By
Rebecca Gibson |
Windstar Cruises’ new, all-suite Star Pride debuted on 5 May in Barcelona, Spain.
Christened by Nancy Anschutz, wife of Philip Anschutz who owns Windstar’s parent company Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the ship will sail an inaugural voyage through Spain, France, and Italy.
Andy Todd, CEO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Hans Birkholz, CEO of Windstar Cruises, Captain Alan MacAry and Father Marto Rodriguez also presided over the ceremony. Around 200 guests celebrated the launch with a pier-side fiesta, enjoying local entertainment such as a Catalonian Rumba band and street performers from Las Ramblas, as well as Spanish tapas and sangria.
“Star Pride is the first of the three small luxury cruise ships added to the Windstar yacht fleet, and it leads the way as Windstar enters a new era of small ship cruising,” said Hans Birkholz, CEO of Windstar Cruises. “We are honoured to have Nancy Anschutz serve in the prestigious role of godmother. It’s fitting to have her christen Windstar’s first yacht in 16 years as the Anschutz family and Xanterra Parks & Resorts have been an integral part of Windstar’s transformation the last few years.”
Star Pride – which was purchased from Seabourn along with two other ships in February 2013 – recently underwent an extensive stern-to-stern renovation over a two-week period. Marine interior design firm Trimline worked with McVitty Interior Consultants to refurbish the 106-suite power yacht, refreshing the décor, furnishings, upholstery, lighting, wall coverings, and flooring in the majority of the vessel’s public areas. Many of Star Pride’s bars and dining venues were also updated, while all of the ship’s 106 suites will also be renovated with new furnishings and seating. The furniture, porthole frames and electrics were also replaced in the ship’s 73 cabins were also replaced.
In addition, Star Pride introduced Windstar’s new ‘Destination Suites’, which feature cultural décor and artwork from various Windstar destinations. The line will eventually implement the Destination Suites fleet-wide.
Star Pride will sail in the Mediterranean throughout the summer season, before repositioning to Asia and Arabia in autumn. The vessel will offer guests four voyages including the seven-day ‘Black Sea Tapestry’ cruise, the nine-day ‘Pride of the Aegean’ trip, a seven-day ‘Riviera Enchantment’ roundtrip from Rome, and the nine-day ‘Venetian Passageways’ cruise, which marks the first time Windstar has sailed through the Corinth Canal. In May 2014, the ship will dock in Monte Carlo and feature an exclusive Grand Prix-themed voyage.
Next May, Windstar will refit and launch Star Breeze and Star Legend in Nice, France, and Rome, Italy, respectively. Both of the 106-suite ships will undergo major transformations to public spaces, suites, and dining venues to ensure they represent the Windstar brand.