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As it should be; the restaurant’s ingredients shine in ways no other onboard eatery can match. When lying in bed with those doors open, I feel so connected to the sea, as if my bed is its own boat and I’m sailing separately from other passengers. I haven’t been on this 312-passenger ship in several years, before Windstar spent megabucks to upgrade it; the vessel was halved for a new 80-foot midsection and to add shipboard upgrades after a major 2021 refurbishment. Dining in elegance on a James Beard Foundation Culinary cruise, attending VIP events at the Monaco Grand Prix, or skipping the lines to the Sistine Chapel are all possible on a themed cruise or cruise tour with Windstar Cruises. The ship offers two banks of elevators, and four accessible cabins for those with mobility issues. Some of its itineraries -- especially those where tendering ashore is more the norm -- might not be a good fit for those who have mobility concerns.
Five Things I Learned in French Polynesia’s Remote Marquesas Islands
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. In 2024, Star Breeze will relocate to French Polynesia, where it will make its permanent home. It's a great fit for a ship that puts and emphasis on outdoor public spaces (including two al fresco restaurants) as well as its aft marina, open to guests several times per cruise.
Cruise Review: The Transformed Windstar Star Breeze
Its more reasonable pricing, combined with its small size, makes this distinctive line so appealing. Sail across the Atlantic Ocean with Windstar Cruises' luxurious yachts or sail ships and enjoy a relaxing voyage like no other. Guests are responsible for checking the current travel requirements for their return home. Additionally, in 2020 Windstar Cruises instituted the “Beyond Ordinary Care program making a multi-million investment in their ships by retrofitting them with HEPA Filters and electrostatic sprayers to sanitize all surfaces.
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Although Tahitian and French are mostly what’s spoken, English is also widely in evidence as well, and the islanders themselves couldn’t be more warm and welcoming. While enjoying a five-star vacation at sea is a destination in itself, guests are here to experience everything French Polynesia has to offer, and Windstar’s excursion lineup has something for everyone. Light snacks are available in the Yacht Club and soft-serve ice cream is adjacent to the Star Grill. I liked to start my day with Swedish Pancakes in Veranda, and end in Amphora, where the food is uniformly excellent. Like many older vessels, it featured a step-out, French balcony that let in the Polynesian trade winds.
World Spa aboard Windstar's Star Breeze
The three-decade-old ship underwent the "stretching" process as a part of the $250 million Star Plus Initiative. This expanded all three of Windstar's Star Class ships to allow for 100 more passengers, two new dining venues, and space for four new engines per ship. “The service is impeccable, staff is friendly and attentive, and suites are consistent throughout.” Annie also gave the cuisine high marks, with innovative menus including healthy items that burst with flavor and nuance. “Specialty restaurants add an enjoyable element for a ship this size, including the al fresco dining venues,” said Annie. My informal survey reveals that they really enjoy the private yacht-like vibe.
The menus offer something for every taste and do a good job of incorporating local favorites as well. Windstar has a partnership with the James Beard Foundation, and menus feature a James Beard selection as an option. Note you won’t receive a copy of the Daily Planner on your bed — it’s available digitally on the Windstar app or your stateroom TV. While Windstar’s power yachts like Star Breeze are almost 30 years old, it looks new. It had a major makeover a few years ago that added a whole new midsection and other upgrades, plus it is routinely refreshed every two years.
In each port is offered a "Market Tour" (complimentary) on which you can join the Star Breeze ship's Executive Chef on his port shopping trip to local markets. Carolyn you captured our experience onboard for Star Breeze’s unexpected journey through French Polynesia to a tee! It was truly a cruise of a lifetime and we are still talking about it almost daily with friends and family. In one of the most splendid deck barbecues I’ve ever experienced on Windstar, the mayor brought her family and friends.
Windstar Cruises to Add New Ships to Fleet in 2025, 2026 - Travel Agent Central
Windstar Cruises to Add New Ships to Fleet in 2025, 2026.
Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:42:47 GMT [source]
But that doesn’t mean you won’t be entertained after a day of excursions. Most days, you’ll be topside on decks 7 and 8, where you’ll find the Yacht Club, a lounge with panoramic windows — perfect for relaxing, reading, meeting friends or enjoying coffee and light snacks from the bar. Also on these decks are the pool and hot tubs, the Star Grill and bar and plenty of seating. In late 2022, we took a Caribbean holiday cruise on Star Legend, the sister yacht to Star Breeze, so we were very familiar with the layout.
Star Breeze deckplan changes 2020 reconstruction / refurbishment review
With multiple teak-wood sundecks, guests enjoy the outdoor space, which someone never feels crowded. Kudos, too, for lots of built-in shade, something many cruise lines seem to forget about. For guests who want to immerse themselves into the culture of these storied islands, Windstar draws on their long experience here to create unforgettable memories. You’ll discover each island visited — from Tahiti and Moorea to Riatea, Huahine and Bora Bora — has its own unique charm and personality. For water sports enthusiasts, one of the ship’s most popular features is the Water Sports Platform aft on deck 6. Here, guests are welcome to swim, paddleboard, kayak or just chill on a float while Star Breeze is anchored off one of the islands.
New public areas, including two new dining venues, a new spa, infinity pool, and fitness area. The yacht also boasts all new bathrooms in every suite and a new category of Star suites, featuring a new layout. With ocean views and at least 277 square feet of comfort, Star Breeze is the perfect yacht to watch hidden lagoons and pristine beaches drift by from the serenity of your suite. The Star Breeze cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues. Excursions are not included on Windstar, and on some islands with limited infrastructure, there's little to do on your own. As such, I spent a few days just enjoying the island views from the pool deck or playing around on the watersports platform.
Star Breeze Cruise Ship Review - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Star Breeze Cruise Ship Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 21:04:30 GMT [source]
In the end, it wasn’t just our fellow travelers and Windstar’s staff and crew that bonded so strongly. Traveling to one of the most remote corners on Earth meant that locals were as excited to meet us as we were them. A sense of family permeated Star Breeze as we changed course and sailed for the Marquesas. So many of us were excited to experience an adventure we hadn’t imagined, and this created a buzz of anticipation that bonded us. So too did the transparency of the officers, who, in between scrambling navigational charts, planning new shore excursions in a remote environment, and organizing local entertainment, managed to make us feel like we were part of this expedition.
Current COVID-19 rules on Windstar require all passengers to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to embarkation. For some countries in Europe and Tahiti, the last COVID-19 shot must be within a specified time period. With multiple bars onboard the Star Breeze there are plenty of places for passengers to gather and grab a drink. Enjoy refreshing cocktails al fresco at the Star Bar on the top deck (Deck 8) where there is ample seating around the bar or relax on the canopy covered couches. In the evening sip specialty cocktails while listening to the piano in the Compass Rose on Deck 6 or the Lounge on Deck 5 after dinner when the entertainment begins. Guests confined to wheelchairs must bring their own slim or low-profile size wheelchairs.
Windstar notes that although guest capacity on each yacht is increasing from 212 to 312, the size of these motorized yachts still fit within Windstar’s credo to visit smaller, scenic ports for diverse itineraries mixing with marquee ports. Veranda, the breakfast and lunch buffet venue, turns into romantic Candles for outdoor dining only come nightfall. During the ship’s redo, Candles received a new deck, canopy, glass railing and bigger menu.
Additionally, some port visits require going ashore via a small tender boat. This means walking down a set of stairs to board the tender and may also require stepping off the tender once on land the dock. This type of shore visit may be difficult for passengers in a wheelchair. Prior to travel, all passengers with disabilities or special needs will be asked to complete a Service Requirement Information (SRI) form.
Engage in Windstar Cruises' onboard activities, including an onboard Watersports Platform, WindSpa, pool, library, fitness center and duty-free shopping. Enjoy a preview of the completely unique and utterly luxurious Windstar cruising experience in the following photo gallery. You’ll quickly see that Windstar Cruises’ fleet is like no other, with some ships boasting towering masts with billowing sails. You’ll also catch a glimpse of Windstar’s amazing destinations, many of which can only be experienced by the fleet’s intimate yachts.
