Windstar Cruises will send five yachts to Europe for the 2028 season, offering 348 different itinerary combinations ranging from four-day trips to a 53-day journey across the Mediterranean. Star Explorer, Star Legend, Star Pride, Wind Spirit, and Wind Surf will operate in the region from March through October. The fleet will visit new ports and expanded Germany and Ireland programs.
Star Explorer Adds Inis Mór to Europe Itinerary
Star Explorer will introduce Inis Mór as a new destination in Ireland’s Aran Islands. The island is known for its Atlantic cliffs and prehistoric stone forts. Windstar’s expanded Ireland program will include calls at Belfast, Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, Cork, and Waterford. The schedule also features scenic cruising past the Cliffs of Moher and city-centre docking in Cork.
Set to launch in December 2026, the Star Explorer is Windstar’s latest luxury yacht with capacity for 224 guests.
Kiel Canal and Hamburg Festival Added
Windstar is enhancing its German offerings with Star Pride, featuring a four-day journey from Copenhagen to Hamburg via the Kiel Canal and Elbe River. This route stops at Binz and Warnemünde, offering access to Berlin. Another highlight is a May 3, 2028 departure coinciding with Hamburg’s Port Birthday festival, complete with a boat parade and fireworks on the Elbe.
Windstar’s new sailings connect Amsterdam, Normandy, and London, with stops in Ostend for Bruges, Rouen for Paris, and Giverny, plus Honfleur and an overnight in London aboard HMS Belfast.
53-Day Mediterranean Journey and Mystery Cruise
The season’s longest voyage is a 53-day Mediterranean adventure on the Wind Spirit, sailing from Tenerife to Venice. This trip links the Canary Islands to southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, allowing guests to merge multiple regional journeys into one extended cruise. The Wind Spirit will also offer week-long Adriatic voyages between Venice and Dubrovnik.
Consecutive sailings are designed to avoid repeating ports, with special Monaco Grand Prix voyages on both the Star Legend and Wind Spirit. Windstar is also reviving its Mystery Cruise with an 11-day round-trip from Athens starting July 18, 2028, keeping the itinerary secret until departure.
Shorter Cruises Target Longer European Trips
Windstar is introducing more four- to six-day ‘Quick Getaway’ cruises, ideal for pairing with longer European land trips. This approach lets travelers add a boutique cruise to their plans without committing to a full week or two. In the Mediterranean, Windstar’s smaller yachts will continue to visit ports in Greece, Italy, France, and Croatia.