Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises offers the chance to enjoy a luxurious getaway, and like any luxury escape, there’s quite a lot included in the price you pay. But not everything’s included – there are some things you’ll need to pay a little extra for.

So, let’s look at what is included, and how you can get the best price on the bits that aren’t.

Exploring What’s Included

On a Windstar cruise, you’ll enjoy your accommodation, your food and most of your onboard entertainment for free, along with soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks, WiFi, laundry and tips aren’t included as standard.

Let’s look into each of the inclusions in a bit more detail.

1. Food

All of your food on a Windstar cruise is included. You don’t have to pay for your meals, no matter where on the ship you decide you want to eat. Snacks and room service are also included.

With most cruise lines, your main dining is included – so you’ll always have breakfast, lunch and dinner free. Then there will be secondary dining choices, some of which are free and others that have a cover charge. But that’s not the case with Windstar.

Windstar’s ships aren’t huge but they do have a choice of restaurants – the great news is that the speciality ones don’t cost extra. You just need to make a reservation in advance to secure your place. 

Room service is also covered by your cruise fare, and is available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and for late-night snacking. You just need to order it in advance – breakfast orders can be left on a door hanger the night before.

2. Drinks

Alcohol is not included on a Windstar cruise, but all non-alcoholic drinks are included. This includes soft drinks, fruit juices and coffees that would often be charged for on most other cruise lines.

If you don’t drink alcohol, then a Windstar cruise could represent great value. Typically cruise lines will offer tap water for free and maybe a small selection of teas, coffees and juices at breakfast. But Windstar is one of the few that includes all non-alcoholic beverages for no additional cost.

Bottles of water are also included in your fare, so if you’re heading ashore and want a fresh bottle to take with you, just grab one from the bar. You can also order your mocha, cappuccino, espresso or latte to your room; so that you can wake up with a beautifully fresh coffee to kick start your day.

3. Entertainment

Most of the entertainment that takes place onboard your Windstar cruise will be included in the cost of your cruise fare.

Windstar’s ships aren’t super-sized cruise ships that are packed with Broadway-style theatres, nightclubs, and so on. But they do still have spaces where you’ll enjoy interesting activities throughout your sailing.

During the day this will include guest lectures on a range of topics, typically curated to be relevant to your itinerary. There are also culinary demonstrations, so you can pick up a few tips to help you recreate your favourite dishes when you get back home.

At night, there’s often live music in the lounge and bar areas of the ships. It’s quite a relaxed atmosphere, but it can still get lively and there’s plenty of opportunity for dancing.

On many cruises, there’ll be a BBQ party on one night, and music will be played on the deck of the ship to encourage a party atmosphere.

4. Watersports

One of the unique features of a Windstar cruise is the watersports platform that’s on every ship in the fleet. It’s only used in certain ports of call so it’s not available on every itinerary, but it’s one of the most fun features of any cruise ship.

The platform includes a number of watersports activities that guests are free to use. This includes paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, water skiing and surfing. All of the equipment is provided at no additional cost.

And if that sounds a bit too active, then the ships will often unfurl a large flotation island where you can just take it easy and soak up the surrounding views. You can use it as a base for casual swimming in the calm waters too.

And as an additional bonus, the snorkelling equipment is free for guests to borrow at ports of call, so you don’t have to pay high prices in ports for a snorkelling experience.

Exploring Additional Costs

Here’s a look at what isn’t included as standard on a Windstar cruise, and roughly how much you should expect to pay.

1. Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks aren’t included in the fare on a Windstar cruise. You can pay for these individually, or you can choose a beverage package.

On average you should expect to pay around $7 for a beer on Windstar, and around $10-11 for a glass of wine. It’s a similar average price for cocktails too. Prices vary by individual drink but there aren’t any that are way above those averages; unless you’re choosing Champagne.

However, you do have to pay an 18% beverage service charge on any drinks you buy – so really you’re looking at around $8.50 for a beer and around $12-13 for a glass of wine or a cocktail when that’s factored in.

