Cruise line comparison
Windstar vs Azamara: which should you choose?
Windstar Cruises suits travelers who want a genuinely small ship, from 148-guest sailing yachts to 312-guest all-suite power yachts, with a water-sports platform, an open bridge and access to tiny harbors in Tahiti, Costa Rica and the Mediterranean. Azamara is better for travelers who want a slightly bigger ship of about 700 guests with house drinks and gratuities included, late nights and overnights in port, and more onboard variety. Windstar feels like a private yacht; Azamara like a boutique hotel.
- Windstar
- Azamara
Photo: Jpbazard Jean-Pierre Bazard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Windstar is the choice for a true small-ship experience: sails overhead, water toys at the stern and ports too small or shallow for most cruise ships. Azamara is the choice for travelers who want a bit more ship, with included drinks and gratuities, more onboard variety and itineraries built around late nights ashore. Active couples who love the water will likely prefer Windstar, while social travelers who value evenings in port will be happier on Azamara.
Windstar and Azamara both promise destination-focused cruising without the crowds, and both appeal to active, experienced travelers in their 50s, 60s and 70s. The key difference is scale. Windstar’s fleet of six ships includes three sailing ships with computer-controlled sails, Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf, and three all-suite yachts, Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend. Azamara’s four ships carry about 700 guests each, roughly double Windstar’s largest.
That size gap shapes everything. Windstar ships slip into small harbors and anchor off beaches where crew lower a platform at the stern for kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling. Azamara’s ships offer more restaurants, more lounges, a casino and evening entertainment, and use their size to schedule long stays and overnights in larger ports.
Windstar vs Azamara: head to head
| Feature | Windstar | Azamara |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Casual, outdoorsy and yacht-like; the captain’s bridge is often open to guests. | Sociable and relaxed; a boutique-hotel feel with a lively bar. |
| Typical guest | Active couples 50 and older who like water sports and small ports. | Well-traveled, social cruisers, mostly 55 to 75, who want long hours ashore. |
| Ships and size | Sailing ships of 148 to about 340 guests and all-suite yachts of 312. | Four ships of about 700 guests each. |
| What’s included | Meals, soft drinks and use of water-sports gear; an All-Inclusive package adds drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities and is often offered as a promotion. | Gratuities, select house drinks, soft drinks and specialty coffee, plus an AzAmazing Evening on most voyages. |
| Dining | AmphorA main restaurant, Candles outdoor grill and Cuadro 44 Spanish tapas on the yachts; menus influenced by its James Beard Foundation partnership. | Discoveries Restaurant and Windows Café; Prime C and Aqualina with a cover charge. |
| Signature experiences | Water-sports platform, a deck barbecue night and the open bridge. | AzAmazing Evenings, night touring and overnights in port. |
| Cabins | Compact, well-designed cabins on the sailing ships; every cabin is a suite on Star Pride, Breeze and Legend. | Snug standard cabins in every category, with roomier Club suites at the top. |
| Itineraries | Tahiti year-round on Wind Spirit, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, and Greek, Croatian and Italian coasts. | Single-country deep dives, plus the Med, Scandinavia, Asia, South America and Africa. |
| Price positioning | Upper premium; whether the All-Inclusive package is bundled in changes the math considerably. | Upper premium, with drinks and tips already included. |
| Loyalty | Yacht Club, a four-tier points program for returning guests. | Le Club Voyage, which counts your nights with Azamara and unlocks tiered perks. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Windstar if…
- You want to cruise under sail on a ship like Wind Surf or Wind Spirit.
- You want to kayak, paddleboard and snorkel straight from a platform at the stern.
- You want Tahiti, Costa Rica or small Mediterranean harbors that larger ships skip.
- You prefer a ship of about 300 guests or fewer, where you can visit the bridge.
Choose Azamara if…
- You want house drinks and gratuities included as standard rather than as an add-on.
- You want late departures and overnights so you can explore ports in the evening.
- You like having a choice of lounges, a casino and evening entertainment aboard.
- You want a Country-Intensive Voyage that explores one country in depth.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Windstar | Azamara |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Average ship age | 37.3 years | 26 years |
| Average ship size | 9,000 GT | 30,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Star Legend | Azamara Pursuit |
| Largest ship | Wind Surf | Azamara Onward |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Windstar vs Azamara: FAQs
Is Windstar or Azamara smaller?
Windstar. Its ships carry from 148 guests on Wind Star and Wind Spirit to about 340 on Wind Surf, while the all-suite yachts carry 312. Azamara’s four ships carry about 700 guests each.
Does Windstar include drinks?
Not in the base fare, beyond soft drinks. Windstar sells an All-Inclusive package covering cocktails, wine, beer, Wi-Fi and gratuities, and it frequently includes that package as a promotion. Azamara includes house drinks and gratuities as standard.
Which is better for Tahiti, Windstar or Azamara?
Windstar. Its sailing ship Wind Spirit is based in French Polynesia year-round, visiting islands such as Bora Bora, Moorea and Raiatea. Azamara visits the South Pacific only occasionally.
Do Windstar ships actually sail?
Yes. Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf have computer-controlled sails and often cruise under sail when the wind cooperates, though they also use engines. The Star Plus yachts are motor-powered.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Windstar official site, Azamara official site.