Windstar Star Seeker: a first look

The Yacht Club

High up on deck 7, the airy Yacht Club is perfect for watching the scenery, with huge windows on three sides and a cupola to let light in from above. Doors from this lounge lead to a spacious deck area featuring stylish loungers right at the front of the ship.

During the day, light bites and drinks are available, and it becomes an appealing venue for a breakfast or lunchtime snack, with a cosy library area and lots of games. Up here you would read a book and watch the world go by, under the watchful eye of an attentive barista making sure you have everything you need.

Pool deck and Star Bar

Aft of the Yacht Club in the centre of the ship are the pool and jacuzzi, with plenty of deck space and the much-loved Star Bar and Star Grill which Windstar regulars will welcome. This al fresco area is where guests love to gather in fine weather, particularly for sundowners and the celebration of the raising of the Windstar flag at sailaway, not to mention live entertainment and the Windstar signature deck barbecue (although we didn't get to experience this on a cold December day in the Atlantic ocean!).

Lovers of the Star Class ships will be delighted to know that there is a whirlpool on the prow on deck 5 to make you feel at home.

The bridge

Another Windstar signature is the open bridge policy, and we made our way to deck 5 to hang out with Captain Tom Schofield, a charming Brit who lives on a barge in Belgium and who delighted us with an extraordinarily informative stargazing evening during our short trip.

World Spa and Fitness Centre

The serene World Spa, forward on deck 4, features the company's excellent new spa menu, with lots of regional specialities, a relaxation area and a dry sauna. The Fitness Centre, with its convenient midships location, features two treadmills, a rowing machine, cycle machine, mats, weights and several resistance machines.

Main Lounge and reception

Deck 4 is also home to the Main Lounge which, despite being quite low in the ship, feels very light and airy, with huge LED screens and a central bar. Evening activities here include quizzes, games and live music, and guests gather here for social events and to chill out with friends old and new.

The lounge is reached from a spacious and open reception area with a Destination desk, and access to the shops and Fitness Centre.

Dining on Star Seeker

Basil + Bamboo is Star Seeker's reservation-only Mediterranean Asian Fusion restaurant, which now features on several ships in the fleet. We loved our dinner in this intimate and inviting little restaurant, with its mouthwatering menu of delicious contrasting dishes. We handed over to Nanda, who won this year's "180 Degrees Award", to make the difficult selection for us, and as always she delighted us with her charming and attentive service.

Amphora, in the aft section of deck 4, is the main restaurant featuring inside and outside dining space. This is where you will find some of the very special James Beard Foundation dishes on the extensive menu, as well as enjoying a lavish buffet for breakfast and lunch.

Star Bar & Grill offers al fresco dining by the pool for lunch and dinner. Reservations are required for dining and it is worth noting - reservations are limited to once per cruise, so plan ahead if this appeals.

Watersports platform

No Windstar ship is complete without a watersports platform giving you direct access to the ocean. This is open when at anchor, weather permitting, for swimming and activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and so forth. The new "ducktail" at the back of the ship means there is a spacious teak deck area for access to the water, a significant enhancement compared to the other ships in the fleet.

Who Windstar Star Seeker suits

Star Seeker works well for couples and solo travellers of all ages thanks to its relaxed, sociable, and unpretentious vibe. Guests are predominantly English speaking and tend to be well travelled and destination focussed. Families with older teenagers and multigenerational groups would enjoy the atmosphere on board. It's not geared up for younger children.

The intimacy of 224 guests means you recognise faces quickly, and the crew deliver attentive, personal service throughout. The staff on our trip were phenomenal, with plenty of entertainment on board for those who want it and a relaxed pace for those who don't.