Windstar Cruises
This is a contemporary, handy-sized ship for mature-age cruisers
The Ship. The intimate Star Breeze is best suited to sophisticated and well-traveled couples. The ship’s big advantage is being able to cruise where large cruise ships can’t, thanks to its ocean-yacht size, creating a sense of intimate camaraderie.
The ship (nicely refurbished after being acquired by Wind Star cruises) has sleek yacht-like exterior styling, and a handsome profile with rounded lines. It is an identical twin to Star Pride. An aft water-sports platform and marina can be used in suitably calm warm-water areas (typically only once per cruise). Water-sports facilities include a small, enclosed ‘dip’ pool, sea kayaks, snorkel equipment, windsurfers, and water-ski boat (their use is complimentary).
Inside, a wide central passageway divides port and starboard accommodation. The inviting public rooms have quiet, non-jarring colors and fine fixtures. They include a main lounge (The Lounge), a nightclub (Compass Rose), a Yacht Club (observation lounge) with bar, a library, card room, shop, computer room, and a mini-casino with gaming tables and a few slot machines.
Star Breeze provides friendly personal service and a relaxing cruise experience. Open-seating dining and use of equipment for water sports are included, as are soft drinks and bottled water (alcoholic drinks cost extra). Gratuities, port charges, and insurance are not included, and internet use also costs extra.
Passenger niggles: there is no walk-around promenade deck outdoors; there is only one dryer in the self-service launderette; and the beverage service staff in the dining room are lacking in training. Overall, this is a premium (not luxury) ship that provides a pleasant, relaxing experience, but the food is decidedly underwhelming, and there are fewer crew members than when the ship was operated by previous owner Seabourn.
Accommodation. This is spread over three decks, with nine price categories. The all-outside cabins (called suites in brochure-speak) are comfortably large and nicely equipped with everything one could reasonably need. Electric blackout blinds are provided for the large windows, in addition to curtains. Cabinetry is made of blond woods, with softly rounded edges, and cabin doors are neatly angled away from the passageway.
All suites have a sleeping area, with duvets and fine linens. A separate lounge area has a Bose Wave audio unit, DVD player and flat-screen TV, vanity desk with hairdryer, world atlas, minibar/refrigerator, and 110/220-volt power outlets. A large walk-in closet illuminates automatically when you open the door. Other items include wooden hangers, personal safe, umbrella, and wall-mounted clock and barometer.
Marble-clad bathrooms have one or two washbasins, depending on the accommodation grade, a decent but small bathtub (four suites have a shower enclosure only – no tub), plenty of storage areas, thick cotton towels, terrycloth bathrobe, designer soaps, and L’Occitane personal amenities.
Suites on two out of three accommodation decks have French balconies. These are not balconies in the true sense of the word, but have two doors that open onto a tiny teakwood balcony that is just 10.6ins (27cm) wide. The balconies allow you to have fresh sea air (and salt spray).
Course-by-course in-cabin dining is available during dinner hours, and the cocktail table can be raised to form a dining table. There is 24-hour room service. Four Owner’s Suites (King Haakon/King Magnus, each measuring 530 sq ft (49 sq m), and Amundsen/Nansen, each 575 sq ft (53 sq m), and two Classic Suites (King Harald/King Olav), each 400 sq ft (37 sq m), offer fine living spaces.
Dining. The ‘AmphorA’ Restaurant is a part-marble, part-carpeted dining room with portholes and restful decor. Open-seating dining means that you can dine when you want, with whom you wish. The lighting, however, is far too bright, and the chairs are not very comfortable.
The menus are decent enough, and feature some regional specialties. Overall, the meals are nothing special, and could really do with some improvement. Kosher meals can be provided, if ordered in advance. There is now only a limited selection of fruits and cheeses. The wine list is sound, with prices ranging from moderate to high.
Breakfasts and lunch buffets (plus some à la carte items) are provided at Candles (offering indoor seating at just eight tables) or the adjacent outdoor Veranda Café. At night the indoor/outdoor venue becomes Candles Grill, a reservations-required steakhouse.
The Star Bar provides an above-poolside setting for candlelit dining. It specializes in sizzling steaks and seafood.
Entertainment. The Lounge has a sloping floor that provides good sight lines from almost all seats. The shows are of limited scope, as dinner is usually the main event. You can, however, expect to see the occasional cabaret act. Singers also tend to do mini-cabaret performances in The Club, one deck above the showlounge, the gathering place for the late-night set. Non-American passengers should note that almost all entertainment and activities are geared towards North American tastes, despite the increasingly international passenger mix.
Spa/Fitness. The Spa is a small but well-equipped health center. It has sauna and steam rooms (separate facilities for men and women), an equipment-packed gymnasium – but the ceiling height is low – and a beauty salon.
The spa is staffed and operated by concession Elemis by Steiner. Treatment prices equal those in an expensive land-based spa. The beauty salon has hair-beautifying treatments and conditioning.