On Site: A Snapshot Look at Windstar’s New Star Seeker
After boarding Windstar Cruises’ new Star Seeker last week, CruiseNews eagerly ventured up, down and all around. We spoke with Christopher Prelog, Windstar’s president, and Janet Bava, the line’s chief commercial officer, at the ship’s official christening at PortMiami.
So, what’s good to know? Here are some top highlights:
1. More Intimate Motorized Ship
Size-wise, Star Seeker accommodates 224 guests in 112 suites. They’re served by 135 crew members. While it’s designated a Star-Class motorized ship, it’s slightly smaller than Windstar’s other 312-passenger motorized Star-Class ships. Those vessels — Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze – offer 156 suites.
In addition, the 431-foot-long Star Seeker is 9,315 gross tons. The other three 522-foot long motorized ships are 12,995 gross tons and purchased by Windstar in 2013. Those former Seabourn ships were revitalized and “stretched” in 2019-2020, with a new center section added. Windstar also operates three sailing yachts including its flagship Wind Surf.
2. Similar to Atlas, Yet Different
If travelers have ever sailed on Atlas Ocean Voyages, the structural footprint of the new Star Seeker may seem familiar. That’s because Windstar purchased the new build from Mystic Invest Holdings, Atlas’ parent company. Built at the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, the ship was originally destined for Atlas.
That said, Windstar is a totally separate brand. It’s not owned by Mystic. So, Windstar made some structural changes, most notably a redesign of the bow to match the brand’s style with space on deck for a whirlpool and people being able to gather on the bow for viewing scenery.
Windstar also made some interior adjustments. So, while the structure resembles that of Atlas’ World Traveller in many ways, Star Seeker also reflects Windstar’s nuances – its yacht-like feel, interior look, and different spaces including The World Spa and aft Marina platform.
3. Expansion of Itineraries
Both Prelog and Bava explained why increasing Windstar’s fleet size from six to seven ships is important. Bottom line? In the past, Prelog told us that the line just couldn’t sail to some popular spots that were of interest to both loyal guests or new cruisers. If the line did make changes to do something new itinerary-wise, it typically had to also then give up some other region or itineraries.
Now, however, Windstar has more flexibility to create new itineraries. Star Seeker, for instance, will head to Alaska, Japan and Southeast Asia this summer, fall and winter, respectively. Windstar won’t have to “pull” itineraries from elsewhere across the globe to accommodate that.
Most notably, a new sister ship, Star Explorer, will also launch in late 2026. That will enhance the line’s capability for even more new itineraries.
4. A True Yacht Club
Other Windstar ships also have the Yacht Club, but it’s more a coffee/daytime spot. Star Seeker’s Yacht Club has a bigger footprint. Most notably, it has a full service bar, dance floor, huge skylight-style window dome above, and floor-to-ceiling curved windows around the club’s forward locale.
We truly liked the various enclaves for seating – couches, some curved, and comfortable chairs, as well as tables, make the Yacht Club a great spot for socializing and talking about the day’s activities with fellow guests or family members traveling together
5. Restaurant Changes
When it comes to onboard dining, guests have five different venues of varying levels on Star Seeker. Located on Deck 4 close to the Reception area, Windstar’s new specialty eatery, Basil + Bamboo, serves up tasty, creative dishes rooted in Italian and Pan-Asian cuisine.
It’s an intimate venue with lovely decor, soft colors and window views along one wall. Diners sit at either traditional tables and chairs or some tables with chairs and curved couch seating.
Open for dinner only, Basil + Bamboo is complimentary for all guests, but it’s a popular spot so reservations are highly recommended.
Cruisers can order miso soup, tuna tartare or a sampler of sashimi, nigiri and maki, prior to chowing down on such entrees as miso black cod with pea puree or Jambon Ibérico de Bellota. We’d choose the crispy brussels sprouts glazed with Korean honey-soy. One yummy dessert is chocolate caramel cremes, paired with ginger-cinnamon hibiscus ice cream.
