Windstar Opens 2028 French Polynesia Cruises for Year-Round Sailing

Windstar Cruises has opened reservations for its 2028 French Polynesia season, laying out a year-round South Pacific program built around two small ships: the Star Breeze motor yacht and the Wind Star sailing yacht.

The 2028 lineup spans Tahiti, the Tuamotu Islands, the Marquesas, the Cook Islands and Fiji, with Windstar selling 14 itineraries across 109 scheduled departures. The company is also promoting Cruise + Air + Hotel packages and onboard-and-ashore programming aimed at cultural immersion.

Two yachts, year-round sailing, and a bigger South Pacific footprint

Windstar positioned the 2028 schedule as an expansion of its South Pacific offering, following the planned addition of Wind Star to the region in 2027. In 2028, both Star Breeze and Wind Star are slated to operate year-round in French Polynesia and the surrounding island groups.

The line said the two yachts will play different roles in the deployment. Star Breeze is slated to operate itineraries that “often” run longer, while Wind Star will regularly sail the company’s seven-night Dreams of Tahiti itinerary, which continues into the 2028 season now on sale.

Itinerary lineup: French Polynesia core routes and longer combinations

Windstar said its 2028 season will include voyages focused on core French Polynesia routing as well as longer journeys that extend beyond Tahiti and the Tuamotus. The line also emphasized that many sailings can be combined, allowing guests to build longer stays in the region by linking itineraries back-to-back.

• Dreams of Tahiti: A seven-night itinerary that Windstar said will regularly sail aboard Wind Star.
• Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands: A routing focused on Tahiti and the Tuamotus within Windstar’s French Polynesia program.
• Far Flung French Polynesia & Marquesas Magic: One of the sailings that extends beyond core Tahiti-area routing into the Marquesas.
• Tahitian Treasures & Magnificent Marquesas: An itinerary that pairs Tahiti-focused cruising with calls in the Marquesas.
• Mōri Storytellers & French Polynesian Treasures: A voyage marketed around cultural storytelling alongside French Polynesia port calls.
• Flowers of the South Pacific: Fiji, the Cook Islands & French Polynesia: A longer itinerary that adds Fiji and the Cook Islands to French Polynesia sailing.

Air and hotel packages, including optional overwater bungalow stays

To support access to the South Pacific, Windstar is offering Cruise + Air + Hotel packages departing from Los Angeles. The company also highlighted optional pre- or post-cruise additions, including overwater bungalow stays in Moorea and Bora Bora.

Cultural programming in Bora Bora and select sailings

Windstar tied part of its 2028 sales pitch to destination-focused programming. On select sailings, the line said guests may hear from Tihoti, described as a tattoo master, historian and musician, in presentations focused on the meaning and traditions behind Polynesian tattooing.

In Bora Bora, Windstar also pointed to its Destination Discovery Event called Fire & Story, which it described as an evening centered on authentic Polynesian cuisine, traditional music and fire-dance performances.

What’s included onboard, and the culinary approach Windstar is emphasizing

Windstar said its small-ship experience includes all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, specialty coffees and a Champagne welcome. The line also highlighted destination-inspired cuisine and sustainable culinary practices, including dishes created by James Beard-affiliated chefs and menus built around the places visited.

Early booking promotions: deadline and an extra 5% discount option

Windstar is attaching an Early Booking Offer to the 2028 season, with the promotion running through May 31, 2026. The company said early reservations are intended to help guests secure preferred pricing and stateroom choice, and it advised that fares are expected to rise as sailings sell out.

In addition to the early-booking promotion, Windstar is also advertising an extra five percent discount through its Pay Now, Save More initiative for guests who pay in full at the time of reservation.

Wind Star’s refurbishment: what changed, and where the ship sails next

Windstar’s 2028 plans are closely tied to Wind Star, which has been undergoing the company’s Setting Sails refurbishment program ahead of its move to the South Pacific. Windstar said Wind Star has completed the second and final stage of the project, making it the first Wind Class ship to finish both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

The 148-guest vessel also recently marked its 40th anniversary. “This transformation is about honoring where we started while sailing confidently into what’s next,” said Stijn Creupelandt, chief operating officer of Windstar Cruises. “With these significant updates, we’ve honored what guests love most while elevating every aspect of the experience.”

Windstar said the work included redesigns across dining venues and staterooms. Amphora, the ship’s signature restaurant, was fully updated with new finishes and ceiling treatments, along with new flooring, wall finishes, custom banquette seating and refreshed furnishings. Veranda received a refreshed interior and a revised buffet layout. In staterooms, the line added new upholstered headboards, integrated lighting and bedside charging.

Following the refurbishment, Wind Star’s first post-upgrade sailing was a 10-night voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona running April 7 to 17, with additional departures from Barcelona scheduled through May and June. From June through October, the ship is scheduled to operate seven-night, roundtrip Greek Isles sailings from Athens (Piraeus). Windstar has said the yacht will move to French Polynesia in 2027 to join Star Breeze for year-round operations leading into the two-yacht 2028 program.

Windstar’s Setting Sails timeline also continues across the Wind Class fleet, with Wind Surf scheduled to complete Phase 2 in December 2026, followed by Wind Spirit in March 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Windstar’s Early Booking Offer for French Polynesia cruises?

Windstar said its Early Booking Offer for the 2028 French Polynesia season runs through May 31, 2026, and is intended to help guests secure preferred pricing and stateroom choice. The company is also advertising an extra five percent discount through its Pay Now, Save More promotion for guests who pay in full at the time of reservation.

Which ships will operate Windstar’s 2028 French Polynesia program?

Windstar said the 2028 program will be operated year-round by two yachts: Star Breeze (a motor yacht) and Wind Star (a sailing yacht). Windstar has also said Wind Star is slated to join Star Breeze in the region in 2027 ahead of the 2028 season now on sale.

What cultural experiences are offered on Windstar’s Polynesian cruises?

Windstar said that on select sailings, guests may hear from Tihoti, a tattoo master, historian and musician, in sessions focused on Polynesian tattoo traditions. The line also offers a Bora Bora Destination Discovery Event called Fire & Story, which it described as featuring Polynesian cuisine, traditional music and fire-dance performances.

What upgrades were made to Wind Star during its refurbishment?

Windstar said Wind Star’s Setting Sails refurbishment included redesigns across dining spaces and staterooms, including updates to Amphora and Veranda and a revised buffet layout in Veranda. In staterooms, the line added new upholstered headboards, integrated lighting and bedside charging.