From Europe to Asia, Windstar’s small ships are unlocking a new category of travel, seamlessly connecting river and ocean voyages and giving advisors a powerful way to grow their river cruise business

Travel advisors with river cruise clients know the challenge: What comes next after guests have sailed the world’s great rivers, like the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Mekong? Windstar Cruises is answering that question with a new category of travel: river-to-ocean cruising that connects both experiences in a single journey. No changing ships. No interruptions. Just a seamless way to move beyond the river and into a much broader world of exploration. Designed to help advisors retain and grow their most valuable clients, these sailings also create new opportunities for group bookings and specialty travel, including wine-focused sailings.

Driving this new category forward is Windstar’s newest all-suite yacht, Star Explorer, which launches in December 2026. Purpose-built for river-to-ocean travel, the 224-guest yacht is designed to navigate waterways that are too small for larger ocean ships and reach coastal destinations that traditional river vessels can’t access. That capability speaks directly to discerning travellers who are seeking deeper cultural connection, looking to get away from crowded, over-visited destinations and eager to experience places that feel more authentic and less travelled. It also gives advisors an exciting new product to offer clients who are ready to go further, without sacrificing the style of travel they already love.

“River cruisers are among the most loyal and engaged travelers, but many have already explored the world’s most iconic waterways,” says Janet Bava, chief commercial officer at Windstar Cruises. “With Windstar, advisors now have a seamless way to retain those clients by offering something new: yachts that move from rivers to the open sea, unlocking destinations that traditional river ships and large ocean vessels simply can’t reach. It’s a natural next step for clients and a growth opportunity for advisors.”

Why Windstar’s River-to-Ocean Cruising Matters for Travel Advisors

Windstar’s pioneering new river-to-ocean cruising model gives travel advisors a powerful way to expand their river cruise business while retaining their most loyal clients. Instead of losing guests who have already sailed Europe’s major rivers, advisors can build on the same intimate, destination-focused experience while opening the door to new regions and itineraries.

The opportunity grows with Windstar’s flexible group program. Advisors can easily create group sailings with as few as 10 guests, unlocking valuable benefits including complimentary staterooms, shipboard credit and additional commission opportunities. With Star Advantage Groups, advisors can access enhanced perks such as a 1:7 tour conductor credit, bonus commission and onboard amenities, making it especially attractive for group organizers.

Wine-focused travel presents another compelling opportunity. With itineraries that explore regions like Bordeaux, Portugal and beyond, Windstar is a natural fit for advisors working with wine groups or clients interested in culinary travel. Advisors can take advantage of existing culinary sailings or create their own customized group departures tailored to wine enthusiasts.

Group rates vary by sailing, typically offering 5% to 10% savings depending on availability, giving advisors flexibility in how they package and position these experiences for their clients.

Where Star Explorer Sails

Star Explorer’s 2027 voyages give advisors a clear way to position river-to-ocean cruising to their clients, pairing river access with broader coastal exploration.

•    Impressionist France (10 nights on Star Explorer) – Ideal for Seine veterans ready to go further, this trip from Bordeaux to London / HMS Belfast pairs the Seine and the Thames with overnights in Bordeaux, St. Malo and Paris/Rouen, plus access to the D-Day beaches.
•    Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal (8 nights on Star Explorer) – Perfect for travelers who have sailed the Rhône and are ready to expand their wine-focused journeys, this voyage extends from France into Spain and Portugal, pairing Bordeaux’s Garonne and Gironde rivers with culinary discoveries along the Spanish coast and time in Portugal’s Douro region.
•    Moroccan Markets & Iberian Icons (8 nights on Star Explorer) – Danube cruisers seeking deeper cultural exploration will find a natural next step with this journey into Seville via the Guadalquivir, continuing on to a broader mix of Iberian and Moroccan destinations.
•    Ireland Circumnavigation (10 nights on Star Explorer) – For travellers who have sailed past the castles of the Rhine and are ready for a wilder, more dramatic landscape, this sailing includes a call at Cork City Quay on the River Lee, then continues along Ireland’s rugged coastline of cliffs and castles.

Additional Sailings for River Cruise Clients

Beyond Star Explorer, Windstar offers a range of itineraries that build on the same river-meets-ocean approach and allow advisors to extend the river cruise mindset into new regions and formats, including shorter getaways, culinary sailings and long-haul journeys.

•    French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine (7 nights on Star Legend) – A natural extension for Seine cruisers, this culinary-focused itinerary blends Bordeaux and Rouen/Paris with nearby coastal regions.
•    British Isles Medley (10 nights on Star Legend) – Offering a perspective beyond traditional river routes like the Rhône and Danube, this sailing from Paris/Rouen to Leith includes small-ship-only ports like Swansea and Fort William.
•    Tulip Season in Holland & Belgium (7 nights on Star Pride) – An easy transition for Rhine cruisers drawn to canal-laced cities and seasonal landscapes, this itinerary includes an overnight in Antwerp, an exclusive port that welcomes just one ship per day.
•    Quick Getaways: St. Malo Getaway (4 nights on Star Pride) – A natural add-on for Thames and Seine cruisers, this roundtrip from London / HMS Belfast includes visits to St. Malo and Brittany.
•    Quick Getaways: Belgium: A Sweet Getaway (3 nights on Star Pride) – River cruisers seeking a shorter escape will love this compact trip that combines London and Antwerp via the Scheldt, offering Belgian charm, historic streets and culinary pleasures.
•    Quebec and Newfoundland Adventure (14 nights on Star Pride) – Sailing roundtrip from Montreal, this itinerary follows the St. Lawrence River and extends into Canada’s dramatic eastern coastline, appealing to travelers who have sailed Europe’s great rivers and want something new.
•    Ancient Wonders of Vietnam & Angkor Wat (14 nights on Star Seeker) – Ideal for Mekong cruisers interested in a new Southeast Asia option, this journey sails through Halong Bay and along the Saigon River into Ho Chi Minh City, then continues to Bangkok via the Chao Phraya River, with inland stops like Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh.

Defining What’s Next for River Cruise Clients

For travel advisors, Windstar’s river-to-ocean cruising represents a new way to retain valuable clients while expanding into higher-value bookings. By building on the familiarity of river cruising and extending it into new destinations, advisors can offer a natural progression that keeps clients engaged, traveling and booking again.

As the leader in small-ship cruising, Windstar is defining this emerging category, and giving advisors a differentiated product that combines intimacy, access and exploration.