Layer after layer, Japan’s story unfolds. In Edo-period gardens with their perfectly sculpted karikomi. In Chiran’s exquisitely preserved samurai homes. In the peace memorials of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. And time after time you struggle to describe unforgettable moments, from your first view of Mount Fuji to the fluttering paper cranes of peace at Hiroshima’s Atomic Dome.

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Kyoto & the Zen of Japan Cruise Tour

Immerse yourself in Japan’s unique culture—celebrate a respect of order, harmony, and self-development as you embrace new technologies and celebrate ancient traditions. Admire Tokyo’s sparkling skyline bathed in glowing pastel neon lights. Indulge in Takamatsu’s tiny restaurants and generous portions of sizzling chicken, steaming noodle bowls, and mysterious seafood pieces shrouded in delectable fried batter. Escape to quiet, sandalwood-scented ancient Shingu temples and join a jostling crowd in an aromatic Shimizu seafood market. This voyage remains one of the most highly personalized and authentic explorations of Japan’s iconic islands at the edge of the Far East.

A graceful yacht is the perfect way to experience the true wonder of Tahiti. We’ll let the trade winds fill our sails as we visit one legendary island after another, with plenty of casual time to swim and snorkel in crystal-clear lagoons, meander through lush rainforests, and experience the fascinating Polynesian culture from tikis to tiare flowers.

Visit sun-drenched places as you sail the Greek Isles, discovering a world abounding with seaside scenery and ancient treasures. On such legendary islands as Santorini and Mykonos, views of azure sea and white-washed villages will take your breath away. On your Greek islands cruise, you may embrace the magic and mythology of ancient temples built to honor Greek gods and goddesses. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the amazing hilltop Acropolis in Athens, the haunts of St. John on the tiny island of Patmos, and the ancient Roman city of Ephesus. You may imagine you are Mark Antony, as you walk the same marble streets where the Roman general (and lover of Cleopatra) was once cheered by residents. Dine among the fascinating ruins as a complimentary treat, a Windstar-exclusive evening Destination Discovery Event planned for Ephesus.
 
Windstar’s Treasures of Greek Isles, and all other Greece itineraries, deliver you into the heart of Greek culture. As you cruise to Athens, call, too, at small secluded ports such as Monemvasia, a pedestrians-only village built into a cliffside, and Nafplio, a delightful mainland town where you can wander cobblestone streets and explore Venetian fortresses. On your Windstar small ship cruise, Greece unfolds at a leisurely pace. You’ll have time to linger in magical places, to swim from powdery sand beaches, to explore local cuisine and get to know friendly locals, shouting “ya mas” (“cheers”) as you toast with ouzo. You may even dance like Zorba the Greek at a local taverna. Your Windstar cruise is the best of Greece, the way you imagined it.

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Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Treasures Cruise Tour

Conde Nast Traveler 2019 Hot List
"As far as Alaskan expeditions go, this itinerary gives passengers more access to so many aspects of the state's culture than any competitor."  - Conde Nast Traveler

Witness the grandeur of Alaska’s premier glaciers: Mendenhall in Juneau, Kenai Fjords’ Harding Icefield, Tracy Arm’s twin Sawyer Glaciers. Discover Alaskan Native villages, Russian cathedrals, and Gold Rush history. Thrill as you watch a wild brown bear snatch a struggling salmon from a stream or a humpback whale breach off the bow. Cruise Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords on your lovely all-suite ship, waters beyond the reach of larger Alaska cruise ships.

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Alaskan Explorations & Denali Discovery Cruise Tour

Dramatic scenery and curious communities coalesce on this week-long circumnavigation of Iceland. Explore a country few people will ever visit, and go far beyond the tourist hotspots to remote fjords, raging waterfalls, and small fishing villages. Get to know the independent and creative Icelanders, and watch whales and seabirds play offshore. This Iceland cruise is yachting at its most inventive.

