MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 22, 2026--
Driven by strong demand for Asia voyages, Windstar Cruises is expanding its presence in the region with the launch of its 2028/2029 Asia season aboard the 112-suite Star Seeker. As of June 2026, bookings for Star Seeker’s 2027 Asia voyages have nearly doubled ahead of the same time last year, reflecting growing interest in Windstar's style of small-ship exploration and immersive cultural discovery.
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The new season will sail through Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore, combining overnight stays, extended Cruise Tours and access to destinations larger ships cannot reach. Star Seeker's size allows it to access city-center docks and smaller regional ports, creating a more seamless and destination-focused experience throughout Asia.
For a limited time, guests will also have access to a new Early Booking Offer, rewarding those who plan ahead and book early amid strong demand for Asia voyages. Guests who book by July 31, 2026 can take advantage, which includes the best stateroom selection along with a Complimentary All-Inclusive Package, $100 onboard credit per guest and 5% savings on cruise fares when paid in full at the time of booking.
"We're seeing extraordinary enthusiasm for Asia, with bookings significantly outpacing previous years," says Janet Bava, chief commercial officer at Windstar Cruises. "Travelers are looking for experiences that feel more immersive and personal. With Star Seeker, we're able to dock closer to the cultural centers of cities like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, visit smaller ports throughout the region, and create connections to local culture that simply aren't possible on larger ships."
What Makes Windstar Different in Asia?
Windstar offers a more personal way to explore Asia. Designed for destination discovery, Star Seeker features 112 spacious suites, nearly all with a private veranda or infinity window that opens to let the ocean breeze in, along with Windstar’s signature yacht-style atmosphere and personalized service.
The yacht’s smaller size allows rare access. Star Seeker sails directly into the heart of cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, unlike larger ships that dock hours away in ports such as Phu My and Laem Chabang. Star Seeker can also reach smaller destinations throughout the region, from the limestone cliffs of Krabi to the quiet beaches and local villages of Ko Yao Noi. On Ko Kood, Windstar’s signature beach party features a barbecue on the sand and watersports directly from the beach.
Windstar is also known for its exclusive Destination Discovery Events—curated shoreside experiences created specifically for Windstar guests. In Japan, Traditions of Tomonoura & the Inland Sea brings guests into one of the country’s historic port towns through tea ceremonies, live koto music, Edo-period streets and exclusive access to the historic Ota Family Residence.
As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar also brings a strong culinary focus to its Asia sailings. Guests can enjoy locally inspired cuisine and destination-driven dining onboard, then dive deeper into the region’s flavors through guided food tours and market visits, from Singapore’s famous hawker centers to Thailand’s floating markets.
Where Does Star Seeker Sail in Asia?
Windstar’s Asia season aboard Star Seeker features 25 departures sailing between September 2028 and May 2029. Guests can choose from four core cruise-only voyages and customize their experience with longer Star Collector sailings ranging from 20 to 42 days, as well as pre- and post-cruise Cruise Tours to Hanoi, Angkor Wat, Chiang Mai and Kyoto—creating up to 87 itinerary combinations throughout the season.
Featured itineraries include:
Which Cruise Tours Are Available in Asia?
Windstar’s Cruise Tours extend the journey beyond the ship with multi-day inland programs designed to bring guests deeper into Asia’s most fascinating destinations.
Why Book Early?
With just 112 suites aboard Star Seeker and strong demand expected for Asia travel, Windstar’s Early Booking Offer rewards guests who plan ahead with the best fares, preferred sailing dates and top stateroom selection across the 2028/2029 season.
The offer includes several benefits for guests who reserve early:
How to Book
To plan a small ship cruise with Windstar, book online here, contact a travel advisor, reach out to Windstar Cruises by phone at 866-258-7245, or request a call by a Windstar vacation planner.
Images for media here. Credit: Windstar Cruises.
About Windstar Cruises
For four decades, Windstar Cruises has reimagined small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world’s most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of four Star Class all-suite yachts — including its newest addition, Star Seeker, which joined the fleet in December 2025 — and three Wind Class sailing yachts. Its highly anticipated Star Explorer is set to debut in December 2026, expanding the fleet to eight yachts accommodating 150–350 guests. Windstar’s Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a meticulous two-phase redesign, to be completed by 2027. Windstar sails to more than 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, the South Pacific, and Asia — and unlike most cruise lines, operates year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti. Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®.
Note: the image above is an AI-generated rendering. Credit: Windstar Cruises
NEW YORK (AP) — Clive Davis, the record company lawyer who became one of the music industry's most powerful figures, launching or resurrecting the careers of such superstars as Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys, has died, his family confirmed. He was 94.
Earlier this year, Davis was hospitalized following an upper respiratory issue and was released a few days later. His death, in his Manhattan apartment, was confirmed by his publicist Aliza Rabinoff, who also shared a statement from his family.
“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations,” the statement read.
Unlike other record moguls whose influence waned as they got older, Davis' might only seemed to grow over his career, which spanned multiple genres and labels. Into his 80s, he was directing the careers of everyone from Barry Manilow to “American Idol” winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.
His success stories were staggering, with Houston a crowning achievement and devastating tragedy: Davis signed her to his Arista record label when she was just a teen and turned her into America's reigning pop princess.
