Star Seeker Unveiled: Touring Windstar’s 7th Ship

We’re sharing an exclusive first look at Windstar’s Star Seeker after attending her christening and touring the ship in Miami. We'll give you a "guided tour" so you can decide if this new-build ship is right for your next cruise.

Star Seeker carries just 224 guests, blending small-ship intimacy with elevated design. We talk through first impressions—from the welcoming lobby and leather-lined hallways to suites with verandas or floor-to-ceiling infinity windows. The vibe? Relaxed luxury that feels fresh, intentional, and distinctly Windstar yet nicely different from its previous ships.

We also cover dining (including the new Basil + Bamboo concept and how reservations work), 24-hour room service perks, standout lounges like The Yacht Club, pool deck spaces, and our honest take on the spa.

Plus, we break down where she’s sailing—Alaska, the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond—and why her size opens doors to smaller, more interesting ports.

If you’re Windstar-curious or comparing ships in the Star Class, this episode helps you picture the experience before you book.

Check out our other Windstar content:

• Windstar’s “All-Inclusive” Explained: Drinks, WiFi, Dining & More
• Windstar in Costa Rica & Panama with Guest Keryn Means
• Puffins, Fjords, & Luxury: Our Unforgettable Windstar Cruise Around Iceland

Transcript

Dan (00:34)

Hello and welcome to this episode of Small Ship Cruise Talk. On this episode, we're going to talk about something we recently did that was very special. We were in Miami for Windstar's Star Seeker christening and exclusive ship tour. So we're going to give you the insider's track on what the ship looks like, our thoughts, and just overall what to expect if you're going to book on Star Seeker. Now we haven't sailed yet on Star Seeker.

But, I said, we were on board and we've got plenty to share. I would say it was really fun just to be on board, hang out with other cruise writers and travel writers. And then it was in the Port of Miami, so that was also cool.

So like I said, today we're taking you stood out, why Star Seeker feels like a big moment for Windstar.

Mikkel (01:24)

Yeah, so it's the newest build in the Star Class of ships. It's designed for just 224 guests as opposed to Star Pride, for example, which is 312 guests. If you know Star Breeze, it's also 312 in guest capacity. Wind Spirit and Windstar, which are their ships with sails, two of their three, are 148 guests. And Wind Surf is bigger, actually, at 342 guests. 

So again, this Star Seeker ship is for 224 guests. And in this episode, we're going to give you a guided tour-style overview— similar to what Dan explained, we toured through the ship—so you can decide if this is the kind of cruise experience you'd enjoy before ever booking, and this ship in particular. Let's talk about what Star Seeker is all about.

Dan (02:13)

Star Seeker is the first quote-unquote "new build" in the Star class fleet. So why I used air quotes there was it was formerly an Atlas Ocean Voyages ship, and Windstar purchased it and then kind of reconfigured it, redesigned it, and made it their own.

It carries 224 guests across 112 suites, and everything felt like it was integrally….intricately? No, that's not the word.

Mikkel (02:42)

Yeah, integrally.

It's like one of those Sally sells seashells by the seashore. Integral, integral. Now I can't even intentionally. Integri, yeah,

Dan (02:50)

intentionally. Yeah, that's the word I wanted, not even the other one.

Dan (02:57)

So intentionally designed for the smaller ship kind of feel, right? Even though it is an ocean ship.

I think we got a glimpse into the future of what Windstar is going to be, but there was also a nod of what Windstar already does and what they do really well. So like the intimate dining spaces,

very relaxed and elegant feeling. It didn't feel stuffy, but there was definitely an air of luxury in there.

Mikkel (03:24)

Yeah, I would agree. And in an approachable way, to your point, it felt different than Star Pride, which is the other ship that we were on and we sailed in Iceland. And just a note about you mentioning that it was purchased from Atlas Ocean Voyages. So was their Star Explorer, which is going to come out in December, 2026. So I imagine it'll look very similar to Star Seeker, just a guess, not knowing much about it yet.

And for anyone listening who's kind of new to the cruise world or this sounds kind of odd, it's actually very common that sort of these ships are purchased amongst the companies and kind of move around in that way. Would you agree that this is more common than people really know?

Dan (04:09)

Sure, it's absolutely more cost-effective to purchase a ship and then remodel it instead of building a new one. And new builds take considerably more time than a refresh.