Beverage packages are available. The Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package is $79 per person, per day, and includes unlimited beer, wine and cocktails This package must be purchased up to five days before your cruise, otherwise, it’s available onboard for $89 per person, per day.

In addition to this Windstar Cruises allows guests to bring aboard one bottle of wine per person at embarkation and additional wine and beer purchased onshore during the Cruise. This is limited to two bottles on voyages of seven days or three bottles for cruises spanning eight days or longer. If you wish to consume this alcohol in public areas it will be subject to a corkage fee of approx $15 + 15% gratuity.

2. Laundry

Laundry services are available on all Windstar cruises, including pressing, although dry cleaning is not available. Laundry is charged on a per-item basis, ranging from $0.60 for a t-shirt to $7 for a suit. You can also pay for a one-off laundry bag, filling it with as many items as you can, for around $45.

However, Windstar offers something unique with a laundry package. This lets you enjoy unlimited laundry during your cruise, with a 24-hour turnaround. You’ll even get your clothes back on the same day if you turn them in to the laundry service by 9am.

The package costs $16 per day as standard for two people sharing a cabin, though if you’re cruising solo you can get it for $8 per day. You have to book the laundry package no later than the first day of your cruise, and you must pay for it for the duration of your sailing.

Suggested read: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide

3. WiFi

WiFi is not included on a Windstar cruise as standard. The WiFi costs $35 for 24 hours of access and is for one device only.

Unlike other cruise lines, you aren’t always forced to pay for WiFi for the entire duration of your cruise with Windstar. You can pay for just the data you need – an Email plan costs $60 and gives you 200MB of data, while the Surfing plan costs $120 and lets you use 500MB of data.  If an unlimited package is more your thing it will set you back $250 for the duration of the cruise.

A Windstar cruise is designed to be one where you switch off for a little while, but if you do need to get online, you can pay for access for just as long as you need.

4. Shore Excursions

Shore excursions are an additional cost on a Windstar cruise. The price of excursions varies depending on your chosen sailing and the nature of the excursion, with private tours available in many locations if you want to pay extra.

Remember that you don’t have to pay for shore excursions if you don’t want to – there’s nothing stopping you from just heading ashore yourself and wandering around to explore.

But Windstar works with local excursion providers to offer a great range of experience opportunities, all chosen to reflect the brand – this means you can expect the same sort of luxury on land as you can on the ships themselves.

5. Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in your cruise fare with Windstar. Guests will need to pay them at the end of their cruise. Called the Hotel Service Charge, the current cost is $16 per person, per day and it’s automatically added to your cruise account.

If you’re not happy with the service standards offered, you are able to visit the Guest Services desks on the ship to adjust the amount you pay. However, be aware that the charge is spread amongst all the crew, including those you may not interact with much, and changing the amount you pay could also impact their earnings. So I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you have a really good reason to.

Suggested read: Can You Refuse To Pay Gratuities On A Cruise?

There’s also the 18% Beverage Service Charge every time you order an alcoholic drink on the ship – this is automatically added to your bar bill or your room when ordering a drink in the dining rooms. You still have to pay this if you choose a drinks package, though not if you get the All-Inclusive Package.

It’s also worth noting that, unlike some other cruise lines, if you get any onboard credit with Windstar you won’t be able to use that towards your service charges.

6. Select Onboard Activities

In Windstar’s own words, most of your entertainment and activities onboard the ship are included in the cost of your cruise fare. That means that there may be occasional experiences or activities that do have an additional charge if you wish to take part.

These aren’t too common, and most of the onboard experiences are free for Windstar guests. However, it’s important to be aware that if something special is organised on your sailing, you might have to pay a fee for it if you’re interested.

How To Make Your Windstar Cruise All-Inclusive

You can make your Windstar cruise all-inclusive by paying for the All-Inclusive package. This isn’t truly all-inclusive – you’ll still have to pay for shore excursions and laundry – but it does include your drinks package, WiFi, and your hotel and beverage service charges.

