Table Of Content
As the ship’s de facto coffee bar, the Yacht Club was open from 7 a.m. The bar opened onto the Library, where there was seating, but most days we didn’t see many gathered here. One night of our cruise was dedicated to the top-deck Barbecue Dinner. A tasty buffet was set out at dusk and Wind Surf nuzzled up to the base of the erupting volcano Stromboli. The skies darkened and we were mesmerized by incandescent lava sparking from the summit like a Roman candle.
Star Breeze
It’s not a cruise for everyone, and our journey wasn’t perfect, but—spoiler alert—we fell in love with Wind Surf. I’ve studied cruise itineraries for over 20 years, and the ports of call for large cruise ships rarely change. I was shocked to see the remote destinations that Windstar Cruises travel to. And we also had the chance to go to Gustavia (St. Bart’s), the island of all things luxury and exuberant.
Down Below Deck
There are no cruise boats or ships with Windstar, only yachts and sailboats. I took the Star Legend, a small, incredibly picturesque yacht. The Legend was small enough to learn my way around in a short time, without wasting precious vacation time. Still, it was big enough to cuddle up for a warm-weather nap, read a good book, have an intimate conversation, or watch as we sailed through the mesmerizing blue waters. Boarding the Star Legend in St. Maarten, my husband and I set sail on a romantic and adventurous itinerary with a cruise brand known for offering exceptional vacations and a reputation to back that claim. We had a week of sailing through the Caribbean, soaking up the sights in Antigua, the BVI, and St. Bart’s to create memories that will last for a lifetime and really get to know the Windstar brand.
Windstar Cruises Reviews
Alcoholic beverages will not be served to guests under age 21. There are several beer, wine, cocktails, and premium liquor packages offered. Guests can select a one of these beverage packages, or purchase drinks a la carte. But for the best deal, guests 21+ can purchase the All-In Package. It includes unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, WiFi, and gratuities priced at $89 per guest per day, when purchased prior to sailing. All of the existing suites were refurbished and refreshed from top to bottom during the renovation.
Candles Grill was the ship’s steakhouse, located on the pool deck under the stars (weather permitting). For Stella Bistro and—especially—Candles, reservations are strongly advised. On one night of the cruise all of these venues were closed and a deck-top Barbecue Buffet Dinner was organized.
Plus, there are separate areas set with large tables to work on puzzles, view the extensive map collection or play board or card games. The center area offers multiple shelves of books for readers to peruse from travel guides, novels to non-fiction titles. The main fine dining restaurant, Amphora, located on deck 3 received a complete new redesign.
First, the yacht was cut in half and then lengthened by inserting an 84-foot block in the ship’s center. The new section has 50 Star Balcony Suites bringing the total guest capacity up from 212 to 312 passengers. In addition, the new Grand Owner’s Suites are combinable with adjoining suites that result in the creation of a very large three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom suite.
The Windstar is an elegant yacht that can accommodate 148 guests. With four decks and a total tonnage of 5,307, the Windstar feels like your own little boat. Windstars have a very open teak deck, which is very rare for small boats.
The water sports platform can only be used when the ship is anchored offshore (not docked in port). As well, the Star Plus ships have the alfresco Star Grill – casual seating topside under cover. Attractively decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and panels, AmphorA is the main dining room on all Windstar ships. As for Windstar Cruises’ dress code, gents, don’t worry – there’s no need to wear a jacket or tie in the evenings for dinner. There’s no additional charge for the specialty restaurants. These suites have either portholes or picture windows, along with queen size beds.
Windstar Star Pride Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Windstar Star Pride Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:17:09 GMT [source]
From Windstar Legend reviews to Pride and Star Breeze, we will review each ship independently. So let’s dive deep into the reviews of Windstar Cruises for different ships. At night, the dress code becomes Casual Elegance, meaning T-shirts, shorts, jeans, flip-flops and hats are prohibited in the main dining room (but acceptable in Candles, the ship's casual outdoor dinner venue). Women commonly wear a dress, skirt and blouse or pantsuit, and men sport slacks with dress shirts or collared shirts.
They're stunning, and there's a genuine sense of excitement when you see them go up for the first time. Controlled directly from the bridge using hydraulics, they're capable of generating speeds of up to 12 knots, without any supporting engine power. The fact that the sails are computer operated doesn't detract from the romance of their presence. Don't miss the chance to sit out on deck and watch them in action -- particularly if you can snare the perfect Caribbean or Mediterranean sunset at the same time -- as the ship sails away from port. Yes, you are allowed to smoke on the ship but only in the designated areas.
This meant we could squeeze the most out of each day, without worrying about getting back to the ship on time. Nor do you have to pack snorkeling gear for your trip, as Windstar offers complimentary use of masks, snorkels and fins. On the Wind Surf, the Stella Bistro is a specialty French restaurant with a four-course menu. We especially liked eating alfresco on the Star Pride, watching dusk work its magic on the scenery ashore, as the ship pulled out of port in the evening. George likes the older layout, which allows you to sit on the couch by the window and soak up the view (for example, during room service breakfast). They’re very spacious and feature walk-in closets, large bathrooms with two sinks and lots of storage space.
Windstar added more to its spa and fitness offerings during the renovation, expanding the space on deck 7. A new motion studio offers active guests a chance to take complimentary classes like pilates and other fitness classes. The new fitness center is spotlessly clean with plenty of fresh towels available.
The long days in port were something we particularly enjoyed on our most recent Windstar cruise. The Windstar cruise line prides itself on their ports-of-call being one of their chief attractions. It serves up different barbecued meats and fish for lunch and dinner, and there’s a small salad bar there too. As well as the buffet, there are menu options you can order (like Eggs Benedict for breakfast). On one of our cruises, the Indian lamb biryani and chicken curry were so delicately spiced, they were as popular as the beef tenderloin main course.
The Windstar Windsurf review is incomplete without having a look at what you will get onboard. Here’s a list of some facilities that you will get on a Wind Surf cruise. During your cruise, you’ll find the perfect environment to “make an entrance” to the beautiful reception area.
There were always at least two officers present, happy to answer questions about the ship. One venue on this deck that got little use during our cruise was the Nautilus Room, a conference room with chairs to seat about 50. The facility was perfunctory, but included a rear-projection TV screen for presentations. The chef also organized a visit to a local market at one port, where he stocked up on fresh fruit, produce and other goods for the evening meal. At lunch there were nine different sandwiches, along with a soup of the day.
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