Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
Star Pride
★★★★+
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 408 out of 500
Accommodation: 170 out of 200
Food: 327 out of 400
Service: 335 out of 400
Entertainment: 77 out of 100
Cruise: 322 out of 400
Overall Score: 1639 out of 2000
Star Pride Statistics
Size: Boutique Ship
Tonnage: 9,975
Lifestyle: Luxury
Cruise Line: Windstar Cruises
Former Names: Seabourn Pride
IMO Number: 8797343
Builder: Seebeckwerft (Germany)
Original Cost: $50 million
Entered Service: Dec 1988/May 2014
Registry: Bahamas
Length (ft/m): 439.9/134.1
Beam (ft/m): 62.9/19.2
Draft (ft/m): 16.8/5.1
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (5,355kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 6
Total Crew: 160
Passengers (lower beds): 212
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 47.09
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 1.3
Cabins (total): 106
Size Range (sq ft/m): 277.0-575.0/25.7-53.4
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 6
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 4
Wheelchair accessibility: None
Cabin Current: 110 and 220 volts
Elevators: 3
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools: 1
Hot Tubs (on deck): 3
Self-Service Launderette: Yes
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Onboard currency: US$
A small, inclusive ship for compact, stylish cruising
Overview. Star Pride is best for sophisticated, well-traveled couples seeking an informal small ship experience. The ship’s big advantage is being able to cruise where large cruise ships can’t, thanks to its ocean-yacht size. You sail with only 210 others, and a sense of intimate camaraderie.
The Ship. This pleasantly appointed, intimate cruise ship has sleek exterior styling, handsome profile with swept-back, rounded lines, and is an identical twin to Star Spirit. It has two fine mahogany water taxis for use as shore tenders. An aft water sports platform and marina can be used in suitably calm warm-water areas. Water sports facilities include a small, enclosed ‘dip’ pool, sea kayaks, snorkel equipment, windsurfers, water-ski boat, and Zodiac inflatable boats.
There is no walk-around promenade deck outdoors. There is only one dryer in the self-service launderette. Non-American passengers should note that almost all entertainment and activities are geared towards American tastes.
A wide central passageway divides port and starboard side accommodation. Inviting, sumptuous public areas have warm colors. Fine quality interior fixtures, fittings, artwork, and fabric combine to present an outstanding, elegant, contemporary decor. For a small ship, there’s a wide range of public rooms, all updated by new owner Windstar Cruises. These include a main lounge that stages small cabaret shows, Compass Rose nightclub, The Yacht Club (observation lounge cum lifestyle lounge with coffee bar), and cozy armchairs. There is a small business center, small meeting room, and a small casino with roulette and blackjack tables, plus a few slot machines.
This ship is for those desiring elegant, stylish, but contemporary and informal small-ship surroundings, but is rather small for long voyages in open waters.
Star Pride provides a fine level of personal service in a contemporary setting. All drinks except premium brands and connoisseur wines are include; so is open-seating dining, and use of water sports equipment.
The ship was acquired by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, parent company of Windstar Cruises, and transferred in May 2014. Two sister ships Star Legend and Star Spirit join the fleet in April and May 2015.
Accommodation. This is spread over three decks, with several different price categories. The all-outside cabins (called suites in brochure-speak) are comfortably large and beautifully equipped with everything one could reasonably need. Electric blackout blinds are provided for the large windows in addition to curtains. All cabinetry is made of blond woods, with softly rounded edges, and cabin doors are neatly angled away from the passageway.
All suites have a sleeping area, with European duvets as standard. A separate lounge area has a Bose Wave audio unit, flat-screen TV, vanity desk with hairdryer, world atlas, minibar, and refrigerator. A large walk-in closet is illuminated automatically when you open the door; wooden hangers, electronic personal safe, umbrella, and wall-mounted clock and barometer are also provided. The decor is contemporary, but warm, with blues and beiges.
Marble-clad bathrooms have one or two washbasins, depending on the accommodation grade, a decent but not full-size tub (four suites have a shower enclosure only - no tub), plenty of storage areas, 100 percent cotton towels, bathrobe, and choice of personal amenities.
On two out of three accommodation decks, some 36 suites have a French balcony. These are not balconies in the true sense of the word, but they do have two doors that open wide onto a tiny teakwood balcony that is 10.6ins (27cm) wide (just enough for your feet). The balconies allow you to have fresh sea air, and salt spray.
Course-by-course in-cabin dining is available during dinner hours, and the cocktail table can be raised to form a dining table. There is 24-hour room service.
Four Owner’s Suites, each measuring between 530 sq ft (49 sq m) and 575 sq ft (53 sq m), and two Classic Suites, each 400 sq ft (37 sq m), offer superb, private living spaces. Each is named after a Windstar destination, for example, the Bora-Bora Suite. Each has a walk-in closet, second closet, full bathroom plus a guest toilet with washbasin. There is a fully secluded forward- or side-facing balcony, with sunloungers and wooden drinks table. The living area has ample bookshelf space including a complete edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica, large refrigerator/drinks cabinet, television, plus a second TV set in the bedroom. All windows, as well as the door to the balcony, have manually operated blackout blinds, and a complete blackout is possible in both bedroom and living room.
Dining. The AmphorA Restaurant (whose name is derived from a vessel or container) is the main dining room; it has portholes and restful decor. The silverware is by Robbe & Berking. Open-seating dining means that you can dine when you want, with whom you wish.
The menus are creative and nicely balanced, with a good selection of contemporary cuisine and regional foods.
Each day, basic table wine is included for lunch and dinner, but the decent bottles of wine cost extra. The wine list is very good, with prices ranging from moderate to high; many of the wines come from the smaller, more exclusive vineyards.
In addition, relaxed breakfasts and lunch buffets and themed candlelight dinners, can be taken in the Veranda/Candles Grill at the aft of the ship.
The Star Bar provides an above-poolside setting for candlelit dining. It specializes in sizzling steaks and seafood.
Entertainment. The Magellan Lounge has a sloping floor that provides good sight lines from just about every seat. ‘Production’ shows are of limited scope, as dinner is usually the main event. You can, however, expect to see the occasional cabaret act. Singers also tend to do mini-cabaret performances in The Club, one deck above the showlounge, the gathering place for late-night drinkers.
Spa/Fitness. The Spa is a small but well-equipped health spa/fitness center. It has sauna and steam rooms (separate facilities for men and women), an equipment-packed gymnasium - but the ceiling height is low - and a beauty salon.
The spa is staffed and operated by concession Elemis by Steiner. Treatment prices equal those in an expensive land-based spa. The beauty salon has hair beautifying treatments and conditioning. In the gymnasium, personal training sessions and some classes may be at extra cost.