Awards
Awards & Accolades
Windstar is proud to have been recognized with top honors from some of the most respected leaders in our industry. And each year we bring home more of these prestigious awards. So take it from the experts — it doesn’t get any better than this. Windstar. Extraordinary.
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2025
2025 USA Today 10 Best: Best Boutique Cruise Line #2
2025 USA Today 10 Best: Best Adults-Only Cruise #2 Star Breeze
2025 USA Today 10 Best: Best Cruise Line for Shore Excursions #5
2025 USA Today 10 Best: Best Ocean Cruise Line #5
2025 USA Today 10 Best: Best Adults-Only Cruise #7 Wind Spirit
2024
2024 Travel + Leisure Worlds Best: Readers' 5 Favorite Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2024 - #3
2024 USA Today 10 Best: Best Boutique Cruise Line #1
2024 USA Today 10 Best: Best Adults Only Cruise #1 Wind Spirit
2024 USA Today 10 Best: Best Ocean Cruise Line #3
2024 USA Today 10 Best: Best Adults Only Cruise #10 Star Breeze
Global Traveler, Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Cruise Line of the Year
Global Traveler, Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Best Small Ship Cruise Line
2024 Cruiseline.com Member Choice Award: Best Premium Cruise Line
2023
2023 Cruise Critic, Cruiser's Choice Awards: Best Service Awards #1
2023 Cruise Critic, Best Small Cruises Overall #3
2023 Cruise Critic, Best Value for Money #3
USA Today 10 Best, 10 Best Honeymoon Cruises
CNT Hotlist - Star Pride, The Best New Cruises in the World: 2023 Hot List
Global Traveler, Best Cruise Line Caribbean Sailing
2023 WAVE Award Winners, Small-Ship Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Forbes Luxury Cruises 2023, Best Yacht-Like Cruise For Couples - Star Pride
Forbes Luxury Cruises 2023, Best Luxury Cruise For Small Groups
Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards 2023 - Cruise Lines, 5th for the CNT RCA in the small category
Magellen Awards, Magellan Gold: JBF Chefs, New Vegan Menus and New Restaurants: Windstar Ups the Culinary Ante, Cruise - Overall - Cuisine
Magellan Awards, Magellen Gold: Revamped Star Pride Makes its Debut, Cruise Overall - Small Cruise Ship
Magellan Awards, Gold A New Kind of Suite at Sea, Cruise Elements - Luxury Ship-Suite Design
Magellan Awards, Silver: Windstar Knows the Way, Cruise - Marketing-Promotional Video
Travvy Awards, gold for "Best Cruise Line Under 500 Cabins
Travy Awards, silver for "Best Cruise Ship Under 500 Cabins
Porthole - Reader's Choice Awards, Most Romantic Cruise Line 2023
Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards, Best Enrichment (Luxury Category): Windstar Cruises
Travel And Leisure, Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2023 - #2
Travel And Leisure, best intimate small ship cruise line
2023 Cruise Shipping Interior, Award for Best Suite Design
Travel Weekly Reader's Choice, Best Cruise Line Under 500 Berths
2022
2022 Condé Nast Traveler, The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2022 (Star Legend)
2022 Travel and Leisure, The 3 Best Small Ships Ocean Cruise Lines #2 spot
2022 Travel and Leisure, The 10 Best Intimate Ships #6 spot
2022 Global Traveler USA, Best Caribbean Sailing
2022 Conde Nast Traveler, Top Cruise Lines- Readers Choice #6
2022 Porthole Readers Choice Awards, Most Romantic Cruise Line
2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, Gold: Extraordinary Dining - Best Overall Cuisine
2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, Gold: Best Social Media Campaign - Treasure Hunt 180 clues
2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, Silver: Star Pride - Luxury Ship Cruise Design
2022 Travvy Awards, Silver: Best Cruise Line in Australia
2022 Travvy Awards, Bronze: Star Pride - Best Small Ship under 500 Berths
2022 Cruise Critic Editor's Choice Awards, Best Shore Excursions in the Luxury Cruise Line
2022 Reader's Choice Awards with Travel Weekly: Best in Cruise Lines, Under 500 berths
2021
2021 Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards Finalists - finalist in the Hawaii/Pacific and under 500 berths categories
2021 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards - Gold, Cruise Elements, Luxury Ship, Suite Designs (The Grand Owner's Suite)
2021 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards - Gold, Cruise Elements, Contemporary Ship, Restaurant Design (Cuadro 44)
2021 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards - Gold, Overall, Small Cruise Ship (Star Breeze)
2021 Travel Age West Wave Awards - Small Ship Cruise line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support Award
2021 CNT Readers Choice Awards - Best Cruise Lines In The World: Best Small Ship Cruise Line #5
2021 Travel + Leisure - World’s Best Awards – Best Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line
2021 USA Today - 10 Best Awards Best Small Cruise Ship - Wind Surf #6
2021 USA Today - 10 Best Awards Best Cruise Ship for Dining - Wind Surf #6
2021 USA Today - 10 Best Awards Best Boutique Cruise Line