Mikkel (04:22)

Yeah, I think the other one that comes to mind right now that's kind of a hot topic is Disney Adventure, which was purchased and kind of retrofitted for the, I believe, the Asia/Australia area. Anyway, I digress.

Dan (04:27)

Hmm.

Mikkel (04:35)

So first impressions from touring the ship, we entered through the lobby. Anyone who's been on various cruises knows that you can exit or enter a ship from various decks very purposely. So there's a variety of options depending on the port or if you're tendering, et cetera. But we walked on. And I would say it was sort of like the lobby area and front desk. Would you agree with that? And I love the finishes. They were these neutral-

Dan (04:56)

Yep, yeah, definitely.

Mikkel (05:01)

toned stones, like a polished marble or some sort of beautiful stone material. And if it was fake, then well done for them. Sometimes the weight of natural materials is too heavy for ships, so they kind of like sub it out. But it was really well lit. I liked that open feeling. So let's just say you're returning from an excursion, like you don't feel claustrophobic in that area. So I really enjoyed that about the space. 

What did you think, first impression walking on board?

Dan (05:28)

I felt it was very welcoming and I 100% agree with you some lobbies are designed almost to get you through them you know like it's small it's a little bit dark but this felt like you could linger a little bit and take your time you know it's like the difference of walking into a Dollar General or walking into a Target. It's like Dollar General you're just hit with balloons and signs right away but but at a Target they give you that moment just to kind of, "Ah, okay, let me find my cart and start shopping."

Mikkel (05:36)

Mm-hmm.

Mikkel (06:00)

I like this analogy. I'm impartial to Dollar Tree, but that's okay.

Dan (06:05)

To each their own.

Mikkel (06:05)

You know, I thought you were going to say Dollar General versus Dollar Tree, because even those are very different.

Dan (06:10)

Sure.

Mikkel (06:12)

Anyway... So the spaces I think flowed really well. After we left the lobby, we were guided towards The Lounge, which was past the 24/7 self-serve coffee and tea station. And I loved that you could really envision how The Lounge went from day to night and was a multipurpose space.

Nothing felt overwhelming or oversized. It felt really social and comfortable. Another thing that really hit me upon first impressions was how new everything smelled. It had that new ship smell. And as we continued to walk through the hallways—we were guided through the hallways to get to some of the spaces—there's leather on the doors and you could really smell the leather.

Dan (06:38)

Right. You could smell it, and yeah, it just gave you that little hint of, "Hey, I'm a new ship."

Mikkel (06:57)

“Hello, I'm a new ship."

So speaking of moving through the hallways, we learned that most of the suites either feature private verandas or floor-to-ceiling infinity windows, which I think is a really nice touch and perk for travelers. I mean, it like makes me think of the ships we've been on, whether Emerald or Celebrity, that have those panoramic views, the floor-to-ceiling windows. So even just looking out, you don't have to go onto a balcony to see all the water, which I think is a trend in the industry: just more glass. Engineering makes that possible and how people can really feel more like one with the water and the ports and the environment that they're cruising to.

Dan (07:40)

I think it's too, you can stay in your stateroom and get almost the same feeling that you would out on deck. You know, sans the breeze and the seagulls, but it's bringing the outside in, in the privacy of your stateroom.

Mikkel (07:55)

Yeah, I think that's a fair point and definitely a positive thing about Star Seeker.

The other thing that I noticed is that the doors are straight in the hallway as opposed to every two doors being angled towards each other. 

Let's not get too into the weeds about this, Keryn Means was on two weeks ago on our podcast talking about her experience on Star Pride in Costa Rica and Panama. So if you want to hear more about that and the doors and how they kind of made their two suites sort of one with those angled doors. But on Star Seeker, they're all straight, just like the hotel hallway would be. And there's also two new Horizon Owner Suites that are standouts and they have aft-facing wraparound balconies. And we weren't able to go in those, but we have seen renderings and they do look very luxurious, top-notch, a lot of wood finishes and gold, really warm, but definitely an elevated feel.

Dan (08:56)

So other details to look forward to are walk-in mosaic glass showers, fully stocked mini bars, and upgraded amenities that really make the accommodations feel elevated but still practical.

