Miami – September 17, 2026 -- Windstar Cruises will open three European landmarks to guests after hours in 2027, including a rare evening inside the Tower of London, as part of a free onboard perk called Destination Discovery Events.
Only Three Sailings Get Tower of London Access
The Tower of London event is limited to three 2027 departures: Star Pride's April 29 Tulip Season voyage through Holland and Belgium (event on May 6), Star Pride's May 13 Timeless Maritime Powerhouses of Northern Europe cruise (event on May 17), and Star Explorer's 10-night Christening Voyage circumnavigating Ireland, departing May 23 (event on May 31). Guests will view the Crown Jewels privately, access the White Tower and Battlements, hear stories from Yeoman Warders, and attend a reception in the New Armouries Courtyard.
Livorno and Dubrovnik Join the Lineup
In Livorno, Italy, guests enter the 16th-century Fortezza Vecchia for cocktails, Tuscan canapés and live music, featured on the Europe's Winter Riviera itinerary. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, the evening starts with sparkling wine and klapa singers in a 15th-century Dominican cloister before moving to the Marin Držić Theatre for Croatian music and dance, offered on the Iconic & Hidden Croatia and Off the Beaten Path Adriatic routes.
Program Expands to Seven Destinations Across the Fleet
These three new evenings bring Windstar's Destination Discovery Events to seven destinations, all eight of the line's yachts, and 165 sailings in 2027 — more than double the program's prior fleet coverage, according to the company.
Star Explorer Debuts December 28, 2026
The new experiences launch alongside Star Explorer, Windstar's 224-guest, 112-suite all-suite yacht making her maiden voyage round-trip from Barcelona on December 28, 2026. The ship's size allows docking in the Venice lagoon and sailing up the Thames beneath Tower Bridge into central London. Onboard additions include the Basil + Bamboo restaurant, a spa and fitness facility, and an updated Marina water-access platform.
Winter Itineraries Add Overnight Stays
Star Explorer's early 2027 Mediterranean voyages, part of what Windstar calls its Local Season, include double overnights in Venice and Barcelona, timed to Venice's Carnevale and Epiphany celebrations, plus access to the Royal Palace of Caserta from Naples. Windstar chief operating officer Stijn Creupelandt said the events are designed to make guests feel a destination belongs to them for the evening, calling it part of the brand's "180° from Ordinary" approach.