By
Rebecca Gibson |
Windstar Cruises has revealed details of Star Pride’s extensive stern-to-stern renovation, which will take place in Barcelona before the ship’s inaugural voyage on 5 May 2014.
Star Pride – which was purchased from Seabourn along with two other ships in February 2013 – will be delivered to Windstar on 17 April and will undergo refurbishment to provide guests with the line’s signature experience.
“The planning for Star Pride’s transformation to Windstar’s unique private yacht style is nearly complete,” said Hans Birkholz, CEO of Windstar Cruises. “Our enhancements include significant style changes and stem-to-stern upgrades. The main theme is a casual elegant ambiance, with a warm contemporary style.”
Windstar is working in partnership with Alan McVitty and Trimline Interiors – who both worked on the line’s recent US$18 million fleet-wide renovation – to complete Star Pride’s stem-to-stern transformation.
Together, the firms will refresh the décor, furnishings, upholstery, lighting, wall coverings, and flooring in the majority of the public areas, while a new service desk will be added to the reception. All of the ship’s 106 suites will also be renovated with new furnishings, seating and decoration.
Many of Star Pride’s bars will be updated including the existing club, which will be transformed into compass Rose, a live music bar with contemporary furnishings, flooring finishes, plantation shutters and seating. The ship’s outdoor Star Bar will be expanded with teak decking, stools and lighting to offer casual drinks during the day and a venue for star-gazing at night. Yacht Club, the ship’s top deck, indoor observation area will be converted into a coffee bar and lounge with new Amtico flooring, furniture and an open layout.
A range of upgrades will also take place across the vessel’s dining venues, such as the main dining room, which will be redesigned to feature a new seating layout, soft lighting, mirrored Murano glass panels and artwork. Veranda restaurant in the yacht’s aft will offer a new alfresco, buffet dining experience, which will transform into Candles Grill at night.
Passengers sailing on the refurbished vessel will be able to enjoy a range of Windstar’s signature onboard experiences such as the ‘Luxury as You Like It:’ amenities and excursions scheme, the Open Bridge experience, Deck Barbeque Gala and the Sail Away experience at each port. They can also enjoy the watersports platform, located at the back of the yacht.
Following her renovation, the 212-guest Star Pride will offer four European voyages, including a seven-day ‘Black Sea Tapestry’ cruise; a nine-day ‘Pride of the Aegean’ trip from Athens, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey; and a seven-day ‘Riviera Enchantment’ roundtrip from Rome. In a first for Windstar, Star Pride will also sail through the Corinth Canal on her nine-day ‘Venetian Passageways’ cruise from Athens to Venice. In May 2014, the all-suite yacht will dock in Monte Carlo and for an exclusive Grand Prix-themed voyage.
Star Pride will also offer an 18-day ‘Wonders of Arabia’ sailing from Athens, Greece to Dubai, UAE and the 15-day ‘Pearls of the Indian Ocean’ voyage from Dubai, UAE to Singapore.
In addition, the vessel will sail throughout Southeast Asia with three new voyages beginning in December 2014. Passengers travelling on the 14-day ‘Treasures of Southeast Asia’ voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong can visit Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Hue, and Halong Bay. A ten-day ‘Vietnam Unveiled’ voyage from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Hong Kong will call at Imperial Hue and ancient Hoi An, while a ten-day roundtrip ‘Singapore & the Malay Peninsula’ will enable passengers to enjoy Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia,
“The transformation of these small all suite yachts will redefine the idea of casual elegance in luxury cruising,” said Birkholz. “We are eagerly anticipating 5 May inaugural voyage when Star Pride’s luxurious, modern, and stylish upgrades will be unveiled.”
Two additional yachts will be delivered to Windstar Cruises in April and May 2015, before beginning service in May 2015. More details regarding these yachts will be released shortly.