See Europe Differently: Windstar Cruises Unveils Its 2028 Season

New short getaways, event-driven voyages and deeper exploration across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean join an Early Booking Offer through October 31, 2026

MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- Windstar Cruises is giving travelers new ways to see Europe in 2028, with five yachts -- Star Explorer, Star Legend, Star Pride, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf -- sailing the Mediterranean and Northern Europe from March through October. The season offers 348 itinerary combinations, from four-day getaways designed to pair with a longer European vacation to a 53-day Grand Mediterranean Adventure from Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Venice.

New short getaways, event-driven voyages and deeper exploration across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean join an Early Booking Offer through October 31, 2026

Highlights include sailing Germany's Kiel Canal and Elbe River, arriving in Hamburg during its major maritime festival and visiting Inis Mór, a new Windstar port in Ireland's Aran Islands aboard the new Star Explorer yacht, which debuts December 2026. In the Mediterranean, summer is prime time to experience Europe by yacht, with opportunities to swim and paddle directly from Windstar's marina, call at smaller ports, and explore Greece, Italy, France and Croatia at the height of the season. The 2028 program also brings enhanced Grand Prix sailings, a Mystery Cruise roundtrip from Athens and opportunities for extended exploration.

"Europe is a destination many of our guests return to again and again, and in 2028 we're giving them new ways to experience places they may think they already know," said Stijn Creupelandt, chief operating officer of Windstar Cruises. "Sailing into the heart of Venice, through Germany's Kiel Canal and into small Croatian ports isn't something most cruise lines can do," she added. "Our yachts serve fewer than 350 guests, so the destination, and the timing of a festival or a Grand Prix, shapes the itinerary instead of the other way around."

See Europe Differently in 2028
Windstar's 2028 Europe season is designed for travelers who want to go deeper into a destination, whether returning to a favorite region or seeing it for the first time. New shorter sailings make it possible to add a yacht voyage to a longer European vacation, while back-to-back Star Collectors and Cruise Tours allow travelers to extend their time away. Select voyages also put guests in the right place at the right time for major events, while Windstar's small yachts make rivers, canals, smaller ports and city-center access part of the journey itself. In the Mediterranean, the yacht's marina turns the sea into a main attraction of the destination.

2028 Europe Highlights
Germany & Northern Europe | Star Pride
Windstar's expanded Germany program brings guests to Hamburg, Berlin and Binz/Rügen, with planned Berlin Cruise Tours to offer another way to explore the region. Two new Quick Getaway voyages spotlight the expanded program:

• Quick Getaway: Germany via the Kiel Canal – Four-day Copenhagen-to-Hamburg voyage featuring Binz, Warnemünde/Berlin, the Kiel Canal and Elbe River
• Quick Getaway: Hamburg's Birthday Celebration – May 3 departure timed to Hamburg's major maritime festival, including boat parade participation and fireworks

UK, France, and The Netherlands | Star Pride
Guests can experience some of the region's most storied places through visits to Monet's Giverny, the D-Day Beaches and Normandy culinary experiences, all woven into a new six-day Quick Getaway:

• Quick Getaway: Amsterdam, Normandy & London – Six-day itinerary featuring Amsterdam, Ostend/Bruges, Rouen/Paris, Honfleur and an overnight in London at HMS Belfast

Ireland and the British Isles | Star Explorer
New for 2028, Windstar adds Inis Mór as a new port, alongside enhanced offerings including scenic cruising at the Cliffs of Moher, city-center docking in Cork, and Waterford crystal and foraging tours. These experiences come together on Windstar's newest yacht, Star Explorer, in an itinerary designed for a deeper exploration of Ireland:

• Circumnavigating Ireland – Full exploration of Ireland with calls including Belfast, Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, Cork and Waterford

Mediterranean | Star Legend, Wind Spirit, Wind Surf
Windstar builds on its popular Mediterranean program in 2028 with the return of iconic 342-guest sailing yacht Wind Surf to the Greek Isles, a long Adriatic season aboard Wind Spirit, enhanced Grand Prix sailings and new opportunities for extended exploration:

• Rome & Prix du Monde of Monaco aboard Star Legend, with both Star Legend and Wind Spirit attending the Grand Prix
• Athens roundtrip program continues with a Mystery Cruise 
• Grand Mediterranean Adventure – 53-day Star Collector on Wind Spirit from Tenerife, Canary Islands to Venice
• Off the Beaten Path Adriatic - Wind Spirit returns to the Adriatic for an extended season of one-week voyages between Venice and Dubrovnik, with consecutive sailings combinable into two weeks without repeating ports. The itineraries pair smaller Croatian ports including Korčula and Poreč with opportunities to enjoy the yacht's marina, while Windstar's small-yacht size allows guests to sail directly into the heart of Venice

Book Early for Added Benefits
Travelers who book eligible newly released 2028 Europe voyages by October 31, 2026 can take advantage of Windstar's Early Booking Offer, which includes:

• A complimentary All-Inclusive package, including Wi-Fi, gratuities and unlimited select beer, wine and cocktails
• $100 shipboard credit per guest
• The opportunity to receive 5% savings on cruise fares when paying in full at the time of booking

The Pay Now, Save More offer can be combined with the Early Booking Offer and Yacht Club Member benefits, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

To Book: Guests can visit Windstarcruises.com, call 866-258-7245, or request a call from a Windstar vacation planner

Windstar Cruises imagery here, credit to Windstar Cruises.

Contacts:    

Patricia Gonzalez, Vice President of Marketing Windstar Cruises / [email protected]

LDPR, [email protected]

About Windstar Cruises:        

For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world's most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of four Star Class all-suite yachts--including its newest addition of Star Seeker in December 2025--and three Wind Class sailing yachts, offering voyages that are both intimate and inspiring. It's highly anticipated yacht, Star Explorer, is set to debut in December 2026, expanding the fleet to eight yachts accommodating 150-350 guests. Windstar's legendary Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a meticulous two-phase redesign to be completed by 2027. Windstar yachts sail to more than 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, the South Pacific, and Asia. Unlike most cruise lines, Windstar sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti, offering different destination experiences seasonally. Each Windstar voyage is designed to immerse guests in authentic cultural experiences, all while delivering the comfort, service, and style that define the Windstar difference. 

Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®, a distinguished group of global hospitality and travel companies with a legacy spanning over a hundred years. Xanterra operates iconic national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Death Valley. The Xanterra Travel Collection® is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, the ultimate owner of the Broadmoor, Sea Island, and entertainment giant AEG, Anschutz Entertainment Group. 

SOURCE Windstar Cruises