by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Wed September 4, 2024
Windstar Cruises has opened bookings for its forthcoming ship, Star Seeker.
The 112-suite ship will spend its inaugural season sailing around the Caribbean, Alaska and Japan. It’s scheduled to debut from Málaga, Spain, on December 28, 2025.
Star Seeker is one of two new ships slated to join the Windstar fleet. The other, Star Explorer, is scheduled to debut in December 2026.
During its maiden voyage, the ship will sail across the Atlantic, with a stop in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands for New Year’s Eve. There, the ship will meet up with another member of the Windstar fleet, the Wind Star.
The cruise ends on January 13 in Miami, which is where Windstar is headquartered. A christening ceremony will be held in Miami, with a yet-to-be-announced godmother or godfather on hand to perform the ceremonial breaking of a bottle of Champagne against the hull. Windstar will also host a series of invitation-only special events and ship tours in Miami for members of the media, travel advisors, partners and shoreside Windstar staff.
Star Seeker will depart on January 15, 2026, for an 8-day christening cruise from Miami to San Juan. The voyage will stop in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands. Star Seeker will stay in the Caribbean region before traversing the Panama Canal and sailing north to Alaska.
“I’m really excited we’ll be able to sail the new Star Seeker in the Caribbean before the ship continues on to its final destinations of Alaska and Japan,” says Christopher Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises. “Star Seeker will likely not return to the Caribbean again, so it’s a wonderful but fleeting chance for our Caribbean destination fans to experience the ship. We have some celebrations planned to bring Star Seeker together with other Windstar ships in the Caribbean, like a sunset sailing parade past the pitons in St. Lucia with Wind Spirit and Star Pride. It will be a warm welcome to the fleet for our new ship.”
For the repositioning cruise from the Caribbean to Alaska, travelers have several options. They can sail from San Juan to Juneau (49 days), from Costa Rica to Juneau (25 days) or from Mexico to Juneau (17 days).
Star Seeker will stay in Alaska from May to August 2026 and will offer two main itineraries. Travelers can book 7- or 8-day “Scenic Alaska” cruises or longer 10-, 11- or 12-day “Alaskan Splendor” voyages. All of the line’s Alaska cruises will go between Vancouver, B.C., and Juneau, Alaska. Windstar also offers five-day inland tours through Denali National Park.
The cruise line will also offer its “Signature Expedition” program, which includes options such as kayaking from the watersports platform or exploring on a small RIB boat. Expedition guides will be onboard for the entire sailing; they’ll also give presentations on Alaska’s environment, history and culture.
After spending the summer in Alaska, Star Seeker will head to Japan in early September 2026. Windstar is bringing back its popular “Grand Japan” cruise, with four departures through October 2026. Travelers can also add on a three-day inland exploration of Osaka and Kyoto.
Windstar has not offered cruises in Alaska and Japan since 2023. Adding Star Seeker to the fleet has allowed Windstar to return to these regions.
Windstar is also in the process of developing itineraries in Southeast Asia.
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