Windstar Cruises has launched bookings for 2028 Alaska sailings following the successful inaugural season of its new Star Seeker ship. The 224-guest vessel will offer 27 departures across six itineraries from May through the season. This represents the cruise line's first newbuild in over three decades.
📰 Reported — from industry news sources
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
What Happened
Windstar Cruises is now taking reservations for 2028 Alaska itineraries aboard the Star Seeker, a brand-new 224-passenger ship that's the cruise line's first newbuild since the '90s. The company plans to deploy it on 27 departures across six different Alaska routes over the 2028 season, running from May onward. This comes on the heels of the Star Seeker's first year of operation, which apparently didn't sink the ship or the company's finances.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
What This Actually Means For Your Wallet
The pricing question nobody's asking yet
Here's what Windstar isn't telling you in the press release: we don't know what these 2028 sailings cost yet. And that matters because small-ship cruising to Alaska isn't cheap—it never has been. Windstar caters to the upper-middle cruise market, and a seven-day Alaska sailing on a 224-passenger vessel typically runs $3,500 to $6,000+ per person, depending on cabin grade and travel dates. Peak July sailings (which are already booked solid on competitor lines like Alaskan Dream and UnCruise) will command premiums.
Here's where your actual money gets exposed. When you book for 2028 right now, you're locking in a price that Windstar could theoretically hold—or they could hit you with a "price adjustment" clause if fuel spikes or demand justifies it. Most cruise lines include fine-print language allowing surcharges if operational costs rise. Windstar's standard contract typically permits adjustments up to 10% within 60 days of departure, sometimes more. You'll want to read section 4 of their terms and conditions specifically for "price protection" language before committing.
Alaska cruises also mean specialty add-ons: shore excursions in places like Glacier Bay or Juneau run $300 to $600 per person, per port. With six ports on most itineraries, you're potentially looking at $1,800 to $3,600 in excursion costs on top of your fare. That's not Windstar's fault, but it's real money that most travelers don't budget for until they're three months out and panicking.
Gratuities and the hidden deck chairs
Windstar doesn't include gratuities in its base fares (they're not on the "lines with gratuities included" list). Industry standard is $18 to $20 per person per day. On a seven-day cruise, that's $126 to $140 per person just for tips—and on a small ship with higher crew-to-guest ratios, some travelers feel pressure to tip higher. Budget an extra $200 to $300 per person for gratuities alone.
WiFi is also not bundled into Windstar fares. Internet packages run roughly $25 to $35 per day, or around $150 to $245 for a full week. If you're the type who checks email or shares photos during vacation, that's money you need to account for.
Travel insurance and the 2028 booking wild card
If you're booking now for a May-September 2028 departure, you're buying into a cruise that's four to five years away. That's a long runway for life to throw curveballs. Standard trip-cancellation insurance covers named perils: illness, injury, death in the family, job loss, weather delays that cause you to miss departure. It typically doesn't cover changing your mind, getting cold feet, or deciding you'd rather spend that $5,000 on a kitchen remodel.
Cancel-for-Any-Reason (CFAR) coverage is the fallback, but it's expensive—usually 40% to 60% of your total trip cost—and most policies cap reimbursement at 75% to 80% of what you paid. On a $5,000 cruise, a CFAR add-on might cost you $2,000 to $3,000. For a 2028 booking, I'd argue it's worth considering, but wait until you actually have a confirmed sailing date and price before locking in insurance. Policies purchased more than a few weeks before departure often have waiting periods or exclusions.
What you should do today
Pull up the Star Seeker itineraries on Windstar's website and read the full cancellation policy (not the summary—the full contract). Look specifically for language about "modifications," "price adjustments," and "force majeure." If you're serious about booking for 2028, ask Windstar's sales team in writing whether they're offering any early-booking discounts or future-sailing credits that might sweeten the deal. Most lines are throwing in onboard credit or cabin upgrades right now to move inventory for premium dates. Don't be the person who books at full retail and finds out three weeks later that early bookers got $500 off. And before you pay a deposit, confirm what that deposit actually secures—your cabin, your price, your itinerary, or just a placeholder reservation.
Photo: Travel Mutiny
The Bigger Picture
Windstar's Alaska push tells you that small-ship cruising is still profitable for premium operators, even with labor costs and fuel volatility eating into margins. The fact that they're opening 2028 bookings after one successful Star Seeker season suggests they've got confidence in demand—but it's also a signal that they need to lock in future revenue because the Alaska cruise market is tightening. More lines are chasing Alaska trips, more passengers are getting savvier about booking early, and the supply of decent small-ship berths is limited. This is good news if you already love Windstar. It's a yellow flag if you're comparing options—because once the 2028 premium dates fill, your choices shrink fast.
What To Watch Next
- Star Seeker performance data in 2026-2027: Watch for reviews, incident reports, and any operational hiccups. A new ship always has growing pains. Alaska's remote and demanding—breakdowns are expensive.
- Competitor 2028 inventory drops: UnCruise, Alaskan Dream, and even Carnival's new small-ship line are also prepping 2028 Alaska capacity. If they announce bookings soon at lower price points, Windstar may face margin pressure or have to discount.
- Early-booking incentive announcements: Watch Windstar's email and website for flash sales or loyalty discounts specific to 2028. They usually roll these out in Q4 or January, timed to New Year planning.
📊 Have a cruise booked that might be affected by news like this? CruiseMutiny can run a full all-in cost breakdown for your specific sailing — and flag any disruptions tied to your dates or ship.
Last updated: May 14, 2026. This is a developing story — check back for updates.