A whole lot of us have been avidly following, for over a yr now, the building progress of Windstar’s Star Seeker. The 224-passenger ship is the primary newbuild within the Star Class fleet, which accounts for an enormous quantity of anticipation. And whereas finding out renderings and studying all method of blogs and social media posts — and listening and watching Windstar’s Winds of Change podcast on the ship’s evolution — has been a enjoyable solution to preserve abreast of Star Seeker’s progress, you’ll be able to’t actually know what it’s like, or quite what she’s like, till you climb on board.
It occurred to me, touring to Malaga to be a part of Star Seeker’s weeklong shakedown cruise in mid-December, that the final time I used to be so enthusiastic about experiencing a brand new style-for-Windstar voyage was when, after a handful of sailings on my beloved Wind Surf, I used to be launched to Star Satisfaction, the primary of the three yachts to launch, at its christening. It’s one among a trio of practically equivalent yachts, acquired from Seabourn, to hitch the fleet between 2014 – 2015 (Star Breeze and Star Legend are sister vessels). The yacht expertise proved to be very totally different from its Wind-class brethren (Wind Star, Wind Spirit and the aforementioned Wind Surf). And but, nonetheless marvelous, nonetheless Windstar. In actual fact, all of my final half-a-dozen cruises lately have been on Star Class vessels, from Tahiti to Iceland to winter within the Mediterranean.
What I realized then is that nothing can change the guts and soul of a Windstar expertise, whichever fashion of ship you select. And that its crew is heat and genuine, considerate and outgoing, environment friendly and empathetic.
I realized that lesson once more in our first few days onboard Star Seeker. It could symbolize a sleeker, extra modern Windstar however the inherent heat and coziness of the road shouldn’t be sure up in ship {hardware} and even in its marvelous design. The nice and cozy welcome from so many acquainted faces, the great exchanges between crew and visitors and sure, its officers, too, jogged my memory that together with new venues and wonderful earth-toned suites, a brand-new marina expertise, and irresistible, comforting and revolutionary delicacies, Star Seeker feels similar to a Windstar cruise has all the time been.
On our shakedown cruise alongside Spain’s Costa del Sol, I’m nonetheless discovering my sea legs. Nevertheless, the primary and lasting impression from the brand new Star Seeker is that it’s an evolution of the Windstar expertise that I’ve come to like. Sure, there are new touches. Most suites have personal balconies. There are extra areas, particularly outdoor, for stress-free. I like the ship’s structure, which primarily concentrates public venues on decks 4 and seven. And but on the finish of the day, from my first steps onboard, Star Seeker rapidly felt like being at dwelling, on Windstar.
I can’t wait to listen to about your expertise on Star Seeker (please be at liberty to elaborate within the remark part beneath).
Within the meantime, right here’s what you’ll be able to count on.
First, some context on the evolution of Star Seeker
When Windstar signed on to increase its fleet with Star Seeker – and Star Explorer, whose building will likely be underway in its Portugal shipyard in late April 2026 (the ship debuts in December 2026) – the road took over an expedition ship, in blueprints, that was designed for an expedition line. As we chronicled in our Star Seeker replace sequence of blogs, Windstar then underwent a sequence of alterations, from actually adapting its hull to include a duck tail that may function its marina to ripping down partitions and rebuilding to swimsuit the road’s fashion, resembling its top-of-ship Yacht Membership.
Amphora will get a brand new look and extra
Amphora, primarily a night restaurant on Windstar’s different Star Class ships, now provides breakfast and lunch. It provides a mixture of buffet and off-the-menu dishes, simply because the Veranda does, throughout the day. At evening, simply as it’s with elegant evenings in Amphora, visitors order off-the-menu. One good contact for this Amphora is its spacious, alfresco eating space.
Star Bar and Grill is a superb alfresco eating spot
The Star Bar and Grill, tucked into the pool deck, nonetheless provides its mix of buffet and off-the-menu choices for breakfast and lunch (I had a scrumptious “Windstar Reuben” there on a gloriously heat and sunny day whereas docked in Spain’s Cartagena). There’s additionally a cooked-to-order menu at lunch, the place you’ll be able to order burgers (each vegetarian and smashed variations can be found), salads, rooster, and such.
At evening, this atmospheric spot transitions right into a reservation-only steakhouse-style restaurant, the place its menu is impressed by the Candles venues which can be on Star Satisfaction, Star Legend and Star Breeze. We’re making an attempt it a couple of nights from now; I’ll report again.
