Windstar Investing In The Future
Windstar Cruises has revealed new details about its $250 Million Star Plus Initiative,
The Seattle-based cruise line’s president, John Delaney unveiled 360-degree views and vibrant renderings of what guests will experience on the line’s three renovated vessels, Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride during the Seatrade Cruise event in Miami.
The Star Plus Initiative is the most complex and comprehensive small ship lengthening, engine replacement, and renovation project in cruising.
“This is the biggest investment and expansion in Windstar Cruises’ history,” Delaney said. “The investment of a quarter of a billion dollars ensures to our loyal and future guests, and industry partners, that these ships will continue to sail for generations and deliver on their promise of visiting the smaller ports and waters of the world that our brand is known for. We are all proud to be part of this historic event in the small ship cruise industry.”
Windstar will take half of its fleet — Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride — and renovate each ship in succession. Work on the ships begins in October 2019 and ends in November 2020.
The total capacity of the expanded ships will be 312 guests, with additional staff hired to maintain the line’s 1.5 to 1 guest-to-staff ratio.
The ships’ new engines will meet and exceed new global International Maritime Organization (IMO) limits — one of the requirements being the engines produce no more than .5 percent sulphur content. In addition, the new engines are designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, supporting the company’s goals of traveling with a softer environmental footprint.
The renovated ships will chart courses to some of the most popular, aspirational, and legendary destinations in the world including Iceland, Northern Europe, the British Isles, Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Crete, Israel, Egypt, Malta, the Cote D’Azur, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Mexico, Baja, the West Coast of the U.S., and the Caribbean.
Itineraries will continue to feature transits of the famous Corinth Canal — a feat only small ships can fathom — along with a plethora of other ‘small ship only’ experiences.
Reservations are available to book for new cruise itineraries aboard Star Breeze and Star Legend after the ships completed renovations including Star Breeze’s Colors of Key West & Central America 10-day voyage from Miami to Colón, Panama on March 20, 2020; sailing from Miami will be a first for the Seattle-based company.
