The small-ship boutique line will welcome 224-passenger Star Seeker to the fleet in December 2025 before sister ship – Star Explorer – joins the fleet next year.
Augustus Lonsdale, the line’s head of UK and Ireland sales, said: “We’re having conversations now about how UK and Irish agents can join shakedown cruises before Star Seeker officially launches in Miami on 15 January.
“The shakedowns will be a chance for agents to experience the lifestyle and the brand positioning. We want to reward our key partners.”
Windstar’s last new-build ship launched in 1987, said Lonsdale, who added Star Seeker was “coming along fantastically well” in the shipyard.
Sitting alongside Helen Beck, who joined Windstar as managing director – global commercial on 1 May, Lonsdale confirmed there would be “a mix of opportunities” for agents to secure their place on one of the shakedowns.
Windstar hired Beck from Explora Journeys where she held the role of head of global sales excellence since 2021.
’Windstar wants to elevate UK market’
In recent years, the brand has repeatedly outlined plans to grow bookings sourced from international markets including the UK.
“It was time to come home,” Beck said, when asked why she decided to join Windstar. “The timing could not have been better. Learning about the plans that the company has added some spice to the interest.
“Windstar wants to elevate key markets and I want to help them go after these markets.”
Beck added “The company knows how important international markets are but as yet has not got behind them fully yet.
“Because we only had one person here, there’s been quite a fragmented approach.”
She expects the UK and Ireland to become one of Windstar’s top two international source markets alongside Australia soon.
Beck also hinted at expanding the UK-based team in the coming months. “There’s an expectation that it will not just stay me and Gus,” she said.
“It’s likely that there will be a hub in the UK. It could be an office space but we’re mulling that over.”
Beck stressed that her appointment had “nothing to do” with the uncertainty among US consumers reported by cruise giants – Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
“That was a relatively recent development,” she said. “Discussions with Windstar started before.”
Meanwhile, for the first time, the line will operate a series of short "taster" cruises departing from London next year.
In spring 2026, Star Pride will sail a three-night Belgium: a Sweet Getaway cruise and two departures of a four-night St Malo Getaway sailing.
Lonsdale said: “Bookings have been predominantly sourced from the UK, but there are definitely spaces still available.
“Three or four nights is perfectly targeted at the city break market which tends to be sold closer in.”
RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Lonsdale suggested, could be packaged up by the line with one of the “taster” cruises.
