Wind Star - Costa Rica & Panama Canal
A one-way week from Colon to Puerto Caldera built around a full daylight transit of the Panama Canal, small enough on the 148-guest Wind Star that you watch the lock walls slide past from the open deck. On the Pacific side the ship overnights at Fuerte Amador for Panama City, then works up the Costa Rican coast with a castaway beach day at Isla Parida.
Price Range
$$$$
Luxury
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Windstar Cruises before booking.
Ship Details — Wind Star
View full Wind Star detailsYear Built
1986
Tonnage
5,703 GT
Passengers
148
Crew
90
Decks
7
Class
Sailing Yacht
Itinerary & Route Map
Loading map…
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Wind Star
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Wind Star sailing. Based on 150 discussions.
Wind Star is the original member of Windstar's sail-powered fleet, a four-masted, 148-guest motor-sail yacht whose computer-controlled canvas gives it a genuinely different feel from a conventional cruise ship. The vibe is casually elegant and low-key: no formal dress codes, no structured mega-ship programming, and a 'private sailing club' atmosphere where guests bond quickly. Repeat cruisers consistently single out the warm, name-remembering crew and the ability to slip into tiny Greek and Mediterranean harbors that big ships can't reach.
What People Love
- Genuine four-masted sails that deploy by computer control give a real yacht-sailing feel you can't get on a conventional cruise ship
- Intimate scale at just 148 guests means it never feels crowded and you avoid the 'herd of tourists' big-ship experience
- Standout personable service - crew learn guests' names within the first day or two and many cruisers rate the staff as the best they've encountered
Common Complaints
- The 1980s-built hull shows its age - several guests describe dated interiors and main dining rooms that feel like a 'retirement home'
- Inconsistent maintenance reported, including elevator outages lasting an entire cruise (and the ship is not friendly to limited-mobility guests)
- No balcony cabins at all, so even the nicer staterooms only offer ocean-view portholes/windows
More Panama Canal Cruises
View all Panama Canal cruisesNorwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Encore - Panama Canal Repositioning
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Bliss - Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Miami
Holland America Line
Nieuw Amsterdam - Panama Canal Discovery: Costa Rica & Greater Antilles
Holland America Line
Zuiderdam - Panama Canal Passage