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Meet Surya Sadhaks, Nakshatra Sadhaks. One of the cruise industry’s most anticipated new high-end ships is set to debut late next year, and you’ll only have one chance to catch it in the Caribbean.

Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker — a new 224-passenger ship that is the line’s first new-build in nearly 40 years — will begin sailing in December 2025. Its primary focus will be sailing in Alaska and Japan — two regions where Windstar does not have a presence through 2023. Before the ship permanently relocates to those two regions, it will offer a short series of cruises in the Caribbean, giving passengers an exclusive three-month window to try the ship in more coastal destinations.

For a short period from January 15, 2026 to the end of April 2026, Star Seeker A mix of Caribbean tours has been scheduled. These can be booked either as Caribbean-only segments or as longer voyages connecting three regions – the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and Alaska – for a more exclusive experience.

“I’m really excited that we’ll be able to sail the new Star Seeker in the Caribbean before it heads to its final destinations of Alaska and Japan,” Windstar President Christopher Prelog said in a statement from the line. “Star Seeker will likely never return to the Caribbean again, so this is a wonderful but fleeting opportunity for our Caribbean destination fans to experience the ship.”

Prelog said select Caribbean cruise passengers aboard the new ship will also have access to exclusive celebratory experiences. This includes a sunset sailing parade past the Pitons in St. Lucia while Star Seeker meets sister Wind Spirit and Star Pride in the region.

Caribbean voyages will be seven to 14 days. They will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico, visiting the US and British Virgin Islands as well as ports of call in St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Bequia, St. Lucia and more.

From May to August 2026, the ship will be in Alaska, where it will operate two main types of itineraries. The seven- and eight-night one-way runs between Vancouver, Canada and Juneau, Alaska include the Misty Fjords, Ketchikan, Sitka and Haines. The longer 10-, 11- and 12-night voyages between Vancouver and Anchorage will stop at Ketchikan, Misty Fjords, Klowock, Rangel, Haines, Juneau, Sitka and Seward (the port for Anchorage).

In September 2026, the ship will cross the Pacific Ocean and dock in Japan to resume Windstar’s popular Grand Japan voyage for the first time in three years. Guests booked on these itineraries can expect to travel between Yokohama (the port for Tokyo) and Osaka or Kobe, calling at ports such as Shimizu, Shingu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Karatsu, Hiroshima and Takamatsu.

Although Windstar’s ships may seem upscale, exclusive small-ship cruise fares are not all-inclusive. You’ll pay extra for things like alcohol, shore excursions and Wi-Fi. What you can expect, however, is an intimate onboard vibe with excellent service, delicious food and beautifully appointed amenities.

In addition to Star Seeker, the line operates a fleet of six other ships. They fall into two categories: ships with sails and ships without them. Currently, there are three of each in the line. While Star Seeker will debut as the fleet’s seventh ship (fourth without a sail), it will be the second-largest in the fleet by passenger count (after the 342-passenger Wind Surf). Others carry anywhere from 148 to 212 passengers. Windstar plans to acquire an eighth vessel in 2026, which also does not have sails.

Star Seeker was originally under construction for Atlas Ocean Voyages. Windstar purchased the partially completed vessel after Atlas abandoned the project.

The maiden voyage for the 9,315-ton Star Seeker will depart Malaga, Spain on December 28, 2025. It will feature a transatlantic crossing and a call to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands for a New Year’s Eve party before arriving in Miami. The eight-day christening voyage will take passengers from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 15, 2026; It will include port visits to the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.

The Star Seeker itinerary is currently available for booking.

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