Windstar’s New Star Seeker Floated Out in Portugal

Windstar Cruises has announced the float out of Star Seeker, the first of its Star Class ships, at the WestSea Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. A float out is a maritime tradition of marking when a ship leaves dry dock and becomes waterborne for the first time. While construction of Star Seeker’s exterior is complete, work will be ongoing to complete the interiors, including 112 suites.

With a capacity for 224 guests, Star Seeker will have five dining options, a full-service spa with a grand entrance from the deck above, a fitness facility, and a fresh take on the line’s Watersports Platform, which provides guests access to the sea directly from the ship.

Star Seeker will enter service in December 2025, sailing from Málaga to Miami, where Windstar is headquartered and where the ship’s christening ceremony will take place in January 2026. Star Seeker will then sail its first voyage in the Caribbean and offer more cruises in the region before heading up the West Coast of the United States to Alaska for a full season of summer cruises. From there, the ship will sail to Asia, bringing back the line’s popular “Around Japan” itineraries.

To commemorate the occasion, Windstar’s Star Seeker float-out ceremony included Mario Ferreira and Manuel Barros of Mystic Invest and Windstar’s Vice President of Expansion Projects John Gunner, who is directing the ship-building project for Windstar. Gunner was on site for the float out and provided remarks including thanking Ferreira for his support through the process and the team at the Portuguese shipyard for their dedication and craftsmanship.

Windstar will debut an additional new sister ship, Star Explorer, in December 2026.

For more information, visit www.windstarcruises.com.

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