Home » CRUISE NEWS » Now, Discover Europe’s Iconic Destinations on Windstar’s New Three- to Five-Night
Published on
August 12, 2025 |
Windstar Cruises is gearing up to roll out a fresh set of short European yacht voyages, with three- to five-night itineraries that glide into some of the continent’s most beguiling and often-overlooked ports. Launching in spring 2026, the new “Quick Getaways” sailings promise an intimate, glide-in-and-glide-out approach to cruising, letting the line’s petite yachts nip into harbours off-limits to the big ships. Port lists span the Southern French coastline, Italy’s lesser-known gems, delightful corners of Belgium, and charming northern French towns, crafting a passport-to-culture for travelers who crave a lavish holiday without the time investment.
The set comprises four carefully choreographed routes, each a three-to-five-night puzzle of art, history, and coastline scenery. Aboard Windstar’s sleek, yacht-like vessels, guests wander the same cobblestones that fewer travelers touch, savor guides who remember names, and sip complimentary wines in taverns that the hulking vessels simply pass by.
One of the four routes, “A Taste of Southern France,” is a three-night showcase of the sun-drenched Mediterranean fringe. Guests embark in Marseilles, sail the cerulean Med, and awake in Sète, where a brisk walk leads to oyster farms and the ornate canals of the “Venice of Languedoc.” The next day guests glide past the terracotta rooftops of Collioure before curling into the photograph-ready citadel of Carcassonne, where a fairy-tale rampart walk draws a jewelled sunset.
Sète, with its waterfront cafés and mirror-flat canals, feels like the Mediterranean’s best-kept secret; Collioure, on the border of France and Spain, is a painter’s dream, its pastel houses stacking like colored pencils against the sea. Yet the crown jewel of this journey is Carcassonne, whose fairy-tale ramparts and ancient stones whisper centuries of history. You can cover a remarkable stretch of Southern France’s beauty and culture without racing the clock.
The playful silence of the “La Dolce Vita in Italy & France” three-night cruise is made for lingering. After a gentle sail past secret coves, you’ll wander Corsican stalls loaded with wild salami, round a Tuscan hill locked in golden light, and sip a well-earned glass of Chianti on the ship’s deck as the sun drops like a coin into the sea. In three effortless days, you’ll have kissed the coasts of two Mediterranean countries, felt the scents of both, and still have time for a nap.
Belgium: Three-Night Voyage
Windstar’s “Belgium Getaway” sailing spans just three nights but introduces travelers to the country’s culture and history in a remarkably rich way. Bruges shines brightest on the itinerary, its winding canals, medieval spires, and chocolatiers beckoning at every turn. Guests roam fairy-tale streets, pause at iconic Belfries, and nibble on pralines crafted to perfection. This easygoing cruise is crafted for those craving a taste of Belgium’s spirit—as easily digestible as a delicate chocolate shell—while packing in art, architecture, and unforgettable flavor.
St. Malo Getaway: Four-Night Voyage
The “St. Malo Getaway” stretches to four nights, unlocking a blend of northern France and the British Isles. A highlight is the ship passing beneath the drawbridge of London’s Tower Bridge; for a moment, travelers glide beneath the city’s silhouette, the Shard and St. Paul’s keeping watch. Soon the voyage sweeps to France’s northern coastline, where Mont-Saint-Michel rises like a dream: a soaring abbey above tide-swept sands. This cruise is for those keen to sip a British ale one evening and stroll medieval streets the next, all while history, coastline, and cathedral spires compete for the eye.
Why Choose Windstar for Your European Getaway?
Windstar Cruises delivers an intimacy that larger cruise lines simply can’t match. With sleek luxury yachts that glide into little harbors and secluded bays, we take you where the big ships can’t go. Picture strolling cobbled streets while most passengers are still in line for the gangway, or stepping directly onto a charming quay in a hidden village where the streets are broad enough for only a few passengers at a time.
Each yacht in the Windstar fleet—carrying just a few hundred guests—means more space on deck, more time with the crew, and an itinerary that bends, not breaks, to fit your interests. Sip a perfectly chilled rosé at a table for two in an open-air restaurant; relax on a sunlit deck with the sails unfurling overhead, or hop into a kayak to greet the cliffs of an island at sunset. Every moment on board is designed to feel private, polished, and all your own.
Exploring Europe’s Hidden Gems in Just a Few Days
With Windstar’s Quick Getaways, you can retreat into Europe’s hidden heart— in just a handful of days. Start your mini-journey among the ocher cliffs of Southern France, savour the anise scent of a sidewalk café, and end the afternoon on a sunlit deck with lavender breezes. Head next to Tuscany, where a vine-covered hilltown feels borrowed from a postcard, or to Corsica’s marble caves, where the scent of wild maquis lifts from the sea. ochre
Or let the art and rhythm of Belgium and northern France capture you, starting with a morning in a quiet Bruges canal and ending with a sparkling midnight stroll along a lantern-lit Lille street. Our thoughtfully crafted, two- to five-night itineraries take you deep into lands that gild your passport with memories, while still offering the luxury and pampering you deserve from an extended escape.
Windstar’s Quick Getaways are crafted for busy travelers who want to savor Europe’s charm in just a few days. Each short voyage stitches together iconic ports and charming hidden corners, letting guests sample a full spectrum of history, scenery, and culture without lengthy transfers. The relaxed pace on board and the focus on linger-in-port evenings make the most of every hour.
Tourism Growth and Accessibility
Rolling out these concise itineraries is part of Windstar’s mission to broaden the menu of experiences while keeping them easy to embrace. By spotlighting less-travelled havens side by side with beloved cities, the line invites everyone from families to adventure-seekers to enjoy Europe without the pledge of a week-long sailing.
Across the industry, people increasingly want travel moments that linger in memory, yet fit neatly around busy lives. The surge in short, meaningful voyages underscores the appetite for approachable luxury—whether guests are unwinding, diving into history, or seeking fresh adventure. Everyone is busy, yet everyone is looking for just a little getaway that feels like a full, creditable journey.
Conclusion
Windstar Cruises’ new Quick Getaways series marks an exciting advance in providing travelers with elegant, short-duration voyages to Europe’s most breathtaking ports. Sailings through southern France, Italy, Belgium and northern France are designed to deliver an immediate and in-depth sense of place for anyone in search of a remarkable European escape. Whether you stand on an intimate quay in a coastal village, linger at a priceless monument, or wander a sun-dappled island, Windstar’s thoughtfully curated routes let you sample the very soul of Europe in little more than a weekend.
