Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2021

9 5 The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry in New York, USA, for the project with the aim of creating a modern aesthetic for the new onboard spaces. “Chung’s goal was to keep the best elements and designs from these iconic vessels and re-envision them for the modern guest,” says Prelog. “The design flows effortlessly through the ship and leverages drama and scale for a larger visual impact.” New highlights onboard each ship will include a reimagined and enlarged spa and fitness centre with workout equipment made by Italian company Technogym. The spa menu will offer regional spa treatments and destination- themed therapies as part of the World Spa by Windstar programme, with massage therapists and beauticians using products from Elemis, a British body and skincare line. The extension will also make space for two new dining venues: a barbecue concept named Star Grill by Steven Raichlen, and a Spanish small plates restaurant named Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso. The existing Veranda restaurant will also be updated with a new coffee station and more seating. Prelog is particularly impressed by Chung’s design for Cuadro 44. “The restaurant’s design will be just as exciting as the cuisine,” he says. “Chung drew inspiration from the various regions of Spain, employing a warm and approachable design that recalls the feeling of a rustic home. I can’t wait to sit at the chef ’s counter and watch the culinary team in action. After the year we’ve all had, the act of dining in a beautiful indoor restaurant with family and friends sounds divine.” The project faced an unexpected challenge with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The health crisis has delayed completion, with Star Breeze yet to debut after her lengthening. However, Windstar has chosen to invest in further improvements to ensure the safety of guests and crew onboard the ships going forward. “We’ve had to adjust to keep up with current best practices and trends to create a safer environment onboard,” says Prelog. “That’s why we have invested in a new Beyond Ordinary Care programme, which is a multi-layered strategy with key hospital-grade elements including: high- efficiency particulate air filters and UV-C ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to filter and disinfect the air, plus electrostatic sprayers to sanitise all surfaces throughout the vessel. This is an additional multimillion-dollar investment that we didn’t plan to undertake at the outset of this project but have chosen to layer in to cater for our new environment.” When guests do get the chance to come onboard, Prelog believes that they will embrace the changes to the ships. “I’m confident our guests will find the vessels have all the magic and grace from the past, but with more of the comforts and amenities they want,” he says. CFI The design for Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso was inspired by the various regions of Spain