Windstar Cruises’ Yacht Club Voyages in 2026 offer loyal travelers a chance to sail with company leaders, explore unique destinations, and enjoy exclusive onboard events designed specifically for repeat guests. These special sailings combine Windstar’s small-ship cruising style with behind-the-scenes access to executives who share their personal connections to the destinations and ships.
In 2026, Windstar will host three Yacht Club member voyages:
- Tulip season sailing through Holland and Belgium with Belgian native (and chief operations officer) Stijn Creupelandt
- A transoceanic repositioning cruise on Star Seeker from Puerto Vallarta to Seattle with Windstar newbuild chief John Gunner
- A French Polynesia and Cook Islands itinerary hosted by Windstar’s President, Chris Prelog
Yacht Club members sailing on these voyages this year also receive a 20 percent discount on the voyage, making them especially popular among repeat guests.
If you ask a lot of Windstar’s loyal travelers about their favorite perks for Yacht Club members, and depending on the status they’ve accrued through multiple journeys, you’ll hear about the complimentary laundry service, free Wi-Fi, and the complimentary tote (one member collected so many she created a quilt out of them). There’s the members only cocktail hour onboard each cruise, too.
Many members say the program’s biggest appeal isn’t just the benefits — it’s also the community.
“We definitely love the laundry and WIFI,” says Elliana Vera, who, with her husband has achieved the highest status, that of four stars. “We like the cocktail party as you get to meet people that also love Wind Star. And being on the four-star level shows other travelers you have the experience on board so they trust you when giving recommendations for itineraries, tours and even comments on ship itself.”
Adds Vera, who is a prolific member of Facebook’s Windstar groups Windstar Cruises Friends and Windstar Cruises Official Yacht Club Group, “it also means we have cruised a lot and know a lot of the crew! We love to run into them all over the world. And I guess the best part of being a Yacht Club member is the fact that Windstar has become a home away from home and the crew – a family at sea.”
Where can you go and who will you meet on Yacht Club voyages this year?
Tulip Season in Holland and Belgium
April 21–28, 2026 | Star Pride
Spring in the Netherlands and Belgium is famous for its spectacular tulip displays, and Windstar’s Tulip Season in Holland and Belgium sailing visits some of the region’s most picturesque ports.
Destinations include:
- Rotterdam
- Harlingen
- Overnight stays in Amsterdam and Antwerp
This voyage also offers a unique perspective for ocean cruisers: the ship travels along rivers such as Rotterdam’s Nieuwe Maas and Antwerp’s Schelde, creating a travel experience that blends ocean cruising with river-style navigation.
Meet your host: Stijn Creupelandt:
Windstar’s chief operating officer, Stijn Creupelandt, hosts this voyage and the destination is personal.
A Belgian native who grew up near Bruges, Creupelandt sees the itinerary as an opportunity to introduce guests to the culture and cuisine of his homeland.
Why is tulip season cruising a special experience? Read more.
“Hosting a Yacht Club Member cruise here feels less like visiting a destination and more like welcoming guests into a place that shaped who I am. Pairing my home country with the beauty of tulip season in the Netherlands makes this sailing especially meaningful. It’s a chance to share not just iconic sights, but also a sense of belonging, tradition, and pride in a region I know intimately.”
Expert tips: “As a Belgian, gastronomy is something I’m especially passionate about — and this voyage is a fantastic introduction to the flavors of the region.”
In Belgium, Creupelandt plans to encourage Yacht Club members to fully embrace what it’s known for:
- Mussels (moules‑frites) — simple, fresh, and absolutely iconic
- Belgian beers, whether Trappist, abbey, or local brews, each with its own character
- And for something sweet, Belgian waffles and chocolates, which truly deserve their world‑class reputation.
“In the Netherlands,” he adds, “I’ll happily admit I’ll be focusing less on beer and more on their exceptional cheeses. From aged goudas to local specialties, Dutch cheese culture is something to savor slowly — ideally with good bread and good company.”
“Food is a reflection of culture, and sampling these local flavors is one of the best ways to understand both countries.”
