We have just returned from a cruise to Tahiti on Windstar Cruises’ newly transformed Star Plus yacht, Star Breeze. During this sailing, we set out to sample all the restaurants and bars on the ship to see how the brand compares to other contemporary cruise lines. Now, we have put together this Windstar Cruises Restaurant and Bar Guide With Menus to help you plan your next trip with this small ship cruise line.
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Windstar Cruises Restaurant and Bar Guide With Menus
Windstar Cruises Restaurants With Menus
Onboard culinary options are a big part of the cruise experience, and we know fellow cruisers are always eager to see what is available on the different restaurant menus.
All the foodies out there will be delighted to hear that Windstar Cruises and the James Beard Foundation have partnered to deliver dining selections that are 180 degrees from ordinary. Menu options feature fresh and seasonal ingredients sourced from local ports of call.
The best part is that all dining is included on Windstar Cruises. From the main dining room, to specialty dining, and even room service, you won’t have to pay extra to enjoy any of these options.
The main dining room on Windstar Cruises is open seating. This means you can dine whenever you want with whomever you want. However, specialty restaurants do require reservations. We were able to make these reservations during our check-in process on embarkation day.
Related Post: Why You Should Take Advantage of Windstar Cruises’ All-Inclusive Pricing
Star Grill (Deck 8)
A new addition to the Star Plus Class ships is the Star Grill, in partnership with the global grill expert Steven Raichlen. This venue is a small grill area located outdoors next to the Star Bar.
Unfortunately, this new casual restaurant was not open during our sailing due to COVID protocols and reduced sailing capacity. It solely served as a late afternoon burger bar from 3 to 4 pm once the Veranda buffet closed.
However, going forward, this restaurant is planned to be open for lunch and dinner most days of the cruise with rotating menu selections. No reservations will be required to dine at the Star Grill.
Here, you can enjoy a variety of grilled and barbecue favorites, including seafood, meats, and vegetables cooked with global flavors and techniques.
Star Grill Lunch: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7
Star Grill Dinner: Night 1 | Night 2 | Night 3 | Night 4 | Night 5 | Night 6 | Night 7
Veranda (Deck 7)
Veranda is the newly expanded buffet on Windstar Cruises’ Star Plus Class ships. The venue offers additional serving stations and additional seating to accommodate guests. There is both indoor and partially covered al fresco seating.
Veranda is open for breakfast and lunch daily. Breakfast is generally served 7 to 9:30 am. Lunch is generally served 12 to 2 pm.
Veranda offers a buffet with rotating selections, as well as a menu with limited grill selections.
For lunch, some days the buffet seemed to have a theme, like Mexican or Asian, and other days it just seemed to be a random assortment of items. For breakfast, you could find your typical selections like pastries, scrambled eggs, and bacon.
The menu featured items like omelets, pancakes, and waffles for breakfast, as well as items like burgers and chicken sandwiches for lunch. The carving station did change daily.
Candles (Deck 7)
Candles is Windstar Cruises signature steakhouse. This complimentary specialty restaurant is located in the same outdoor space occupied by Veranda during the day.
While there are no up-charges to dine here, this restaurant does require reservations and does book up quickly. So, you should make your reservations as soon as you board the ship.
Generally, Candles is open for dinner nightly from 7 to 9 pm. However, due to current COVID protocols, Candles and Cuadro 44 utilized this outdoor space on a rotating schedule. On our sailing, Candles was open on nights 1, 4, and 7.
The restaurant serves up your traditional steakhouse menu items with a variety of cuts of beef, along with a few seafood selections. There are also signature starters like clam chowder and shrimp and popular accompaniments like onion rings, creamed spinach, and roasted potatoes.
A nice touch is that a small dish of gourmet salts is left tableside for you to season your dishes to perfection.
The menu does include two up-charge items.
Cuadro 44 (Deck 6)
Cuadro 44 is another new restaurant added to Star Breeze during the Star Plus Initiative. This intimate restaurant is in partnership with ten-time Michelin-starred Chef Anthony Sasso. Typically, Cuadro 44 occupies a small venue on Deck 6; however, it is currently utilizing the same outdoor space as Candles on a rotating schedule.
At Cuadro 44, guests can savor Spanish flavors from a menu with a variety of tapas and entrees. Some of our favorite dishes included the potato tortilla, paella croquetas, and grilled chorizo. Hubby also really enjoyed his pork belly entrée.
On our sailing, this specialty restaurant was open for dinner from 7 to 9 pm on nights 2, 5, and 7 (On night 7, it occupied the outdoor space near Star Grill). This restaurant also requires reservations.
