WIND STAR
August 22, 2026 | Piraeus, Greece
The four-masted Wind Star (Windstar Cruises) brought a distinctly different profile to Piraeus on August 22, 2026. Carrying just 148 passengers, the small sailing yacht was preparing to depart that afternoon on a seven-night voyage through the Greek Isles and Turkey, beginning with Mykonos.
Entering service in 1986, Wind Star is a four-masted sailing yacht operated by Windstar Cruises. Much smaller than a conventional cruise ship, she carries just 148 guests and combines computer-controlled sails with diesel-electric propulsion, creating a distinctive blend of traditional sailing and modern small-ship cruising.
Information List
Name: Wind Star
Operator: Windstar Cruises
Year Entered Service: 1986
Type: Sailing Cruise Yacht
Class: Wind Class
Length: 360 feet (110 meters) at the waterline; 440 feet (134 meters) including bowsprit
Beam: 52.1 feet (15.8 meters)
Tonnage: 5,736 GRT
Passenger Capacity: 148
Staterooms: 74, including one Owner’s Suite
Crew: 105
Guest Decks: 4
Masts: 4
Sails: 6
Sail Area: Approximately 21,500 square feet
Speed: 10 knots under engine power; up to 15.8 knots with favorable winds
Country of Registry: Bahamas
History and Features
Construction and Entry Into Service:
Wind Star entered service in 1986 as the first ship in what became Windstar Cruises’ sailing fleet.
Her design combines the appearance and experience of a traditional sailing vessel with modern cruise accommodations and propulsion.
Four masts carry six triangular, self-furling sails controlled by a computerized system.
Diesel-electric propulsion allows the ship to maintain her schedule when sailing conditions are unsuitable.
Design and Features:
With only 148 guests, Wind Star provides a much smaller-scale cruise experience than conventional passenger ships.
Her compact dimensions allow her to visit smaller ports and anchorages that cannot accommodate many larger cruise ships.
A watersports platform at the stern can provide direct access to the sea when conditions and local regulations permit.
Public spaces include the Wind Star Lounge, Veranda restaurant, Amphora restaurant, pool deck, spa, and an open bridge.
The ship underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2023 that updated accommodations and public spaces while retaining her sailing-yacht character.
Service:
Wind Star has spent much of her career sailing destination-focused itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Central America.
Greece and the Aegean have become particularly familiar cruising grounds for the ship.
Her small size allows itineraries to combine major destinations with smaller ports and islands.
During summer 2026, Wind Star operated a series of cruises from Piraeus through Greece and Turkey.
As of September 2026, she remains in active service with Windstar Cruises.
August 22, 2026 Sailing:
Wind Star departed Piraeus on August 22 for a seven-night Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise.
The first port was Mykonos, followed by Kusadasi in Turkey.
The voyage continued to Patmos, Santorini, Monemvasia, and Nafplion.
Wind Star returned to Piraeus on August 29.
The itinerary combined Greek island destinations, historic ports, and a visit to Turkey before completing the roundtrip voyage.
Wind Class:
Windstar’s sailing fleet includes Wind Star, Wind Spirit, and the larger Wind Surf.
Wind Star and Wind Spirit each accommodate 148 guests.
Unlike Windstar’s motor yachts, these ships can operate under sail when conditions permit.
Their combination of sails, small passenger capacity, and yacht-like dimensions has remained a defining part of the Windstar brand.
Legacy:
Wind Star has been part of the Windstar fleet for four decades and helped establish the company’s approach to small-ship sailing cruises.
Her computer-controlled sailing system combines traditional sailing imagery with modern passenger-ship technology.
Her modest size and low passenger capacity distinguish her from the much larger cruise ships that have come to dominate the industry.
Despite the expansion and modernization of the Windstar fleet, the four-masted Wind Star remains closely associated with the company’s original sailing-yacht concept.
