Small ship line Windstar Cruises has completed the renovations for their all-suite vessel, Star Breeze.
The vessel underwent some major changes, as it was cut in half and lengthened. Capacity increasing from 212 to 312 passengers through the addition of 50 new suites. Two restaurants were added, and the ship also received a reimagined gym and spa, an enlarged pool and deck, and new bathrooms in all suites. Star Breeze was also outfitted with new efficient engines.
While Windstar has temporarily suspended operations along with the rest of the cruise industry during the global health crisis, renovation work on its three Star Plus Class ships moved forward.
Star Breeze is the first to emerge from a $250 million Star Plus Initiative that also includes sister ships Star Pride and Legend. These two ships will join the fleet later in 2021 following their transformations by Fincantieri at its shipyard in Palermo, Italy.
And as part of the line’s new health and safety program Beyond Ordinary Care, Star Breeze is now outfitted with HEPA filters and UV-C light technology — which the rest of the fleet will also be receiving before returning to service.
Here’s what’s new onboard Star Breeze:
New Restaurants
Star Breeze‘s massive renovation included the addition of two new restaurants.
Star Grill
Star Grill by Steven Raichlen is an alfresco barbecue restaurant, serving up drinks like strawberry Pimm’s cups and raspberry/melon slushies. From the smoker, passengers can enjoy things like tea-smoked duck and coffee-crusted prime brisket with chipotle molasses barbecue sauce.
Grilled options include things such as shrimp on sugarcane with mount gay rum sauce.
Vegetarians won’t have to worry about finding something to eat, either, as they will have choices like planked camembert with pepper jelly, pecans and grilled bread, Mexican grilled corn, falafel burgers, and grilled eggplant salad.
Cuadro 44
On deck 6, travelers can enjoy Spanish staples with a modern twist at Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso. An open kitchen lets diners have a peek into the cooking process, where they can dine on things like pulpo gallego and fideos mar y montaña. Desserts include Madrid’s famous chocolate churros. A Spanish-centric wine and cocktail list complete the experience.
Veranda
The Veranda restaurant where passengers are served breakfast and lunch is not new, but it did receive some upgrades. It now has a new coffee station, as well as more outdoor and oceanview seating.
At night, Veranda transforms into another concept called Candles, Windstar’s reservations-only steakhouse. When the weather is favorable, dinner is served outdoors under the stars by candlelight.
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Candles will debut a new menu on Star Breeze that features a 40 oz beef bone-in ribeye Tomahawk steak and a 30 oz bone-in porterhouse steak. Both are carved tableside and require a small uncharge. It’s worth noting that all dining across Windstar’s restaurants is included in the cruise fare, aside from occasional individual items like these.
Other Public Areas
Star Breeze now has an enlarged and reimagined spa and fitness center. The workout equipment is from Technogym, and the spa menu features regional treatments and destination-themed therapies as part of the World Spa by Windstar program.
As part of Star Breeze‘s stretching, it now has a larger pool, hot tub, and lounging space on the main top deck.
New Suites
There are 50 new suites on the ship, featuring new suite categories and open floor plans, as well as two new, larger Owner’s Suites. To create the Owner’s Suites, the shipyard combined two suites to create one big three-bedroom, two balcony suite — the first of its kind in the cruise industry. In addition, every suite onboard received new bathrooms.
Beyond Ordinary Care
Windstar Cruises recently announced its new health and safety program, which involves HEPA filters and UV-C ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to filer and disinfect the air and electrostatic sprayers to sanitize all surfaces throughout the ship.
Windstar Cruises recently canceled all cruises through February 2021, and some into March and April 2021. The line anticipates that their first yacht to set sail next year will be Wind Spirit on March 25, 2021 in Tahiti.
