Set to be delivered to Windstar Cruises on December 15, 2025, the Star Seeker is getting its finishing touches at the West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
Originally ordered by Mystic Cruises, the 9,300-ton ship was acquired by Windstar while still in the early stages of construction in 2024.
Overseeing the building process, Mystic’s CEO and President Mario Ferreira said that the ship was modified to meet Windstar’s specifications.
“It is always a moment of great satisfaction to see the completion of a project, but this one was particularly challenging due to its technological complexity and the originality of the requested changes,” he said.
“Congratulations to everyone, from the teams at Mystic to those at the shipyard and Windstar,” he added in a video shared on social media.
Ferreira also highlighted some of the ship’s features, including its Rolls-Royce engines and leather-lined control consoles at the bridge.
As the first ship to enter service for Windstar in a decade, the Star Seeker will welcome guests for its inaugural voyage on December 28, 2025.
Sailing from Barcelona, the 220-guest ship will embark on a trans-Atlantic crossing to North America and the Caribbean.
The 16-night itinerary features visits to destinations in Spain and the Bahamas before arriving in Miami in early 2026.
The vessel is then set to offer a series of cruises in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean before transiting the Panama Canal in April.
In 2026, the Star Seeker is scheduled to operate a summer season in Alaska ahead of repositioning to Southeast Asia.
With the Star Seeker set to become the last ship in the Explorer series, Ferreira noted that the West Sea shipyard will now shift its focus to the World Explorer, which will undergo conversion work next year.
The 2019-built ship is currently in service for Mystic and was also bought by Windstar. After completing a charter contract and its refit, the vessel is set to enter service for Windstar in December 2026.
In related news, Mystic recently ordered a new ship at the China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.
Additional details of the contract, which includes an option for three additional vessels, are set to be released soon.