This means you can drink whatever you want to at no extra cost (excluding wine and Champagne by the bottle), and you don’t pay the extra 18% for the drinks either.

The All-Inclusive Package costs $99 per person, per day, when purchased up to 5 days before you sail. You can still purchase this package onboard for $109 per person, per day.

You can also add on the laundry package too, if you want it to be even more inclusive. This would mean a total additional cost of $105 per person, per day but you would get all your WiFi, tips, laundry and drinks covered. The only extra charges would be for optional shore excursions.

So, there’s a lot that Windstar includes as standard, more than many other cruise lines. But it’s not completely all-inclusive. 

You do have the option to upgrade; if you want to, but check the prices as depending on how much you drink and intend to use the WiFi, buying beverages and other elements of the package individually may work out cheaper for you.

I have a guide to help you work out whether to buy the package here: Is the Windstar All-Inclusive Package Worth It?

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The Windstar all inclusive package (officially the All-Inclusive Package, still often called the “All-In”) costs from around $99 per guest per day when bought at least five days before sailing, or about $109 per day onboard. It bundles unlimited select beer, wine and cocktails, unlimited WiFi and your gratuities. For most couples it pays off at roughly four to six alcoholic drinks per person per day, and it is clearly better value than the drinks-only package.

Below we break down what a standard Windstar fare already covers, exactly what the package adds, the rules that catch people out, and the maths for three realistic types of traveler, so you can decide before you book. Prices are as published at the time of writing (October 2026) and do change, so always confirm on windstarcruises.com or with your travel advisor.

Are Windstar Cruises All Inclusive?

Not by default. Windstar is often described as “nearly inclusive” because the base fare is more generous than on big-ship lines, but alcohol, WiFi and gratuities are extra unless you buy the package or your fare includes it as a promotion.

What the base fare already includes

• Your suite or stateroom, with daily housekeeping and evening turndown
• All dining, including the specialty restaurants Candles and Basil + Bamboo, with no cover charge
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices and water
• Watersports from the marina platform on most ships, weather permitting
• The fitness center, classes, lectures, port talks and onboard entertainment
• Signature extras such as the on-deck barbecue and, on some sailings, Destination Discovery Events ashore

What costs extra on a standard fare

• Alcohol: bought by the drink, plus an 18% beverage service charge
• WiFi: around $35 per day for an unlimited plan, billed for the length of the cruise
• Hotel service charge (Windstar’s gratuities): $16 per guest per day, added automatically to your onboard account
• Shore excursions, spa and salon treatments, laundry and specialty items such as premium bottles of wine

If you are still choosing a ship, our guide comparing every Windstar cruise ship covers the sailing yachts and the all-suite Star Class yachts in detail.

What Is in the Windstar All Inclusive Package?

The package rolls the three biggest onboard extras into one daily price:

1. Unlimited select drinks: domestic and imported beers, more than 30 wines and sparkling wines by the glass, cocktails made with house and select premium spirits, cordials, aperitifs and mini-bar drinks. Current descriptions name brands such as Grey Goose, Hendrick’s, Johnnie Walker Black and Hennessy among the select spirits.
2. Unlimited WiFi for the whole voyage.
3. Gratuities: the daily hotel service charge plus the 18% beverage service charge on drinks covered by the package.

Package guests also typically get 30% off bottles of wine priced at $100 or less. What is not included: very top-shelf spirits, rare wines, many specialty or signature cocktails, spa treatments, excursions and laundry. Early versions of the All-In bundle (launched in 2019) included unlimited laundry, but current package descriptions do not list it, so budget for laundry separately.