More tips:
- In Bruges, wander just a few streets away from the main squares and you’ll find quieter canals and small cafés where locals still linger. Early mornings or evenings are especially beautiful.
- When it comes to Belgian chocolate, don’t stop at the first shop you see. Some of the best chocolatiers are tucked away from the busiest streets and focus on craftsmanship over branding.
- For waffles, look for places where they’re made fresh to order — simple toppings are often the best.
- In the Netherlands, visit a local cheese shop rather than a large souvenir store. Ask questions, taste different ages, and let the cheese monger guide you — they’re proud of their product and love to share it.
Inside Scoop: While Windstar has offered itineraries in this region, this year’s April sailing is its first during tulip season. Unusually for an ocean cruise, this voyage offers river cruising-like features, including transits on rivers, such as Rotterdam’s Nieuwe Maas and Antwerp’s Schelde with numerous locks.
Transoceanic Crossing: Puerto Vallarta to Seattle
April 28–May 6, 2026 | Star Seeker
For travelers who love relaxing sea days, Windstar’s transoceanic repositioning cruise from Puerto Vallarta to Seattle offers a slower-paced voyage filled with onboard enrichment.
This sailing is especially appealing for guests interested in the engineering and design behind Windstar’s fleet.
Meet your host: John Gunner
The voyage is hosted by John Gunner, Windstar’s vice president of expansion projects, who oversaw the construction of Star Seeker, the company’s newest Star Class ship. With more than four decades of experience in the cruise industry, Gunner plans to give guests unique insights into:
- The building of Star Seeker in Portugal
- Windstar’s upcoming ship Star Explorer, debuting in 2026
- How ships are designed, engineered, and transformed into Windstar vessels
“I’m looking forward to leading behind the scenes tours of Star Seeker, sharing anecdotes from its build in Portugal, and also introduce Star Explorer to our guests,” Gunner tells us.
What’s Star Seeker Like? Read more.
“Though both ships are largely identical, their transformations into Windstar vessels are two completely different journeys. And given that the cruise is all days-at-sea, we will take some time to talk through the challenges and improvements for each of the projects.”
President’s Cruise: Māori Storytellers and French Polynesian Treasures
July 30–August 10, 2026 | Star Breeze
Windstar’s President’s Cruise in French Polynesia adds a new twist to the company’s popular Tahiti itineraries by including the Cook Islands.
Destinations include:
- Moorea
- Bora Bora
- Raiatea
- Aitutaki in the Cook Islands
- Rarotonga, also part of the Cook Islands, known for lush lagoons and its artisan cafés and organic food culture
Meet your host: Windstar President Chris Prelog
It’s not a huge surprise that Windstar President Chris Prelog volunteered to host this 11-night trip as his passion for Tahiti is well documented. “I picked this cruise because I have not been in the Cook Islands before. So many guests have spoken to me about going there that we thought this would be a perfect way to introduce this special group of islands as a President’s/Yacht Club Members’ cruise.”
What are Chris Prelog’s six favorite activities in French Polynesia? Read more.
Expert tips: My favorite dish in Tahiti is Poisson Cru, which is available in almost every restaurant, and I will eat it probably three times a day because I really like the composition of it, the freshness, coconut and vanilla with it. Even when I arrive, occasionally tired and jet-lagged on my first day, I’ll order it from room service. And on Star Breeze in this part of the world, sailaways are always magical. You’ll find me on deck 8!”
Inside Scoop: The Cook Islands is a self-governing state in ‘free association’ with New Zealand, which means that while it conducts its own affairs, its head of state, like that of New Zealand, is the United Kingdom’s King Charles III. The islands are located between French Polynesia and American Samoa.
Over the past 12 months we have really developed our South Pacific program,” Prelog tells us. We offer more variety of cruises than ever before; this Cook Islands itinerary, for instance, was included as an occasional repositioning voyage. Now it’s a more regular itinerary offering.
“Between the outer Tuamotu islands, Marquesas and Cook Islands, and Fiji, we’re covering the widest variety of South Pacific destinations than ever before,” he says.
