Windstar Cruises will be sailing into Manhattan on its first-ever itineraries in New England and Canada beginning summer/fall 2018.
Windstar’s 212-guest all-suite yacht Star Pride will embark on four new sailings (with five sail dates) that span nine to 16 days, offering leisurely opportunities to enjoy fall foliage and discover New England coastal towns, historic cities like Boston and Newport, and the Canadian Maritimes and Quebec. Star Pride will arrive in New York for the first time via Iceland.
This announcement comes on the heels of news that the small ship cruise line, headquartered in Seattle, will be sailing to Alaska and along Canada’s west coast aboard Star Legend, a sibling ship to Star Pride, in the spring and summer of 2018. The company has not sailed in North America in recent years, so the addition of both regions is a major development for the company, which operates primarily in Europe, the Caribbean/Central America, and French Polynesia.
2018 Voyage Collection – Canada & New England
North Atlantic Odyssey: Reykjavik to New York City – 16 Days: The journey from Iceland to Manhattan will include scenic cruising through fjords in southern Greenland’s Prince Christian Sound – only 1,500 feet wide at some points with steep granite mountains that stretch from sea to sky. A chance to see polar bears in Nanortalik is followed by time in the towns of Newfoundland, along with the UNESCO sites of Red Bay and L’Anse Aux Meadows and their whaling and Viking pasts. The itinerary will also allow tours to Gros Morne National Park (an UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Acadia National Park, accessed via Bar Harbor, Maine. A final day sailing through Cape Cod Canal, inaccessible to larger ships, brings guests into the heart of Manhattan for disembarkation.
The Maritimes & Manhattan: New York City to Montreal (or reverse) – 12 Days: From Gaspe and Saguenay Fjord to towns like Newport and Bar Harbor, the cruise explores New England and southeast Canada. Guests can explore the Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, and a stop in Provincetown, Massachusetts – the site of the landing of the Mayflower. Other highlights include the autumn spectacle of Acadia National Park and an overnight in Quebec City.
Southeast Canadian Explorations: Montreal to Boston – 9 Days: This itinerary will offer guests the chance to enjoy watching for rare beluga whales in Saguenay Fjord or visit historic Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, best seen via horse-drawn carriage to understand how it inspired Anne of Green Gables. Time on Portland, Maine’s waterfront and sampling its restaurant scene is followed by historic Boston.
Postcard Ports of Cape Cod & Canada: Boston to Montreal – 12 Days: This voyage from Boston to Montreal stops in Provincetown, where guests can explore the site of the pilgrims’ Mayflower landing and interesting art galleries in town. Other highlights include time in Rockland, Maine, known as the lobster capital of the world; ample opportunity for a visit to a local pub due to a late night departure in Halifax, which is said to have the highest pub to person ratio in Canada; a transit through the 79-foot-wide Canso Canal; and an overnight in Quebec City.
All Windstar sailings in Canada and New England in 2018 will take place aboard the 212-guest Star Pride, with all-suite accommodations. In 2016, Star Pride underwent a major interior renovation, including the refurbishment of public spaces and revitalization of two Owner’s Suites. The suites underwent million-dollar structural makeovers to offer sweeping views, along with new modern décor. In addition to the Owner’s Suites, guests may choose among four Classic Suites; 36 Balcony Suites with French balconies; and 64 Ocean View Suites with large picture windows. Other amenities include a WindSpa, Fitness Center, two whirlpools, pool, Lounge, Star Bar, multiple dining options, and a casino.
Visit www.windstarcruises.com