For travel advisors guiding clients who hesitate between a river voyage and an ocean passage, Windstar Cruises has set a new course. The line is introducing a hybrid style of sailing that links inland waterways with the open sea, creating a single, uninterrupted journey that moves naturally from river to coast.
The concept removes the need to change vessels mid-itinerary. Instead, guests remain aboard the same ship as the voyage carries them beyond narrow rivers into broader maritime horizons. For advisors, the model offers a practical way to retain experienced river cruisers while introducing them to a wider theatre of exploration.
At the centre of this initiative stands the yacht Star Explorer, scheduled to enter service in December 2026. The all-suite vessel will accommodate 224 guests and has been designed specifically for itineraries that blend river navigation with coastal cruising. Its modest dimensions allow the ship to slip into waterways inaccessible to larger ocean liners while also reaching ports beyond the range of traditional river vessels.
Such capability aligns with a growing appetite among experienced travellers for deeper cultural engagement and quieter destinations. Smaller ports and lesser-visited regions often offer a sense of authenticity that larger ships, constrained by size and infrastructure, seldom reach. For advisors, this creates a fresh proposition for clients seeking new experiences without abandoning the intimacy of small-ship cruising.
Within the company’s leadership, the initiative is seen as a natural evolution. Janet Bava, the line’s chief commercial officer, has noted that river cruisers are among the industry’s most loyal and engaged travellers, many of whom have already explored the world’s most celebrated waterways. She has indicated that the new yachts provide advisors with a seamless way to retain those clients by offering a fresh form of exploration — voyages that transition from rivers to open sea while unlocking destinations inaccessible to both large ocean ships and conventional river vessels.
For advisors, the opportunity extends beyond individual bookings. The line’s flexible group program allows sailings to be organised with as few as ten guests, opening the door to benefits such as complimentary staterooms, onboard credit and enhanced commission potential. Through the Star Advantage Groups program, organisers may also receive a tour conductor credit on a one-to-seven ratio alongside additional onboard amenities.
The itineraries themselves lend naturally to themed travel. Wine-focused voyages, in particular, fit comfortably within the model, with routes passing through regions such as Bordeaux and Portugal, where river access and coastal discovery intersect. Advisors may choose from existing culinary sailings or arrange bespoke departures tailored to wine enthusiasts and gastronomic groups.
Group pricing typically offers savings in the range of 5 to 10 percent depending on sailing availability, providing advisors with flexibility when packaging these journeys for their clients.
The 2027 program aboard Star Explorer illustrates how river-to-ocean cruising unfolds in practice. One voyage, Impressionist France, links Bordeaux with London via the Seine and the Thames, combining river navigation with coastal sailing and calls at historic ports such as Saint-Malo, along with access to the D-Day beaches. Another itinerary, Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal, carries guests from France into Spain and Portugal, blending the wine country of Bordeaux with culinary discoveries along the Iberian coast and time in the Douro region.
Further south, Moroccan Markets & Iberian Icons brings travellers through the Guadalquivir River into Seville before continuing to Iberian and North African ports. Meanwhile, Ireland Circumnavigation follows the rugged coastline of the island, including a call at Cork’s city quay along the River Lee before tracing the country’s dramatic cliffs and castle-lined shores.