Windstar Cruises said bookings for 2027 Asia voyages nearly doubled year-over-year. The Star Seeker will dock in city centers, not remote ports, from Sept 2028.
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Windstar Cruises is expanding its Asia season with the Star Seeker, a 112-suite ship that can dock in central Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, not at remote ports hours away. The company said bookings for its 2027 Asia voyages nearly doubled year-over-year, a pace that pushed it to open the 2028/2029 season early.
The ship’s smaller size is the whole point. Larger vessels tie up at Phu My and Laem Chabang, a two-hour drive from each city. Star Seeker ties up at the city-center docks. The same advantage opens smaller destinations: Krabi’s limestone cliffs, Ko Yao Noi’s quiet beaches, Ko Kood’s beach barbecue.
“We’re seeing extraordinary enthusiasm for Asia, with bookings significantly outpacing previous years,” Janet Bava, Windstar’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “Travelers are looking for experiences that feel more immersive and personal.”
The company operates 25 departures between September 2028 and May 2029. Guests can choose from four core cruise-only voyages or longer Star Collector sailings of 20 to 42 days. Windstar also sells pre- and post-cruise inland tours to Hanoi, Angkor Wat, Chiang Mai and Kyoto – 87 itinerary combinations in total.
Windstar is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, so the culinary angle is built in. Onboard menus draw from local ports, and shore excursions hit Singapore’s hawker centers and Thailand’s floating markets.
The immediate catalyst for anyone booking is the Early Booking Offer, which runs through July 31, 2026. Guests who pay in full get a 5% discount on fares, plus a complimentary all-inclusive package and $100 in onboard credit. The offer also locks in the best stateroom selection, which matters on a 112-suite ship where nearly every room has a private veranda or an infinity window that opens.
Windstar’s Destination Discovery Events are probably the differentiator most passengers will remember. In Japan, the Traditions of Tomonoura program includes tea ceremonies, live koto music, a walk through Edo-period streets and exclusive access to the Ota Family Residence. On a larger ship, that kind of access is logistics nightmare. On 112 suites, it is a guided group of a few dozen.
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