Glaciers. Wildlife. Small-Ship Style: Windstar’s New Star Seeker Begins Inaugural Alaska Season

With the new yacht just days into its inaugural Alaska summer season, Windstar opens additional 2028 Star Seeker Alaska sailings with a limited-time Early Booking Offer

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Windstar Cruises' new Star Seeker yacht navigates Alaska for the first time this month, the cruise line is already looking ahead, opening bookings for its 2028 Alaska cruise season. The Alaskan itineraries feature a collection of small-ship voyages designed to bring travelers closer to glaciers, wildlife and remote communities. Guests who plan ahead can take advantage of Windstar's Early Booking Offer, available through June 30, 2026, with the best fares and suite selection on these highly sought-after sailings. Plus, guests who pay in full at the time of booking can also receive an additional five percent savings through the “Pay Now, Save More” promotion.

“Alaska is a place that rewards a more thoughtful way of traveling,” says Tom Schofield, captain of Star Seeker. “What excites me most is the access Star Seeker allows — navigating deep into fjords, getting right up to glaciers, and connecting with smaller communities along the way. There’s a sense of discovery here that stays with you. From the moment guests arrive, the experience feels deeply immersive, and I’m proud to share it during our inaugural season.”

The 2028 Alaska season includes 27 departures across six itineraries, sailing May through August. The program features a mix of seven-day voyages, longer 10- to 12-day journeys, Cruise Tours to Denali and extended Star Collector sailings. Several itineraries are designed as convenient one-week vacations, with departures and returns in Juneau, one of Alaska’s most iconic destinations.

Why is Windstar the Best Way to See Alaska?

With Windstar’s small yachts, guests experience glaciers at eye level, sailing deep into fjords like Endicott Arm, where towering ice formations and calving glaciers feel within reach. The journey also includes visits to lesser-known ports such as Wrangell, offering a more authentic and less crowded perspective on Alaska.

Signature Expeditions launch directly from the ship, with guided kayak and Zodiac outings that explore quiet inlets, glacial shorelines and wildlife-rich waters. Expedition Guides sail onboard throughout the voyage, leading excursions and offering insight into the region’s landscapes, ecosystems and history. Windstar’s Cruise Tours to Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, are a true differentiator. These programs are designed to give guests more time in Alaska’s interior than other cruise lines, allowing travelers to fully experience Denali’s vast wilderness and iconic scenery.

What Can Guests Expect On Board?

With just 224 guests, the new 112-suite Star Seeker yacht offers an intimate and friendly at-home feel. Nearly all accommodations feature a private veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window that opens to the sea, showcasing Alaska’s scenery throughout every voyage. Guests can expect open deck spaces for glacier viewing and a relaxed yacht-style atmosphere. As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar also offers a culinary program shaped by seasonal ingredients – salmon, venison, crab, halibut, beer, honey, jams and more – and destination-driven menus, along with multiple dining venues, including the specialty restaurant Basil + Bamboo. Enrichment speakers and musicians/dancers come on board every voyage to share the culture and history of Alaska.

Where Will Windstar Sail in Alaska?

Windstar’s 2028 Alaska season features six itineraries that range from classic Inside Passage voyages to extended journeys. Itineraries can vary by date.

• Scenic Alaska: This 7-day classic Southeast Alaska journey sails between Vancouver B.C. and Juneau, AK (and reverse) and pairs close-up glacier cruising, abundant wildlife and time in ports like Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, Ketchikan plus Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm. In the small town of Wrangell, guests can explore totems downtown, petroglyphs on the beach and see Chief Shakes Tribal House.
• Alaskan Splendors: This 10- or 11-day sailing from Vancouver B.C. to Seward, AK (or reverse) takes a deeper look at Alaska’s most iconic landscapes with visits to Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Sitka, Endicott Arm with Dawes Glacier, Haines, Juneau and Kenai Fjords National Park. Whales, bears and historic gold rush towns are highlights.
• Alaskan Explorations & Denali Cruise Tour: This broad Alaska experience includes 4 days touring inland combined with 10, 11, or 12 nights sailing from Vancouver to Seward, AK (or reverse). Guests can expect wildlife viewing for caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears in Denali, a riverboat excursion in Fairbanks, rail journeys and optional opportunities to get closer to glaciers by kayak or dogsled.
• Alaskan Coastal Adventures & Denali Discovery Cruise Tours: This 11-day cruise tour balances coastal exploration, along with extended time to explore inland and see wildlife in Denali National Park. Cruise between Juneau and Vancouver (or reverse) to explore Southeast Alaska and then go inland to Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks with included tours.
• Star Collector: Alaska Discovery & Pacific Crossing: This extended 24-day journey explores Alaska’s fjords, wildlife and frontier towns, followed by unhurried days at sea as the ship sails from Vancouver, B.C., explores Southeast Alaska and continues across the Pacific to Tokyo (or reverse).
• Star Collector: Alaska Adventures & Wonders of Japan: Offered in May and August, this longer voyage of 33 days sails between Vancouver B.C. and either Tokyo or Osaka, Japan. Explore Southeast Alaska combined with an ocean crossing - a mix of major cities and smaller ports, nature and wildlife in Alaska and sea time to unwind.

Why Book Early?

Windstar’s Early Booking Offer rewards travelers who plan ahead with the best fares and stateroom selection on these limited-capacity voyages.

• Best Selection: Guests can secure preferred sailing dates, itineraries and stateroom categories before voyages fill.
• More Savings: Travelers who pay in full at the time of booking receive an additional five percent savings.
• Limited-Time Offer: The Early Booking Offer is available through June 30, 2026, with fares expected to increase as demand grows.

For guests looking to travel sooner, Windstar also offers Alaska sailings onboard Star Seeker in 2026 and 2027.

The Best Way to Experience Alaska

With limited capacity, deeper destination access and a focus on small-ship exploration, Windstar’s 2028 Alaska season offers the best way to experience one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, especially for travelers who plan ahead.

For more information, visit WindstarCruises.com, contact a Windstar vacation planner or call 866-258-7245

Windstar Cruises Images here, credit to Windstar Cruises.

About Windstar Cruises:

For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world’s most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of four Star Class all-suite yachts—including its newest addition of Star Seeker in December 2025—and three Wind Class sailing yachts, offering voyages that are both intimate and inspiring. Its highly anticipated yacht, Star Explorer, is set to debut in December 2026, expanding the fleet to eight yachts accommodating 150-350 guests. Windstar’s legendary Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a meticulous two-phase redesign to be completed by 2027. Windstar yachts sail to more than 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, the South Pacific, and Asia. Unlike most cruise lines, Windstar sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti, offering different destination experiences seasonally. Each Windstar voyage is designed to immerse guests in authentic cultural experiences, all while delivering the comfort, service, and style that define the Windstar difference.

Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®, a distinguished group of global hospitality and travel companies with a legacy spanning over a hundred years. Xanterra operates iconic national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Death Valley. The Xanterra Travel Collection® is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, the ultimate owner of the Broadmoor, Sea Island, and entertainment giant AEG, Anschutz Entertainment Group.