Windstar Cruises Star Breeze Ship Scorecard Review

Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze was the first ship in the fleet to undergo the company’s Star Plus Initiative. As part of the ship’s update, Star Breeze was lengthened and received a number of new suites, venues, and improvements. This newly updated cruise ship is offering select Tahiti cruises before repositioning to Alaska for Summer 2022. We have just returned from the 7-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise on this ship and share our impressions in this signature Windstar Cruises Star Breeze cruise ship scorecard review.

Windstar Cruises Star Breeze Ship Scorecard Review

Embarkation/Disembarkation

Boarding one of Windstar Cruises’ ships is a bit different than the typical mega-ships we frequent. Given French Polynesia still had strict COVID protocols in place, there were a number of steps we needed to complete before boarding Star Breeze.

Utilizing a Windstar arranged transfer from the Intercontinental hotel, we arrived at the pier around 11:30 am and received a boarding number. Once seated in an outdoor tent, we waited a little over 30 minutes to begin our check-in. From health screening, to COVID test (3rd of the trip), to traditional check-in and security, it took about an hour before we stepped foot onboard this newly revitalized yacht. 

From there, we were escorted to our suite where we needed to quarantine until we received our test results. Thankfully, they arrived in a little less than 2.5 hours. This was enough time to order room service for lunch, unpack, and get our cabin organized for the week ahead.

Disembarkation was a much smoother process. The ship was cleared around 7:45 am. We exited our room about 15 minutes later and walked right off the ship. There was no queue, so we scanned off and descended the same external flight of stairs onto the pier where our luggage was awaiting us.

Four out of our 5 ports of call were tender ports. Since we booked most of our tours with the cruise line, this meant we got escorted to tender boats straight from the Lounge with no waiting. Getting tenders on our own did take a bit more time, but it was never more than about 15 minutes.

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Outdoor Decks

Star Breeze weighs in at just under 13K gross tons with 8 total decks. For a ship of its size, there were adequate outdoor spaces for cruisers to enjoy.

Of course, we were not expecting to find elaborately themed pools, waterslides, or massive sports courts. Instead, Windstar Cruises focuses on delivering more intimate experiences and destination focused itineraries.

There is a pool and hot tub on deck 7 that never seemed too busy. There were also plenty of loungers on the pool deck to relax and enjoy the view.

One deck above is an uncovered sun deck. It is also home to the outdoor bar, the Star Bar. There is some comfy outdoor furniture on the forward portside of this deck. It is an ideal place to relax, read a book, or sip a cocktail from the bar.

While there is no official jogging track, we often saw cruisers using this deck to get some morning exercise before heading ashore.

Another hidden gem on Star Breeze is located on deck 5 all the way forward. This tucked away outdoor space includes some loungers and a whirlpool that overlooks the front of the ship.

Finally, there is a watersports platform on deck 3 aft. This signature Windstar Cruises attraction is open most days while the ship is tendered. Activities include the use of the kayaks, snorkeling equipment, a water trampoline, wake boards, and even a zodiac boat. We tried to utilize this deck a couple of times, but it just happened to close early due to the sea conditions on those particular afternoons.

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Service

One benefit of small ship cruising is the personal level of service onboard. It didn’t take long for staff members from different departments to recognize us. It started with Martina and the destinations team, who would check us in for our tours as soon as we entered the Lounge.

Annabelle at the reception desk could anticipate our questions or requests after the first day. Jeffri in the Yacht Club knew our morning coffee order after a few mornings.

In term of bar service, Maricela in the Compass Rose, Ace and Noel in the dining room, and Mr. T in the Star Bar, just to name a few, knew our drink orders and had them ready quickly.

Our stateroom attendant, Arifin, was attentive and friendly. He made up our room daily with precision timing and made a daily animal towel without us requesting it. He even decorated our suite for my birthday.

Service in the restaurants was also friendly and attentive, but with open seating, we never had the same waitstaff. So, we did not really get to know these team members as well.

