The Mediterranean is famous for summer sizzle, but seasoned travellers know it hums in a softer key once the crowds drift home. Windstar Cruises has spent the past three winters capturing that quieter melody; next year, it turns up the volume with the arrival of Star Explorer and a freshly curated collection of off-season voyages.
Launching on 28 December 2026, the sleek 224-guest yacht will sail round-trip from Nice and roam Europe’s storied coastline until spring, delivering longer port stays, local festivals and plenty of sun-splashed winter markets.
Why Winter Works
To Windstar and beyond, cooler weather means fewer ships, shorter museum queues and room to wander lanes normally packed shoulder-to-shoulder in July. Local restaurants reopen to their neighbours, not just tourists, so you taste authentic trattoria buzz rather than a set-menu churn.
Hidden Harbours Re-imagined
Ports like Genoa, Ponza and Portoferraio rarely appear on mega-ship itineraries, yet they anchor Star Explorer’s programme. Without big-ship footfall, you can chat with baristas, linger at fish stalls and snap unhurried photos of pastel houses catching the low winter sun.
Festival Fever Minus the Crush
Epiphany parades in Greece, twinkling mercados in Spain and Venice’s world-famous Carnevale feel more intimate in January and February. Windstar’s overnight stays mean you can don a mask, join the revelry and stroll back to your yacht instead of scrambling for the last vaporetto.
Meet Star Explorer: Yacht Crafted for Discovery
Windstar’s Star-class vessels already win fans for their “small-ship, big-heart” vibe. Star Explorer keeps that DNA while elevating space, style and sustainability.
Suite Serenity
All 112 suites feature ocean views; most boast private verandas. Two Horizon Owner’s Suites wrap around the stern with enough balcony real estate for sunrise yoga or sunset canapés. Thoughtful touches—USB-C ports by the bed, heated bathroom floors, Australian-sourced Sodashi bath products—make returning from a brisk shore day a delight.
Marina Magic
Windstar’s signature watersports platform still deploys from the stern on balmier afternoons. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and a trampoline float behind the ship, ready for guests brave enough to dip into the Mediterranean’s crystal water—even in March it can reach a swimmable 18 °C off Sicily.
Culinary Compass
The new World Spa by Windstar anchors wellness, but food remains the headline act. Yacht Club Café pours flat whites with Australian-roasted beans; Candles transforms into a flickering alfresco steakhouse on mild evenings; and the brand-new Amphora menu showcases local ingredients such as Sardinian bottarga and Malaga moscatel-braised pork cheek.
Off-Season Itinerary Highlights
Each sailing runs seven to nine nights, with Star Collector combinations offering up to 24 days of seamless exploration.
Southern Spain Winter Escapes
Barcelona’s Gaudí façades glow amber under low winter sun. In Málaga, guests step into a local home kitchen for paella lessons, then sip sherry in Picasso’s childhood neighbourhood.
Europe’s Winter Riviera
Overnights in Livorno and Barcelona unlock after-hours museum access and untimed Aperol moments along empty promenades. Genoa’s noble palazzi open their doors, while Nice’s flower market bursts with citrus.
Italy & the Dalmatian Coast
Watch Venetian gondoliers punt past frost-tipped palazzi, then sail south to Dubrovnik where lights twinkle across limestone ramparts. A pizza-making master-class in Catania adds warmth straight from the wood-fired oven.
Value-Stacked Early Booking Offers
Windstar’s Early Booking Offer, available until 31 July 2025, bundles serious savings.
All-Inclusive, No Bill Shock
Book now and receive the All-Inclusive package—unlimited Wi-Fi, select wines, beers and cocktails, plus prepaid gratuities—worth more than US$1,300 (about A$1,950).
Onboard Credit for Personal Flourishes
Each stateroom scores up to US$200 (around A$310) in credit, perfect for a volcanic-mud massage or a chef-led market tour ashore.
Pay Now, Save More
Settle the balance up front and Windstar trims an extra 5 % off cruise fare—including non-discountable portions—boosting the overall value of your Mediterranean winter.
Life On Board: Comforts for Cooler Days
Sailing in shoulder-season doesn’t mean sacrificing sunshine or sociability.
Indoor Snug Spaces
The Yacht Club’s floor-to-ceiling windows invite you to curl up with a salted-caramel hot chocolate while the Tuscan coast slides by. Evening lectures from local historians warm the Star Bar lounge, accompanied by mulled wine spiced with Sicilian oranges.
World Spa by Windstar
New to the line, this sanctuary marries Finnish saunas with Moroccan hammams. Couples can book a private Rasul mud ceremony before enjoying seaweed wraps using Ligurian algae.
Crew That Feel Like Friends
With 224 guests and almost one crew member for every two travellers, staff quickly learn how you take your flat white or which pillow density suits your shoulders. Returning Windstar fans rave that crew loyalty rivals guest loyalty—a hallmark the line is keen to preserve.
Windstar’s Madrid & Southern Spain Cruise Tour bolts a rail-based inland adventure onto the 9-night inaugural voyage. Think tapas crawls in La Latina, flamenco evenings in Seville and guided access to the Alhambra’s herb-scented Generalife gardens.
Pop over to our Cruise Finder where filters let you compare every Star Explorer and Star Collector sailing, side-by-side with airfares and insurance bundles. In minutes you’ll visualise cabin availability, live pricing and promotional inclusions, then save itineraries to share with your travel buddies.
If you’d like tailored advice—be it rail passes for a post-cruise jaunt to Provence or which suite balcony grabs sunrise rather than sunset—our consultants are only too happy to workshop options.
Secure Your Star-Lit Mediterranean Getaway Today
Windstar’s decision to base a brand-new yacht in Europe all winter is a game-changer for travellers chasing crowd-free culture, authentic festival energy and Australia-friendly dates. Add value-packed early-bird perks and Star Explorer becomes one of the smartest boutique options of 2026/27.
Ready to toast truffle risotto in a quiet Tuscan trattoria or sip limoncello as Naples twinkles in cool evening air? Reach out via our expert team and we’ll transform your Mediterranean daydream into a perfectly plotted itinerary—flights, private transfers, pre-cruise hotels and all.
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