2020
2020 Conde Nast - Conde Nast Traveler 2020 Gold List
2020 USA Today - #1 - USA Today 10 Best - Boutique Cruise Line
2020 Cruise Critic Cruiser’s Choice Awards – Wind Surf, Best Dining Small Ships
2020 Afar #1 Small Ship Cruise
2020 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards – Best Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line
2020 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award
2019
2019 Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks Awards - Best Shore Excursions
2019 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – #2 Top Cruise Lines - Small Ships
2019 AFAR Travelers’ Choice Awards 2019 – Best Small Ship Cruise Line Winner
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Gold: Windstar's Sail Amsterdam Celebration, Cruise - Expeditions-Itinerary
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Gold: Windstar's Uncommon Indonesia, Cruise - Expeditions-Itinerary
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Gold: 2019-2021 Voyage Collection, Cruise Marketing-Direct Mail
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Gold: Windstar Small Ships, Cruise - Overall-Small Cruise Ship (500 passengers or under)
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Gold: Cruise – Overall Education Program Star Specialist Program for Travel Agents, Cruise - Overall-Education Program
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Silver: Windstar's Alaska Glaciers & Prince William Sound, Cruise - Expeditions-Itinerary
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Silver: Windstar's Star Collector: Grand Caribbean Adventure, Cruise - Expeditions-Itinerary
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Silver: Windstar's Star Collector: Journey to the Holy Lands, Cruise - Expeditions-Itinerary
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Silver: Cruise – Expeditions Shore Excursion Windstar Signature Expeditions program, Cruise - Expeditions-Shore Excursion
2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Award - Silver: Cruise – Expeditions Shore Excursion Concierge Collection Series, Cruise - Expeditions-Shore Excursion
2019 Maritz Travel Company - 2019 Cruise Supplier of the Year
2019 Conde Nast 2019 Hot List - Alaskan Splendors
2019 Northwest Travel + Life - 2019 Top Travel Picks
2019 Porthole Cruise - Best Cruise Partnership: Windstar Cruises & James Beard Foundation
2019 USA Today - #3 - Best Boutique
2019 USA Today - #7 for USA Today 10 Best Ocean Cruise Lines
2019 Conde Nast - Conde Nast Traveler 2019 Gold List
2019 USA Today - #6 for USA Today 10 Best Small Ships
2019 USA Today - #6 for USA Today 10 Best Cruise Ship for Dining
2019 Travel Age West WAVE - Best Small Ship Cruise Line
2019 Cruise Critic Cruisers Choice 2019 - Best Small Ship Dining: Wind Spirit
2019 Cruise Critic Cruisers Choice 2019 - Best Fitness + Recreation: Wind Surf
2019 Cruise Critic 2019 Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards - Top Small Ship Cruise Line in the Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda
2019 Travel + Leisure - #6 in Top 10 Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
2019 Travel + Leisure - #3 in Midsize Ship in Top 5 Midsize Ships
2018
2018 Recommend Best Small Ships - Silver for Best Small Ships
2018 Recommend / Prevue (C&I) - Visionary Award - Silver - Destination Immersion
2018 Conde Nast Traveler - Reader's Choice - 3rd - Small ship
2018 Seatrade Cruise News - Winner: Jess Peterson for Top "20 Under 40" List
2018 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards - 3 Golds, 1 Silver. Gold in Small Cruise Ship, Get Closer Campaign, Signature Expeditions in Alaska. Silver in Grand Japan itinerary
2018 Cruise Critic - Top Cruise Line in the Panama Canal & Central America in Cruise Critic's Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards
2018 Travel + Leisure - Travel + Leisure #1 World's Best for Mid-Size Ship
2018 BRIDE's - Top Honeymoon Cruise
2018 Travel Age West WAVE - Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
2018 Conde Nast Traveler - Reader's Choice Awards - 2018 Gold List
2018 Global Traveler's 2018 Leisure Lifestyle Awards - Best Adventure Cruise Line
2018 Cruise Critic - Cruiser's Choice Awards - Star Pride (Small Ship Category) - Best Cabins; Wind Spirit (Small Ship Category) - Best Fitness; Star Legend (Small Ship Category) - Best Public Rooms; Wind Star (Small Ship Category) - Best Service
2018 Sunset Travel Magazine - 7 Best Romantic Cruises for Couples: Classic Caribbean, Windstar Cruises
2018 Trip Savvy - The Best Cruise Lines for Couples
2018 Prevue Visionary Awards - Best Destination Immersion Experience
2017
2017 Town & Country – Windstar Cruises won Best for Families, Contemporary Luxury
2017 BRIDES Magazine – Windstar Cruises is awarded as The Top 10 Cruise Line For Honeymooners
2017 Cruise Critic – 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards – Best Cabins - Star Legend, Best Dining – Wind Surf in Small Ship Category