Mikkel (09:09)

Yeah, one of the things I love is kind of like the lounge seating area in the suites for Windstar ships.

All right, as I say time and again: food, glorious food.

Dan (09:20)

Right? We unfortunately, were not fed when we were on board. Brrm, brrm.

However, it was pretty clear that they take food seriously on Star Seeker, just like across the fleet, they really focus on food. Windstar partners with James Beard Foundation, and they feature notable chefs, and it really kind of gives a full culinary experience.

Mikkel (09:44)

I couldn't agree with you more. One of the things I was most looking forward to seeing during this tour is Basil + Bamboo, which is the newest dining venue that they're rolling out across the fleet to replace Cuadro 44. That's one of our favorite things because we love Spain. So Cuadro 44 was Spanish food.

Dan (10:00)

Hmm.

Mikkel (10:08)

I feel like we felt a little dagger in our hearts when the news broke months ago that this was being replaced. So I was curious to see Basil + Bamboo.

How did you feel, your Spanish-loving heart?

Dan (10:19)

Yeah,

Asian fusion restaurant, you know, I think the Spanish influence was interesting and different and I thought it was a real highlight. So, yeah, but I'm sure I will enjoy Basil + Bamboo.

Mikkel (10:34)

Yeah, I agree with you. I'm a little bummed. But the good news is, Basil + Bamboo was really beautiful. So I thought that was fun. If you look on our Instagram account, @SometimesSailing, or our YouTube shorts as well, YouTube is @Sometimes-Sailing, you will see these gorgeous light fixtures that they made that are kind of reminiscent of

Dan (10:40)

Mm-hmm.

Mikkel (10:55)

a fan, like a Japanese fan. Really beautiful. And what struck me actually was how small it seemed. So I think the positive thing about that is how intimate it is. And you have to make reservations. We will link an article about dining on Windstar and the drinks packages to explain it a little. Our Windstar cruise in Iceland, I was like,

"Why is the crew advertising that we have to make reservations? Is there an added cost?" There's not an added cost to eat at these places, but you do have to make a reservation because seating is limited. So I agree, blending Mediterranean and Asian flavors could be maybe the hook, because it's a blending of the two. But TBD— it was really pretty, but I guess we'll see what those flavors are like when we taste them, hopefully.

The main dining area that you don't need reservations for that's open for dinner every day is Amphora. This is an upscale dining venue with a rotating menu. The Yacht Club Cafe feels perfect for casual breakfast and lunches. We'll talk about The Yacht Club in a little bit.

But I loved how gorgeous the blue velvet textiles were like the booths for seating. And I just thought it was great. It had a lot of smaller tables for smaller groups. Because I think most people that cruise on Windstar are a party of two or four. Either two or four, some solos. But it did have some options for bigger tables. So if you met friends or if you were with a bigger group, you could take advantage of that. And then the other thing is that Amphora spilled out onto the aft deck so you could enjoy the outdoors.

Dan (12:33)

Speaking of outdoor dining, you've got Star Grill, which offers open-air dining and all your grilled favorites up there. But a huge perk about Windstar is the 24-hour room service. It's included, but also just gives you that flexibility that if you miss a meal or you want to hang out in the room a little bit later, you can eat late or early.

Mikkel (12:57)

Yeah, that was key for us when we were in Iceland and wanted to work getting off board, not missing a meal and being able to maximize our time in the port. So what we did was we made sure we were back by all aboard time, but it was after lunch hours in the restaurant. So we took advantage of the room service and we went off board knowing that that was a possibility. So that was a great perk of sailing with Windstar when we went to Iceland.

Dan (13:24)

Let's talk about entertainment, lounges, social spaces, you know, finding those spaces on a ship that you can kind of squirrel away and find your own little nook. Those are really important. So let's talk about that.

Mikkel (13:39)

I love your words like squirrel away. I just love that. You just use such great words that I would like never think of. So I love when you insert those things, uh! Especially because it’s cold right now where we are in Florida. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it is so anyway, getting cozy and "squirrel away" in the lounges on the ship sound just fine to me.

