The first wind starship I've ever experienced was the Wind Star of the Caribbean, which is the Caribbean Sea of 148 passengers sailing. The most recent one is the 312-passenger yacht in the Mediterranean Star Legend. As far as the vessel is concerned, at least, the two completely different vessels share many similarities, such as Windstar’s friendly crew, Watersports Marinas away from the rear (or stern), and the partnership of James Beard Foundation, whose chefs share their recipes with the boat’s culinary team and culinary team and recipes. Hosted a cooking voyage throughout the year. On top of that, both ships provide a friendly onboard atmosphere where good travelers communicate with each other – the officers and crew will definitely make you feel like you are a member of the family.
However, there are obvious differences in the design of the ship and its itinerary. One of Windstar's biggest challenges and opportunities, and Its fleet is completely uniquewhether there are (or rather, when Explorer debuted in December 2025) are actually two different ships.
If you make your choice based primarily on your destination, you will find some areas such as Nordic and Canary Islands where there is only one option. But what happens when you head to places like Tahiti, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or Central America and the Panama Canal, etc. Any Sailing boat or full yacht?
Here is our guide to help you pick a boat and travel.
First, let's talk about the boat
You may hear the word “class”. This refers to the style of the ship. We will Wind leveldescribes the wind star and style of 148 passengers, and the wind surfing of 342 passengers. All are sailboats (and need to use the engine when needed).
Wind Star Star rating Boats – Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride – 312 guests per person. The trio is basically the same, providing more cruise-style experiences.
Moreover, it will debut in December 2025 and December 2026 Two other ships. The Explorer is the former, the first new building of Windstar’s new star class. This nearly identical Star Explorer was launched in December 2026. Both carry 224 guests and have the most advanced facilities in the fleet.
Wind star, style and wind surfing
There was no such thing as a romantic experience that left the port of the day from a sailboat in Windstar. The sail will unfold as Vangelis' haunting score “1492: Conquer Heaven”. “On each voyage…guests gather on the deck toast the opening of the sails,” Kim Glynn wrote Panache Cruises's Blog. “When I think about it now, I still feel chicken skin.
advantage:
For boat enthusiasts (or sailing enthusiasts), these boats offer an intimate experience. And you will still find facilities such as the Watersports platform, a boat soaking pool, a comfortable spa and gym, and two lounges.
Many of us love wind surfing because of its unique outdoor space. This is the only sailboat in the fleet that sits on the aft deck, with fabulous views on three sides (The Motor Yachts Sear Seeker and Star Explorer will both have Aft Pools when they debut).
Where will you sleep:
Wind Star and Style each offers a 220 square foot suite; the rest of the cabins are sized at a comfortable 188 square foot. When surfing, suite options range from 242 to 495 square feet, including Broadmoor and Sea Island Suites, inspired by sister resorts. Standard accommodation is 188 square feet. All suites have ample storage space.
Restaurant:
All three boats feature Amphora, main restaurant venue and balcony, and open-air and indoor seating. The balcony turned into candles, the boat's seafood and steakhouse for dinner. Fitting with a larger size, Windsurfing is also available for the French-style restaurant Stella Bistro. Room service is available 24/7.
Where will you go:
Typically, you will find Windstar’s wind-class ships in warm climates such as Greek islands in summer, Canary Islands in spring and autumn, French Polynesia (all year round, starting in January 2027), as well as the Caribbean and Latin America.
Good to know:
Windstar's three wind-class ships are Have a major renovation. Wind Surfing at 342-Guest will undergo a $7.5 million renovation in two stages and complete three new suites in December 2024 (including beautiful accommodation reimagining at the Broadmore and Sea Island sibling resort). The communal rooms from the lobby to the Affora, from the pool to the lounge are also completed. The second phase of the design overhaul will focus on the cabin and will be held in December 2026.
Fengxing has also undergone phased upgrades. Public rooms such as lounge, World Spa and Gym, as well as pool deck and adjacent bar have been refreshed. The owner's suite has been completely redesigned. Next: In 2026, the cabin will be renovated, and the Veranda (will be turned into a dinner candle) of its main restaurant and boat-topped cafe will also be remodeled.
