and sea.

On select itineraries, particularly in the Caribbean and more sheltered bays in Southeast Asia, Windstar expects the marina days to be a highlight for guests drawn to a more active, yacht-like environment.

Topside, Star Seeker offers open decks intended for both sun and scenery. The main pool area has been redesigned with tiered lounging, shaded seating, and an enlarged whirlpool, while a forward-facing whirlpool deck offers quieter vistas that are expected to be particularly popular in scenic cruising regions such as Alaska and the fjords of Japan.

These outdoor spaces are central to the ship’s positioning as a bridge between classic sailing yachts and contemporary small-ship luxury vessels.

Sustainability and Technology at the Forefront

Though boutique in scale, Star Seeker arrives with a suite of modern environmental and safety technologies that reflect broader industry trends. The yacht is powered by Tier III emissions-compliant engines designed to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide output compared with earlier generations, and it is equipped with shore power connectivity where local infrastructure allows, enabling the ship to plug into the electrical grid and switch off engines while docked.

An advanced wastewater treatment system on board is intended to meet or exceed some of the world’s most stringent discharge standards, an increasingly important factor for itineraries in ecologically sensitive areas such as Alaska and parts of Southeast Asia.

Windstar has emphasized that the newbuild’s technical platform is meant not only to meet current regulations but also to accommodate future upgrades as environmental rules evolve.

On the hotel side, the ship features upgraded air filtration and ventilation systems, energy-efficient lighting, and integrated digital controls within suites that give guests more direct management over temperature and lighting.

These behind-the-scenes improvements are designed to complement the more visible aspects of the Star Seeker experience, such as the spa and dining, with a quieter story about efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Strategic Expansion with Sister Ship Star Explorer

The launch of Star Seeker also serves as a prelude to the arrival of Star Explorer, a converted sister ship scheduled to join the Windstar fleet in 2026.

Originally built for another operator, Star Explorer is undergoing an extensive transformation to align with Windstar’s design language and service model before taking up year-round deployment in Europe, beginning with Mediterranean cruises from late 2026 onward.

Together, Star Seeker and Star Explorer expand Windstar’s all-suite Star Class and give the line greater flexibility across key regions. With Star Seeker rotating seasonally between the Caribbean, Alaska, Japan, and Southeast Asia, and Star Explorer focused on Europe, Windstar will be able to offer a broader network of itineraries while maintaining its hallmark of ships carrying fewer than 350 guests.

Executives have framed the dual-ship expansion as a way to meet rising demand for small-ship cruising without compromising the intimate scale that differentiates Windstar from larger premium and contemporary lines.

The newbuild nature of Star Seeker, in particular, allows Windstar to showcase what it describes as a next-generation expression of its brand in hardware it can shape from keel to completion.

What Star Seeker Means for Travelers

For travelers, the debut of Star Seeker means more choices within a niche of the cruise market that has been growing steadily: upscale, small-ship voyages that prioritize destination depth, culinary focus, and personalized service over onboard spectacle.

The ship’s maiden Caribbean season will likely appeal to guests who prefer familiar islands but seek a quieter, less crowded way to experience them.

Looking ahead to Southeast Asia and Japan, Star Seeker’s size positions it to access smaller ports and more intricate itineraries than many mainstream ships, while its suite-heavy accommodation mix underscores a target audience comfortable with spending more per day in exchange for additional space and inclusions.

The addition of new land-and-sea tour combinations in Asia further points to a strategy built around extended travel and cultural immersion rather than simple island hopping.

The timing of the launch, at the close of 2025, also places Star Seeker among a wave of new ships entering service across the industry.

For Windstar, the difference lies in scale: while many new vessels carry several thousand passengers, Star Seeker’s 224-guest capacity is intended to keep experiences such as destination discovery events, chef-hosted dinners, and marina days on an intimate, highly personal level.

FAQ

Q1. When did Windstar’s Star Seeker begin its maiden voyage?
Star Seeker began its maiden voyage on December 28, 2025, departing from Málaga, Spain, on a 16-night transatlantic crossing.

Q2. What regions will Star Seeker sail in during its first years of service?
Star Seeker will start with a Caribbean season after arriving in Miami in early 2026, then move on to Alaska in summer, followed by Japan and an expanded program of Southeast Asia cruises from late 2026 onward.

Q3. How many guests can Star Seeker accommodate?
The ship is designed for approximately 224 guests, with 112 ocean-view suites that emphasize space, comfort, and sea views.

Q4. What makes Star Seeker different from Windstar’s existing ships?
Star Seeker is Windstar’s first all-suite newbuild in more than 30 years, featuring nearly all suites with verandas or infinity windows, a larger spa and fitness complex, new dining concepts, and a redesigned watersports marina.

Q5. What kind of dining options are available on Star Seeker?
The yacht offers five included dining venues, including the new Basil + Bamboo restaurant, which blends Mediterranean and Asian flavors, alongside more traditional venues such as a main restaurant, a casual café, and alfresco options.

Q6. How does Star Seeker support environmentally responsible cruising?
Star Seeker is equipped with Tier III emissions-compliant engines, shore power connectivity where available, advanced wastewater treatment systems, and energy-efficient hotel operations, all aimed at reducing its environmental footprint.

Q7. Will Star Seeker have a watersports platform?
Yes, the ship features a reimagined watersports platform and marina that allow guests to swim and enjoy water activities directly from the stern of the yacht in suitable conditions and permitted locations.

Q8. What is planned for Star Seeker in Southeast Asia?
Windstar has announced new itineraries and land-and-sea combinations in Southeast Asia, using Star Seeker to connect ports in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore with curated pre- and post-cruise tours.

Q9. How does Star Seeker fit into Windstar’s broader fleet expansion?
Star Seeker is the first of two sister ships, followed by Star Explorer in 2026. Together they expand Windstar’s Star Class and give the line more reach in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Japan, and Southeast Asia while keeping ships small and yacht-like.

Q10. Who is Star Seeker best suited for?
Star Seeker is aimed at travelers who prefer small-ship cruising with an emphasis on destination immersion, suite-level accommodations, inclusive specialty dining, and a relaxed, yacht-style atmosphere in regions such as the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.