Windstar Package Prices and Terms for 2026 and 2027

The terms that matter most, based on Windstar’s current package information and recent independent guides:

• Book at least five days before sailing to get the lower price. You can usually still buy onboard during the first couple of days, but at the higher rate.
• Whole cruise only: it is priced for every day of the voyage, not individual days.
• Age 21 and over for the alcoholic element.
• Bought per guest: recent guides report that each guest in a suite can decide individually, but check the current terms for your sailing before assuming a non-drinking partner can opt out.
• Specialty voyages such as Grand Prix, eclipse or mystery cruises are often excluded from promotional all-inclusive offers.

Watch for the free all-inclusive promotion

Windstar regularly gives the package away. Its 2026 offers have included a complimentary All-Inclusive upgrade (worth more than $1,300 for two guests on a seven-night voyage) on select sailings through mid-2027, sometimes combined with onboard credit or a pre-cruise hotel night. If the fare with the package included is only slightly higher than a cruise-only fare, the decision is usually easy. Our roundup of cruise deals for 2027 and when to book explains how these offers tend to cycle through the year.

Is the Windstar All Inclusive Package Worth It? The Maths

Start by stripping out the parts you would pay anyway. Assume an average drink costs about $10.50 before the 18% charge, which makes it roughly $12.40 once the service charge is added.

The key question, then, is not just how much you drink but whether you would buy WiFi anyway. If you want to stay connected, the bar for value drops to about four drinks a day.

Three example seven-night cruises for two

Each example compares paying as you go with buying the package in advance for both guests at about $1,386 ($99 x 2 guests x 7 days). Gratuities are $224 for two, and a seven-day WiFi plan is about $245.

Two things these numbers do not capture. First, the package removes the mental arithmetic of signing for every glass, which many guests value. Second, port-heavy itineraries cut the number of hours you are onboard; on a Greek Isles or Caribbean sailing with a port almost every day and long days ashore, you may drink less than you expect.

Windstar Beverage Package: All Inclusive vs Captain’s Exclusive

This is where the decision becomes simple. Pre-purchased, the drinks-only Captain’s Exclusive package costs about $79 plus the 18% service charge, or roughly $93 per day. The All-Inclusive Package costs about $99 and has no service charge added on top. For around $6 more per day you also get WiFi (about $35 value) and the $16 hotel service charge.

In other words, if you are going to buy a drinks package at all, the all inclusive option is almost always the better buy. The drinks-only package only makes sense in the rare case where your fare already includes gratuities and WiFi through another promotion.

Comparing lines? Our breakdown of Holland America drink packages uses the same break-even approach, which is handy if you are weighing a Windstar yacht against a mid-size ship.

Who Should Skip the Package

• Light or occasional drinkers who are happy to buy a bottle of wine for dinner and finish it over two nights. You lose the 30% bottle discount without a package, but a few bottles plus gratuities still often costs less than the package for low drinkers.
• Guests who bring their own wine: Windstar’s carry-on wine policy has historically allowed a couple of bottles per sailing, with a corkage fee if you open them in a restaurant.
• People who want a digital detox: without WiFi, you need about seven drinks a day to break even.
• Guests on very port-intensive or overnight-in-port itineraries, where much of the day is spent ashore.

Tips to Get the Best Value

• Price your cruise both ways. When the free all-inclusive promotion is running, compare the promotional fare with any cruise-only fare that comes with extra onboard credit instead.
• Pre-purchase at least five days before departure to save about $10 per guest per day, or $140 per couple on a week-long cruise.
• Ask about loyalty perks. Windstar’s Yacht Club past-guest program has offered package discounts, so check what applies to you.
• Confirm what is excluded on your ship, especially premium spirits and specialty cocktails, before you order.

FAQs

Are Windstar cruises all inclusive?

No. Windstar fares include all dining, including specialty restaurants, room service, soft drinks, coffee and watersports, but alcohol, WiFi and the $16 per day hotel service charge are extra unless you buy the All-Inclusive Package or book a promotion that includes it.

How much is the Windstar all inclusive package?

At the time of writing it is about $99 per guest per day if bought at least five days before sailing and about $109 per day onboard. It must cover the whole cruise, and prices can change.

