New at Windstar: Winter in the Canaries, first Middle East cruise tours and more

An early booking offer accompanies this news, including a free upgrade to all-inclusive fares and $100 per person shipboard credit when booked by Nov. 6. The upgrade to the all-nclusive fare includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi and all gratuities – a value of $99 per person, per day.

On-board booking promotion

In addition, Windstar is rolling out a newly formalized on-board cruise promotion across the fleet and without any expiration dates. Passengers may work with the shipboard cruise consultant to book their next sailing and get a 10% discount that can be combined with other offers excluding industry, vendor, corporate and groups rates, as well as Windstar’s Formula One/Grand Prix themed sailings.

In addition, they’ll receive $100 per person shipboard credit and get reduced deposits on a tier-based system, depending on the value of the cruise. With on-board cruise bookings, the passenger’s travel advisor receives their usual commission.

Canary Islands November through March

Windstar previously announced several new cruises in the Canary Islands beginning in 2024. The 148-passenger Wind Star now will sail there consistently from November 2025 through March 2026.

This provides ample opportunities to experience 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.

Middle East

Windstar’s first Middle East itineraries begin this November on the all-suite, 312-passenger Star Legend.

Sail dates are now listed into spring 2025, with more than a dozen itineraries to choose from including cruise tours that combine a land program and cruise. New cruise tour options are available for Dubai and Muscat in 2024 and 2025, with included experiences like a starlit local feast and belly dancing at the Al Hadeerah Resort, and ample time for exploring historic neighborhoods, spending time in museums or delving further into Bedouin traditions.

New Tahiti cruise tours

Windstar created two new cruise tours in French Polynesia, where the line has sailed for more than 35 years.

The new ‘Tahiti & Moorea Foodie Cruise Tour’ is a three-day extension to the 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 roadside stands, a full day Moorea snorkeling tour of Cook and Opunohu bays with lunch and cultural demonstrations, and transfers.

The ‘Overwater Bungalow & Tahitian Paradises Cruise Tour’ is a romance-filled three-day extension to the ‘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 beach dinner a half day private car tour and all transfers.

Star Breeze replacing Wind Spirit

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

55-day Caribbean adventure and new ports

Windstar is bringing back its ‘Grand Caribbean Adventure,’ which returns in a revised fashion with new ports aboard Wind Surf. The cruise includes a partial transit of the Panama Canal, a new port in Scarborough (Tobago) as well as Saint Pierre (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.

For ‘San Juan & the Virgin Islands’ sailings, Windstar replaced Montserrat with St. Kitts, and St. Thomas with the lusher and smaller St. John.

On ‘Windward Islands Surf & Sunsets,’ Philipsburg, St. Maarten is replaced with Marigot, St. Martin.