Windstar to Extend First-Ever Winter Med Season to Next Year

After violence in Israel forced Windstar to postpone its first ever season of Middle East cruises, the cruise line pivoted to offering a winter season in the Mediterranean instead – it’s first ever. The results were better than the cruise line imagined. As a result, Windstar is expanding its deployment to offer Mediterranean sailings on Star Legend year-round moving forward.

“On our inaugural sailing in December, every single travel advisor and guest onboard told me ‘this is genius’ as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most walkable cities when few cruise lines sail Europe’s oceans,” said Janet Bava, Windstar’s chief commercial officer.  “Our biggest learning from this winter’s season was we were limited by the possibilities and experiences we could offer with just one itinerary – from Rome to Barcelona and the reverse…”

Windstar will now offer five itineraries in the Mediterranean for the 2025 season, plus three special holiday and event sailings. The expansion allows guests to combine back-to-back itineraries, as well.

Among the new itineraries will be five sailings of the eight-day “Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast,” which sails from Rome to Venice with stops in Naples, Taormina (Sicily), an overnight in Dubrovnik, and a dull da in Zadar (Croatia), along with a final overnight in Venice.

The seven-day “Europe Winter Riviera” will be offered on eight departures, sailing from Rome to Barcelona via an overnight in Livorno (Italy), a day in Genoa ad Nice, and ending in an overnight in Barcelona.

Other one-off sailings will include the eight-day “Winter in Italy and the Adriatic,” the nine-day “Southern Spain Winter Escapes,” eight-day “Winter in Croatia & Greece,” eight-day “Christmas Holiday Cruise,” and nine-day “New Year’s Cruise.”

Additionally, Star Legend will return for a special appearance at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, which takes place in December 2024.