When a cruise line builds a new ship, one of the most magical nautical traditions is its floating. Why is it magical? If you’ve been following our Starfinder-themed “From the Shipyard” blog series, in which the ship is being built in a large (dry) dock, you may have quickly figured out this: Buoys When the Dry Dock Fills with Seawater , the ship is ready to sail.
Windstar Vice President of Expansion Projects John Gunner, who has been guiding us in our Star Seeker blog coverage, explains what makes this development special. “Seeing a ship come together and leave dry dock and head to sea is an unforgettable milestone in the life of a new build project.”
Last week, he attended a ceremony at the WestSEA shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, where he worked closely with Mario Ferreira, owner of Mystic Invest, which owns the shipyard, to turn the Star Seeker from a dream into a reality. The intimate celebration, although usually much more low-key than a ship’s christening, was one where Canner made a speech. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be involved in building a new ship for Windstar,” he said, “and to Mario for his passion and vision for ships, which has helped guide us through this momentous event today – a new, Windstar’s boats are beautiful.”
Surfaced also means one thing: now that the exterior of the ship is complete, attention has turned to building its interior, which will, of course, eventually come to life (check out our Starfinder’s latest reportwhich introduces several venues on the ship).
star seeker It will be put into operation in December 2025 and sail from Malaga, Spain to Miami, where Windstar is headquartered. The ship’s christening ceremony will be held in January 2026. Star Seeker will then make its maiden voyage in the Caribbean and offer additional sailings to the region before heading to the U.S. West Coast to Alaska for the entire summer cruising season. From there, the ship will sail to Asia, bringing back the company’s popular routes around Japan.
Star Seeker can accommodate 224 guests and features five dining options, including Amphora and Star Grill (both with alfresco seating), a new (complimentary) alternative restaurant, and room service. There will be a full-service spa, fitness facilities, an infinity pool and Windstar’s signature water sports platform. Its hull will be ice-reinforced, giving the vessel greater flexibility in terms of itinerary development. To minimize the environmental footprint and underscore Windstar’s commitment to sustainability, the Star Seeker will operate with Tier III NOx-rated Rolls-Royce engines and be able to connect to shore power, minimizing port emissions. Other technological improvements include an advanced wastewater treatment system.
Its sister ship, Star Explorer, will make its debut a year later, in December 2026.
