If you’ve followed the construction of new ships with as much fascination as we do, you’ll know that there’s a whole lot of steel to see for Star Seeker (check out the “finished” look of Star Seeker, which debuts in December 2025. Its sister ship, Star Explorer, launches a year later) and yet – there’s still plenty to glean as the construction process begins the outfitting phase.
In our second update on Star Seeker’s progress, we reached back out to John Gunner, Vice President, Expansion Projects, who recently returned from checking out the vessel at WestSEA Viana shipyard in northern Portugal. It was his first visit since April and, even though he keeps up with the progress daily, he was excited to see how much had changed since then. (And don’t miss our first “from the shipyard” feature).
“My August trip was particularly relevant as the shipyard, and I have been focused on the Windstar modifications and especially the bow and stern sections. When I arrived and inspected the bow – of course, I already knew what it was going to look like – but when I saw it I knew it was exactly what we wanted.”
John has provided us with some photos of the ship at this stage in the construction process, and they remind me of my first-ever visit to a cruise ship shipyard. Then, I was a bit perplexed as to how to describe what I was seeing because it didn’t look like what you’d expect a ship to resemble. Stick with us as we continue to provide updates because watching it evolve – as we are, indeed, watching Star Seeker take shape – is half the fun.
“At this stage, we are still welding and hope that these photos will provide you with some perspective,” he tells us. “I hope travelers who are as passionate about Star Seeker and Star Explorer as we will enjoy this behind the scenes look at the building of a ship.”
First, the mast
Shipyards typically construct the ship in blocks. The mast is not required to be attached at this point, and has been set aside in the yard. It’s been constructed and painted early in the process, even so, and will have two radars (if you look closely, Gunner says, you can see the radar platforms pointing forward) along with navigation lights that are “what we call the Christmas tree” and various communications antennas. Ultimately, the mast will be installed above deck eight.
Introducing…Star Seeker!
Underneath all that scaffolding is the ship’s hull. The photo was snapped from the dockside. Looking at the bow the darker red is the original hull of the vessel; the lighter red strip, just above, reflects the modifications we are making for a more extended bow (it had what Gunner calls a “rather stubby weather bow and we wanted it to look more yacht-like, narrower and longer with more flair.” The new bow also gives Windstar the opportunity to incorporate a whirlpool on deck five forward.
Can you spot the bridge?
This is the part of the process, he says, that’s all about steel work. “We are currently at the point where the majority of the steel construction is coming to an end. The next phase, which is very exciting, is the outfitting. So we’re moving on from welding pieces of steel together to outfitting so it starts to look a bit more like a ship, with bulkheads and ceilings.”
The metal canopy that is draped overhead is meant to keep the weather off shipyard workers when they’re working.
What’s a ducktail?
The ducktail is located on the ship’s aft (rear) at deck three. At the time of his visit, Gunner tells us, it was in position but not fully welded.
“The name ‘duck tail’ derives from its resemblance to the upturned rear end of a duck,” we learn from ship enthusiast website CruiseInd. Essentially an appendage off the rear of a vessel, it visually sort of reminds you of a duck’s tail. “Unlike the duck, these tails aren’t fit for flying, but rather serve a functional purpose in the realm of naval architecture and physics.”
Indeed, Gunner tells us. “The ducktail provides us with enhanced stability, and potentially a better performance in terms of speed and fuel consumption. Most important it gives us our swimming platform.”
Care for a swim?
What you see here is Star Seeker’s pool structure. The steps up to the pool from deck 7 will be installed at the bottom left of the picture where you see the holes in the vertical bulkhead. A whirlpool will be installed between the top of the pool and deck eight at the top center of the picture.
Alfresco dining
Here’s Star Seeker’s alfresco dining area. Located on deck four, it stretches right across the 19 meter beam of the ship. Past the red bulkhead wall on the interior, you can see the interior of what will be Amphora.
Why the red paint (here and all over the ship)? Gunner says it’s a base coat to prevent corrosion.
Why is there a hole in the ceiling?
This is, Gunner explains, Star Seeker’s forward lounge on deck seven – which will ultimately have a glass dome, meant to extend light into the space. “On the existing Star Class ships this would effectively be the Yacht Club,” he says. “It’s about a third bigger than the Yacht Club on Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze.
Do you notice the holes cut into the steel beams up toward the ceiling? The square cutouts will be used for plumbing, piping and cables. When the ship is finished, you’ll never see any of it.
Star Seeker still has a long way to go
“We are currently at the point where the majority of the steel construction is coming to an end,” says Gunner. “We are about to start outfitting, which is the next phase, and where we move from welding pieces of steel together to outfitting so it starts to look more like a ship with bulkheads and deckheads.
“Once we begin in earnest, which happens in the next month or so outfitting goes right through to sea trials, which is toward the end of next year.”
Star Seeker will be delivered in mid December 2025.
Any questions you’d like to ask? Put them in the comments below, and we’ll try to get you some answers. And stay tuned. On our next update we’ll share the inspiration behind Star Seeker’s suite designs.
