This remarkable new cruise might just be the most thrilling way to explore Europe ever

You could call it the most thrilling cruise through Europe to date.

The small-ship company Windstar Cruises has unveiled an ambitious new European itinerary for 2026, featuring an impressive 67 stops across 20 different countries.

Named the Grand Europe Adventure, this journey will span an extraordinary 81 days — over ten times the duration of many of Windstar's typical sailings.

Additionally, it will come with a significantly higher price tag compared to regular Windstar cruises, with fares starting at $31,099 per person.

For that price, avid travelers with ample time will have the chance to visit numerous iconic destinations across Europe, from Norway's stunning fjords to the ancient ruins of Greece — all in one journey.

Set to launch in Helsinki on July 14, 2026, the voyage aboard Windstar's 312-passenger Star Legend will kick off with a nine-day tour of the Baltic Sea. Stops will include Tallinn, Estonia; Stockholm (where the ship will dock overnight); Riga and Ventspils in Latvia; Gdansk, Poland; and Copenhagen, along with the island of Bornholm in Denmark.

Following that, the Star Legend will sail along Norway's picturesque coast, visiting places like Haugesund, Alesund, Adnalsnes, and Bergen, before venturing west for an extensive exploration of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.

In these locations, the itinerary will feature Invergordon in Scotland, known from the popular series "Outlander," as well as the Isle of Man, along with stops in Oban, Portrush, Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, and Cobh (the port for Cork).

The journey continues with a series of extended stops along the beautiful coasts of France, Spain, and Portugal.

This segment of the voyage features a notable three-day stay in Rouen, the renowned cathedral city in northern France that inspired many Claude Monet artworks. Additionally, the Star Legend will dock for four full days in Bordeaux, France, allowing ample time to explore the city and its famous wineries.

Travelers will also experience unusually long overnight stays in Bilbao and Seville, Spain, as well as Lisbon.

Other stops in Spain will include Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, and Barcelona.

The last three weeks of the journey will feature stops along the stunning southern coast of France, as well as in Monaco, Italy, and Greece.

In Italy, travelers will have the chance to visit six remarkable destinations: Portofino, Portoferraio, Porto Ercole, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Sorrento, and Messina.

The itinerary also includes a stop in Kusadasi, Turkey, which serves as the gateway to the ancient ruins of Ephesus.

Windstar is offering this new itinerary for a single departure only. This voyage is part of 15 brand-new European itineraries the line has introduced for 2026, marking a significant change in its deployments for the region. It's the largest number of new European itineraries Windstar has ever launched in one season.

These sailings will also feature stops at more ports new to the line — a total of 34 — than ever before in a single season.

The introduction of new itineraries coincides with Windstar's plans to expand its fleet by adding two new ships by the end of 2026 — a major growth step for the brand. Currently, the line operates six vessels.

Star Legend is one of the three motor ships within the Windstar fleet, which also includes three sailing vessels.