Talking of eating places, Windstar’s revamped its menus
Having cruised on Star Legend simply this previous April, I liked seeing the brand new menus – with each new and established favorites – at every of Star Seeker’s eating venues (and these are additionally being expanded to the remainder of the Star Class fleet). An Asiatic duck in Amphora, with delicate candy and savory spices, a scrumptious new smash burger at Star Grill, Amphora and by way of the in-suite eating menu, and contemporary squeezed orange juice in Amphora at breakfast are a few of my favorites of the brand new tweaks.
Loving Basil + Bamboo
Basil + Bamboo, Windstar’s new restaurant idea that blends Mediterranean with Asian delicacies (“Mediterrasian”), is rolling out all through the fleet. On Star Seeker, it’s about twice as massive (nonetheless intimate and comfy, although) as it’s on the Star Legend and Star Breeze, and it’s a cheerful, sunny house. On our first go to, standouts began with probably the most unbelievable bread and infused-with-avocado butter, a sashimi, nigiri and maki sampler, and crispy brussels sprouts with a Korean honey glaze. What was most enjoyable about making an attempt entrees was how ingenious is the mix of the 2 cuisines: a miso black cod was accompanied by Spanish Iberico ham, and completely cooked beef medallions had been served with polenta and an Asian ponzu jus (a Japanese-influenced citrus sauce).
One go to isn’t sufficient; we’re heading again once more on this shakedown cruise to check out among the menu objects we missed on the primary go-round.
The Yacht Membership will get a brand new project
The highest-of-the-ship Yacht Membership, which on Star Legend, Breeze and Satisfaction is a daytime venue, nonetheless provides informal breakfast and lunch grab-and-go (or sit-and-stay) dishes, and naturally coffees and teas. On Star Seeker, it’s gotten an evolutionary makeover; widespread elements such because the puzzle desk and bookshelves with all the things from board video games to espresso desk tomes, are nonetheless a part of its persona. From a design perspective, the venue feels very spacious and unfold out and naturally has the 180-degree expansive views – and a brand new skylight, which provides much more gentle to the room.
What’s new is that it’s now extending its hours into the evenings, the place from 6 p.m. it transforms into a stunning, low-key cocktail bar (there’s a grand piano for music nevertheless it’s positively extra lowkey than the leisure within the Lounge). The lighting is attractive.
Easy and regular
Having initially been designed for touring to the wilds of Antarctica and the Arctic, Star Seeker is a really secure ship; even in somewhat-buoyant seas within the Mediterranean, the trip was very easy.
Probably the most noticeable distinction about its suites is that the majority have balconies
On Star Seeker, there are 112 all-ocean-view suites, most of which have both a personal, step-out veranda or a flooring to ceiling French balcony, wherein the home windows slide down midway. Notably new are the 548-square ft. Horizon House owners’ suites, that are situated aft of the ship and have 248-square ft. wrap-around balconies, and separate bedrooms and dwelling and eating areas.
The 380-square ft. Star Suites are designed with devoted sleeping and dwelling areas, bogs with separate bathe and bathtub, and a balcony that measures 110 sq. ft.
We love our Vista Veranda, a 268-square-foot suite with a dwelling space, with loveseat, and a deep verandah; these are all situated on deck 7 and what’s distinctive about that’s that the 55-square ft. balconies don’t have any roof and are open to the sky; excellent for star gazing.
It’s price noting that bogs in the usual classes are completely attractive, with a teak-like shade scheme and probably the most stunning, curved mosaic-tiled bathe, with each a rain head and physique jets.
Backside Line?
Captain Tom Schofield joined the ship on November 17 when it was a busy shipyard stuffed with employees dashing to get completed. At dinner at Amphora the opposite evening, I requested him: was there one second when Star Seeker was remodeled from a ship beneath building to a real Windstar vessel? He didn’t even have to consider his response.
When he bought right here, he informed me, it was a hurly burly building challenge, crammed with shipyard employees working intensely to get their elements of the newbuild completed. It wasn’t till members of Star Seeker arrived, in early December to coach and put together the ship for visitors, that he felt a major shift in temper. “There was a brand new, lighter power with our crew onboard,” he mentioned, noting that the crew introduced with them smiles and hugs and anticipation about their new Windstar dwelling. “It was at that time that Star Seeker turned not only a ship but in addition a member of the Windstar household.”
