Small Ships, Big Stories: Windstar Announces 2027 Europe Season

The Mediterranean may be one of the world's most traveled regions, but with Windstar it feels newly discovered. Business Wire

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12 new itineraries, legendary events, hidden discoveries, and more ways to explore Europe than ever before.

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MIAMI — Looking for the best way to see Europe in summer 2027? You’ll find it on Windstar Cruises. The small-ship cruise line has opened bookings for 12 brand-new itineraries across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, along with special-event voyages that promise front-row access to some of the continent’s most unforgettable moments.

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With five yachts in Europe — including Wind Surf, Windstar’s iconic flagship and one of the world’s largest sailing yachts — the 2027 season brings travelers to celebrated cities and tucked-away ports that larger ships can’t reach. Experience Monaco’s Grand Prix (race tickets included). Transit Greece’s legendary Corinth Canal, a waterway so narrow only yachts like Windstar’s can navigate it. Or dive straight from the yacht’s marina platform into crystalline water off an undiscovered island. And that’s just for starters.

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“Some of the best travel memories happen where big ships can’t go,” says Jess Peterson, director of destination experience and itinerary planning at Windstar Cruises. “We’ve built 2027 around those moments: the smaller harbors you can only access on a yacht, the later evenings in port, and the feeling of having Europe almost to yourself.”

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Which Yachts Will Be in Europe for 2027?

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Windstar will have five yachts sailing the region in 2027. Four will operate seasonally from March through November, and the newly delivered

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Star Explorer

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—launching December 28, 2026—will sail Europe year-round.

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Across the Mediterranean: Cruises Without the Crowds

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may be one of the world’s most traveled regions, but with Windstar it feels newly discovered. The line’s small motor and sailing yachts visit ports beyond the reach of larger ships and feature overnights and late departures in select ports, so that guests can see a quieter, more authentic side of Europe and explore further inland.

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Wind Surf,

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Windstar’s flagship sailing ship, heads to Greece for the summer season taking over the region from the two smaller sailing ships,

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Wind Star

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and

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Wind Spirit

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. Back by popular demand after a sellout 2026 season, the

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brings guests to smaller, lesser-known Greek ports. The fan-favorite

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itinerary is also back for 2027 with late evening calls in Santorini, Kusadasi, Patmos and Mykonos, allowing for unhurried time ashore. A highlight of the journey is an after-hours elegant dinner event in Ephesus, one of Windstar’s complimentary Destination Discovery Events.

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Wind Spirit

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will homeport in Dubrovnik and the heart of Venice, where the ship is uniquely able to sail the Giudecca Canal and dock in the heart of the city (a rare privilege not allowed on larger ships). The yacht will then spend the summer exploring coastal towns throughout the Adriatic. Guests can also combine itineraries such as

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and

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into a 14-night

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itinerary for a deeper immersion.

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In Southern Europe, Star Legend sails into less-traveled regions like Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily on Moments in Southern Italy & Greece. Highlights include stops in Gallipoli, Reggio Calabria and Taranto, with a spectacular transit through the Corinth Canal.

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Northern Europe and Beyond: from Tulips to Fjords

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For travelers seeking cooler climates and longer days, Windstar brings its all-suite yacht

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Star Pride

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to

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,

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while

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Star Explorer

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sails throughout the rest of Europe, offering Windstar’s signature small-port access.

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Star Pride’s

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tulip itineraries — available from

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or between

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— evoke the intimacy of river cruising on an ocean-going yacht, with calls in small ports such as Oudeschild and Antwerp at the height of the bloom. Later in the season, she explores the Baltics, the Norwegian fjords and Iceland. On the

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sailing, guests can view the country’s waterfalls, geysers and volcanic coastline while circumnavigating the island for a comprehensive perspective of its natural wonders.

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The new Star Explorer spends the year sailing between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, from Lisbon to London to Norway, with a wide-ranging series of voyages that combine classic ports with smaller undiscovered finds.

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What Specialty Voyages Are Available in 2027?

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Windstar’s 2027 calendar features special-event voyages designed for travelers in search of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

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