The USA-based (Xanterra-owned) ultra-luxury travel company Windstar announced the debut of Star Pride cruise ship on Thursday, June 9. Leaving out of Piraeus-Athens, the sold-out voyage (8-day to Barcelona Spain) includes as call ports Greece's Gythion, Kerkyra-Corfu, Argostoli-Kefalonia, and Italy's Messina Sicily, Trapani Sicily, Cagliari Sardinia.
Star Pride is the 3rd and final of Windstar’s Star Plus Class megayachts to debut from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard after a complex lengthening & transformation project.
Now, all the 6 Windstar sail ships are back in operation while requiring vaccines of all guests and crew amongst a host of health & safety precautions including testing/high-tech air filtration.
Windstar’s 3 Star Plus Class yachts (Star Pride, Star Breeze, Star Legend) underwent major transformations, with an investment of US$250+ million. Star Breeze was the first to launch in June 2021, with Star Legend as the 2nd in September 2021, showcasing new suites and expanded outdoor & indoor public spaces. The yachts are now more environmentally friendly with new efficient engines and generators, as well as advanced wastewater treatment systems.
All 3 yachts increased in max capacity from 212 passengers to 312 and provide more of what the company’s clients want, like additional dining experiences (an outdoor barbecue concept with grilling guru Steven Raichlen and a Spanish small plates restaurant from Anthony Sasso), a true spa & fitness center, a stylish infinity pool, and more outdoor deck areas.
Windstar President Christopher Prelog said that to have completed the project amidst a global pandemic was "nothing short of amazing.”
“We’re grateful to our ownership and to our partners for sticking with it, and to our customers for their excitement and support of these new products. We are seeing our highest guest satisfaction surveys on the new Star Class yachts, with the highest Net Promoter Scores in our brand’s history. Our guests and travel advisors really love the product we created on Star Class.”
The 3 all-suite yachts, along with Windstar’s 3 classic sailing yachts, are still small enough to continue to call at the world's special small ports and waterways.