The Renovation
Windstar’s Star Legend emerged from a massive $250 million transformation in 2021 resulting in a stretch, re-furbish, and re-engine of the ship. The refit cut the ship in half, stretching the ship 25.6 meters adding 50 additional suites. While the guest count increased from 212 to 312, you would not notice as the ship is laid out very well.
Star Legend’s transformation additionally included:
- Two new restaurants
- Spa and fitness center refurbishment
- Pool and hot tub enlargement on top deck
- New bathrooms in every suite
- New mid-ship elevator
- Two new 90-passenger tenders
- Open bridge policy
Mid-December, I had the honor of boarding the newly improved Star Legend and seeing the impeccable and pristine shape it was in. The way the ship handled COVID protocols was beyond impressive and to be honest, I did not think about the virus once. Everyone had such an enjoyable time onboard and Star Legend really drove home not living in fear.
Accommodation:
Star Legend is an all-suite yacht with a more modern design and feel from the previous suites and layout. Upon entering the ship, the newly renovated reception areas feature warm and earthy tones that carry into the sleeping quarters. The suites feel very spacious starting at 277 square feet going up to 530. The renovation added two new owners’ suites, the Grand Owner’s Suite with 1,374 square feet of space! Each suite features a queen-size bed with new luxury linens, an interactive TV, and every other luxury you can expect from a five-star hotel. Along with carrying L’Occitane Bath Amenities, some of the fully renovated bathrooms feature dual vanity sinks and walk-in shower and tub configurations. I stayed in a French balcony suite with double doors that could be opened for ocean views. The room and bathroom felt very spacious and relaxing. The ship was in such wonderful shape you could eat off the floor!
Dining:
Two new restaurants were added after the renovation. Star Grill by the lovely Steve Raichlen, is an outdoor barbecue concept with salads, burgers, and hotdogs, and Cuadro 44 by Michelin chef Anthony Sasso serves small, tapas style Spanish plates. The food was amazing everywhere I went – I did not have one bad meal. The specialty dining venue Verdana Candles was magnificent. I had filet minot twice on the newly enlarged deck. My favorite room on the whole ship was the Yacht Club Café & Library with floor to ceiling windows.
The main dining was done very well, and the service was excellent. Of course, they always remembered my name and a server at the yacht club even remembered me from a past trip which felt incredibly special. Every meal is cooked exactly to your liking and the presentation is what makes the experience so stunning. While on board, I had a beverage package that was great for ordering whatever whenever.
Experience:
We got off the boat at St Barts – the French Riveria of the Caribbean. St Barts felt like a lavish French island – we paid for everything in euros. Onboard, the ship does not have Broadway style shows like you would find on a bigger ship. There are shows periodically and live music in the evenings outside, which is very nice. The cruise show on deck five was a lot of fun. As part of the renovation and the boat adopting an open bridge policy, the captain and officers were always accessible to everyone. In addition to always being available for questions, the captain kept everyone updated about the weather and would remind everyone about the protocols onboard. At one point, we got to have a private meeting with the captain and officers and learned about their lives back home. We learned that the first officer was retiring because he owns his own vineyard. It was nice learning about their lives outside of the ship.