Finally, even the ship’s officers were visible throughout the cruise. From walking the hallways to partaking in the events of the signature deck BBQ, the officers were always ready to strike up a conversation with guests.

Honestly, this is probably the best service that we have had on a cruise ship in a while.

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Cruise Ship Activities

You won’t find all the bells and whistles of modern day cruise ships on Windstar Cruises. Instead, Star Breeze was our elegant transportation between the ports of call. Our 7-day cruise consisted of 5 different ports, with one overnight in Bora Bora and no official sea days.

With that being said, Star Breeze did offer some cruise ship activities in the afternoon like trivia or name that tune, in addition to the open watersports platform.

Further, the ship’s thermal suite was open all day. This complimentary area had heated loungers, a sauna, and steam room. There was also an onboard fitness center open to all cruisers.

In the Deck 8 Yacht Club, there were board games and some books to occupy your time. Of course, you could also just enjoy the views in this quiet indoor space.

As part of Windstar’s signature experiences, this Dreams of Tahiti cruise did include an island beach BBQ on a private motu one afternoon as well.

Pre-dinner, there were daily port talks by the destinations manager. This featured a basic intro to the next stop, as well as info on available tours. There was also usually pre-dinner music by the duo, Sky Blue. These talented performers could play anything from Frank Sinatra, to Adelle, to Bruno Mars.

In the evenings, there was either a show in the Lounge or live music in the Compass Rose Bar. There were no headliner performers on the ship. So, all shows featured the onboard band, Queen of Aces, and/or the Entertainment Manager, Steve. All of these performers were extremely talented.

There were three signature shows during the cruise, a Beatles tribute, an Elton John tribute, and “Songs We Wish We Had Written”, which featured the vocal talents of the duo, entertainment manager, and all members of the band.

Finally, our Dreams of Tahiti cruise included a Destination Discovery event the second evening in Bora Bora. This fantastic Polynesian experience occurred on a private motu and featured authentic food and a show complete with fire dancers.

Main Dining Room

The Amphora restaurant on Deck 3 of Star Breeze is the cruise ship’s main dining room. The venue was open for dinner 5 nights of the cruise. On Night 3, there was the signature deck party BBQ. On Night 6, there was the Destination Discovery event. Thus, Amphora was not open on these two evenings.

The main dining room was open for dinner only. Breakfast and lunch were not served here. Windstar Cruises has open seating, so you do not need to make reservations. You are able to just show up for dinner at any time between 7 pm and 9 pm.

Like other cruise lines, the three course dining room menu does change nightly. Some featured items included beef tenderloin, veal osso bucco, and even lobster tail on the last night.

We felt the entrée selections were on par with other contemporary cruise lines. Food quality was also on par with our expectations. Most selections were warm and well-seasoned. However, we would have appreciated more selections for starters and desserts.

Despite the limited offerings, I did really enjoy the crab cake which was crispy and flavorful, and Heidi enjoyed her watermelon salad. In addition, we both raved about the crepe and Grand Marnier soufflé desserts.

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Casual Dining

The cruise ship’s buffet, Veranda, is open for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu offers the predictable selections, like scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and some continental items and fruit. There are also made to order options like omelets, pancakes, and waffles.

For lunch, the venue had rotating selections. There was always a carving station featuring items like pork tenderloin or rotisserie chicken. Other options included Asian, Mexican, and Italian dishes. There was also a custom salad station and other small apps.

The grill was also open with made to order sandwiches, like burgers and grilled chicken. So, we never had an issue finding something to eat.

Further, the cruise ship’s café is located in the Deck 8 Yacht Club. This venue was open from 6 am to 6 pm and was our go-to for lattes and espresso drinks. On Windstar Cruises, all non-alcoholic beverages are included in the cruise fare. This not only includes specialty coffees, but soda and bottled water as well.

In addition to coffee, you could get breakfast pastries and other options like yogurt at the Yacht Club Café in the morning. During the day, there were small bites like granola bars, pre-made sandwiches, cookies, and cupcakes.

