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Windstar reveals new ship, return of popular Alaska & Japan routes in 2026
Windstar Cruises has revealed its plan to send its newest ship, Star Seeker, cruising to Alaska and Japan when it joins the fleet in 2026.
The small-ship cruise line last sailed the two destinations in 2023, before it redeployed Star Breeze to be the year-round ship in Tahiti.
“We are really happy to be able to bring back Alaska and Japan for our guests,” said Windstar President Christopher 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.”
Windstar’s Vice-President of Sales Dianna Rom first made the news public on stage at Travel Leaders’ Edge conference in front of 3,000 travel partners.
Star Seeker will sail in Alaska from May through August on seven-, 10- and 11-day cruises between Juneau or Seward, Alaska, and Vancouver.
Pre- and post-cruise land tours to Denali will be available as well.
After departing Alaska in late August, the ship will sail to Japan to begin the line’s popular 10-day Grand Japan cruises, sailing between Tokyo and Osaka.
The ship will remain in Japan through November.
Windstar plans to have Star Seeker’s new deployment details, including the trips to Alaska and Japan, online and bookable in early Aug. 2024.
In Alaska, Windstar will employ onboard expedition leaders to head its signature expeditions, as it did on previous Alaska deployments.
To explore remote wilderness areas such as Misty Fjords, guests can book hiking, kayaking and skiff expeditions through the ship to enjoy up-close adventures in small groups led by an expert guide to provide context during the journey.
Expedition leaders will also give presentations on the ship, bringing Alaska’s rich history, culture, flora and fauna to life.
“These immersive, small group expeditions are a key part of our Alaska program and bring our guests closer to the beauty of Alaska,” said 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. You never know what wildlife you might see.”
In April, Windstar announced the addition of two new ships — Star Seeker and Star Explorer — to its fleet of boutique yachts.
Each will have 112 suites, with a guest capacity of 224, and will be similar to the line’s current Star Class motor yachts.
Star Seeker will be delivered to Windstar in Dec. 2025 and Star Explorer in Dec. 2026.
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