What Is River-to-Ocean Cruising… and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

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If you’ve ever looked at a river cruise and thought, this looks amazing… but I wish it went a little further, this is exactly what people have been waiting for.

 

 

Windstar Cruises is rolling out something new called river-to-ocean cruising. Instead of choosing between a river cruise or an ocean cruise, this combines both into one trip. You start inland, sailing through the smaller towns, vineyards, and historic areas that make river cruising so special, and then instead of stopping there, you continue out to sea and add in coastal destinations you normally wouldn’t reach on a river itinerary.

 

So you’re not choosing one or the other anymore. You’re getting both, and it all flows together as one experience.

 

Windstar’s new all-suite yacht, Star Explorer, launches in December 2026 and was specifically built for this type of travel. It’s small enough to navigate rivers that larger ships can’t access, but also designed to sail open water and reach coastal ports that traditional river ships can’t get to. It means you’re getting into places that feel more personal and less crowded, while still having the ability to expand your trip beyond just the river.

 

And this isn’t something years away!

 

Windstar is expected to begin rolling this out in late 2026, with the first full itineraries sailing in 2027.

 

These are the itineraries they’ve already announced for 2027:

 

• Impressionist France - 10 nights 

 

Sailing from Bordeaux to London/HMS Belfast, this itinerary connects the Seine and the Thames with overnights in Bordeaux, St. Malo, and Paris/Rouen.

 

• Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal - 8 nights 

 

This one combines Bordeaux’s river access with time along the Spanish coast and into Portugal, including the Douro region.

 

• Moroccan Markets & Iberian Icons - 8 nights 

 

You’ll sail into Seville via the Guadalquivir River and then continue on to a mix of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

 

• Ireland Circumnavigation - 10 nights 

 

This itinerary includes a stop at Cork City Quay on the River Lee before continuing along Ireland’s coastline of cliffs and castles.

 

These are not your typical cruise itineraries, and that’s exactly the point.

 

This is for someone who wants something a little different. Maybe you’ve looked at river cruises before but wanted more variety. Or maybe you’ve done ocean cruises and are looking for something that feels more curated and less crowded.

 

This checks both boxes. You are not piecing together multiple trips or trying to coordinate logistics between different types of travel. It’s all built into one itinerary.

 

If this caught your attention, reach out and we can start looking at what these itineraries will look like as they open up.

 

Contact us for more info:

 

 info@splendorvacations.com
 888-338-6008
 www.splendorvacations.com