Small-ship specialist Windstar Cruises is finally back in growth mode.
Windstar President Chris Prelog on Wednesday said the brand would add two new vessels by the end of 2026 — a 33% expansion of its fleet that would end a decadelong drought in new ship additions.
“This is going to allow Windstar not only to grow but to go back to favorite destinations where we have been before and explore new destinations,” Prelog told cruise writers at a press conference in Miami Beach, Florida.
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Prelog called the acquisition of the two vessels from another company “an amazing opportunity” that would allow Windstar to double the number of ships it operates in French Polynesia, one of its core markets.
The press conference took place at Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s annual meetup at the Miami Beach Convention Center. More than 10,000 executives from cruise lines, shipyards, suppliers and destinations attend the event.
2 new all-suite ships
Windstar is acquiring the two new vessels from Portugal-based Mystic Invest Holdings, the parent company of small-ship operator Atlas Ocean Voyages, Germany-based Nicko Cruises and several other brands.
The first of the vessels, to be called Star Seeker, is a still-under-construction, 224-passenger vessel that Mystic was originally building for its Atlas Ocean Voyages brand to operate under the name World Seeker.
The ship was to be a sister vessel to the three Atlas Ocean Voyages vessels currently in operation: World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager.
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Mystic was building the ship for Atlas Ocean Voyages at a shipyard in Portugal that it also owns.
The second vessel Windstar is acquiring is a 4-year-old ship in the same series that Mystic has been chartering to expedition cruise specialist Quark Expeditions. Currently operating for Quark as World Explorer, it’ll be renamed Star Explorer and also have room for 224 passengers.
Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained
The two vessels will join the Windstar fleet in December 2025 and December 2026, respectively, after the addition of several signature Windstar elements to each of them.
For example, both of the vessels will get water sports platforms, something that isn’t currently part of their design. Water sports platforms are a signature feature of Windstar vessels.
Other changes to the current design of each of the vessels will include adding a new pool and a two-story spa. Windstar will also add a whirlpool to the bow of the ships.
A helipad that is currently part of the design of each of the ships will become a large Owner’s Suite, with a wraparound balcony.
Like the three ships of similar design currently sailing for Atlas Ocean Voyages, the new Windstar ships will be all-suite ships where most rooms come with either a private balcony or a window wall that slides open to create a balcony-like space.
Windstar said each of the ships would have an Amphora dining room, a Windstar signature, and a more casual Star Grill. Each of the vessels will have a no-extra-charge specialty restaurant and offer 24-hour room service, too.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Windstar ship
As is the case for all of the vessels in the series that have operated for Atlas Ocean Voyages and Quark, the ships will have ice-strengthened hulls that allow them to operate in icy polar destinations such as Antarctica and the Arctic’s Svalbard Archipelago. But in response to a question from The Points Guy, Prelog suggested the line didn’t have plans to deploy the ships to the most remote parts of the polar regions.
That said, the ice-strengthened capabilities of the ships could be of value when sailing to places such as Greenland and Alaska, Prelog said.
First new Windstar ships since 2015
Windstar last expanded its fleet in 2014 and 2015, when it added three small motor vessels that were formerly operated by Seabourn.
Windstar currently operates six ships — the three former Seabourn vessels, all of which have been significantly renovated and lengthened over the years to have more cabins and venues, as well as three sailing ships.
Related: Don’t miss these loyalty perks when booking a Windstar cruise
During Wednesday’s announcement, Prelog said the addition of the two Mystic vessels would allow Windstar to send one of its sailing ships, the 148-passenger Wind Star, back to French Polynesia starting in 2027. Wind Star will join the 312-passenger Star Breeze in sailing year-round in French Polynesia, a major expansion for Windstar in the region.
Prelog on Wednesday did not say where the new Star Seeker and Star Explorer would sail. But he said itineraries and pricing for the first of vessels scheduled to debut, Star Seeker, would be announced in June.
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