Windstar Cruises offers a variety of dining options on its fleet of luxury ships. For those who enjoy al fresco views, and an upscale steakhouse experience, Candles restaurant is a must. We sailed on a 7-night Dreams of Tahiti Cruise on Star Breeze earlier this year. Of course, we made sure to dine at this exclusive restaurant during our trip. Find out why we can’t wait to return in this Windstar Cruises Candles restaurant review.

Windstar Cruises Candles Restaurant Review

On Star Breeze, the Windstar Cruises Candles restaurant is located on Deck 7 aft.

During the day, this dining venue is the Veranda, the cruise ship’s buffet. At night, the venue transforms to a sit-down alternative restaurant.

During our cruise, this location alternated between Candles and the Spanish-inspired Cuadro 44 during the evenings. This was mainly due to COVID health protocols and reduced capacity on the ship. We were informed that once the ship is up and running at full capacity, this restaurant will be Candles every night of the cruise, and Cuadro 44 will transition back to its intimate indoor venue.

Regardless of the sailing, cruisers are not able to pre-book restaurant reservations on Windstar Cruises’ website. Instead, you are allowed to reserve dining for alternative restaurants once onboard the ship.

One of the best parts of cruising with Windstar Cruises is that all dining is included in the cruise fare. Thus, there are no additional fees to eat at this steakhouse, the tapas restaurant, or other alternative dining venues throughout the fleet.

During our boarding in Papeete, Tahiti, there was a reservations desk at check-in. Thankfully, the restaurant was available to book on night 4 of our cruise, which just happened to be my birthday.

The earliest restaurant reservations are 7 pm. So, we were able to reserve this first seating as we were among the first 15 couples to board the ship.

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A Perfect Night for Dinner

As you would expect, we arrived right at 7 pm to find a small line of cruisers waiting to be seated.

Even though there was some rain in the area, staff were still seating guests outside in the partially covered al fresco area. Part of the charm of this restaurant is the outdoor dining. For those who prefer to sit inside though, there is an interior dining room as well.

The venue has little theming with some beachy, contemporary décor. It has a very New England seaside restaurant vibe.

Given the time of year, the sun was mostly set already, but there was still a romantic glow that illuminated the area. This restaurant is the ideal place for a special night out during your cruise.

It didn’t take long for our waiter to stop by with menus and some focaccia bread. Given it was the middle of the cruise, we were already on a first name basis with the restaurant’s bar server, Noel, who was quick to grab us drinks.

For this trip, we had the Windstar Cruises beverage package. This meant that almost all cocktails and wines by the glass were included. So, we went with our usual cocktails, a cosmo for the wife and a sidecar for me.

Slicing into Some Steak at Candles on Windstar Cruises

With our drinks in hand, it was time to dig into the menu. The Candles menu is a pretty standard American steakhouse menu.

For a starter, I went with the king Caesar salad. It was a light way to begin the meal. There was just the right amount of tangy dressing and cheese with some crispy croutons.

The Princess opted for the clam chowder. This classic didn’t disappoint as it had plenty of flavor in a rich, creamy broth.

While these starters hit the spot, the main attraction here is the entrée. I finally decided on the 8 ounce filet mignon. The steak was served at my requested temperature of medium-rare. It was tender and juicy.

To enhance the flavor even further, there is a provided gourmet salt selection. A few sprinkles of the Applewood smoked salt was just the right touch to this perfectly seared cut of beef.

For sides, we ordered a selection of starches and vegetables. The crispy panko onion rings were crunchy and light. The Princess raved about the roasted potatoes, which were covered in a light parmesan cheese sauce for an interesting presentation.

For vegetables, we did the broccolini and the asparagus. While both were good, the asparagus was my favorite as it paired better with my entrée.

As you could guess, the Princess ordered the only chicken entrée on the menu, the broccoli pesto cooked chicken. This was a unique departure from the typical split roasted chicken found at most steakhouses.

For dessert, my dark chocolate ganache bar was the clear favorite. It was a decadent and rich dessert cake with a smooth ganache frosting. While we are both fans of crème brulee, the wife’s dessert preparation was not what we would expect from this popular cruise ship dessert.

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Recap of Windstar Cruises Candles Restaurant Review

For those cruising on any Windstar Cruises’ ship, a dinner at Candles is a must. During our visit on Star Breeze, the food was exceptionally prepared, well-seasoned, and served with precision.

While we started with one waiter, it appeared the waitstaff at the restaurant were assisting all tables. Still, the service was professional and attentive all evening. Throughout the night, a few different crew members came by to deliver food, top off our water, and clear plates. In addition, the host made the rounds to ensure everyone was enjoying their meals.

Our three-course feast lasted less than 90 minutes, which is on par for a cruise ship specialty restaurant.

Dinner was excellent, with perfectly executed starters and entrees in a romantic setting.

Despite all of the great food choices on Windstar Cruises, Candles still ranks as one of the best. Whether you are a steak lover, or just enjoy a refined dinner for two, Candles is a perfect option for your next cruise.

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