By
Laura Hyde |
Star Seeker, the first of two 224-guest yachts to be built for Windstar Cruises by West Sea shipyard in Portugal, will spend its maiden season sailing itineraries in the Caribbean, Alaska, Japan and Southeast Asia in 2026 following its December 2025 debut.
“We saw a lot of demand from our guests for itineraries in Alaska, Japan and Southeast Asia,” says Jess Peterson, director of destination experience and itinerary planning at Windstar Cruises. “We’ve been to Japan and Alaska before but the feedback from guests showed they wanted the opportunity to go back; the cruises are on sale now and have done much better than we expected. We’re delighted by how popular, all of those destinations are with our guests, in particular the Southeast Asia itineraries, which are a new product for us, are doing really well.”
The ship’s maiden passenger voyage is a transatlantic crossing from Europe to Miami, where the ship will be christened on 15 January 2026. “I am thrilled by how well this maiden voyage sold,” says Peterson. “A lot of people really wanted to be on the ship’s first voyage, even if it’s across the Atlantic with not many port calls. We’ve timed Star Seeker to be in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands at the same time as our other ship Wind Star on 31 December, which will be a pretty cool experience for anyone onboard.”
After its eight-day christening cruise from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in January, Star Seeker will sail three Caribbean itineraries: the seven-day ‘San Juan and the Virgin Islands’, the seven-day ‘Windward Islands Surf and Sunsets’ and the 14-day ‘Lovely Leewards’ itineraries, until the end of March. The ship will then sail a 49-day repositioning itinerary, ‘Star Collector: Grand Caribbean and Americas Explorer’, which will take it from San Juan in Puerto Rico to Juneau in Alaska. The itinerary, which is available in shorter segments, will feature visits to numerous destinations, including the US Virgin Islands, the Panama Canal, Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, Seattle, and Vancouver in Canada.
The Shukkeien Japanese Garden in Hiroshima, Japan
From May to August, Star Seeker will sail seven-, 10- and 11-day cruises between Juneau or Seward in Alaska and Vancouver. “I’m really confident in our Alaska programme,” says Peterson. “We have our signature expeditions programme which provides guests with the opportunity to join in with optional additional expedition experiences, such as kayak and Zodiac tours and guided hikes. We’ve offered this for several years now and I know, from guest feedback, we deliver it really well.”
In late August, the ship will reposition to Japan, where it will remain until September. “What’s exciting about our Southeast Asia programme is we’re doing turnarounds in non-traditional places to allow guests to really immerse themselves in the destination,” says Peterson. “A scouting trip to Southeast Asia enabled us to create some really impressive pre- and post-cruise packages, such as stays in Hanoi for cruises beginning in or ending in Halong Bay. We’ve combined these packages with an activity programme designed to enable guests to get a real sense of Asian culture. Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, is a classic and we have a lovely programme there, while Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is another great destination full of mountains, ancient temples and traditional Lanna culture.
“Many of our guests are familiar with Thailand and Southeast Asia but lots are less familiar. From the feedback, these itineraries are really resonating with guests and my hope is that we deliver them in the Windstar way our guests know and love.”
Star Seeker will sail itineraries in Alaska ranging from seven to 11 days between May and August 2026
En route…
Star Seeker’s maiden season includes itineraries to destinations including:
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
On the ‘San Juan and the Virgin Islands’ itinerary, guests can explore the British Virgin Islands, home to 21 National Parks that protect its beaches, trails and marine sanctuaries. The BVI Ports Authority ensures guests can take part in a range of experiences in the parks, from a visit to The Baths at Virgin Gorda to luxury yacht voyages and guided eco-adventures.
JAPAN
Windstar Cruises’ 10-day ‘Grand Japan’ itinerary allows guests to immerse themselves in Japan’s culture, from visiting ancient sites and aromatic markets to admiring Tokyo’s skyline and experiencing the country’s cuisine.
ALASKA
Windstar Cruises’ 25-day ‘Star Collector: Mayan Monuments & Alaskan Glaciers’ itinerary takes guests on a journey north from the rainforests of Costa Rica to snow-capped peaks overlooking Alaska’s capital, Juneau.
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