Houston racked up multiple No. 1 hits and became one of the top-selling artists in pop history before drug abuse hobbled her career. She died in a Los Angeles hotel room in 2012, just hours before she was to appear at the annual pre-Grammy Awards gala hosted by Davis, who had been convinced she was turning her life around.
“Maybe I should have been more skeptical,” Davis wrote in his 2013 memoir, “The Soundtrack of My Life,” “but I’ve always been optimistic, and I felt hopeful. It felt like old times.”
He also launched the career of multi-platinum, multiple-Grammy winner Keys — and was quick to note other talents he signed, including Joplin and Billy Joel, Blood Sweat & Tears and other “all-timers,” as he so often put it.
“I signed Patti Smith, the great Renaissance woman ... I signed Lou Reed ... I signed the Grateful Dead,” he proudly touted in an interview with The Associated Press in 1999.
But Davis didn't simply have an eye for new talent — he also knew how to keep veterans relevant decades after their first hit. Aretha Franklin, whose legend was made at Atlantic Records, flourished in her later years at Arista, as did Luther Vandross, who made his last albums for another Davis label, J Records.
It was Davis who conceived of the 1999 album “Supernatural,” which paired guitar god Santana with some of the day's hottest talents. The record won a record-tying eight Grammys and gave Santana more success than he had ever enjoyed in his decades-long career.
He had middle aged star Rod Stewart trade in his rock hits for standards from “The Great American Songbook.” The album, released in 2003, sold millions and was so successful it spawned four titles in all.
Davis didn’t always make the right choices; he turned down a chance to sign up Meatloaf. And he and his collaborators didn’t always agree. He and producer David Foster fought bitterly over the arrangement for Houston’s all-time hit, a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
And Manilow strongly objected to recording “I Write the Songs,” noting that he didn’t even write the song, a Bruce Johnston ballad that became a signature hit for Manilow, who would have similar latter-day success mining the music of the 1950s, 60s and '70s.
“He's just brilliant at picking ideas he thinks the public will connect,” raved Manilow, who had worked with Davis since he was a budding singer at Columbia Records.
Davis also had his struggles. Though he became president of Columbia Records in 1967 after joining the label in 1960 as a lawyer, by 1973 he was gone in a bitter fallout. The label accused him of mismanagement of funds and he was fired. Although Davis says he was later cleared, it wasn't the end of his problems; he later was indicted on tax evasion charges, pleaded guilty to one count and had to pay a $10,000 fine.
However, Davis would declare victory: He says Columbia gave him the money to start Arista to resolve the dispute, and the label would become a huge success with artists like country superstars Brooks & Dunn, sassy R&B group TLC, Babyface, Houston, Franklin and others.
The label had huge success with a debut act — Milli Vanilli. But the male pop duo would become the embarrassment of the industry when, after winning a Grammy, it was revealed that they weren't actually singing their songs (Davis blamed the debacle on the label's European division, which he said signed them; the group was later stripped of its best new artist Grammy).
In 1999, as Arista was celebrating its 25th anniversary, Davis faced another crisis: The label's then-parent company, BMG Entertainment, a division of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, wanted him to retire; most of its executives were eased out by 60, and Davis was in his mid-60s.
In 2000, despite support from his superstar roster, the company ousted him in favor of producer and songwriter Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who would later become chairman of Island/Def Jam.
However, instead of severing its ties with Davis, BMG helped him launch J Records in what BMG has described as the largest record company startup ever created. Vandross was one of his initial artists, along with forgettable acts like the boy-band O-Town.
J Records was a success from the start, though, and only grew in stature with the arrival of a young singer named Keys, a piano-playing singer-songwriter with powerful pipes and dramatic R&B songs. Keys' albums would go on to sell millions and win several Grammys.
His influence grew even more when Davis was tapped for BMG's U.S. division.
He became a key backer of the careers of the winners of “American Idol,” guiding many albums to platinum status. The show's link to Sony BMG came through a deal between Davis and 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.
In 2007, however, Davis disagreed with the direction of Clarkson's “My December,” and she publicly criticized him. The album was a flop, and she later apologized.
In 2008, Sony BMG replaced Davis as chairman and chief executive officer of the BMG label group, giving him the title of chief creative officer.
Davis, who was born on April 4, 1932, had four children. In his memoir, he confirmed longtime rumors that he was bisexual and had been living with a man in recent years.
“Do I feel I could have been similarly attracted to a woman?” Davis wrote. “The answer is yes.”
His family shared a loving statement on Monday.
“Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness. We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.”
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Former AP writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody was the main writer of this obituary.
FILE - Music producer Clive Davis, left, appears with singer Whitney Houston at the pre-Grammy gala in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file)
FILE - Sony Music Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer and famous hitmaker Clive Davis posing for a portrait in his office in New York on Feb. 18, 2013. (Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Record mogul Clive Davis is pictured in his New York office, Sept. 10, 1980. (AP Photo/Marty Reichenthal, File)
FILE - Clive Davis, chief creative officer of Sony Music, appears during press day in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 23, 2014, prior to Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala. (Photo by Casey Curry/Invision/AP, File
