by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Mon June 10, 2024
Windstar Cruises will be sending its newest ship, Star Seeker, to Alaska and Japan when it joins the fleet in 2026. With the introduction of Star Seeker, Windstar will be returning to Alaska and Japan for the first time since 2023.
“We are really happy to be able to bring back Alaska and Japan for our guests,” says Christopher Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises. “We know these are popular destinations, and we have many people asking us to return there. We can’t keep this secret any longer.”
Star Seeker is slated to join the Windstar fleet in December 2025, followed by another new ship, Star Explorer, in December 2026. Both ships will be able to accommodate up to 224 guests in 112 suites with full private verandas and infinity windows.
The two new ships will each have 112 suites (Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises)
Starting in May 2026, Star Seeker will offer seven-, 10- and 11-day Alaska cruises departing from either Juneau or Seward, Alaska, and ending in Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests will be able to explore remote wilderness areas, such as Misty Fjords, during hiking, kayaking and skiff expeditions. Expedition leaders will also offer on-board talks about Alaska’s plants, animals and history.
The cruise line will also offer pre- and post-cruise land tours in Denali National Park.
“These immersive, small group expeditions are a key part of our Alaska program and bring our guests closer to the beauty of Alaska,” says 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 August, Star Seeker will head toward Japan to offer Windstar’s popular 10-day Grand Japan cruises sailing between Tokyo and Osaka. The ship will remain in Japan through November.
Bookings will be available starting in early August.
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