Windstar Cruises has completed the formal transfer of its newest all-suite yacht, Star Seeker, taking ownership at a handover ceremony held on Monday, December 15th, at the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The 224-guest vessel is the first purpose-built new construction in the cruise line’s Star Class, representing a significant stage in the small ship operator’s ongoing fleet expansion and strategic deployment of new tonnage.
Senior Windstar leadership, including the company’s president, chief operating officer, chief commercial officer and vice president responsible for the shipbuilding programme, attended the ceremony along with the ship’s captain and members of the crew who participated in preparing the yacht for delivery. Representatives of the Portuguese yard that constructed the vessel were also present, formalising the completion of the build and transfer of responsibility for the ship.
Following delivery, Star Seeker entered its final phase of preparation for commercial service, with a Transatlantic crossing scheduled from Málaga, Spain, to Miami later in December before its official christening in the latter port in mid-January 2026. The vessel will then begin a series of seasonally varied operations, deploying initially in the Caribbean before transiting to Alaska for summer cruising and subsequently undertaking voyages in Japan and other Asian waters.
The yacht’s design includes 112 suites, most equipped with private verandas or floor-to-ceiling infinity windows, expansive open decks, multiple dining venues and enhanced marina and wellness facilities. The vessel also incorporates modern sustainability and safety technologies such as Tier III emissions-rated engines, shore power connectivity, advanced wastewater treatment systems, pump-jet thrusters and sonar equipment.
Star Seeker will be joined by a sister ship, Star Explorer, slated for delivery in December 2026, extending Windstar’s capacity to execute intimate, small-ship operations into remote and traditional cruising regions while maintaining the line’s emphasis on personalised service and agile deployment of its yacht-style vessels.