Windstar Cruises to Return to Alaska & Japan

by Dori Saltzman / June 10, 2024

Windstar Cruises will return to Alaska and Japan in 2026, when its next new ship, Star Seeker, joins the fleet. The line last sailed in both locations in 2023 before redeploying Star Breeze to sail year-round in Tahiti.

Windstar’s vice president of sales, Dianna Rom, first made the news public on the state at Travel Leaders’ EDGE conference over the weekend. Alaska, in particular, she said, has been the most requested destination since the Windstar first announced it wouldn’t be returning after the 2023 season.

Star Seeker will sail in Alaska from May 2026 through Aug. on seven-, 10-, and 11-day cruises between Juneau or Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia. Pre- or post-cruise land tours to Denali will be available as well.

In Alaska, Windstar will feature expedition leaders on board to lead its Signature Expeditions, as it did on previous Alaska sailings. Excursions will include active options such as hiking, kayaking, and skiff sailings.

“These immersive, small group expeditions are a key part of our Alaska program and bring our guests closer to the beauty of Alaska,” said Windstar president Christopher Prelog. “Being on the water and seeing the topography from that viewpoint brings the grandeur of Alaska into perspective. It’s also quiet and meditative to be out in these wild places.”

After departing Alaska in late Aug., Star Seeker will sail to Japan to being the line’s 10-day Grand Japan cruises sailing between Tokyo and Osaka. The ship will remain in Japan through Nov. 2026.

“We are really happy to be able to bring back Alaska and Japan for our guests,” said Prelog. “We know these are popular destinations, and we have many people asking us to return there. We can’t keep this secret any longer.”

The specific deployment details for both Alaska and Japan will be released soon, with bookings opening in early Aug. 2024.

Star Seeker, which joins the Windstar fleet in Dec. 2025, will be the first of two new ships for Windstar. The second ship, Star Explorer, will be delivered to Star Explorer in Dec. 2026.