Let's start with that main lounge that I referenced before. It really felt like the heart of the ship. I feel like this is where everybody gathers for a pre-dinner cocktail maybe, and it's easily accessible. During the day, it's used for enrichment talks and trivia and port information. You can

get cozy on one of those velvet green upholstered chairs and snuggle in for all the information you can absorb. And then at night it transforms into an entertainment space with live music and performances. I'm going to say this was kind of like the Compass Rose Lounge on other ships, but since this is a different ship for Windstar— distinctly different— I love that about this. It was really nice. And don’t worry, your favorite crew entertainment show is still a thing, which long-time Windstar cruisers will love.

Dan (14:51)

You know, I have mixed feelings on the crew talent show. 

Mikkel (14:54)

Tell me.

Dan (14:56)

We’ve seen some really good ones and we've seen some, you know... Yeah, yeah. But at the very least, it’s fun, right?

Mikkel (14:58)

Yes.

Not so good ones. Yeah, that's true.

Dan (15:06)

And it helps you kind of connect with the crew a little bit more.

Mikkel (15:11)

It does, for sure.

Dan (15:12)

The Yacht Club: I thought it was stunning. Like that was the place that I would hang out in.

Felt open, inviting, the bar area felt like it was really incorporated well into the space...

Mikkel (15:24)

...better than other Yacht Club. Like The Yacht Club on Star Pride, it was kind of like the bar was in the corner. And I like that it sort of jutted out into the space on Star Seeker, right?

Dan (15:36)

Yeah, it was definitely well integrated into the space and it felt like of a highlight and a gathering area than just an afterthought.

Mikkel (15:43)

Yeah.

Yeah. And just to clarify, if you've never been on Windstar, The Yacht Club is a little confusing because on MSC, the suites-only area is called The Yacht Club. And on Windstar, The Yacht Club is just the name of this lounge that's kind of on one of the upper decks towards the forward of the ship so you can look out almost like the, you know, bird's nest— look out onto the ocean and enjoy that space. It's indoors mostly, but there is some outdoor seating there. So The Yacht Club on Windstar is open to anybody, it's just the name of this really pretty lounge. What also struck me was the built in bookshelves with games and there were puzzles and such, and then a really beautiful piano in there. So I imagine that the piano is played at night for a little entertainment or maybe during the day, if it's a day at sea.

Dan (16:32)

So there was a strong focus on that relaxation piece, I thought, and especially kind of mixing the indoor with the outdoor enjoyment. Let's move on to the pools.

Mikkel (16:43)

Yes.

Dan (16:44)

The impression I got was Windstar was really leaning into little areas of relaxation and the outdoor environment was well thought out and well-positioned place to go. Especially on sea days, I would say. That's where I would hang out when I'm not, you know, squirreled away somewhere else.

Mikkel (17:03)

Yeah, I think the pools were very inviting and allow you to enjoy the outdoors. There are some good shaded areas in there. The hot tub was there too. In line with these amenities, I would also place the spa and the marina in there. And again, to your point, like days at sea or maybe they drop anchor and you could enjoy the marina off of the back deck. The thing I think about the spa: We entered the spa from the deck above it that has a spiral staircase that goes down. It felt a little like an afterthought. I know it was intentionally built because this area on Atlas Ocean Voyages ships, which again, that's where they purchased the ship from and kind of retrofitted the plans a little bit and were able to alter them a bit, it was a theater.

I don't know if that affected the design, but the spa… It was definitely nice, nicer than a lot of ships we've been on. It's just, I don't know, something about it didn't feel like the destination I was hoping for. What did you think?

Dan (18:08)

Yeah, I would agree. It felt a little dark down there and it just, yeah, I think afterthought was probably the best way to describe it.

Mikkel (18:16)

And again, we weren't able to see the Windstar marina, especially because when it's docked against all this concrete, you are likely not going to see the marina. You have to be

at sea for this. But, you know, Keryn talked about her experience two weeks ago on that episode with Windstar in Costa Rica and Panama with her husband and two teenage boys, and they were just loving it. So I hope that we can experience that in the future.

Star Pride in Iceland: Iceland even during the summer is not really where you're gonna jump off the back of the ship into sea, but Star Seeker does have this feature.

Dan (18:51)

Let's talk about where Star Seeker is sailing. They're going to offer a diverse range of itineraries for Star Seeker. And it really plays into the strengths of the size of the ship. It's a smaller ship. can go into smaller destinations and smaller ports. So in 2026, she's sailing to Alaska, the Caribbean. She's going to Asia, Latin destinations, and a couple ocean crossings. So there's quite the range here.

