Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has released its sailing schedule through winter of 2025/26, with several deployment moves for its fleet of six ships. Most notable are new season-long sailings in the Canary Islands, first-ever Cruise Tours in the Middle East, two new Cruise Tours in Tahiti, and the return of one epic voyage throughout the entire Caribbean.

An Early Booking Offer accompanies the news, including a free upgrade to All-Inclusive Fares + $100 per guest onboard credit when booked by November 6. (The upgrade to the All-Inclusive Fare includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, and all gratuities – a value of $99 per guest, per day.) These opening fares are the best values Windstar will offer on these departures.

In addition, Windstar is rolling out a newly formalized onboard cruise promotion across the fleet (and without any pesky expiration dates). Guests who are sailing on Windstar may work with the line’s Onboard Cruise Consultant to book their next cruise while on their current one, and the savings is significant: a 10 percent discount that can be combined with other Windstar offers excluding industry, vendor, corporate, and groups rates, as well as Windstar’s Formula One/Grand Prix themed sailings. In addition, guests booking with the Onboard Cruise Consultant receive $100 per person shipboard credit and can enjoy reduced deposits on a tier-based system, depending on the value of the cruise. With onboard cruise bookings, the guests’ travel advisor receives their usual commission. Note: they MUST be booked while sailing/on board for the offer, meaning guests sailing for the remainder of 2023 can book on board for 2025/26 cruises to save even more.

Here are Windstar’s latest/most newsworthy deployment updates:

Canary Islands in Winter
Windstar previously announced several new cruises in the Canary Islands beginning in 2024; however, the 148-guest Wind Star yacht now will sail the Canary Islands consistently from November 2025 through March 2026.

The move will provide ample opportunities to enjoy warm weather and sun in a location infused with African and European culture, as well as chances to take advantage of quick flights from London to escape gray skies and cold weather with ease.

Middle East – Newly Added Cruise Tours for 2024 and 2025
Windstar is excited to introduce its guests to the Middle East with first-ever itineraries beginning November 2023 on all-suite, 312-guest Star Legend, taking guests to sites from world religions to Egyptian temples, Bedouin villages, and extravagant cities that have risen from the desert over the past few decades.

Sail dates are now listed into spring of 2025, with more than a dozen itineraries to choose from including Cruise Tours that combine a land tour with the cruise. Brand-new options are Cruise Tours for both Dubai and Muscat in 2024 and 2025, with included experiences like a star-lit local feast and belly dancing at the Al Hadeerah Resort, as well as ample time for exploring historic neighborhoods, spending time in museums, or delving further into Bedouin traditions.

Tahiti
Windstar has created two new cruise tour options in French Polynesia, where the line has sailed for more than 35 years and is the small ship expert.

The new Tahiti & Moorea Foodie Cruise Tour is a three-day extension to Windstar’s seven-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise, with three nights in a garden bungalow at the Hotel Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea; a half-day Moorea food adventure including locally-produced liquor and juice tastings, traditional Ma’a tinito (a Tahitian twist on Chinese food), and stops at exemplary roadside stands; a full day Moorea snorkeling tour of Cook and Opunohu bays with lunch and cultural demonstrations; and transfers.

Overwater Bungalow & Tahitian Paradises Cruise Tour is a romance-filled three-day extension to Windstar’s Dreams of Tahiti cruise featuring accommodations in an overwater bungalow at a four-star resort including three nights at the Hotel Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea, a breakfast delivered to the bungalow via canoe, a romantic beach dinner, a half day private car tour, and all transfers.

In addition, starting in February of 2024, Windstar will move the all-suite, 312-passenger Star Breeze to sail in Tahiti year-round, replacing 148-passenger classic sailing yacht Wind Spirit as Windstar’s vessel of choice in French Polynesia. Windstar also recently announced new cruises to the remote Marquesas Islands beginning in 2024.

Caribbean
Windstar is bringing back its Grand Caribbean Adventure, which returns in a revised fashion with new ports on board Windstar’s flagship Wind Surf. The cruise includes a partial transit of the Panama Canal, a new port in Scarborough (Trinidad and Tobago) as well as Saint Peirre (Martinique), plus the addition of Grand Cayman. The 55-day sailing has overnights in  Jost Van Dyke, St. Barts, and Virgin Gorda, and spends just nine days at sea. More of Windstar’s Grand Adventures here.

On Windstar’s San Juan & the Virgin Islands sailings, Windstar has replaced Montserrat with St. Kitts, as well as replaced St. Thomas with the lusher and smaller St. John. On Windward Islands Surf & Sunsets, Windstar has replaced the port of Philipsburg with Marigot on St. Martin.