2017 USA Today – listed Windstar's entire fleet among "The 25 Most Beautiful Cruise Vessels."
2017 LandLopers.com – Wind Spirit included in “Experiential Luxury Travel - My Top 2016 Moments”
2017 Cruiseable.com – Windstar Cruises awarded in "The Top 10 Cruise Lines For Weddings"
2017 Cruise Report – 2016 Editor's Choice Awards – Best Small Ship Cruise Line
2017 Travel Weekly – 2017 Magellan Awards –
Gold in Overall Small Cruise Ship - Windstar Cruises;
Gold for "Have You Ever" Campaign - Cruise Marketing Campaign/Advertising-Marketing;
Gold for Grand Japan - Expeditions/Itinerary;
Silver for Windstar's Concierge Collection: Dubrovnik Dinner at a Local Family Village Estate - Expeditions/Shore Excursions; Silver for "Our Stories" Blog - Overall Blog
2017 Travel+Leisure – World's Best 2017
2017 American Airlines – Celebrated Living Magazine – 2017 Platinum List – Best Boutique Cruising Experience: Wind Star in Greece & the Amalfi Coast
2017 Food Fun Travel – Windstar included in "Top Cruises for Foodies"
2017 Travel Pulse – Windstar included in "Which Are the Most Popular Family Cruise Lines?"
2017 Travel Agent Central – Ultra-Premium Cruise Lines – 3rd Mention
2017 Signature Luxury and Style – 2017 Cruise Awards – Tall Ships - Second; Boutique Ships - Fourth
2017 Agent's Choice – Windstar Cruises awarded Second Place
2017 Caribbean Journal – Windstar Cruises awarded in "The Top 5 Small Ship Cruises in the Caribbean"
2017 Travel Channel – Windstar included in “10 Stylish Cruise Ships” – 3rd Mention
2017 Porthole Magazine – Reader’s Choice Awards 2017 – Best Tall Ship (Wind Surf) – Most Romantic Cruise Line
2016
2016 USA Today 10Best – Windstar Cruises Named Best Boutique Cruise Line
2016 Condé Nast Traveler – 2016 Reader’s Choice Award - Top Small Cruise Lines
2016 Cruise Critic – Windstar Cruises listed as Best for Romance in the Cruise Critic US Editors’ Picks Awards
2016 Travel Weekly – Winner of Magellan Gold Award in Cruise - Overall - Small Cruise Ship (500 Passengers or Under)
2016 Travel Weekly – Winner of Magellan Gold Award for Destination Discovery Events Cruise - Expeditions - Shore
2016 Travel Weekly – Around Iceland itinerary wins Magellan Gold Award in Expeditions category
2016 Travel Weekly – Star Promise Initiative wins Magellan Silver Award in Advertising / Marketing Campaign
2016 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines, Annual Readers’ Poll rated #3
2016 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best The Best Ocean Cruise Lines With Midsized Ships, Annual Readers’ Poll rated #3
2016 Celebrated Living – Windstar was named to the Celebrated Living Platinum list for “Best Boutique Cruises”
2016 AMVER – recognized Windstar cruises for participation in global reporting and assistance in distressed areas
2016 Fodor’s Travel – Windstar Cruises Around Iceland itinerary is listed as one of the 10 Best Honeymoon Destinations for 2016
2016 Smarter Travel – Windstar Cruises James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise is listed among 10 Best Cruise Lines for Foodies
2016 BRIDES Magazine – Windstar Cruises is awarded as The Top 10 Cruise Line For Couples
2016 Cruise Critic – Star Breeze named Best Service in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards
2016 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises listed on 21st Annual Gold List of “Our Favorite Cruise Lines”
2015
2015 Porthole Cruise Magazine - Windstar Cruises won Most Romantic Cruise Line of the 17th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards
2015 Condé Nast Traveler — Windstar Cruises recognized as #3 World’s Best Cruise Line in Small Ship Cruising in the 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards
