Experience the thrill of sailing on the stunning new cruise ship in the Caribbean — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits!

Attention sun-chasers! Meet the highly anticipated Star Seeker, one of the cruise industry's newest luxury vessels, making its debut at the end of next year. Don't miss your chance to enjoy it in the Caribbean!

Windstar Cruises' Star Seeker is a fresh 224-passenger ship and the company's first new construction in almost four decades. Starting in December 2025, it will primarily sail in Alaska and Japan — regions where Windstar has not operated since 2023. Before heading to these areas, the ship will embark on a special series of Caribbean cruises, giving passengers an exclusive three-month opportunity to explore beach destinations.

From January 15, 2026, through the end of April 2026, Star Seeker will offer a variety of Caribbean itineraries. Travelers can choose to book these as standalone Caribbean journeys or as part of extended voyages that blend the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and Alaska for a unique adventure.

"I’m thrilled that we can sail the new Star Seeker in the Caribbean before it journeys on to its final ports in Alaska and Japan," said Windstar president Christopher Prelog in a statement. "This will likely be the ship's only return to the Caribbean, making it a wonderful yet brief opportunity for fans of these destinations to experience it firsthand."

According to Prelog, guests on select Caribbean sailings aboard the new ship will enjoy exclusive celebratory events, including a sunset sailing parade past the stunning pitons in St. Lucia, where Star Seeker will rendezvous with sister ships Wind Spirit and Star Pride.

The Caribbean voyages will last from seven to 14 days, departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and visiting various ports in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, along with St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Bequia, St. Lucia, and more.

From May to August 2026, the ship will operate in Alaska following its final Caribbean-to-Alaska journey. It will offer two main types of itineraries: seven- and eight-night one-way trips between Vancouver, Canada, and Juneau, Alaska, featuring stops at Misty Fjords, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Haines. Longer voyages of 10, 11, and 12 nights between Vancouver and Anchorage will include stops at Ketchikan, Misty Fjords, Klawock, Wrangell, Haines, Juneau, Sitka, and Seward (the gateway to Anchorage).

In September 2026, the ship will journey across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, marking the return of Windstar's beloved Grand Japan voyages after a three-year hiatus. Travelers on these itineraries can look forward to sailing between Yokohama (Tokyo's port) and either Osaka or Kobe, with stops at scenic ports like Shimizu, Shingu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Karatsu, Hiroshima, and Takamatsu.

While Windstar's vessels exude an upscale ambiance, the small-ship line does not offer all-inclusive pricing. Guests will need to budget extra for items like drinks, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi. However, they can expect a cozy onboard atmosphere, exceptional service, delectable dining, and beautifully appointed accommodations.

In addition to Star Seeker, Windstar operates a fleet of six other vessels, divided into two categories: sailing ships and non-sailing ships, with three of each type currently in operation. When Star Seeker joins the fleet as the seventh vessel (the fourth non-sailing), it will have a passenger capacity that sits between the existing ships, which accommodate between 148 and 342 guests. Windstar aims to add an eighth non-sailing ship in 2026.

Star Seeker was initially being built for Atlas Ocean Voyages before Windstar acquired the partially finished vessel after Atlas discontinued the project.

The inaugural voyage for the 9,315-ton Star Seeker is set for December 28, 2025, departing from Malaga, Spain. This journey will include a transatlantic crossing and a stop at Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands for a New Year's Eve celebration before reaching Miami. An eight-day christening voyage will follow, taking guests from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 15, 2026, with visits to ports in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.

You can now book itineraries for the Star Seeker.