After pivoting to a first-ever winter cruise season in the Mediterranean this year, Windstar Cruises has announced its intent to keep Star Legend sailing in the region for another winter season, enhancing their winter Mediterranean deployment with new itineraries and opportunities to book longer voyages in 2024/2025.
“On our inaugural sailing in December, every single travel advisor and guest on board told me ‘this is genius’ as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most walkable cities when few cruise lines sail Europe’s oceans,” explains Windstar’s Chief Commercial Officer Janet Bava in a media announcement.
Buoyed by the positive feedback, including the desire for more overnight stays, Windstar will now offer five itineraries in the Mediterranean for the 2025 season, plus three special holiday and event sailings. The expansion also allows guests to combine back-to-back itineraries and experience different destinations while unpacking just once.
Windstar’s Itinerary Highlights for 2024/2025
Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast will set sail on five dates in 24/25. The 8-day itinerary sails from Rome to Venice, with stops in Naples, Taormina (Sicily), an overnight in Dubrovnik (Croatia), a full day in Zadar (Croatia), and ends with an overnight in Venice. The route and timing, particularly the beginning of January, will take advantage of Italy’s strict rules surrounding retail sales (with just winter and summer sales allowed and items up to 70 percent off).
Europe Winter Riviera will have eight departure dates on a 7-day cruise. From Rome, guests will sail to Livorno (Italy) for an overnight stay, followed by a day in Genoa and then Nice, France before ending with an overnight in Barcelona.
Southern Spain Winter Escapes will be a 9-day roundtrip sailing from Barcelona offered on four departure dates. Starting with an overnight in Barcelona means plenty of time to explore the city center before sailing to Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga (for an overnight), Gibraltar (U.K.), Palma, and then returning to Barcelona. Guests will easily be able to hop on the high speed train to/from Madrid in order to extend their explorations inland either pre- or post-cruise.
Winter in Croatia & Greece departs March 26, 2025 for an 8-day sailing from Venice to Athens. An overnight in Venice lets guests explore the historic city from the ship’s convenient city dock location. Port calls include Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Delphi, Greece and a transit of the scenic, narrow Corinth Canal.
In addition, special event sailings will include a Christmas holiday cruise from Rome to Barcelona, Dec. 23-20, 2024; and a New Year’s cruise roundtrip from Barcelona Dec. 30, 2024-Jan. 8, 2025.
Find more information, visit windstarcruises.com/destinations/mediterranean.