2015 Cruise Critic.com— Windstar Cruises Costa Rica is listed in Best Cruises for Nature Lovers
2015 Landry & Kling – Wind Spirit included on the Top 10 Ships for Top-Tier Events
2015 Travel Weekly – Ranked as Overall Market Leader in Small Cruise Ships (500 passengers or less) in Magellan Awards
2015 Cruise Critic.com – Star Breeze named Best Ship Refurbishment in the Cruise Critic US Editors’ Picks Awards
2015 Cruise Critic.com – Windstar Cruises listed as Best for Romance in the Cruise Critic US Editors’ Picks Awards
2015 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines, Annual Readers’ Poll rated #3
2015 Islands Magazine – Star Legend’s San Juan & the Virgin Islands listed as one of the Best 6 Cruises for 2016 with its unique call in Montserrat
2015 Condé Nast Traveler – Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands featured as the #1 Cruise to Book
2015 Forbes Life – Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast featured as one of 6 Romantic Escapes to Live Out Your Italian Dreams
2015 Fox News – Rated among Top European Cruises If You Are a Honeymooner
2015 Island Magazine – Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast is recognized as #1 Best Cruise Trip: Editor’s Pick
2015 Islands Magazine – Wind Star is ranked #1 Best Cruise to Greece
2015 Metro – Jewels of the Windward Islands included in Five Caribbean Cruises “Off the Beaten Path”
2015 Travel + Leisure – Windstar Cruises recognized as Best Small Ship Cruise Line in World’s Best Cruise Lines Award
2015 Travel Channel – Top rating in Travel’s Best Honeymoons
2015 Wall Street Journal – Dreams of Tahiti is featured in Luxury Ocean Liners with the Best Travel Perks
2015 Yahoo Travel – Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands listed in Cruises to Unknown Islands That Are Hard to Pronounce But Easy to Love
2014
2014 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises recognized as #1 in the world in Readers' Choice Awards “Top Small-Ship Cruise Lines”
2014 Cruise Critic.com – Windstar Cruises awarded Best for Romance in Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks
2014 Travel Weekly – Ranked as Overall Market Leader in Small Cruise Ship (500 passengers or less) in Magellan Awards
2014 Wall Street Journal Cheat Sheet – Wind Surf’s Culinary & Wine Delights of Spain featured as one of the top 7 cruises for non-cruisers
2014 Luxury Cruise News – Wonders of Arabia featured as the Best Exotic Destination Cruise in the Best Cruises of 2015
2014 Travel Channel – Greek Isles & Turkish Delights selected for the Best Mediterranean Cruise
2014 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines, Annual Readers’ Poll rated #2
2014 Travel Pulse.com – Wind Surf’s Culinary & Wine Delights of Spain voyage recognized as one of “Seven Cruises Foodies Must Try”
2014 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar’s Wind Surf Suites recognized as one of the 10 “Sexiest Cruise Ship Cabins”
2014 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises listed on 19th Annual Gold List of “Best Cruise Lines”
2014 Condé Nast Traveler – Wind Surf, Wind Spirit and Wind Star listed in list of “Best Small Ships” in 2014 Reader’s Cruise Poll
2014 Fodors – Star Pride’s Singapore & Malay Peninsula recognized as one of the 10 Best New Cruise Itineraries for 2014
2014 USA Today – Windstar’s Costa Rica voyage listed as one of the best cruises for animal lovers.
2014 Wall Street Journal Cheat Sheet – Wind Surf’s Classic Italy & the Dalmatian Coast featured as the #5 best cruise to take.
