Last Updated on 06/24/26 by Rose Palmer
My first experience on a Windstar ship truly spoiled me. I’ve wanted to do a Windstar cruise for a long time, and what better start than a cruise to Alaska on the brand new Star Seeker.
The Windstar Star Seeker is considered a mega yacht due to its small size. The company motto is “180 degrees from ordinary”, and that is exactly what I experienced.
After staying at the lovely Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel overnight, I boarded the Star Seeker in Vancouver for the start of my Alaskan cruise. Embarkation was quick and uneventful. Once I was on board, I checked in at the reception desk and received my room key.
It wasn’t long before I found my cabin, dropped off my backpack, and went out to explore this beautiful new ship. First, though, I stopped by deck 4 to make dinner reservations for Basil and Bamboo and for the Star Grill. I also stopped by the excursions desk to book the excursions I had chosen.
My Windstar Star Seeker review
I wrote all about the Star Seeker Alaska experience in my post Sailing Off the Beaten Path on a Windstar Cruise to Alaska. This post is a review of my Stark Seeker ship experience.
The stats:
Year built: 2025
Number of staterooms: 112
Passenger capacity: 224
Number of crew: 130
My sailing was about three-fourths full with 173 passengers, but the ship never felt crowded. Though the majority of the guests were from the US, other countries were also represented. Along with Americans, there were also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Spanish, British, and Dutch nationals.
My veranda cabin on the Star Seeker
Guest cabins were located on decks 3, 5,6, and 7. The 10 cabins on deck 3 were all Oceanview cabins, while all the other cabins were either Veranda Suites with traditional balconies or Infinity Suites with floor-to-ceiling infinity windows that open to the outside.
I had a Veranda Suite at the front of deck 5. At 280 square feet (26 square meters), it was plenty roomy for me. My room had a queen bed, which could be converted into two twins, and a large flat screen TV that offered a nice selection of on-demand movies and TV (if I wasn’t looking at the scenery outside my balcony).
On the balcony end of the room, I had a desk with two drawers where I could easily work on my laptop. Under the desk was a well-stocked mini fridge with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I also had an easy chair and a small coffee table, which was perfect for enjoying room service meals.
My cabin had everything I needed to be comfortable, plus many extras. One side of the closet held robes, slippers, and an umbrella, and had room to hang longer items. The larger part of the closet had two drawers, a safe, a small hair dryer, and plenty of hangers and hanging space for all my clothes. My empty luggage fit easily under the bed.
On each nightstand, I had a refillable bottle of water and a glass. There was also a European-style outlet for charging my electronics. The wall next to the TV had two universal outlets, while the desk held USB-A and C ports and more electrical outlets. I also travel with a universal adapter for charging all my electronics.
Universal charging adapter I use
The thermostat had good temperature control and heated or cooled the room as needed.
The warm-wood and marble-lined bathroom felt like my own personal spa. A large glass-enclosed shower included a shower wand, a large rain shower, and three soothing body sprays. I had L’Ocitaine soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel. Other useful details included a lighted magnifying mirror by the sink and a clothes line in the shower.
My favorite space was the balcony, where two padded chairs made it very pleasant to sit and watch all the beautiful Alaskan scenery go by.
Public spaces on the Star Seeker
Balancing out the cabins, the Star Seeker also had a variety of beautiful public spaces for activities, lectures, eating, and lounging. Two elevators made it easy to access all the decks for those who didn’t want to climb the stairs.
Deck 3
Midship
Tender embarkation – we used a set of stable stairs and a platform on the side of the ship to board the tenders and Zodiacs.
Aft
Watersports platform – in warm-weather locations, this platform provides easy access to watersports. In Alaska, this platform was not used during my cruise.
Deck 4
This deck was the heart of the ship, providing the majority of the indoor public spaces.
Forward to aft:
World Spa– the spa was accessed from deck 5 forward, but the treatment rooms were on deck 4. There was a relaxation area, a beauty parlor, treatment rooms, and a sauna. I had a very relaxing facial one afternoon, which was lovely.
Lounge – this large space was the main gathering spot on the ship. I attended lectures here and various entertainment events, along with the Captain’s welcome cocktail reception. This was also where we gathered in groups before heading out on excursions.
The lounge had a very well-stocked bar, and the staff was always eager to bring drinks.
Medical facility – fortunately, I had no personal experience here.
Reception – I checked in at reception when I first boarded the ship and came here with my questions, which were promptly addressed.
The Landing – another small sitting area with a coffee and tea station. There were also spigots where I could fill my personal water bottle with plain or sparkling water.
Destination desk – future Windstar cruises could be booked here.
Fitness Center – small exercise room with treadmills and weight-lifting equipment.
Shop – a small space with a nice selection of clothes, high-end jewellery, watches, and Windstar-branded merchandise.
Basil + Bamboo -this specialty restaurant had a unique menu that blended Mediterranean and Asian flavors. I ate here on two different nights and enjoyed great meals each time.
Amphora Restaurant – the main dining room on the Star Seeker, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served every day. An outdoor dining space at the back of the ship offered al fresco dining during pleasant weather.
Aft deck space – al fresco meals could be enjoyed in this outdoor deck area at the back of the Amphora restaurant.
Deck 5
Forward :
Whirlpool – the front of the ship had another whirlpool for guests’ use. This open deck space was also another good spot for viewing wildlife and scenery.
Spa entrance – the entrance to the spa was at the very front of the ship.
Aft:
Outdoor deck space – another small deck with an outdoor sitting area offering great aft views.
