Windstar Cruises has chosen London for the christening of its second all-suite yacht, which is due to join the fleet at the end of next year.
The ceremony for Star Explorer will take place at Tower Bridge on 31 May 2027, the first time a cruise ship has been christened there since 2003.
After the ceremony, Star Explorer will pass under Tower Bridge and set sail on a circumnavigation of Ireland.
Star Explorer is the second of two new identical 224-passenger all-suite yachts being added to the fleet.
The first, Star Seeker, will debut in December.
Star Explorer will sail year-round in Europe, starting in December 2026. The ship’s first full season of Europe cruises, which runs to March 2028, is now open for booking.
The ship has been designed to sail into smaller ports, such as Rouen, Caen, Bordeaux and London and itineraries include overnights and longer stays in port.
Star Explorer will also operate Windstar’s first call to Puerto Banús in Spain, and mark the line’s return to San Sebastián and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
On board are 112 suites, including two Horizon Owner’s Suites, with expansive wraparound balconies. Many suites have full verandas or infinity windows.
Star Explorer’s 2027 season includes an eight-night ‘Seven Gems of the Baltic’, visiting Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Estonia, including two nights in Stockholm. Other options include a 10-night ‘Circumnavigating Ireland’ cruise as well as voyages taking in the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltics, the British Isles, France and Northern Spain.
Windstar President Christopher Prelog said: “Windstar has a long history of exploring in the Mediterranean and Europe, and the small size of this ship opens even more interesting places –including rivers.”
Picture credit: Windstar Cruises
