Canada's Travel Industry Directory
Listed in Cruise Lines
Windstar Cruises is a small‑ship, yacht‑style cruise line that specializes in intimate, upscale voyages with fewer than about 350 guests per ship. Founded in the 1980s as a sailing-focused company, it now operates a fleet of six motorized all‑suite yachts and sailing ships, typically carrying 148 to just over 300 guests. This limited capacity supports a high crew‑to‑guest ratio and a private‑yacht ambience, with casual elegance instead of formal dress codes. On board, guests enjoy suite‑style accommodations, high‑quality dining, and warm, personalized service, as well as amenities such as water sports platforms and comfortable lounges designed for relaxation rather than large-scale entertainment.
The line offers port‑intensive itineraries that focus on destination immersion. Windstar sails in Europe, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America and the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific, parts of Asia, and select regions in North America such as Alaska and Canada/New England. Its ships visit a mix of marquee ports and smaller, less‑visited harbors that larger vessels cannot access. Windstar is part of the Xanterra Travel Collection, owned by the Anschutz Corporation, and is positioned in the market as an upscale, ultra‑premium small‑ship cruise line rather than a mass‑market operator.