In the wind, these stages are the same as the wind star. Only time is different. Its first phase takes place in 2026 and the second phase is in 2027.
Star Breeze, Star Legend, Star Pride
Windstar’s Star Class has star breeze, Star Pride and Star Legend. The boats are just the same and carry 312 travelers.
advantage:
You want a small boat experience with more comfort features, such as spacious suites for other entertainment and restaurant options, a larger spa and a super range of itineraries.
Where will you sleep:
The three ships feature the largest suites in the fleet, including the owner’s suite as well as the Broadmoor and Sea Island, all with private balconies, separate living rooms and bedrooms ranging from 575 to 820 square feet. Even standard sea views and French balcony accommodations with 277 square feet in size, there are unique living and sleeping spaces as well as walk-in closets. They also recently renovated the bathroom with a power shower and a twin slot.
Dining room:
The pillars on board include a balcony, which is open to buffet and outdoor dishes, and offers indoor and outdoor seating. By night it turned into a candle, a steakhouse. In Amphora, which is open only at night, the menu reflects more mainland fares, with the option to try dishes created by James Beard Foundation Chefs. Cuadro 44 is one of my favorite indoor restaurants anywhere and has been serving Spanish-influenced snacks (the best lamb chops ever). It is slowly replaced by basil + bamboo, a new concept that provides a mixture of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. It is currently in Star Breeze and will be added to Legend (starting December 13, 2025), Explorer and Star Pride (debuting April 7, 2026).
The keys also include free 24-hour room service.
Where will you go:
Because these are motor boats rather than running through sails (at least partly), they offer more different travel, just because they can move at faster speeds, thus traveling a larger distance. In Tahiti, Star Breeze can incorporate the exotic Marquis trek into a 14-day itinerary, which also includes popular, notable social islands such as Moorea and Bora Bora.
Again, these boats are perfect for cool weather destinations such as the Mediterranean in winter and Iceland in summer, as there is more flexibility indoors. For example, if the weather ruled out the iconic outdoor barbecue on this line, there is an equally fascinating “kitchen” dinner with a hearty buffet in Amphora's kitchen that gives a glimpse of how the restaurant operates.
Good to know:
This trio has additional interior space. For many of us, the yacht club on top of the boat is a favorite scene. This is a cafe for breakfast and lunch where you can put a puzzle, read a book or simply enjoy the sea vistas. We also like the two decks, spacious sunbathing, you can always find lounge chairs with views. There are two soaking pools: one in the center of the pool deck; the other is a bit of a mystery at its periphery, moving forward all the way on deck 5 (this is a whirlpool).
Like all Windstar boats, the Star Class has a good water sports pier at the stern for guests to enjoy on board. For post-dinner socializing, the lounge offers more structured performances, while the Compass Rose is great when it comes to dancing.
Also part of the celebrity class: seeking stars, celebrity explorers
and Seeking stars This is the debut in December 2025 (and a year later Star Explorer) since the Wind Star and Wind Spirit debuted 40 years ago.
Advantages:
These new shipsloading 224 travelers, allows Windstar to expand its itinerary (while continuing the core experience that already exists). These include Southeast Asia, Alaska and Japan. And, like Starship, these ships can be flexible by sailing in cold climates through expanded onboard products. Star Explorer will take over Star Legend's mid-winter period in 2027.
In addition, new amenities have been introduced in such vessels. We were particularly interested in its expansive spa, super spacious sundeck with pool, and the latest water sports marina in the fleet. And most cabins have balconies, which is Windstar (the largest star suites, and they are there, while others have gradual balconies).
Where will you sleep:
First, most suites, from standard to stylish, have patio doors with sliding glass doors for extra light. Similarly, Star Seeker and Star Explorer also has the widest range of accommodations in Windstar. At the top of the range are the Horizon owner's suites, which have the largest balcony of the boat, wrapped around the stern, adding another 248 square feet. Other options include star-shaped suites and classic suites with a size of 353 to 540 square feet, and a full balcony offers added space.
