• 4 min de lectura
• 4 min de lectura
Windstar Cruises is expanding its complimentary Destination Discovery Events programme in 2027 with new experiences in Livorno, Dubrovnik and London, including after-hours access to the Tower of London.
The events will be introduced alongside the inaugural European season of Star Explorer, Windstar's newest yacht, which accommodates 224 guests in 112 suites.
Each Destination Discovery Event is a complimentary evening experience available to guests on eligible voyages. With the 2027 additions, the programme will include seven events across seven destinations, covering all eight Windstar yachts and 165 sailings.
Windstar Cruises Chief Operating Officer Stijn Creupelandt said the events were designed to provide guests with extended access to destinations and experiences that are not normally available during standard port visits. He added that the expansion would give guests more opportunities to experience the programme across the fleet as Star Explorer begins its first full year of European operations.
In Livorno, guests will attend A Medici Wine Tasting at the historic Fortezza Vecchia. The event will provide private after-hours access to the 16th-century Medici fortress, with locally inspired cocktails, Tuscan canapés, live music and presentations by local guides. The experience will be available on Europe's Winter Riviera itineraries.
In Dubrovnik, The Spirit of Croatia will begin with sparkling wine and traditional klapa music in a 15th-century Dominican cloister. Guests will then continue to the Marin Držić Theatre for an evening featuring Croatian music and dance. The event will be offered on the Iconic & Hidden Croatia and Off the Beaten Path Adriatic itineraries.
London's Tower of London at Sunset will be offered on only three 2027 departures. Guests will enter the Tower after public opening hours and have access to the Crown Jewels and selected areas including the White Tower and Battlements. The programme will also feature presentations by Yeoman Warders, live music and a British-inspired reception in the New Armouries Courtyard.
The Tower of London event will take place during Star Pride's April 29th departure on the 7-night Tulip Season in Holland & Belgium, Star Pride's May 13th departure on the 5-night Timeless Maritime Powerhouses of Northern Europe, and Star Explorer's June 1st 10-night Christening Voyage: Circumnavigating Ireland.
Star Explorer will form a central part of Windstar's European programme in 2027. The 224-guest yacht is designed for access to destinations and waterways that are less accessible to larger cruise ships. Almost all suites feature either a full private veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window.
The yacht is scheduled to enter the Venice lagoon close to the city centre, sail along the Thames beneath Tower Bridge into central London and operate selected European river itineraries. On board, facilities include Basil + Bamboo, a specialty restaurant combining Asian and Mediterranean influences, a full-service spa and fitness centre, and an updated version of Windstar's Marina water-access platform.
Following its Mediterranean debut, Star Explorer will spend summer 2027 operating in Northern Europe, with itineraries covering the British Isles, Ireland, Norway, Scotland and the Baltic before returning to the Mediterranean in autumn.
Windstar's Mediterranean autumn and winter programme, marketed as Local Season, focuses on longer stays and seasonal destination experiences. Star Explorer's early 2027 itineraries will include overnight calls on most voyages, later departures and double overnights in Venice and Barcelona.
Seasonal programmes will include Venice's Carnevale, Epiphany celebrations and visits to the Royal Palace of Caserta from Naples, along with extended time in Barcelona to explore Gaudí's architecture. Ports featured during the autumn and winter programme include Nice, Genoa, Naples and Catania.
Star Explorer is scheduled to begin service on December 28th, 2026, with a round-trip maiden voyage from Barcelona visiting southern Spain. Its inaugural Mediterranean Local Season will follow in early 2027, with voyages covering Spain, Italy, southern France and Croatia before the yacht moves north for its summer programme.