By
Rebecca Gibson |
Star Pride has rejoined Windstar Cruises’ fleet following a US$4.5 million renovation of her accommodation, public spaces and dining venues.
The 212-guest Star Pride is the third vessel to be refurbished as part of Windstar’s two-year, US$21.5 million upgrade project. Her sister ships, Star Breeze and Star Legend, have already been refitted.
Two Owner’s Suites were completely rebuilt with a new indoor-outdoor floor plan and interior design featuring new linens, towels, furnishings, windows, drapery and an extended private deck area with views over the ship’s bow. All suites onboard the yacht received coffee tables and flat-screen televisions, while sofa beds were added in 12 suites to increase capacity.
Elsewhere, the card room has been converted into the Star Screening Room to enable guests to watch movies and play video games, while the Fitness Center has a refreshed layout, flooring, wall coverings and window treatments. Meanwhile, the top outdoor deck, the Star Deck, has been expanded by four feet on each side and offers a new counter-current pool and whirlpool.
Dining venues have also been refreshed, including AmphorA Restaurant, which features new flooring, wall coverings, lighting and seating layout. The aft restaurant Veranda now has sliding glass doors, a glass wind screen and an expanded outdoor seating in a new courtyard with a virtual garden wall.
In addition to redecorating all guest stairways and hallways in Windstar blues and earth tones, the line has also added new carpets and tile flooring in the stairwells and all indoor public spaces, and updated the colour palette, furnishings and artwork in the library. The Lounge also has improved flooring, lighting, sound systems and furniture.
“We are extremely pleased with the extensive yacht refurbishment of Star Pride and are excited to be welcoming guests aboard in Windstar’s private yacht style as the Mediterranean cruise season gets under way,” remarked Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, parent company of Windstar Cruises.
Star Pride returned to service with a new seven-day ‘Treasures of the Greek Isles’ itinerary from Athens, Greece on 9 June. The ship sailed to Nafplio and Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Patmos, Santorini, and Monemvasia, Greece, returning to Athens. Highlights include visits to nine UNESCO World Heritage Site and a complimentary Windstar Private Event featuring a candlelit dinner at the Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey. The ship will offer this itinerary again on 4 September.
Throughout summer 2016, Star Pride will sail to various destinations in the Mediterranean, before sailing Caribbean cruises from October. In December, the yacht will transit the Panama Canal and offer a series of Costa Rica & Panama Canal cruises into early March 2017, when it returns to the Caribbean for three cruises prior to her Ocean Crossing in April.