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16Windstar Cruises
With the tagline "180 Degrees From Ordinary," it's clear Windstar Cruises seeks to provide a different kind of cruising experience. Their vessels are meant to feel like your own personal yacht, with fewer than 300 guests on each cruise and an attentive staff of 150. Launched in the 1980s, Windstar has recently refurbished their original three ships and doubled the size of their fleet. With dozens of intriguing ports of call, sleek and modern ships, and pampered, personalized service, it's no surprise Windstar has been voted among the best in top small cruise lines several years in a row by Conde Nast Traveler.
| Ship Name | Star Rating | Year Built |
|---|---|---|
| Star Seeker |  | 2025 |
1 Windstar Cruises Ship
Travel with Windstar Cruises on 12 to 14 night cruises to Alaska, with combined destinations in places like Canada and Japan. These exciting itineraries will bring you to small ports, big cities, and along the stunning waterways in between. On a Windstar Cruise, you'll enjoy complimentary meals, non-alcoholic beverages, and onboard entertainment including local performances, plus a number of small-ship luxuries like fresh flowers in-suite and a Champagne Welcome Reception.
Refurbished in 2015, the Star Legend has been updated to feel as modern and spacious as her sister ships. The yacht-style small luxury ship carries just 212 guests, enough to meet many new friends but not so large that you feel lost in the shuffle. With a crew of 153, you can be sure your needs will always be attended to, as if you were on your own personal yacht. The ship has an open-bridge policy, so guests can visit the bridge and chat with the Captain at any time, looking at navigation charts or learning how the ship sails. Throughout the ship's six guest decks, you'll find a lounge, a casino, a library, dining rooms, a spa, and lots of deck space to take in the great outdoors.
Every single suite on the Star Legend has ocean views, so you can enjoy the sounds and sights of the ocean 24/7. Suites are comprised of 64 picture-window Ocean View Suites, 36 French-style Balcony Suites, and 6 Classic and Owner's Suites with private verandas. Suites range in size from 277 square feet to 575 square feet, and all come with a luxurious full-size tub, a queen-sized bed dressed in Egyptian cotton linens (or two twins, if preferred), and personalized touches like a fresh fruit bowl and fresh flowers in your room. Other amenities include a flat screen TV and DVD player, a fully-stocked mini bar and refrigerator, Wi-Fi, L'Occitane Bath products, a spacious walk-in closet, and a granite vanity with magnifying mirror.
Windstar offers several shore excursions on every itinerary, all of which seek to enhance the travel experience and bring guests closer to the culture, lifestyle, history, and local food in every destination. In Alaska, there are plenty of outdoor, wildlife, and sightseeing explorations in the more than 10 ports of call Windstar visits. With a Windstar shore excursion, you can experience Windstar's excellent service on land and leave the logistics up to the pros. Some ports even include a complimentary destination discovery event.
Sample shore excursions offered by Windstar Cruises include:
If you're looking for more time in Alaska's wilderness, Windstar offers hotel and land package options both before and after sailings.
One of the benefits of small-ship cruising is handcrafted meals always made to order. On Windstar cruises, top chefs use fresh, local ingredients and seasonal produce to create delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are three main places to dine on each ship: the Veranda, Amphora, and Candles. Choose from a full-service or buffet-style breakfast or lunch at Veranda, and enjoy a gorgeous view of the ocean while you eat. At Amphora, dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., though you can come when you please and sit with whoever you like. Dinner is served course-by-course with a selection of vintage wines available for purchase. At Candles, you can enjoy a romantic outdoor meal with delicious cuisine and a stunning view.
On your Windstar Cruise to Alaska, all meals across the ship are included, as well as room service, offered 24 hours a day. All non-alcoholic beverages, including cappuccinos, espressos, and specialty non-alcoholic drinks are included too, as well as welcome cocktails at a ship-wide reception. Guests over the age of 21 can purchase a premium beverage package for $108 per stateroom/suite per day, which gives you unlimited premium cocktails, sparkling wines, and wine by the glass (it does not include bottles of wine or champagne).
The Star Legend is small enough that you feel like you're cruising on your own personal yacht, but large enough that there are still several amenities, public spaces, and activities to enjoy while onboard. The ship has a tranquil WindSpa, a fitness center, a whirlpool, a lounge for dancing and drinks, a casino, and a library that is stocked with international newspapers, books, and movies. Each night, there are informative port talks and destination briefings, so you can discuss your adventures with fellow travelers and learn more about what's to come in your next port of call. You can also enjoy a nightcap anywhere on board - in the lounge, out on deck, or in the comfort of your stateroom, brought to you by one of the crew members.
Windstar does not have a dedicated children's program, and is unable to accommodate children under the age of eight. Children and teens between the ages of 8 and 21 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone in their stateroom or suite who is over the age of 25. There must be one adult (age 25 and older) for every five guests under the age of 21. Children will be charged the applicable "third person" rate when staying with their parents or guardian, which is available upon request.
After completing your first Windstar cruise, you are automatically enrolled in the Windstar Yacht Club. Yacht Club members are rewarded with stateroom upgrades, savings on future cruise fares, and exclusive onboard gifts and amenities. Members can earn shipboard credits for referring friends to Windstar, and are invited to attend private cocktail receptions and dinners with the Captain or Ship's Officers onboard. If you are a Yacht Club member, be sure to notify your Cruise Specialist while booking.
Windstar welcomes guests with disabilities onboard and seeks to accommodate special needs as much as possible. The Star Legend, Windstar's primary ship sailing to Alaska, has wheelchair accessible suites available, as well as an onboard elevator. Service animals are permitted onboard all ships as long as prior arrangements have been made at the time of booking. Let your Cruise Specialist know before booking if you have any concerns or special needs, so they can be addressed prior to sailing.