This came in handy a couple afternoons as the Veranda buffet does close at 2 pm most days.

Alternative Dining

Besides the main dining room, Windstar Cruises Star Breeze offers three alternative dining options that are all included in the cruise fare. There is no up-charge for specialty dining when sailing with Windstar.

Unfortunately though, one of the options, the Star Grill, was not open on this cruise due to limited capacity and COVID protocols. This outdoor restaurant features signature BBQ favorites from grill expert Steven Raichlen. Once protocols are eased, this venue should be open most days for lunch and dinner with a rotating menu.

The other two alternative restaurants, Cuadro 44 and Candles, were open for dinner. Each night, the Veranda buffet transforms into these upscale dining venues. Typically, Cuadro 44 has its own intimate indoor space; however, the restaurant is currently sharing space with Candles to allow for outdoor dining.

Cuadro 44 is a Spanish tapas restaurant offering small plates and entrees bursting with spice and zest. From the pork belly, to the grilled chorizo, and the sweet and salty churros, this venue is best when shared with friends.

On opposite nights, guests can dine at the cruise line’s signature steakhouse, Candles. This venue serves up quality steaks and seafood dishes. My 8-ounce filet was a juicy and tender medium rare, and the crispy onion rings and asparagus were the perfect accompaniments.

Reservations are required for these two specialty restaurants. We were able to make our reservations on embarkation day as part of the check-in process. We highly recommend that you do make reservations on the first day as these venues fill up quickly.

Of note, room service is always available and complimentary on Windstar Cruises as well.

Stateroom

We stayed in a SBS1 suite on deck 6, cabin 631. This starboard side balcony cabin is located midship in the newly added section of the ship.

This Star Balcony Suite was 277 square feet in size and included a French balcony. 

This suite was larger than most standard cabins on contemporary cruise lines. It featured a separate sitting area with a love seat and coffee table as well as two chairs and a small side table. There was also a mini-bar which is included when you opt for Windstar’s All-Inclusive pricing option.

I liked the setup of this cabin, which had the bed closer to the balcony. The forward wall in front of the bed featured a desk/vanity and three large drawers that provided more storage.

Another bonus of this Star Breeze suite was the walk-in closet. There were plenty of hangers and two clothes racks, a few small shelves, and a few drawers. This made organizing everything easy and simple.

The bathroom too was upgraded when compared to a typical cruise cabin. It offered double sinks and a full-sized stand-up shower.

This all suite ship gives cruisers the space and extra comforts more akin to a hotel room rather than a cruise ship.

While our suite did come with a “balcony”, it was only about a foot deep and three feet wide. So, it was nice for taking photos and to allow for some fresh air, but you certainly could not relax outside on this balcony.

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Windstar Cruises Star Breeze Cruise Ship Scorecard Review Recap

If you are looking for an exotic cruise vacation that delivers personalized service, look no further than Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze.

This intimate vessel allows you to get closer to your destinations, immersing yourself in the history and culture of the region. You can see and do more ashore with longer, and even some overnight, stops in port.

While onboard Star Breeze, you can enjoy all of the comforts of a cruise vacation as well, with upscale dining, bars and lounges, and nightly live music and shows. The newly updated Star Breeze focuses on impeccable service, good food, and comfy accommodations without all the distractions on modern day cruise ships.

The ship’s intimate spaces encourage conversation and an opportunity to make new friends with fellow cruisers and the onboard crew.

While we mostly sail on mega-ships, we definitely see the appeal of Windstar Cruises, especially when visiting destinations like the Society Islands.

We would have liked a bit more variety when it came to nighttime entertainment, but we did not let that overshadow our wonderful experience sailing with Windstar Cruises in French Polynesia.

While this is the smallest ocean ship on which we have ever sailed, we could certainly see ourselves returning to Star Breeze, or another ship in the Windstar Cruises’ fleet, for certain destinations and itineraries.

Disclaimer: We were hosted guests of Windstar Cruises on this sailing, but as always, all opinions in this post are our own.

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