Ultimate Guide

Which Windstar Ship Is Best for the Mediterranean?

A COMPLETE COMPARISON GUIDE

For most luxury travelers, Star Legend is the best overall Windstar ship for a Mediterranean cruise. But depending on your travel style, a sailing yacht might be the perfect choice.

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EXPERT GUIDE

The Most Important Distinction

Choosing the best Windstar ship for the Mediterranean is not simply a matter of asking which ship is newest, largest, or most luxurious. The right question is: 'Which Windstar ship best matches the way you want to experience the Mediterranean?'

Windstar's fleet gives luxury travelers two distinctly different experiences. Its Star Class yachts offer an all-suite yacht environment, while its smaller Wind Class sailing ships deliver the romance of sailing aboard a much smaller vessel. For Mediterranean travelers, that distinction can dramatically change the character of your vacation.

Star Class:All-suite luxury motor yachts (Star Legend, Star Pride)
Wind Class:Classic intimate sailing ships (Wind Spirit, Wind Star)

Why Small Ships Work So Well in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean rewards travelers who can slow down. Some of its most memorable experiences happen away from the largest cruise terminals.

Quiet Harbors

Drop anchor in a quiet Greek island harbor or a small Croatian coastal town where mega-ships cannot dock.

Exclusive Culinary

Enjoy a private wine tasting or dine at a secluded family-owned restaurant hidden in a historic village.

Intimate Exploration

Take an evening walk through an ancient town or embark on a private archaeological tour away from the crowds.

Expert Insight

"The best luxury cruise is not automatically the most luxurious ship. It is the journey that best matches the traveler."

ANGELA HUGHESLUXURY TRAVEL EXPERT

Let’s Plan Your Windstar Trip

Our Expert Recommendation at a Glance

COMPARING THE WINDSTAR FLEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

All-Suite Yacht

Spacious luxury suites

Star Legend

312 Guests

Crew: 190

Best For:Best overall luxury yacht experience in the Mediterranean

Highlights

✦Elegant suites
✦Gourmet dining
✦Yacht Club Café
✦Infinity pool
✦Destination-focused Mediterranean itineraries

Who Should Book

Experienced cruisersCultural explorersEuropean vacationsWine and culinary enthusiasts

All-Suite Yacht

Wellness and extended voyages

Star Pride

312 Guests

Crew: 190

Best For:Best all-suite yacht alternative

Highlights

✦Spacious suites
✦Comfortable lounges
✦Wellness-focused amenities
✦Excellent observation areas
✦Relaxed atmosphere

Who Should Book

Scenic cruisingNature loversLonger Mediterranean voyagesRelaxation seekers

Sailing Yacht

Tropical island luxury

Wind Spirit

148 Guests

Crew: 101

Best For:Best for sailing romance and intimacy

Highlights

✦Intimate sailing experience
✦Access to hidden Mediterranean harbors
✦Open-air relaxation
✦Marina platform
✦Personalized service

Who Should Book

CouplesHoneymoonersSailing enthusiastsTravelers seeking intimacy

Sailing Yacht

Classic intimate sailing

Wind Star

148 Guests

Crew: 101

Best For:Best for classic sailing-ship experience

Highlights

✦Small guest capacity
✦Cozy lounges
✦Elegant open decks
✦Quiet atmosphere
✦Access to exclusive Greek island ports

Who Should Book

HoneymoonersCouplesSmall groupsTravelers who dislike crowds

Sailing Yacht

World's largest sailing yacht

Wind Surf

342 Guests

Crew: 210

Best For:Best for travelers wanting a larger sailing ship

Highlights

✦Five towering automated sails
✦Expansive teak decks
✦Multiple specialty restaurants
✦Elegant Yacht Club
✦Watersports platform

Who Should Book

CouplesLuxury travelersSailing enthusiastsMediterranean vacationsRepeat cruisers

Star Legend vs. Wind Spirit

Choose Star Legend if:

You are a luxury couple wanting an all-suite ship
Cabin comfort and spaciousness are important
You prefer refined yacht-style cruising
You want a sophisticated Mediterranean experience
You want a balance between onboard comfort and destination exploration

Choose Wind Spirit if:

You love the romance of true sailing under canvas
You want the absolutely smallest and most intimate experience
Romance and spending time on an open deck under sails is a major priority
You want the feeling of being aboard a genuine sailing ship

Our simple rule: Star Legend = luxury yacht experience. Wind Spirit = sailing experience. The better choice depends on what you want to remember when you return home.