2014 Bridal Guide – Wind Surf featured as the best honeymoon option for free spirits
2014 SAVEUR Magazine – Windstar Cruises recognized as an Outstanding Culinary Cruise Line in SAVEUR’s Culinary Travel Awards
2013
2013 Celebrated Living, American Airlines Magazine for First Class Passengers – Windstar Cruises named the #1 Small/Midsize Cruise Line for the fourth year in a row
2013 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises #2 on “Top Small-Ship Cruise Lines” Readers' Choice Awards; recognized as #1 in Service, Itineraries, and Design
2013 Condé Nast Traveler – Wind Surf and Wind Star listed in list of “Best Small Ships” in 2013 Reader’s Cruise Poll
2013 Cruise Critic.com – Windstar Cruises awarded Best for Honeymoons in the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards
2013 Cruise Critic.com – Wind Surf voted #3 in Best Overall Small Ship in the Cruisers’ Choice Award
2013 Cruise Critic.com – Wind Surf voted #1 for Best Embarkation in the Cruisers’ Choice Award
2013 Cruise Critic.com – Wind Surf voted #2 for Best Service in the Cruisers’ Choice Award
2013 Islands Magazine – Wind Surf’s Islands of Italy voyage ranked #1 in Top 10 Luxury Cruises
2013 Islands Magazine – Wind Spirit’s Jewels of the Windward Islands voyage listed in Top 20 Caribbean Cruises
2013 SAVEUR Magazine – Windstar Cruises recognized as an Outstanding Culinary Cruise Line in SAVEUR’s Culinary Travel Awards
2013 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines, Annual Readers’ Poll rated #3
2013 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Service for Small-Ship Cruise Lines Annual Readers’ Poll rated #3
2013 Travel Weekly – Received a Gold Magellan for Overall Market Leader in Small Cruise Ship (500 passengers or less)
2013 Yahoo! Travel – Windstar Cruises’ Passage Through Panama voyage named as the top Central American cruise for Yahoo! Cruise Picks for 2013.
2013 Fox News – Windstar Cruises ranked one of the top 10 Caribbean Cruises for 2013
2013 Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine – Windstar Cruises voted the Best Cruise Line Food aboard Luxury Cruise Lines.
2013 Women’s Choice Award – Windstar Cruises received the most recommended cruise line for adventure and small ship cruising among women from WomenCertified Inc.
2012
2012 Cruisecritic.com – Windstar Cruises awarded Best for Honeymoons in the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards
2012 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises listed on 18th Annual Gold List of “Best Cruise Lines” and Platinum Circle Honor
2012 Condé Nast Traveler – All three Windstar ships listed in list of “Best Small Ships” in 2011 Reader’s Cruise Poll
2012 National Geographic – Windstar Cruises selected as one of the World’s 10 Best Cruises in the National Geographic: The 10 Best of Everything 2012
2012 Celebrated Living, American Airlines Magazine for First Class Passengers – Windstar Cruises named the #1 Small/Midsize Cruise Line for the third year in a row
2012 Islands Magazine – “All-Time Best Cruises” List for Mediterranean Voyages
2012 Tourism Review – Windstar Cruises #8 in “Top Ten Cruise Lines for Fitness”
2012 Porthole Cruise Magazine – Windstar Cruises named “Most Romantic Cruise Line” and Wind Surf “Best Tall Ship” 14th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards
2011
2011 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises #3 on “Top Small-Ship Cruise Lines” Readers' Choice Awards (score 85.8)
2011 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines, 16th Annual Readers’ Poll rated #5
2011 Condé Nast Traveler – Windstar Cruises listed on 17th Annual Gold List of “Best Cruise Lines”
2011 Condé Nast Traveler – All three Windstar ships listed in list of “Best Small Ships” in 2011 Reader’s Cruise Poll
2011 Celebrated Living, American Airlines Magazine for First Class Passengers – Windstar Cruises named the #1 Small/Midsize Cruise Line, Readers’ Choice Platinum List
2011 Cruisecritic.com – Windstar’s Wind Surf named “Best Public Rooms” for Small Ships category
2011 Cruisecritic.com – Windstar’s Wind Surf named #2 for “Best Overall” for Small Ships category
2011 Islands Magazine – “All-Time Best Cruises” List for Mediterranean Voyages
2011 Porthole Cruise Magazine – Windstar Cruises named “Most Romantic Cruise Line” and Wind Surf “Best Tall Ship” 13th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards