Adriatic & Croatia
Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbors.
ResearchLines, ships and destinations, in detail
Cruise line
Windstar Cruises cruises
Small sailing ships and motor yachts of around 150 to 340 guests, casual and port-focused, at an upper-premium price.
Windstar runs three sailing ships, including the five-masted Wind Surf, and three all-suite motor yachts. The ships are small enough for harbors the big lines skip, the dress code is relaxed and the fare is well below the luxury lines, with less included.
Windstar is the line we propose when someone wants a small ship and a sailing feel without the price of Ponant or the Ritz-Carlton yachts. Wind Surf is a 340-guest sailing ship with real masts and sails; the Star-class motor yachts carry around 312 guests in all-suite comfort after being lengthened in 2019 to 2021.
It is upper-premium, not luxury: drinks and excursions cost extra unless you buy a package, cabins are compact, and there is no children's program. For couples and adult families who want Tahiti, the Greek islands or the Dalmatian coast from a ship that anchors off the beach, it is very good value.
What's included
- Open-bridge policy
- Water sports platform in warm ports
- Optional all-inclusive upgrade adding drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities
Ships
6 ships in the fleet. See the fleet, ship by ship
The ships
The Windstar Cruises fleet, ship by ship.
6 ships: 2 written up ship by ship (suites, dining, children, grandparents, accessibility, our verdict), a licensed photograph of each one we have pictured, the rest by name. Tell us which you are drawn to and we will say whether it is the right one for your party.
Wind SurfPhoto: FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0 
Star BreezePhoto: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Public domain
- Wind Star
- Wind Spirit
- Star Legend
- Star Pride
On board
On board with Windstar Cruises
Four honest notes, in our words, on the things people ask us about most.
- Suites
- Cabins on the sailing ships are compact, around 17 square meters, with portholes rather than verandas; Wind Surf has a few larger suites. The Star-class yachts are all-suite at around 26 square meters, with a handful of balcony suites.
- Dining
- Amphora is the main restaurant, Candles grills on deck by reservation, and Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso on the Star-class yachts is the best room. Food is good for the price, not luxury-line standard.
- Facilities
- A water sports platform that opens in calm anchorages, a small pool and hot tub, a modest spa, and an open bridge you can visit while under way.
- Children
- No children's facilities or program. Children are allowed, and teenagers who love the water enjoy the platform, but Windstar is an adult ship in practice.
Who it's for
- Couples who want a sailing ship and small harbors
- Adult families on a tighter budget than the luxury lines
- Travelers who want French Polynesia from a small ship
Who it isn't for
- Families with children who need a club
- Travelers who want large suites and butlers
- Anyone who wants a fully inclusive fare without buying a package
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Windstar Cruises is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistNot sure Windstar Cruises is the right fit?
Tell us who's traveling and what matters most. We'll say honestly whether we'd book this line for you, or which one we'd choose instead.
Where they sail
Destinations
Alaska
Glaciers, whales and bears from a small ship, with a pre-cruise stop in Vancouver.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Japan
Kyoto, Hiroshima and the Inland Sea without the trains, hotels and luggage.
Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
Where they take you
Explore the regions with Windstar Cruises
A sense of the places in the regions this line sails. These regional photographs are inspiration; the itinerary confirms your ports and ship.
Silversea's Silver Wind sailing the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, with mountains rising behind the townPhoto: Gzzz · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Margerie Glacier meeting the water of Tarr Inlet, Glacier Bay, AlaskaPhoto: Explorer1940 · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Approaching Gustavia harbor, St Barts, red roofs and yachts in the CaribbeanPhoto: David Broad · CC BY 3.0 
The old harbor of Mykonos town, whitewashed houses along the quay, Greek islandsPhoto: Olaf Tausch · CC BY 3.0 
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima shrine at Miyajima, near Hiroshima, JapanPhoto: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 
Port Hercule, Monaco, yachts moored below the hillside apartments of Monte CarloPhoto: Nick Karvounis nickkarvounis · CC0
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
Good to know
Windstar Cruises cruise FAQs
Is Windstar a luxury line?
Upper-premium. Service is warm and the ships are small, but cabins are compact and drinks and excursions cost extra unless you buy the all-inclusive package. We compare the all-in cost with Ponant and Seabourn when we propose it.
Plan your Windstar Cruises cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Suites we would book: A Deluxe Suite on Wind Surf for the sailing experience, or an Ocean View Suite on Star Breeze for more room.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which ship, which sailing and which deck, or whether another line would suit you better.