Windstar Cruises Welcomes First-Ever Newbuild Ship to Its Fleet

With a dress code of “casual or dress to celebrate,” Windstar Cruises welcomed Star Seeker, the brand’s first-ever newbuild ship – and the first ship to join the fleet since 2015.

Guests in flip flops and VIP attendees in shiny loafers and sparkly high heels mingled amidst a lively atmosphere that was perfectly apropos for a yacht-inspired cruise brand that takes guests “180 degrees from ordinary.”

“Ever since we started sailing in 1984, Windstar always believed that small ships can make big moments. It’s about connection, people, places, and the ocean,” said Windstar’s president Chris Prelog. “Tonight feels like a perfect reflection of that.”

Connection was a central theme of the short and sweet ceremony, which was attended by three previous Windstar Cruises godmothers, as well as members of the Anschutz family. (The Anschutz Corporation owns Xanterra Travel Collection, which owns Windstar Cruises.) The ship’s godmother Libby Anschutz is the daughter of Phil Anschutz, founder and owner of The Anschutz Corporation.

“The Star Seeker really does embody the essence of Windstar,” Libby Anschutz said. “It’s thoughtful, welcoming, and crafted to bring people closer to the world and to each other. As godmother, I wish for this ship, for her crew to have safe voyages, for her guests to have unforgettable experiences, and for her journeys to be filled with joy, discovery, and connection.”

The arrival of the 224-passenger Star Seeker heralds a new era for the cruise line, which until Star Seeker, has never had a newbuild in its fleet.

“It gives us the credibility that we really needed at this time as so many small-ship cruise lines are coming out,” Janet Bava, chief commercial officer at Windstar Cruises, told TMR. “It gives us the credibility to say, look at this new ship build, look at this new product we’ve added.”

One thing Bava and Prelog also pointed out: the delivery of Star Seeker was the smoothest they’ve ever experienced.

“I’m really proud to say that Star Seeker was delivered on time and exceeded expectations, and that is something that doesn’t happen too often in the small ship cruising space,” Prelog said during the naming ceremony.

Bava admitted she’s been obsessively monitoring various online platforms for feedback from the ship’s first revenue sailing, a transatlantic voyage that ended in Miami in time for the ship’s naming ceremony.

So far, she’s liking what she sees. The two biggest complaints she’s seen so far have been the replacement of “1492” as the sailaway song (it’s now only on the brand’s sail ships) and the lack of American style plugs in the staterooms. (The stateroom plugs are actually dual American/European plugs, but guests haven’t figured that out yet.)

Star Seeker’s second revenue sailing is currently underway.

As the ship’s Master, Captain Tom Schofield put it, “This moment closes the epilogue of the Star Seeker’s first chapter and opens the pages on the exciting and adventurous chapters that are to follow.”

First of Two Ships

Windstar announced the purchase of Star Seeker (originally World Seeker) – and its sister ship World Explorer – from Mystic Invest (the parent company of Atlas Ocean Voyages) in April 2024. Under construction at the time for Atlas, Windstar quickly turned the cold-water expedition vessel into a ship best suited for the warmer destinations Windstar’s guests favor. Star Explorer will join the Windstar fleet in early 2027 after more widespread renovations, as it will be moving from operating under the Atlas brand to Windstar.

The most significant changes to Star Seeker (and coming to Star Explorer) were at the fore and the aft. At the front, space for a hot tub needed to be added. At the back, a ducktail was added to act as a marina – a Windstar staple.

Technically, a Star Class ship like the Star Legend, Star Breeze, and Star Pride, Star Seeker is a bit more of a hybrid.

“It is in between the small Wind Class the Star Class. We’re back where Star Class started at with limited space, so we had to make the most of the space,” said Stijn Creupelandt, chief operating officer for Windstar.

With fewer lounges and dining areas, many of the public spaces do double duty. The Yacht Club, for instance, is open during the as a coffee bar and lounge for relaxation and educational talks, but at night serves the same purpose that Compass Rose does on the Star Class, with a bar, music, and space for dancing.

The Star Grill on Star Seeker is open for breakfast and lunch, and then at dinner turns into a reservations-only restaurant that essentially serves as the line’s signature Candles venue.