Deck 6
Forward:
Bridge – the captain and crew had an open bridge policy. If the green sign was up, then anyone could go in to view the bridge and chat with the crew.
Aft:
Outdoor deck space – more outdoor lounging and viewing space at the back of the ship.
Deck 7
Forward to midship:
Yacht Club – a wonderful observation lounge and library with 180 degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows. This was an ideal spot for taking in the views during scenic cruising.
The drinks/snack bar was a great source for hot and cold drinks and light meals all day. This space also held a nice library of games, puzzles, and books.
Doors from the Yacht Club lead to a large outdoor viewing space that was perfect for looking at the scenery, spotting wildlife, and taking photos.
Pool and outdoor terrace – in the middle of the ship, we had a nice-sized pool and hot tub with lots of sun loungers.
Star Grill and Star Bar – on warm and sunny days, this bar and grill offered drinks and light bite options. In the evening, the Star Grill became a specialty steak restaurant.
Deck 8
This was a wraparound open deck space that could be used for walking laps. There were also additional loungers set up around the pool area.
The kayaks and zodiacs were also stored on racks in the back of deck 8.
Life on the Star Seeker
I really liked how laid back and quiet the ship was. The captain made it a point not to make too many announcements unless there was a whale or a bear, or other wildlife sighting.
I was very impressed with our captain and how much he engaged with all the guests throughout the week. His daily briefings were very entertaining as he sprinkled British wit in between the necessary updates. I think he could do stand-up comedy if his day job as a captain doesn’t work out, though I think that is highly unlikely.
All the staff I interacted with were also wonderful. They were friendly, engaging, and always delivered service with a smile. I was very pleased to see that the crew was also given opportunities to do the Zodiac excursions.
Food and drink on the Star Seeker
I definitely did not lack for good food options on my cruise. All the food venues on the ship were included in the base fare, though I had to make reservations for Basil and Bamboo and the Star Grill the day I boarded. I had the All Inclusive package, which made it very easy to try different drinks.
Amphora
This large, main dining room was the spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Windstar has partnered with the James Beard Foundation, which means that some of the menu items were developed specifically for the cruise line by James Beard-recognized chefs. These menu items were always flagged with a little green leaf.
Food tastes are very individual and influenced by cultural and personal experiences. I certainly did not lack for good food on board at any time of day.
Breakfast: 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM
The breakfast buffet offered a lot of choices for all tastes and cultural preferences. I prefer made-to-order meals and tried the eggs Benedict and the brioche French toast (I had this twice because it was so good.)
Lunch: 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The lunch buffet was also very extensive, especially the salad bar, which was my usual choice. The salmon Wellington served at the carving station one day was especially tasty. There was also an à la carte menu with good burgers. The dessert offerings were also varied and not lacking.
Dinner: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
I liked the food options in the Amphora restaurant, but I would have preferred to have the option for dinner starting at 5:30 PM or 6 PM instead of 7:00 PM.
Dinner was an à la carte menu that featured the James Beard chef-created choices. I usually tried these dishes and was not disappointed.
Lobster dinnerYacht Club
Breakfast: 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Along with drinks, the Yacht Club also offered a variety of small bites throughout the day. For me, this was a good option for a quick continental breakfast before an excursion since I am normally not a big eater early in the morning.
Later in the day, there were wraps and small sandwiches, which were a nice light lunch option. For a relaxing afternoon break, I liked the cake pops along with a cup of tea.
Star Grill
During the day, the Star Bar and Grill offered a variety of food choices (though not on wet, cold, rainy days).
Lunch: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Tides of Flavor: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
It was a good thing that I booked dinner at the Star Grill for the first night on board the ship because later in the week, it was too cold or wet to eat out on deck. The menu offered a variety of steak options, but since I am not a big beef eater, I chose seafood instead. I enjoyed my meal and the opportunity to eat al fresco on a nice summer evening.
Basil and Bamboo
Dinner 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
I ate at this Mediterranean-Asian fusion specialty restaurant twice during my cruise and had the opportunity to try many of the items on the menu. I liked the interesting flavor combinations and would happily eat there again. I especially liked that I could eat dinner here earlier in the evening than in the main restaurant.
Room service
One of my favorite cruise activities is ordering room service, especially breakfast (or brunch) on a sea day, which I can eat at a leisurely pace while looking out my balcony. Windstar provided a breakfast card that I placed outside my door before going to bed, and then voila, my food was delivered at the chosen time.
Entertainment on the Star Seeker
My primary entertainment on an Alaska cruise was to watch the scenery and take part in excursions; however, Windstar also offered other options. There were informative lectures by the expedition staff and, among others, trivia games. I also took part in a few wine tasting events.
The house band trio was very good and could be found performing throughout the ship all day. Windstar also brought in special local lecturers who contributed to the cultural experience.
Final thoughts
After a week on the Star Seeker, I agree with the company motto, “180 degrees from the ordinary.” I love cruising in Alaska, and this trip was indeed special.
The intimate, quiet environment aboard a small ship mirrored the silent scenery as we cruised into the fjords. In contrast, the zodiac excursions were thrilling and fun, and added a whole new perspective to seeing Alaska.
The Windstar website has the most up-to-date offers and itineraries for all their cruises.
Please note that Windstar hosted me on this cruise, but all content and opinions are my own.
I’ve experienced many different types of ocean, river, and canal cruises. Discover all my cruising content on my Experience Cruising page.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Pin this!