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Comprehensive Iceland Cruise Tour

Explore the shores of Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, discovering the charm of Venice, the magnificence of Rome, and the vast beauty of the Dalmatian Coast. Wander down the ancient cobblestone streets of Taormina, travel up the sparking fjord to Kotor and bask in the allure of small ship cruising as your small ship anchors in the heart of Old Town Dubrovnik while larger ships only pass by. From remarkable small ports such as Rovinj to timeless cities like Venice and Rome, discover the Mediterranean’s most charming and historic destinations in one incomparable voyage.

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• VATICAN & CROATIAN COASTLINES CRUISE TOUR
• LAKE COMO & ADRIATIC ROMANCE CRUISE TOUR

Greek mythology, courageous rebellions against Rome, and historic holy cities are a few of the hallmarks on this 8-day journey along the eastern Mediterranean harbors and coastlines of Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Savor sweet, almond flavors of amigdalota pastries in Mykonos, or catch a boat bound for the temples and amphitheater on Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Wander the shadowy recesses of the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete, lair of the mythic Minotaur, and peruse ancient sacred relics at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Follow Jesus’s footsteps through Gethsemane to the former garden and olive grove where he was arrested, and visit the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem. With an optional tour from Haifa, ride a cable car to the imposing heights of Masada Fortress, float in the warm, mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea and stroll among Petra’s pink, sandstone columns and caves in the glowing morning light.

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Holy Lands & Petra Cruise Tour
 

Discover the Persian Gulf, a region that transformed from pearling villages to modern powerhouses in less than 80 years. And get grandstand tickets to the final race of the F1® season with a special 2-day package. Everywhere you look you’ll find superlatives – the world’s tallest building, the world’s largest artificial islands, the world’s first Louvre outside of France, one of the world’s greatest collections of Islamic art, one of the world's largest herds of endangered Arabian oryx. Yet of all the firsts and mosts and biggests on this itinerary, there’s one you can only access on this inaugural sailing with Windstar’s President, Christopher Prelog: the final race of the F1® 2023 season at the Abu Dhabi Yas International Circuit Race.. "It's lights out and away we go!"
 
“FORMULA 1 and F1 are registered trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV. The use of these marks does not and is not intended to create any affiliation, connection or association with Formula One Licensing BV."
 

Glide past bronze desert coastlines punctuated by 500-hundred-year-old Portuguese fortifications and shimmering, contemporary city skylines. The Persian Gulf is a cultural enigma rich in contrasts, abundant in both modern and ancient destinations bound by timeless traditions. Ride camels or air-conditioned 4x4s across endless golden sand dune crests. Wander amid masterpieces by European and Asian artists in the new Louvre Abu Dhabi, a breathtaking domed architectural marvel that hovers above the sea. Savor succulent lamb and local fish throughout regional cuisine, admire contemporary coastal havens, and experience friendly and authentic Middle Eastern culture in seaside desert surroundings unmatched anywhere in our world.

Bougainvillea-covered balconies, jungles teeming with wildlife, one of the most brazen engineering feats in human history… there’s more treasure here than the Spanish ever dreamed of. Step back in time to the height of the Spanish Empire in Cartagena and Santa Marta, where you can tour museums glittering with pre-Colombian gold and jewelers display fresh-from-the-mine emeralds. Join the birds in the rainforest canopy and caimans in thick mangroves. Relive history as you transit the Panama Canal, enormous locks gaping above you and Lake Gatun spread out below. Interact with the Kunas at the San Blas Islands and celebrate the day with our Signature Beach Barbecue there. Dine alfresco beneath a colony of stars and toast the perfect antidote to winter.
 

