The Star Explorer, a new Windstar yacht that will launch in December 2026, plans to sail itineraries in Northern Europe and on the Mediterranean.
The 431-foot Star Explorer is currently sailing as part of the Quark
Expeditions fleet as the World Explorer. It will have
112 suites and a 224-guest capacity and will sail both river and ocean cruises for Windstar. Some sailings will include overnight stays in port.
The Star Explorer's maiden voyage will be a nine-day, roundtrip sailing from Barcelona on Dec. 28, 2026, that will call at Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena and Malaga, Spain, and Gibraltar. The ship's christening is planned for May 31, 2027, in London.
Northern Europe sailings will include a journey called Circumnavigating Ireland that will take cruisers around nearly the entire coast of the island during a 10-day cruise. An eight-day cruise called Sven Gems of the Baltic will visit seven countries -- Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Estonia.
Also planned is an eight-day sailing from Lisbon to Bordeaux, France, that focuses on northern Spain and Portugal and will include several Spanish ports that are less commonly visited: Vigo, Gijon and Bilbao. Porto, Portugal, is also among the calls on that cruise.
Star Explorer cruises through March 2028 are now open for bookings.
The Star Explorer is one of two ships joining the Windstar fleet before 2027. The Star Seeker is a newbuild scheduled to debut in January.