Windstar: Success in Winter Mediterranean Cruises
After the success of the first winter cruise season in the Mediterranean, Windstar Cruises has announced its intention to sail for another winter season aboard the Star Legend in the region, enhancing its Mediterranean deployment with new itineraries and opportunities for longer journeys in 2024/2025.
“During the inaugural voyage in December, every single travel advisor and guest on board told me they were very satisfied with the novelty, as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most fascinating cities visited by few cruise lines in this season,” explains Janet Bava, Windstar‘s Chief Commercial Officer. “What we learned the most from the winter season was the limit of experiences we could offer with just one itinerary, from Rome to Barcelona and vice versa, and we responded to this with a variety of new itineraries for our guests to have the opportunity to enjoy the historic destinations of the Mediterranean in winter.”
Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend debuts in Portugal
Driven by positive feedback from inaugural departures, as well as the guests’ desire for longer cruises, Windstar will now offer five itineraries in the Mediterranean for the 2025 season, along with three special departures. The expansion also allows guests to combine consecutive itineraries for better exploration without ever unpacking.
Now, let’s take a look at the cruises scheduled for 2024/2025:
The Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast itinerary will be available on five dates in 2024/25. The 8-day itinerary from Rome to Venice includes stops in Naples, Taormina (Sicily), an overnight in Dubrovnik (Croatia), a full day in Zadar (Croatia), and ends with an overnight in Venice.
The Europe Winter Riviera itinerary will be available on eight dates. The 7-day cruise will take guests from Rome to Livorno (Italy) for an overnight, followed by a day in Genoa and then Nice, France, before ending with an overnight in Barcelona.
Monaco
Barcelona
The Winter in Italy and the Adriatic, an 8-day cruise, will take place on a single date. Departing from Athens, the yacht will sail through the 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, ending the journey in Rome.
Southern Spain Winter Escapes will be available for 4 dates and will be a 9-day journey departing from Barcelona with an overnight in the same, allowing for in-depth exploration of the city center before sailing to Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga (for an overnight), Gibraltar (U.K.), Palma, and then returning to Barcelona. Guests can also expand their exploration inland pre- or post-cruise by boarding the high-speed train to/from Madrid.
Winter in Croatia & Greece, finally, departs on March 26, 2025, for an 8-day sailing from Venice to Athens. An overnight in Venice allows guests to explore the historic city conveniently. Port calls include Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Delphi, Greece, and a transit of the scenic, narrow Corinth Canal.
Eze
Nice
Roma
Special holiday and event departures will be:
A Christmas holiday cruise will sail from Rome to Barcelona, from December 23 to 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 with an overnight stay. During this cruise, festive decorations, traditional dishes, and activities will bring the holiday spirit on board the ship.
A New Year’s cruise will sail roundtrip from Barcelona, from December 30, 2024, to January 8, 2025. New Year’s Eve itself is an overnight in Palma, Mallorca – one of Europe’s ultimate party meccas for an epic celebration. Then it’s onto Cartagena, an overnight in Malaga, followed by stops in Gibraltar (U.K.), Valencia, and returning to Barcelona.
Additionally, Star Legend will return for a special appearance at the International Luxury Travel Market Cannes travel expo, which takes place in December 2024. The ship will sail from Rome to Barcelona, from November 30 to December 7, 2024. It includes stops in Livorno, Genoa, Cannes (overnight), and Barcelona (also an overnight). Ship visits will be available in Cannes for conference attendees.
In summary, a new year full of cruises and unmissable events with Windstar Cruises.
Stay tuned for further news, updates, and reviews of Windstar Cruises on Cruising Journal with photos, videos, and discounted cruises.
