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With the ship redo, Windstar added more energy efficient engines that reduce emissions of nitrous and sulfur oxides Advanced wastewater treatment systems were also installed. In terms of sustainability, Windstar sources food locally when possible. They’ve also reduced use of single-use plastics, providing refillable Natura water bottles in staterooms. Plastic straws and stirrers are not used unless specifically requested.
Excursions
They also like its casualness; dressing up here means no shorts at dinner. That is, unless it’s deck barbecue night, and shorts-wearing is de rigueur. Windstar Cruises’ unique small ships sail all over the world from a wide array of departure ports. For instance, you can depart from some of the world’s most distinguished cities like Athens, Dubai, Singapore, London, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Rome and Venice. You’ll also find smaller or more exotic departure ports, such as Papeete, Bridgetown, Philipsburg and Colon.
Deluxe Suite
What we experienced instead became, literally, a trip even better than any of us anticipated. For those of us headed out on Star Breeze, little did we know that tonight’s special festivities would be just about the last planned event we would experience on our voyage. That’s because a trio of cyclones, one after the other, were approaching the Society Islands. Our itinerary gained a hint of uncertainty before we even left the dock.
Suite (CS)
We learned the previous cruise to ours had encountered stormy weather, which forced it to miss several ports of call (November to April is the rainy season). Fortunately, the Tahitian gods were smiling, and we had near-perfect weather the entire time. If you are ready to enliven your curiosity and awake your sense of wonder, contact a Cruise Specialists Cruise Consultant to reserve a suite on the small ships of Windstar Cruises. The yacht now has a larger pool and hot tub on an elevated top deck, offering outstanding views. An expanded outdoor deck also provides more space for relaxing in the fresh air.
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.
Our ‘inaugural voyage’ to the Marquesas Islands
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.
Windstar adds 2 hotel-themed suites on cruise ship Star Legend
Windstar Cruises is a luxury travel brand operating a fleet of smaller-sized ships (mega-yachts) with capacity up to 340 passengers. The company call at 150 ports throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South Pacific, Asia, Europe. Currently, Windstar is a subsidiary of Xanterra Parks and Resorts (USA's largest national and state park concession management company).
But the older cabins just don't stand up to the new ones, so if you're not careful in your cabin selection, you could end up with a room that doesn't quite suit your needs. Yet even with big, open spaces, indoors and out, Star Breeze provides the opportunity to find nooks and places to tuck away, undisturbed. A highlight is the multiuse Yacht Club venue, which has snacks for light midday noshing, games and books, plus unobstructed views. This ship is not one that draws guests who want to be entertained all the time. Instead, most passengers are content with self-directed, low-key entertainment. Each boat received 50 new cabins (to a total of 156), which (based on the total investment) means shipbuilding cost per berth USD 267,000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Windstar Star Breeze Dining: Restaurants & Food on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Windstar Star Breeze Dining: Restaurants & Food on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:14:08 GMT [source]
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.
The ship’s redesign also includes a much larger pool, hot tub, and a teak deck with more space for lounging, an enlarged full-service spa and fitness center, and two new restaurants bringing the total number of dining venues to five. If you're sailing in French Polynesia, spending time outdoors is a no-brainer, even when it rains. But you'll appreciate the ship's approach to outdoor spaces no matter where it's sailing.
Luckily, the shore excursion desk was most accommodating, crediting our accounts for this outing. In all fairness to Windstar, the ship had been sailing Tahiti and this was the first of only two Mexican voyages before heading to Alaska for the summer season. Speaking of dining, I couldn’t wait to try Star Breeze’s two newest restaurants. The 38-seat modern Spanish Cuadro 44, created with noted chef Anthony Sasso, feels both intimate and edgy for a cruise ship. You can hop a stool at the dining counter facing the open galley, and nibble tapas while chefs entertain by slicing and dicing away.
Windstar's Star Breeze is an intimate all-suite luxury yacht accommodating only 312 guests. The small guest capacity means that you'll have plenty of space to relax as you sail to one unique destination after another. Thanks to her smaller stature, Star Breeze has access to more intimate ports and narrow waterways, while also providing more personalized service and pampering. With a smile on their face, Windstar’s highly trained crew will do anything to enhance your cruise experience. They strive for personalized service, and friendly staff members often recognize you by name within 24 hours of embarkation.
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