SEATTLE — Windstar Cruises has big plans next year for Europe, where it has just announced a total of 20 new itineraries that will run from April through October.

The small ship cruise line will debut eight new itineraries in Northern Europe and 12 new Mediterranean voyages, bringing its total unique itineraries in Europe for 2018 to an impressive 40. The itineraries beget 26 new European ports, increasing the company’s global number of maiden ports to 93 next year.

“These 20 new itineraries are just the latest development in response to our growing customer demand, we’re keenly focused on offering more and varied sailings that effectively leverage our fleet of six small ships,” said Windstar President John Delaney. “Our team constantly seeks out new experiences, lesser known ports and harbors everywhere we sail — hidden treasures that only true small ships can access. Unveiling these new itineraries further demonstrates our commitment to destination authenticity – delivering incredible experiences in a highly customized way.”

Highlights in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean for 2018 include:

• The seven-day ‘Secrets of the Faroe, Shetland & Orkney Islands, roundtrip from Edinburgh, which highlights the remote islands of the North Atlantic
• The eight-day, ‘Norway’s Famous Fjords’, sailing roundtrip from Copenhagen with featured ports in Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord
• The 11-day ‘Sailing Southern Italy & Croatia’, which explores both coasts of Italy and the Croatian Riviera, with two stops in Bari and Brindisi in Puglia
• The eight-day ‘Hidden Harbors of the Côte d’Azur, which travels from Nice to Barcelona with stops in Bastia, Corsica; Le Lavandou, Marseille; Sanary-sur-Mer, France; and Palamos, Spain.

The full list of new voyages is as follows:

Mediterranean

Ancient Wonders of Greece & Ephesus
Barcelona & the Grand Prix of Monaco
Charms of the French & Spanish Rivieras
Gems of the Adriatic Sea
Hidden Harbors of the Côte d’Azur
Iconic Italy
Mediterranean Island Mosaic
Moorish Medley
Riviera Romance
Sailing Southern Italy & Croatia
Tuscany & the Tyrrhenian Sea
Yachting the Riviera

Northern Europe

Arctic Circle & North Cape Escape
Beauty of the Baltic & Kiel Canal
Belles of the British Isles
Bordeaux, Basque Lands & Brittany
Norway’s Famous Fjords
Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Isles
Scandinavia & Baltic Spectacular
Secrets of the Faroe, Shetland & Orkney Islands

Windstar’s three all-suite power yachts have opened up new places for the company to explore, including more ports in Northern Europe and smaller ports in the Mediterranean. The yachts are perfectly suited to sailing into smaller harbours and fjords, scenic coastal cruising, and traversing larger distances at higher speeds.

Windstar’s destination expansion brings a ship to Asia later this year on a host of new itineraries, also on tap for 2018 are recently announced new voyages in Alaska, Canada and New England.