Windstar Cruises’ new Star Seeker yacht, its first Star Class new-build, is now waterborne, having emerged from the building dock at the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
While construction of Star Seeker’s exterior is complete, work will continue to complete the interiors, including the 112 spacious suites.
A float-out ceremony commemorated the occasion, featuring Mario Ferreira and Manuel Barros of Mystic Invest and Windstar’s Vice President of Expansion Projects, John Gunner, who is directing the ship building project for Windstar.
“Seeing a ship come together and be at the point where she leaves dry dock for the sea is a memorable milestone in the life of a new build project,” Gunner said.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity to be involved in creating a new ship for Windstar and thankful for Mario’s passion and vision for ships which helped guide us to this momentous event today – the float out of a new, beautiful ship for Windstar.”
Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.The ship will offer five dining options, a full-service spa, a fitness facility, and a fresh take on the line’s iconic Watersports Platform, which turns the ocean into an infinity pool by providing guests access to the sea directly from the ship.
With a capacity for 224 guests and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2, Star Seeker will enter service in December 2025, sailing from Málaga, Spain to Miami, Florida, where Windstar is headquartered and where the ship’s christening ceremony will take place in January 2026.
Star Seeker will then sail its first voyage in the Caribbean followed by other cruises in the region before heading up the West Coast of the United States to Alaska for a full season of summer cruises. From there, the ship will sail to Asia, bringing back the line’s popular ‘Around Japan’ itineraries.
Windstar will debut an additional new sister ship, Star Explorer, in December of 2026. Both vessels both have ice-strengthened hulls, unlocking access to new destinations.
