Windstar Cruises Sets Sail for Europe: Introducing the Star Explorer in 2027

Windstar Cruises has announced the upcoming launch of its new all-suite yacht, Star Explorer, which will be the second addition to its fleet. This new vessel is set to accommodate 224 guests and will begin operating year-round in Europe from December 2026. The ship’s christening ceremony is planned for May 31, 2027, on the River Thames in London, where it will showcase its elegant and modern design.

Following its launch, the Star Explorer will embark on its inaugural journey, a circumnavigation of Ireland, visiting locations renowned for their stunning natural beauty and rich cultural history. The yacht is designed to access smaller ports and inland waterways that larger ships cannot reach, broadening Windstar’s European itinerary options.

Windstar’s president, Christopher Prelog, emphasized that the ship’s size will allow it to call at places like Rouen, Caen, Bordeaux, and even central London. This enhanced access will enable longer stays and overnight port calls at key destinations, including the inaugural visits to Puerto Banús in Spain and returns to San Sebastián and Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Basque coast.

Star Explorer will feature 112 suites, including two Horizon Owner’s Suites with expansive wraparound balconies, along with additional staterooms equipped with verandas or infinity windows. The vessel will also offer a range of amenities, including the Yacht Club Café and a watersports marina, all set within Windstar’s signature relaxed atmosphere highlighted by attentive service.

The 2027 itinerary for Star Explorer includes an array of voyages throughout Northern and Western Europe. New offerings comprise the “Seven Gems of the Baltic,” an eight-night cruise visiting Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia, as well as a “Circumnavigating Ireland” ten-night cruise with stops at Waterford, Cork, Galway, and Belfast, featuring iconic sights such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Isles of Scilly.

Additional itineraries include “Impressionist France,” a 10-night trip from Bordeaux to London, and “Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal,” an eight-night journey from Lisbon to Bordeaux, focusing on the rich culinary and cultural heritage of the Iberian coast.

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