Windstar Cruises is rising once more with 2 new ships

Small-ship specialist Windstar Cruises is lastly again in development mode.

Windstar President Chris Prelog mentioned Wednesday the model will add two new ships by the tip of 2026 — a 33% enlargement of its fleet that may finish a decade-long drought in including new ships.

“This may enable Windstar to not solely develop however to return to favourite locations and discover new locations we've visited earlier than,” Prologue advised cruise writers at a press convention in Miami Seaside, Florida.

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Prelog referred to as the acquisition of two ships from one other firm “a tremendous alternative” that may enable Windstar to double the variety of ships operated in French Polynesia, one in every of its predominant markets.

The press convention passed off at Seatrade Cruise World, the cruise trade's annual assembly, on the Miami Seaside Conference Middle. Greater than 10,000 executives from cruise strains, shipyards, suppliers and locations attended the occasion.

2 new all-suite cruisers

Windstar is buying two new ships from Portugal-based Mystic Make investments Holdings, father or mother firm of small ship operator Atlas Ocean Voyages, Germany-based Nico Cruises and several other different manufacturers.

The primary of the ships, referred to as Star Seeker, is a still-under-construction, 224-passenger ship that Mystic was initially constructing for its Atlas Ocean Voyages model to function underneath the World Seeker identify.

The ship was to be a sister ship to the three Atlas ocean voyage ships presently in operation: World Navigator, World Traveller, and World Voyager.

Mystique was constructing the ship for Atlas Ocean Voyages at a shipyard in Portugal, which it additionally owned.

The second ship Windstar is buying is a 4-year-old ship from the identical collection that Mystic Expeditions is leasing to cruise specialist Quark Expeditions. At the moment working as World Explorer for Quark, will probably be renamed Star Explorer and also will have house for 224 passengers.

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After including a number of signature Windstar components to every of them, each ships will be part of the Windstar fleet in December 2025 and December 2026, respectively.

For instance, each ships will get water sports activities platforms, one thing that isn’t presently a part of their design. The water play platform is a distinguished characteristic of Windstar ships.

Different adjustments to every ship's present design will embrace a brand new pool and two-story spa. Windstar would additionally add a whirlpool to the ships' bow.

A helipad that’s presently a part of every ship's design will turn out to be a big proprietor's suite with a wraparound balcony.

Just like the three ships of comparable design presently crusing for Atlas Ocean voyages, the brand new Windstar ships might be totally furnished ships, the place most rooms include both a personal balcony or a window wall that folds out to create a balcony-like house. Opens for.

Windstar mentioned every ship will characteristic an Amphora Eating Room, a Windstar Signature and a extra informal Star Grill. Every ship could have a specialty restaurant at no additional cost and also will present 24-hour room service.

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As is the case with Atlas Ocean Voyages and all ships within the collection operated for Quark, the ships could have ice-strengthened hulls that enable them to function in icy polar locations reminiscent of Antarctica and the Arctic's Svalbard archipelago. However in response to a query from The Factors Man, Prelog urged the road has no plans to deploy ships to essentially the most distant elements of the polar areas.

The ships' ice-breaking capabilities might be priceless when crusing to locations like Greenland and Alaska, Prelog mentioned.

First new Windstar ship since 2015

Windstar final expanded its fleet in 2014 and 2015, when it added three small motor ships beforehand operated by Seabourn.

Windstar presently operates six ships – three former Seabourn ships, all of which have been considerably renovated and lengthened through the years to supply extra cabins and areas, in addition to three crusing ships.

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Throughout Wednesday's announcement, Prelog mentioned the addition of the 2 Mystic ships will enable Windstar to ship one in every of its crusing ships, the 148-passenger Wind Star, again to French Polynesia in 2027. Wind Star will be part of the 312-passenger Star Breeze in crusing year-round in French Polynesia, a serious enlargement for Windstar within the area.

Prelog on Wednesday didn’t say the place the brand new Star Seeker and Star Explorer will go. However he mentioned the itinerary and pricing for the primary ship, Star Seeker, can be introduced in June.

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