From Europe to Asia, Windstar’s small ships connect river and ocean voyages, introducing a new category of sailing to guests.
Windstar Cruises is inviting guests to discover a new style of cruising, the best of both worlds with its river-to-ocean cruising connecting both experiences in a single journey aboard one ship. Guests will sail from the world’s great rivers, like the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Mekong, into a much broader world of exploration.
Leading this new category is Star Explorer, Windstar’s newest all-suite yacht, launching December 2026. Purpose-built for river-to-ocean travel, the 224-guest yacht reaches waterways too small for larger ocean ships and coastal destinations traditional river vessels can’t access, giving travellers deeper cultural connection and access to places that aren’t over visited. It’s a new product for cruisers ready to go further, without giving up the style of travel they already love.
Where Star Explorer Sails
Star Explorer’s 2027 voyages pairs river access seamlessly with broader coastal exploration.
- Impressionist France (10 nights on Star Explorer) – Ideal for Seine veterans ready to go further, this trip from Bordeaux to London / HMS Belfast pairs the Seine and the Thames with overnights in Bordeaux, St. Malo and Paris/Rouen, plus access to the D-Day beaches.
- Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal (8 nights on Star Explorer) – Perfect for travelers who have sailed the Rhône and are ready to expand their wine-focused journeys, this voyage extends from France into Spain and Portugal, pairing Bordeaux’s Garonne and Gironde rivers with culinary discoveries along the Spanish coast and time in Portugal’s Douro region.
- Moroccan Markets & Iberian Icons (8 nights on Star Explorer) – Danube cruisers seeking deeper cultural exploration will find a natural next step with this journey into Seville via the Guadalquivir, continuing on to a broader mix of Iberian and Moroccan destinations.
- Ireland Circumnavigation (10 nights on Star Explorer) – For travelers who have sailed past the castles of the Rhine and are ready for a wilder, more dramatic landscape, this sailing includes a call at Cork City Quay on the River Lee, then continues along Ireland’s rugged coastline of cliffs and castles.
Additional Sailings
Beyond Star Explorer, Windstar offers a range of itineraries that build on the same river-meets-ocean approach into new regions and formats, including shorter getaways, culinary sailings and more.
- French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine (7 nights on Star Legend) – A natural extension for Seine cruisers, this culinary-focused itinerary blends Bordeaux and Rouen/Paris with nearby coastal regions.
- Tulip Season in Holland & Belgium (7 nights on Star Pride) – An easy transition for Rhine cruisers drawn to canal-laced cities and seasonal landscapes, this itinerary includes an overnight in Antwerp, an exclusive port that welcomes just one ship per day.
- Quick Getaways: St. Malo Getaway (4 nights on Star Pride) – A natural add-on for Thames and Seine cruisers, this roundtrip from London / HMS Belfast includes visits to St. Malo and Brittany.
- Ancient Wonders of Vietnam & Angkor Wat (14 nights on Star Seeker) – Ideal for Mekong cruisers interested in a new Southeast Asia option, this journey sails through Halong Bay and along the Saigon River into Ho Chi Minh City, then continues to Bangkok via the Chao Phraya River, with inland stops like Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh.
How To Book and Learn More
As the leader in small-ship cruising, Windstar is defining this emerging category, and giving travellers a product that combines intimacy, access and exploration.