Mikkel (19:24)

Yeah, so with everything you said, I think one would say, "Well, where in the Caribbean?

Where in Asia?" So expect places like Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Maartin, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Bequia. You can also expect places in Asia like Japan. That's a big one. It goes to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and places in Thailand. And then for Latin destinations, Costa Rica and Mexico. And again, those ocean crossings. And then she returns to Alaska, which is always exciting for everybody, in 2027,

and Japan with immersive itineraries and unique destination experiences. That kind of brings us into Star Explorer because that's the sister ship.

So Star Explorer is coming out late December, 2026. Later this year, we are recording this at the end of January, 2026. And it's the sister ship. So it's going to bring very much of the same small ship experience to Europe.

Dan (20:23)

So as we wrap up this episode, closing thoughts?

Mikkel (20:27)

Yes, closing thoughts.

Dan (20:29)

It really feels like Windstar is doubling down on what makes them different and they're doing it very thoughtfully. I really enjoyed the attention to detail and how welcoming the ship felt. It felt like a small ship experience but also a little bit of a big ship experience in there so it was a nice hybrid experience.

Mikkel (20:54)

Big ship in what way?

Dan (20:56)

It felt like just much bigger than a river cruise ship, right? And you're on ocean. But, hmm, that's interesting. It didn't feel as big as Viking Ocean, but it also didn't feel as intimate as a river cruise. So it was a nice middle small ship. Does that make sense?

Mikkel (21:00)

Mm-hmm.

Dan (21:15)

A medium small ship feel.

Mikkel (21:17)

Yeah, I'm trying to think of what other ships to compare it to, like Emerald Azzurra/ Emerald Kaia is like 100 guests. This was just over 200 guests. Windstar Star Pride is 312. I'm also thinking, yeah, to your point, I mean, Viking Ocean, which we sailed recently and just fell in love with, is over 900 guests. So yeah, it's bigger than a barge cruise, which could be 8 to 12 guests typically.

But a nice size. And I agree with you— they're leaning into what they do best. And it's that luxurious, yet affordable, small ship cruising. It is the destinations and getting a smaller ship in those destinations. I mean, even in the Caribbean... the Caribbean is wildly popular in cruising. But big ships go to ports like Nassau or a lot of the private islands of these bigger cruise lines like

Dan (22:04)

Mm-hmm.

Mikkel (22:10)

Castaway Cay or Perfect Day at CocoCay— "CocoCay" sorry— or Perfect Day at CocoCay. You know, it's hard to say cay because it's really key in the Caribbean. Anyway, again, I digress, but I love that it's going to St. Barts, that it's going to St. Lucia— all these smaller ports. And the other thing about this that I think Windstar does really well is I think of Viking Ocean and all the ocean ships are cookie cutters of the other. They're all the same ship kind of over and over again.

But that being said, I really love that Windstar has the Wind Class with the sails and it has the Star Class. But within that class, it's very clear that they're going for different feeling ships. So you have a reason to go on a particular ship. It's not just saying like, "Oh, Star Pride and Star Seeker are the same ship. So it doesn't matter what ship I'm on." That's not true. It makes the actual cruise even more a part of your decision-making, not just the itinerary, because the ship is different. And I really like that. So it's like, they're doubling down on what they do best, luxury and small ship cruising, but also giving those Windstar loyalists variety in the actual ship that they're going on.

Dan (23:23)

That's such an interesting point. It feels like they have something for everybody and a ship for everybody.

Mikkel (23:29)

Yeah, so I loved and I'm so grateful that we were invited to this exclusive tour on board. Cannot wait to sail on her one day in the future. I'm also hoping one day, you know, we go on the Wind series with those sails. Again, just those distinctly different opportunities that Windstar has. If you like this episode, please make sure to share it with a friend. We would be so grateful and hit that follow or subscribe button while you're at it.

Dan (23:59)

Also, if you have any questions about Star Seeker or Windstar in general, let us know. We're happy to answer your questions or maybe do a full episode on it if it’s a big enough question.

Mikkel (24:10)

your point, if you need help planning your trip, reach out to us because we have resources, travel planning, travel advisors, and we are always happy to help and get people on their dream trips. Well, until next time.

Dan (24:24)

Keep cruising.