Explore the Mediterranean with Windstar

See the small-ship advantage in action as we sail to hidden harbors and iconic ports.

Which Windstar Ship Is Best for You?

You want luxury yacht comfort

Star Legend

Choose Star Legend if you are a luxury couple, want an all-suite ship, and prefer yacht-style cruising. It offers the best balance between onboard comfort and destination exploration.

You want the romance of sailing

Wind Spirit

Choose Wind Spirit if you love sailing, want the smallest and most intimate experience, and want the feeling of being aboard a genuine sailing ship.

Your preferred itinerary dictates it

Star Pride

Choose Star Pride if its itinerary is better suited to your trip, your preferred dates work better, or your preferred suite is available.

You want maximum dining variety on a sailing ship

Wind Surf

Choose Wind Surf if you love the sailing experience but also desire more specialty dining venues, lounges, and an expansive spa.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Windstar Yacht?

Connect with our luxury travel advisors to match your travel style with the right Windstar ship and Mediterranean destination.

Contact an Advisor

DESTINATION FOCUS

The Windstar Mediterranean Experience

Glimpses of what awaits on your luxury boutique voyage.

Hidden Coves

Access secluded anchorages.

Alfresco Dining

Enjoy meals under the stars.

Classic Sailing

The romance of the sea.

Luxury Suites

Your private sanctuary.

Historic Ports

Docking in the heart of the city.

Local Culture

Immersive shore excursions.

✦ LUXURY TRAVEL EXPERTISE ✦

Angela Hughes Authority & Credentials

CEO, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel

40+ YEARS EXPERTISE

Angela Hughes

Angela Hughes INSIGHTS & LEADERSHIPTrusted Greece Luxury Travel Authority

Angela Hughes is the CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel and Founder of Luxury Travel University. With more than four decades of travel-industry experience spanning over 121 countries, Angela understands that a luxury cruise should never be evaluated by the ship alone. She evaluates the entire journey: Ship + Itinerary + Suite + Destination + Excursions + Hotels + Transfers + Timing.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

40+ Years of Industry Experience
Traveled to 121+ Countries
2024 Luxury Travel Influencer of the Year (Travel Leaders Network)
TravelPulse's Most Influential Women in Travel

Direct consultation & VIP cruise amenities with Angela Hughes.Let’s Plan Your Windstar Trip

The Windstar Sailing Experience

Discover what makes cruising the Mediterranean on a classic sailing ship so extraordinary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Star Legend is the best overall Windstar ship for most luxury travelers visiting the Mediterranean. It offers an intimate all-suite yacht experience and a strong combination of onboard comfort and destination-focused cruising.

Star Legend offers a combination many luxury travelers are looking for: all-suite accommodations, an intimate small-ship atmosphere, yacht-style design, destination-focused cruising, refined onboard spaces, and a relatively small guest capacity.

Windstar's Star Class yachts, including Star Legend and Star Pride, carry approximately 312 guests, creating an experience that is dramatically more intimate than a large contemporary cruise ship.

The Mediterranean rewards travelers who can slow down. Small ships can access quiet Greek island harbors, small Croatian coastal towns, and secluded beaches that larger mass-market cruise ships cannot reach.

Star Legend offers luxury yacht comfort and spacious all-suite accommodations, while Wind Spirit is a much smaller sailing ship that offers the romance and intimacy of a true sailing experience.

You should choose Star Pride if you want an all-suite Windstar yacht, but its specific itinerary, sailing dates, or suite availability are better suited to your travel plans compared to Star Legend.

Wind Spirit is ideal for travelers who love sailing, prioritize romance, want the smallest and most intimate experience, and enjoy spending time on deck aboard a genuine sailing ship.

No, Windstar is a luxury small-ship cruise line. It appeals to travelers who want luxury without the atmosphere of a large floating resort.

No. As our expert Angela Hughes advises, you should evaluate the entire journey: the ship, itinerary, suite, destination, excursions, hotels, transfers, and timing all need to work together.

Yes. A voyage through the Greek Islands can feel completely different from a cruise combining Rome, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast. The ship and the itinerary need to align with how you want to experience the region.

Wind Class ships (like Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are classic sailing vessels, while Star Class yachts (like Star Legend and Star Pride) are motor yachts that offer an all-suite experience.

A luxury travel advisor like Trips & Ships Luxury Travel can help you compare the options, evaluate the subtle differences between ships, and design a Mediterranean journey around the way you actually travel.