Wind Star Marks 40 Years After Cadiz Refurbishment

Windstar Cruises has celebrated the 40th anniversary of Wind Star, its first ship, during a drydock at Navantia’s shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. The 148-passenger vessel completed its two-phase Setting Sails refurbishment in April 2026, receiving updated staterooms and public spaces along with new onboard venues.

Introduced in 1986, the 5,703-gross-ton ship was the world’s largest sailing cruise vessel at the time. Its construction at Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre cost approximately $35 million, and two sister ships followed.

The anniversary celebration included a birthday cake and a photo session with the ship’s officers and crew. Windstar did not provide an executive comment.

The four-masted vessel’s original design was developed in partnership with Wartsila Shipyards, incorporating computer-controlled sails and rigging. Development work included trials with a 21-foot model carrying people aboard, as well as aerodynamic testing in a wind tunnel normally used for missiles and rockets.

Wind Star departed its construction yard in Le Havre on September 21, 1986. Windstar puts the crowd watching from shore at 25,000 people. A promotional tour of North America followed before the ship began carrying guests on its first Caribbean season.

That season opened on December 14 with a maiden voyage from Antigua to St. Croix. The inaugural deployment included destinations across the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

For its first summer following the refurbishment, Wind Star operated Mediterranean itineraries calling at destinations in Spain, Greece and Turkey, among other countries.

Wind Star is scheduled to return to the Caribbean in November. Its winter program includes voyages to the Panama Canal and Central America.

See current Wind Star fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.