One facet of dining that’s definitely changed on Star Seeker is that Amphora, Windstar’s nightly full-service main dining room, now also is open for a breakfast-and-lunch buffet (similar to what’s offered in a separate dining venue, Veranda, on other Windstar ships). So, all three meals are now served here; there is no Veranda onboard.
We dined at Amphora at lunchtime and had a very good selection of dishes reflecting different European, American, Latin America, Caribbean, and Asian flavors. We asked one friendly crew member about any availability for a “chocolate dessert,” and he zipped away before returning to deliver two different sweet treats to our table.
On Deck 7, Star Seeker offers the open-air, outdoor Star Bar and Grill, which serves smoked, grilled and barbecued meats, plus seafood. Plus, as mentioned above, the Yacht Club’s redesign offers greater flexibility, a full bar and light bites on one side of the bar. Guests also can order room service 24 hours a day as well.
6. Fitness Center & World Spa
We stepped briefly into the ship’s relatively compact Fitness Center and Motion Studio on Deck 4. This singular room offers several types of fitness machines and free weights. Best of all, guests can work out with window views to the ocean or destinations beyond.
The World Spa by Windstar on Deck 6 is reached from a grand entrance on the deck above. Guests walk down a curved, open staircase. That said, those needing use of a wheelchair or other mobility device can contact their butler or the spa to arrange entry through a different, zero-entry door on the same deck level as the spa.
7. Living the Suite Life
During its itineraries, Star Seeker’s shore excursions will help guests immerse themselves in the destinations visited. But back on the ship, they’ll also find a comfortable, elegant and intimate small ship. Most of the ship’s 112 staterooms and suites feature private verandas or floor-to-ceiling infinity windows.
Throughout our tour aboard, we interacted with many loyal, excited Windstar past guests booked on the new ship’s post-christening Caribbean cruise. They reported “loving” their suites. Given that the ship was fully booked, though, we weren’t able to tour any accommodations, though, so that’s for our “next time” aboard.
New on the accommodations side are two aft-facing Horizon Owner’s Suites with wraparound balconies. The suites also offer walk-in mosaic glass showers, fully stocked mini-bars, and premium amenities in top-tier categories. All accommodations have walk-in showers and mini-bars.
8. Water, Water Everywhere
On Deck 7, guests will discover a large elevated pool, reachable via a small staircase above the deck surface. On the deck just steps away are plenty of lounge chairs for sunning.
But if guests seek more active pursuits than simply taking a dip or sunning, they can head for the ship’s aft watersports platform. With water, water everywhere, guests will have their own unending infinity pool of sorts. The watersports platform offers easy access to the sea.
It’s also the spot to head out by line-provided paddleboards and kayaks. Plus, Windstar provides guests with snorkeling gear for use off the platform as well as an Aquabana floating resort lounger. During Alaska cruises, guests will also board Zodiacs for tours conducted by expedition team members. Travelers will also make beach landings by Zodiacs in Costa Rica, where they’ll head out to explore remote coves and go wildlife spotting.
9. More Than New Hardware
Both Prelog and Bava told us that the new ship delivers far more than simply the newest hardware. How so? “It’s the way you feel when you are on board a Windstar ship,” Prelog told loyal guests, VIPS, media and cruise industry executives attending the christening event.
He cited “the smiles from the crew, the genuine conversation, the kindness and caring that flows through the ship every day.” Prelog said this culture has been part of the company since it began with two small sailing ships, and it continues today across the fleet of eight ships including the newest.
10. Nimble, Luxurious Explorer
While our visit to Star Seeker was short and sweet, we enjoyed our first look at this new Windstar vessel. From the comments of guests aboard, it looks as though Windstar has a winner on their hands in terms of attracting both new-to-cruise guests and loyal past Windstar enthusiasts.
Plus, as Bava notes, the ship can go where many bigger ships can’t. It can visit remote coves, lesser visited port destinations and even head up certain rivers. The new ship is helping open up the world to more guests, and a new sister, Star Explorer, is on the way and will debut at year’s end.