In the land of fire and ice join Windstar Cruises’ President, Chris Prelog for a Windstar cruise around Iceland that will bring you to landscapes both otherworldly and astonishingly beautiful. Take part in special events on board, including coffee chats with the president of Windstar. Under the near 24-hour Midnight Sun, your Iceland cruise takes you far beyond the typical tourist hot spots, your yacht sailing to remote islands and fjords and tiny villages – including an overnight in Seydisfjordur, with its colorful chalet-style homes and lively arts scene. The leisurely pace affords time to converse with the President, [and the locals, sample Icelandic cuisine and craft beer, and, perhaps, hear folk tales of the Huldufolk.

Discover unforgettable destinations overlooked by larger cruise lines during this 10-day Western Mediterranean cruise that visits historic landmarks and little-known spaces in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Wander warm sandy beaches near Portimao or board a small boat bound for caves and bronze- and umber-hued rock formations at the Alfanzina Grotto. Sip fino and oloroso sherries in a quiet cellar outside of Cádiz. Barter for handmade jewelry and handpainted ceramics in a crowded souk. Browse Pablo Picasso’s sculptures and obscure works and savor a Spanish sunset and evening tapas—best paired with spicy Grenacha and dark Tempranillo wines—during an overnight stay in Málaga. Unearth the ancient influences of Hispania Antiqua as you explore the Roman Theatre and Museum prior to observing the excavations and 2,000-year-old Punic relics at the Muralla Punica archaeological site.

 

Poised as if to kiss the continent of Africa, Andalusia hugs the southern coast of Spain and embraces cultural influences from both sides of the strait. This is the birthplace of Don Juan and Carmen, evening paseos by women in lace mantillas, cape-twirling matadors. In short, it is quintessential Spain. The beaches of the Costa del Sol are legendary. And behind lie equally magnificent mountain ranges sheltering picturesque “white villages.” Here you won’t find cookie-cutter castles, but amazing cultural amalgams like the Alhambra and Alcázar. On your elegant ship, you will cruise past larger ships right to the heart of old towns and to the steps of friendly bodegas.

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Portuguese Passages & Spanish Shorelines Cruise Tour

Glide past bronze desert coastlines punctuated by 500-hundred-year-old Portuguese fortifications and shimmering, contemporary city skylines. The Persian Gulf is a cultural enigma rich in contrasts, abundant in both modern and ancient destinations bound by timeless traditions. Ride camels or air-conditioned 4x4s across endless golden sand dune crests. Wander amid masterpieces by European and Asian artists in the new Louvre Abu Dhabi, a breathtaking domed architectural marvel that hovers above the sea. Savor succulent lamb and local fish throughout regional cuisine, admire contemporary coastal havens, and experience friendly and authentic Middle Eastern culture in seaside desert surroundings unmatched anywhere in our world.

Revel in seven days of surf, sand and sunsets during this leisurely cruise up and down the Caribbean’s Windward Islands. It’s a perfect vacation getaway for anyone craving a quick escape from life’s everyday obligations. Clip into a zipline and hang on as moss-covered limbs and colorful wild birds rush by your head as you glide through St. Lucia’s rainforest canopy. Vacation time is always well spent among the Windward Islands, but nothing makes it more perfect than the personalized attention and unique excursion opportunities offered by Windstar.

Those who love watersports, snorkeling and diving will be on Cloud 9 on this cruise through the Windward and ABC islands. Swim with vibrant fish and friendly sea turtles as you visit ports in Tobago Cays Marine Park, in Bonaire National Marine Park, and in the proposed Speyside Marine Protected Area. Paddleboard right from the Watersports Platform as we visit smaller ports and less-visited bays away from the crowds. And when you’ve had your fill of ocean action (if you ever do), head to shore and explore colorful Dutch colonial harbors, sugar-white beaches and mouthwatering island cuisines.

Enjoy the world’s premier yachting playgrounds in a beautiful small ship that feels like your own private yacht. These beautiful ports string together like perfect pearls, each glowing with its own special beauty. Sparkling cities and charming villages. Secluded harbors and immaculate beaches. Discover the mystique and magic of the Rivieras that only an intimate small ship can show you.

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Vatican & Italian Riviera Cruise Tour