Windstar expands in the South pacific with shorter itineraries
Windstar is significantly expanding its itineraries for the line in the South Pacific: the only region other than the Mediterranean where Windstar sails year-round.
Beginning in 2026, Windstar will offer new experiences visiting Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands, in addition to existing sailings in Tahiti and the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, and the Marquesas. New shorter itinerary options like the seven-night Tuamotus cruise and 11-night Marquesas cruise open these remote destinations to more travellers.
Additional air and hotel packages with overwater bungalows in Bora Bora will allow guests to extend their stay in these iconic islands.
Early booking offer
To celebrate the news, Windstar is concurrently launching an early booking offer. Those who book a 2026 South Pacific cruise will enjoy a complimentary All-Inclusive experience (worth $89/day per guest)— featuring Wi-Fi; unlimited wine, beer and cocktails; and all gratuities — plus a $100 onboard credit per stateroom.
“Tahiti is one of my favourite destinations on the planet, and I was thrilled to expand Windstar’s itineraries in the region to the remote Marquesas Islands this year,” says Windstar president Christopher Prelog. “These new additions are a natural progression for us, as these faraway South Pacific islands exemplify the heart of Polynesian culture. But they are extremely difficult to access, especially if you’re piecing together your own trip. On Windstar, you’re able to sail there easily on an all-suite ship that has no more than 312 passengers. We can go to places like Tonga and Taveuni without overwhelming the destination from a tourism, ecological, and cultural perspective, due to our small size and the great relationships we’ve built while sailing in the region over decades.”
Onboard experience
Windstar brings the culture of French Polynesia aboard with an onboard cultural ambassador for all sailings. A local Polynesian, this crew member invites guests to embrace all things Polynesian throughout the cruise with special sessions on dance, music, language, culture and art.
All itineraries include a complimentary Bora Bora Destination Discovery Event, which is a private evening feast on a motu (small island) with local performances from music to fire dancing. Another special event on the pool deck is an Arearea – an evening of Tahitian celebrations – with local musicians, dancers, and hands-on activities like learning how to tie on a pareo and making flower leis.
Guests can swim from the ship’s Watersports Platform and enjoy the use of complimentary water sports equipment to go kayaking and paddle boarding; snorkeling gear is provided comp to guests to keep for the duration of the cruise. Shore excursions are under development for new ports.
Two new ships
The line recently announced it will expand its fleet with two new all-suite ships, which will allow Windstar to bring back one of its beloved Wind Class ships, Wind Star, to Tahiti, where it will join Star Breeze in 2027, adding more capacity to meet the growing demand for South Pacific sailings.
For a full list of voyages, visit https://www.windstarcruises.
