Windstar: Short-notice winter Med cruises doing better than expectedWindstar: Short-notice winter Med cruises doing better than expected

The line cited 'positive feedback and an influx of bookings and demand' in announcing a 2024/25 Mediterranean encore season. Initially, Windstar had postponed its Middle East debut to November 2024.

'This is genius'

'On our inaugural sailing in December, every single travel advisor and guest on board told me "this is genius" as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most walkable cities when few cruise lines sail Europe’s oceans,' Windstar Chief Commercial Officer Janet Bava said. 'Our biggest learning from this winter’s season was we were limited by the possibilities and experiences we could offer with just the one itinerary — from Rome to Barcelona and the reverse — and we have responded to that with a variety of new itineraries for our guests to enjoy the Mediterranean’s most storied destinations in the winter.'

Prompted by feedback including the desire for more overnight stays, Windstar will now offer five Mediterranean itineraries in in the 2024/25 season, plus three special holiday and event sailings. The expansion also allows travelers to combine back-to-back itineraries with different destinations on each.

New itinerary highlights

'Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast' will be offered on five dates. This eight-day itinerary sails from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Venice, with stops at Naples, Taormina (Sicily), Dubrovnik (overnight). Zadar (Croatia) and ends with a Venice overnight. The route and timing, particularly the beginning of January, will take advantage of Italy’s strict rules surrounding retail sales (with just winter and summer sales allowed and items up to 70% off).

The seven-day 'Europe Winter Riviera' will have eight departures. From Civitavecchia, passengers will sail to Livorno (Italy) for an overnight stay, followed by a day in Genoa and then Nice, France before ending with a Barcelona overnight.

A single departure of 'Winter in Italy and the Adriatic,' an eight-day cruise, will be offered. Leaving from Piraeus, Star Legend will sail through the tiny Corinth Canal to Itea (Delphi) before overnighting in Corfu. Then it’s off to Crotone (Italy) followed by an overnight in Taormina (Sicily) before a day in Naples, with the journey ending at Civitavecchia.

'Southern Spain Winter Escapes' is a 9-day round-trip from Barcelona offered on dates. Starting with an overnight in Barcelona, passengers will sail to Valencia, Cartagena, Málaga (overnight), Gibraltar and Palma, Mallorca. Passengers can hop on the high speed train to/from Madrid for pre- or post-cruise stays there.

'Winter in Croatia & Greece' departs March 26, 2025 for an eight-day sailing from Venice (overnight) to Piraeus. Port calls include Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Delphi, Greece and a Corinth Canal transit.

Holiday sailings

A Christmas holiday cruise will sail from Civitavecchia to Barcelona, Dec. 23-30, 2024. It includes an overnight in Livorno for the opportunity to attend Christmas Eve mass at the Duomo followed by stops in Genoa and Nice before ending in Barcelona (overnight).

A New Year’s cruise sails round-trip Barcelona, Dec. 30, 2024 to Jan. 8, 2025. New Year’s Eve will be celebrated with an overnight call at Palma, one of Europe’s party meccas. Then it’s on to Cartagena, Málaga (overnight), followed by stops in Gibraltar and Valencia.

ILTM in Cannes return

Additionally, in December 2024, Star Legend will return for its second special appearance at the International Luxury Travel Market Cannes travel expo where it was shown off in 2023. The ship will sail from Civitavecchia to Barcelona, Nov. 30 - Dec. 7, with calls at Livorno, Genoa, Cannes (overnight) and Barcelona (overnight). Ship visits will be available in Cannes for conference attendees.