Is the Windstar all inclusive package worth it?

It is worth it if you would buy WiFi and drink around four or more alcoholic drinks a day, or about seven if you do not need WiFi. It is also better value than the drinks-only Captain’s Exclusive package for almost everyone who wants unlimited drinks.

Does Windstar have free drinks?

Yes, non-alcoholic basics are free: coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices and water are included in every fare. Beer, wine and cocktails are charged unless you have a package.

Does the Windstar package include gratuities?

Yes. The All-Inclusive Package covers the daily hotel service charge and the 18% beverage service charge on included drinks. Spa gratuities and tips for tour guides ashore are not covered.

What is the Windstar beverage package?

Windstar’s drinks-only beverage package is called the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package. It costs about $79 per guest per day pre-purchased, plus an 18% service charge, so roughly $93 a day. For about $6 more, the All-Inclusive Package adds WiFi and the daily hotel service charge, which is why it is the better buy for most guests who want a beverage package.

As of October 2026, there are seven Windstar cruise ships in service, and an eighth, Star Explorer, joins the fleet in December 2026. There are three types. The sailing yachts Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf carry about 148 to 310 guests. The Star Plus motor yachts Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend carry 312 guests each. The newest pair, Star Seeker and Star Explorer, carry 224 guests in 112 suites. Every Windstar ship is small by cruise standards, so the real choice is about style: sails and teak decks, or suites, balconies and more restaurants.

Windstar Fleet at a Glance

The table below compares every ship by age, size and capacity. Tonnage figures are approximate, and capacities are what Windstar and the main cruise review sites quote at the time of writing.

*Tonnage for the Star Plus ships is often still quoted at the pre-lengthening figure of around 9,975. The lengthening raised it, but exact published numbers vary, so check with the line if it matters to you.

The Star Plus trio began life as Seabourn ships in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Windstar bought them in the 2010s and later rebuilt them under its Star Plus Initiative, which cost more than $250 million. Each ship was cut in half and given a new midsection, new engines, about 50 extra suites, a new pool and new restaurants. Star Pride was the last to return, in June 2022.

The Sailing Yachts: Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf

The three sailing ships are why many people book Windstar in the first place. Computer-controlled sails go up to music on the first evening. The decks are teak, and the ships can slip into small harbours that bigger ships pass by. The sails do some of the work, but these ships also run on engines, so they keep a normal cruise timetable.

Wind Star and Wind Spirit

These two near-identical four-masted ships hold 148 guests in 74 cabins, nearly all of them ocean-view staterooms with portholes. There’s one larger owner’s suite. There are no private balconies. Instead you get a cosy, almost private-yacht atmosphere, with a small pool, a library-style lounge and a watersports platform at the stern for kayaking and paddleboarding when conditions allow. Windstar says Wind Star finished a full refurbishment in 2026.

Wind Surf

Wind Surf is the flagship sailing ship. It has five masts and holds roughly twice as many guests as its smaller sisters. It has more suites, a larger spa and two pools. It also has an extra restaurant, the French-style Stella Bistro. If you like the idea of a sailing ship but want a bit more space and choice, Wind Surf is the one to pick.

Dining on the sailing ships

• Amphora: the main restaurant, serving multi-course dinners
• Veranda: casual breakfast and lunch, with outdoor seating
• Candles: an open-air steak and seafood dinner on deck, reservations recommended
• Stella Bistro: Wind Surf only

The Star Plus Yachts: Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend

These motor yachts are all-suite, with no interior cabins. They have 156 suites each, and many of the newer ones have private balconies. Older suites mostly have large windows or French balconies, so check the deck plan when you book if you want a full veranda. Each ship has an infinity pool, a spa and a fitness centre with a studio. A fold-out marina at the stern is used for watersports in calm anchorages.

