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Windstar Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 European season, with five of its yachts set to cruise the Mediterranean and Northern Europe across an impressive 348 itinerary combinations.

Running from March through October 2028, the programme will feature Star Explorer, Star Legend, Star Pride, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf, with voyages ranging from four-day European getaways to a substantial 53-day Grand Mediterranean Adventure.

Major additions for 2028 include an expanded Germany programme featuring the Kiel Canal and Elbe River, plus a sailing timed to coincide with Hamburg’s major maritime festival and a new Windstar port of call at Inis Mór in Ireland’s Aran Islands.

Windstar is also expanding its British Isles programme aboard Star Explorer, its newest yacht, which is scheduled to enter service in December 2026.

Across the Mediterranean, the cruise line will continue operating itineraries through Greece, Italy, France and Croatia, while introducing enhanced Grand Prix voyages, another Mystery Cruise round-trip from Athens and additional opportunities for guests to combine consecutive itineraries into longer European holidays.

Early booking incentives

Windstar is supporting the launch with an Early Booking Offer applying to eligible newly released 2028 European voyages booked by 31 October 2026.

The offer includes a complimentary All-Inclusive package, including Wi-Fi, gratuities, and unlimited selected beer, wine, and cocktails, plus a US$100 shipboard credit per guest.

Guests who pay their eligible cruise fare in full at the time of booking can also receive a five per cent discount on the cruise fare, subject to Windstar’s applicable terms and conditions.

Germany takes centre stage

Germany receives considerably greater prominence in Windstar’s 2028 Northern Europe programme aboard Star Pride, with itineraries incorporating Hamburg, Berlin and Binz on the island of Rügen.

Windstar is also planning Berlin Cruise Tours, while a four-day Quick Getaway from Copenhagen to Hamburg will visit Binz and Warnemünde, the gateway to Berlin, before transiting the Kiel Canal and Elbe River.

Another short voyage, departing 3 May 2028, has been timed to coincide with Hamburg’s major maritime festival.

Windstar says the sailing is expected to include participation in the event’s boat parade and fireworks celebrations, adding a distinctly festive flavour to the short Northern European voyage.

Elsewhere aboard Star Pride, a new six-day Quick Getaway will connect Amsterdam and London, calling at Ostend for Bruges, Rouen for Paris and Honfleur.

Shore experiences are expected to include opportunities to visit Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny, the D-Day landing beaches and Normandy’s renowned culinary destinations.

Star Explorer expands Ireland programme

Star Explorer will take a prominent role in Windstar’s expanded Ireland and British Isles programme, with Inis Mór in the Aran Islands becoming a new Windstar port of call in 2028.

Other experiences will include scenic cruising near the Cliffs of Moher, city-centre docking in Cork, and shore excursions highlighting attractions such as Waterford crystal and local foraging experiences.

A Circumnavigating Ireland itinerary is also scheduled to include Belfast, Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, Cork and Waterford, giving travellers a broad look at the island from the vantage point of Windstar’s small-ship cruising style.

Grand Prix and Mystery Cruise return

Across the Mediterranean, Star Legend, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf will operate itineraries throughout the 2028 season.

Both Star Legend and Wind Spirit are scheduled to feature Monaco Grand Prix-related voyages, giving guests an opportunity to combine Windstar’s intimate yacht experience with one of international motorsport’s most famous events.

Windstar’s Mystery Cruise, sailing round-trip from Athens, will also return.

As the name rather charmingly suggests, guests leave port knowing considerably less about where they are going than travellers normally would, part of an increasingly rare pleasure in an age when almost everything can be found online before breakfast.

53 days across the Mediterranean

For travellers with considerably more time at their disposal, Windstar will offer its 53-day Grand Mediterranean Adventure aboard Wind Spirit, sailing from Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Venice.

Wind Spirit will also return to the Adriatic for an extended season of week-long voyages operating between Venice and Dubrovnik.

Consecutive departures can be combined into a two-week itinerary without repeating ports, giving travellers a broader exploration of the Adriatic while keeping the convenience of staying aboard the same yacht.

Ports will include smaller Croatian and Adriatic destinations such as Korčula and Poreč, reinforcing Windstar’s strategy of using its smaller ships to reach ports and destinations that may not feature on conventional large-ship itineraries.

With bookings now open more than a year ahead of the season, Windstar is clearly giving travel advisors and their clients plenty of time to plan — particularly those contemplating longer combinations or major European events where accommodation and associated travel arrangements can become highly sought after.

For travel advisors, the programme’s breadth also offers considerable flexibility: short European additions for clients already travelling in the region, traditional seven-night voyages, extended back-to-back combinations and, at the upper end, a 53-day Mediterranean adventure for those blessed with both time and a particularly cooperative diary.