Where Canvas Meets Compass: Windstar Drops Anchor with New Themed Voyages

Windstar Cruises focuses on special interest travel with hand-picked experiences that flow seamlessly from ship to shore – including an opportunity for guests to pilot the ship.

Windstar Cruises is charting a bold new course with the launch of its themed voyages collection, a line-up of beyond-ordinary sailings designed to make passions come alive at sea. Whether it’s swapping brushstrokes with celebrated artists, taking the helm on a tall ship or flowing with daily yoga on deck, these intimate, yacht-style journeys bring immersive fun from bow to stern.

With special-interest travel on the rise, Windstar Cruises is answering the call for those craving more than a change of scenery aboard new intimate, passion-fuelled voyages. These themed sailings – launching just in time for the 2025/2026 season – give guests something irresistible to book now, for stories they’ll be telling long after the anchor drops.

“What I love about these new themed voyages is how they turn the whole ship into part of the adventure,” said Janet Bava, chief commercial officer of Windstar Cruises, “One cruise you’re learning to tie the perfect bowline or painting alongside a world-class artist, the next you’re dancing under the stars at a pirate party or deck BBQ. It’s the kind of small-ship magic only Windstar can provide.”

Sip, Sketch, and Sail

Forget fridge magnets — how about bringing home a memory painted at sea? Windstar’s Masterpieces at Sea voyages elevate travel into a living canvas of creativity, with artists sharing presentations about the inspirations behind each piece. On select sailings, an acclaimed Fountainhead artist will be on board creating a mural or large installation in real time, transforming the ship into a floating gallery, such as Samara Ash on the 14^th November Masterpieces at Sea: Brushes & Tapas voyage. A second artist also joins each voyage as an instructor, transforming the Screening Room into a hands-on art studio with intimate painting workshops, lively Paint & Sip classes and more. Adding depth to the experience, an onboard art historian will deliver a series of enrichment talks, tying the destinations’ artistic heritage to the creativity happening at sea.

Beyond the ship, Windstar enhances the journey with curated art-focused excursions – think Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona or Picasso’s legacy in Málaga – led by the guest artists on board. See all Masterpieces at Sea sailings below:

• Brushes & Tapas, 14^th November 2025.  Prices from £2,045 per person.
• Europe’s Winter Riviera, 20^th February 2026. Prices from £2,198 per person.
• Mediterranean Island Mosaic, 13^th August 2026. Prices from £2,411 per person.
• Gems of the Leeward Islands, 28^th October 2026. Prices from £2,728 per person.

An Ocean Crossing That’s Anything but Ordinary

Windstar’s Knot Your Average Crossing voyages celebrate the romance and tradition of life under sail. On these one-of-a-kind crossings – setting sail beginning November 2025 – guests can step up to the flying bridge and take the helm, learning age-old seamanship skills from the crew. Days at sea are filled with engaging enrichment programmes: bridge and deck officers lead hands-on workshops in knot tying, chart reading and star mapping, while distinguished guest speakers bring maritime history to life. On the upcoming sailing, Knot Your Average Crossing sailing from Lisbon to St Maarten, historian and journalist Joseph Novitski will deliver a series of lectures on piracy naval order and the origins of the U.S. Navy. The cruise departs 18^th November 2025 with prices from £2,184 per person.

More 2026 sailings will continue this tradition, with enrichment speakers still to be announced, offering fresh perspectives on maritime heritage. Whether you’re steering the ship, tracing ancient constellations or raising a toast to pirate lore, these crossings promise a seafaring adventure unlike any other.

Sun Salutations and Sea Breezes

Windstar’s Mind, Body, Spirit Collection itineraries take wellness beyond the spa, blending serene days at sea with transformative experiences designed for guests to nurture their whole self. Renowned yoga teacher and life coach Debbie Dixon leads daily sessions of yoga, meditation and breathwork on open decks where the horizon becomes a peaceful focal point. Guests can sip their way to vitality at the pop-up Elixir Bar, offering fresh, nutrient-rich juices, and go deeper with guidance from an additional onboard wellness coach for personalised, one-on-one attention. It’s the perfect balance of small-yacht intimacy, expert-led rejuvenation, and Windstar’s knack for pairing mindful moments with unforgettable destinations.

• Bermuda Bliss, 19^th October 2025. Prices from £1,511 per person.
• Transatlantic Lisbon to Bridgetown, 4^th November 2025. Prices from £2,256 per person.
• Naturally Costa Rica, 25^th January 2026. Prices from £2,059 per person.
• The Colourful Canary Islands, 28^th February 2026. Prices from £2,699 per person.

To plan a small ship cruise with Windstar, contact a travel advisor or book through Windstar Cruises’ UK General Sales Agent on 0800 008 6682. For more details https://www.windstarcruises.co.uk/booking-in-the-uk/.  For more information visit www.windstarcruises.co.uk