Review: Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker

As my mom and I drove closer to the cruise terminal in Puerto Rico, we first spotted the city’s historic El Morro fort. Next, Royal Caribbean’s towering Adventure of the Seas came into view. Our destination, Windstar Cruises’ brand-new Star Seeker, eluded us until we were right upon the pier.

The yacht-style vessel was dwarfed by its monstrous “port pal” — my wife’s playful term for vessels docked nearby — but we were happy to be embarking on the smaller of the two this go around.

Here’s what we learned once we boarded Star Seeker.

Ship Details

Star Seeker stands at just eight decks tall (versus Adventure’s 15 levels), and with an intimate guest capacity of 224, it was a breeze to board. Compared to Windstar’s other vessels, Seeker’s size puts it squarely in the middle of the fleet; measuring in at 9,315 gross registered tons, it is larger than the line’s traditional 5,736-ton sailing ships, Wind Spirit and Wind Star, but smaller than the 14,745-ton Wind Surf and 12,995-ton Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride.

For customers prone to seasickness, it’s worth noting that the vessel understandably sails with a wobblier motion profile. It is still relatively solid for its size; heavier ships just often sail steadier.

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Having previously sailed on the smaller Spirit and larger Breeze and Legend, I view Seeker as a perfect hybrid of the two. Interestingly, it’s technically a sister ship to those of Atlas Ocean Voyages (known as World Seeker originally, the vessel was acquired from its parent company, Mystic Invest, during construction). It has a revised layout, though, including an expanded spa in place of a dedicated theater. The result is fully Windstar, which is now independently owned and operated. The upcoming Star Explorer, which was similarly converted from Atlas’ existing 2019-built World Explorer, will debut later this year.

Onboard Star Seeker

Despite being a smaller ship, our 280-square-foot Premier Veranda Suite felt anything but tiny, and private amenities felt yacht-like. The bathroom glistened with high-gloss wood paneling, evoking vintage nautical vibes, while the shower luxuriously encircled us with space-saving (but never encroaching) rounded corners and offered both rain and handheld shower heads. Included L’Occitane toiletries were also a very nice touch.

All the furnishings were quite comfortable, and we also had a private balcony with padded chairs and a table. Other room features included a vanity and minibar, plus a flat-panel television with a wide selection of free on-demand programming. As teddy bear collectors ourselves, we particularly appreciated the presence of Windsor, the line’s adorable official plush, which I purchased for my mom to take home as a souvenir. Clients might love snuggling with their very own Windsor while enjoying a movie and gourmet room service — as we did for our first taste of Windstar’s exceptional cuisine.

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In many ways, Seeker feels more like a riverboat, appropriately previewing the line’s plans to send sister vessel Explorer on inland itineraries, connecting the U.K.’s Thames River to the sea, among other options. And just like on a river cruise, a sailing onboard Seeker presents a delightful return to basics. The ship consolidates its social gathering and show lounges into a central space, and the Amphora dining room buffet serves breakfasts and lunches (in addition to bonus a-la-carte offerings) and full-service dinners.

Clients can expect entertainment offerings that range from a house band to a vocally talented cruise director and performances by other instrumentalists. Daily trivia was also a treat, especially since one session tested my beloved film score knowledge — I tied for the winning spot with a fellow travel journalist.

Culinary Highlights

Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation is very much in place on Seeker. Fare options extend from the main restaurant to the poolside Star Grill and Bar for hearty cuts of meat, perfect for pairing with a dirty martini.

In fact, we went to the steakhouse twice, having thoroughly enjoyed its casual, alfresco atmosphere. I recommend ordering the tender filet mignon or a marbled New York strip loin, and adding on an accompanying order of jumbo shrimp. A starter of Maine Lobster bisque, or any of Windstar’s legendary soups for that matter, is also a good idea.

But it was restaurant Basil + Bamboo (and its unique take on “MediterrAsian” fusion) that had me most smitten. The specialty (but still complimentary) reservable venue is a dedicated annex to Amphora. Try the miso black cod with jamon Iberico for a multicultural flavor explosion that is not to be missed.

Star Seeker’s Pool, Spa and Marina

The Yacht Club observation lounge has scenic wraparound windows, a stunning oculus skylight and incredible chocolate chip cookies. The ship also has a pool, whirlpools, a spa (plus a fitness center and motion studio) and a marina.

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The perched pool and terraced whirlpool (there’s another nestled in the bow) form a lovely architectural element and wellness offering on Seeker (though it’s worth noting that there’s a nearby smoking area, which sometimes affected my enjoyment of the space). The World Spa boasts increased deck space with a relaxation area, as well as a dry sauna, a salon and multiple treatment rooms; all my tension melted away during an onboard deep-tissue massage here.

The only thing off limits to us on our particular route was the watersports platform. On permitted itineraries, it’s at the stern, and it offers a seawater pool (delineated by floating extension platforms and loungers). Kayakers and snorkelers can venture beyond that perimeter. The marina is accessible via stairs (as is the spa entrance) off the outdoor terrace of Amphora. That, in addition to high thresholds throughout the ship, might make accessing this area somewhat challenging for clients with limited mobility. Note that elevators do serve guests elsewhere.

Even though the aquatic toys were never deployed directly from the ship, a signature beach day in the San Blas Islands of Panama did afford us a private shoreside alternative, where we enjoyed a tasty barbecue. Also back in San Juan, we witnessed the loading of fresh Zodiacs for the ship’s upcoming Alaska season.

Upon disembarking, I felt eager to return in order to sample the remainder of Seeker’s offerings; what we did experience impressed us as repeat Windstar sailors.