The Star Plus ships also have the widest choice of restaurants in the fleet:

• Amphora: the main dining room
• Candles: a steakhouse, reservations required
• Cuadro 44: Spanish tapas and dishes from chef Anthony Sasso, reservations recommended
• Star Grill: an open-air grill and barbecue spot
• Veranda: casual breakfast and lunch
• Yacht Club: a coffee bar and café for light bites

Specialty dining is included in the fare on Windstar, so there’s no extra charge for Candles or Cuadro 44. Tables do fill up, though, so book early on board.

The Newest Ships: Star Seeker and Star Explorer

Star Seeker is Windstar’s first new-build. It was built at the WestSEA shipyard in Portugal to a design first ordered for Atlas Ocean Voyages. Windstar took delivery on 15 December 2025, and the ship was christened in Miami on 15 January 2026. It has 112 suites for 224 guests. Nearly all have a full veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window, and two Horizon Owner’s Suites have wraparound balconies. Its restaurants are Amphora, Star Grill (a steakhouse at night, reservations required) and the new Mediterranean-Asian restaurant Basil + Bamboo. The Yacht Club is the daytime café and evening lounge.

Star Explorer is Star Seeker’s sister. It was built in 2019 and sailed as World Explorer, most recently on charter to Quark Expeditions. Windstar is due to take it over in December 2026. It will be christened on the River Thames in London on 31 May 2027, then spend its first full European season sailing routes around Ireland, the Baltic, northern Spain and Portugal, and France. Expect a layout and feel very close to Star Seeker. Windstar was still releasing details at the time of writing.

Where Each Windstar Ship Sails

Deployments change every season, so treat this as a guide to recent and announced patterns rather than a fixed schedule.

Which Windstar Ship Should You Choose?

• For romance and the classic Windstar feel: Wind Star or Wind Spirit. They’re small and relaxed, and you’ll know the crew by name within days.
• For a sailing ship with more facilities: Wind Surf, with two pools, a bigger spa and Stella Bistro.
• For a balcony and more restaurants: Star Pride, Star Breeze or Star Legend, which have six dining venues and all-suite cabins.
• For the newest design and the most verandas: Star Seeker or Star Explorer, especially for Alaska, Asia or northern Europe.
• For Tahiti: Star Breeze for longer, more remote voyages. From March 2027, Wind Star will offer seven-night Dreams of Tahiti sailings.

Fares vary a lot by ship, season and suite. At the time of writing, many sailings work out at very roughly $250 to $600 per person per night before promotions, and Tahiti and the new ships usually cost more. Prices change often, so compare current fares on Windstar’s official site and look out for seasonal offers in our cruise deals 2027 guide. For more on what’s included and how the line works, see everything you need to know about Windstar Cruises.

If you want an all-suite ship rather than a small yacht-style one, see our Silversea vs Seabourn comparison.

If you love the idea of a sailing ship but want traditional tall-ship rigging instead of automated sails, read our roundup of Star Clippers reviews and what to expect before you choose.

If you are budgeting for drinks, WiFi and gratuities on any of these ships, see whether the Windstar all inclusive package is worth it for your style of cruising.

FAQs

How many ships does Windstar Cruises have?

Seven as of October 2026: three sailing yachts, three Star Plus motor yachts and Star Seeker. Star Explorer is due to join in December 2026, which will bring the fleet to eight.

Which Windstar ships have balconies?

Only the motor yachts. The Star Plus ships have balconies in many of their suites, and Star Seeker and Star Explorer have verandas or infinity windows in nearly all suites. The sailing yachts have no private balconies.

What is the biggest Windstar ship?

By guest numbers, the Star Plus ships are the largest at 312 guests each. Wind Surf has a similar gross tonnage and holds around 310 guests. Even these are tiny next to mainstream cruise ships.

Is specialty dining extra on Windstar?

No. Candles, Cuadro 44, Star Grill, Stella Bistro and Basil + Bamboo are included in the fare, though some need a reservation. Drinks and gratuities depend on the fare or package you book.