Amphora Restaurant (Deck 3)
Amphora is the elegant main dining room on Windstar Cruises. On Star Breeze, Amphora has been relocated to allow for more natural light.
Amphora is open seating every night for dinner from 7 to 9 pm, with no reservations required. This restaurant serves a rotational menu with different offerings each evening.
Here, you can enjoy a delicious 3-course meal that will please even the pickiest of palettes. Some of our favorite dishes included the crab cake, watermelon salad, veal osso buco, lobster tail, and beef tenderloin. The French custard crepes and the Grand Marnier soufflé were the highlights from the dessert menu.
Unlike most other cruise lines, the Amphora main dining room is not open for breakfast or lunch.
Of note, Windstar Cruises is known for its signature BBQ deck party one evening of the cruise. This event features some of the best food of the trip, including a roasted pig! So, it should not be missed. This event occurred on night 3; thus, the main dining room was not open this evening.
Further, the Dreams of Tahiti cruise includes a Destination Discovery event on night 6. During this event, guests are treated to a traditional Polynesian experience on a private motu in Bora Bora. It includes a gourmet buffet and a Tahitian dance show. Hence, Amphora is also closed this evening.
Dinner 1 | Dinner 2 | Dinner 3 | Dinner 4 | Dinner 5 | Dinner 6 | Dinner 7
Room Service
On Windstar Cruises, room service is always complimentary. You can order breakfast, lunch, or dinner delivered to your room for no additional cost. Whether you want to enjoy breakfast in bed or a romantic dinner for two, there are no up-charges.
Room service is available 24 hours a day. Menu items include eggs, omelets, breakfast meats, pancakes, waffles, and more for breakfast. Lunch items include salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Additionally, guests can order off the Amphora main dining room menu during operating hours. There is even an overnight menu from 10 pm to 6 am with limited late night selections.
Room Service Breakfast | All Day | Late Night
Related Post: Why You Should Choose Windstar Cruises to Tahiti
Windstar Cruises Bars With Menus
On Windstar Cruises, non-alcoholic beverages like soda, bottled water, and specialty coffee and tea are always complimentary. However, alcoholic drinks will still cost extra.
Luckily, Windstar Cruises does offer beverage packages, so you don’t have to worry about your bar tab at the end of the cruise.
If you are looking to enjoy some vacation cocktails, Windstar Cruises has a few bars with a specialty drink menu. There is also a wine list.
Yacht Club Café (Deck 8)
The Yacht Club Café is your go-to spot for espresso-based beverages. If you need your morning latte like us or an afternoon pick-me-up, the Yacht Club Café delivers.
With a menu that includes lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks that are all complimentary, how can you go wrong? Oh, you can’t beat the views here either.
The venue also serves up small bites for breakfast and lunch including pastries and sandwiches.
The Yacht Club Café is open 6 am to 6 pm daily.
Star Bar (Deck 8)
This top deck, outdoor bar serves up casual poolside drinks, regional beers, and wine. The signature drink menu also features summer-inspired cocktails like the Cucumber & Kiwi Slushy and the Strawberry & Basil Smash.
So, while you are relaxing outdoors or soaking up the French Polynesian sun, you will want to sample some of the tasty libations at this bar.
The Star Bar is open most days from 9:30 am to midnight.
Compass Rose (Deck 6)
Compass Rose is a warm and inviting spot to enjoy an evening cocktail. This popular Windstar Cruises venue serves up all your favorite drinks alongside live music.
With its lively atmosphere and energetic bartenders, this will likely be one of your go-to spots during your Windstar cruise. We spent most evenings here enjoying some espresso martinis!
Compass Rose is generally open 6 pm to close.
Lounge (Deck 5)
The Lounge on Windstar Cruises is a multi-purpose venue. Hosting daily destination talks, a couple shows, and live music, you will likely spend some evenings here as well. While the Lounge does not have a dedicated bar, there are plenty of servers waiting to take your drink order.
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Comments
Did you find this Windstar Cruises Restaurant and Bar Guide With Menus helpful? What are your favorite food and drink options on Windstar Cruises? Drop us an anchor below to share your culinary experiences with this small ship cruise line.
Your review of the new Wind Star menus is excellent and informative
Thank you very much – I’m not a gourmet eater and want to make sure I will enjoy the food. Started cruising in 1973 and would love to go back to the feel and specialness of life on a smaller ship. Your very complete review makes me think about Windstar for 2025. Thanks, again.