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Holland America - Nieuw Statendam Review
I spend a week aboard Holland America’s newest ship in the Caribbean
The Itinerary
Embarkation (Port Everglades), Half Moon Cay, At Sea, Grand Turk, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), At Sea, Key West, Disembarkation (Port Everglades)
The Ship
The newest Pinnacle-class ship from Holland America makes a great first impression. These Pinnacle-class ships are beautiful ships and they are well-designed. Public spaces are found on Decks 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12. There are elevators and stairs forward, midship and aft. The ship’s two Azipod engines pull the ship along smoothly and quietly.
Accommodations - Veranda Stateroom
Click to expand
My Veranda Stateroom (5 074) was located on Gershwin Deck (Deck 5) just forward of midship. Staterooms in this category range from 228 to 405 sq ft. My stateroom was definitely in the 228 sq. ft. category. This is fairly typical of balcony or veranda staterooms on newer ships.
The layout and design of the stateroom, however, has been very well thought out and executed. It is about as comfortable as you can make 228 sq. ft.
The closet area is large enough to hold hanging clothes for a 14-day cruise for two people. There are plenty of shelves and drawers for smaller or folded items. Storage space should not be an issue in this stateroom. There is a refrigerator/mini-bar stocked with soft drinks, and a few not-so-soft drinks. A menu is provided with the pricing of the items.
The king-sized bed (or, two twins) is very comfortable. It is a little on the firm side, which I prefer. Bedding is top quality. There are two nightstands, each with drawers and a shelf for additional storage.
There is a small desk with drawers and plenty of power outlets. The balcony is large enough for two people to enjoy days at sea, or early morning coffee. There are two chairs with foot rests and a small table.
The bathroom is compact, but has a very nice, large walk-in glass shower that is the full width of the bathroom. I love the glass door on the shower as opposed to a shower curtain that tends to chase you around the shower and stick to you. There are three small shelves for storage, as well as the sink surround. A shelf under the sink can also be used for storage. The toilet seat and lid are soft close so as to not slam down in the middle of the night and wake a neighbor.
Overall, this is one of the most comfortable Veranda Staterooms I have occupied. There’s plenty of storage, good lighting, a huge flat-screen television with excellent programming, and I really like the light wood tones. The only improvements I would request might be better insulation from noise in the hallway, and a small coffeemaker might be a nice touch. But, overall, Holland America did a great job designing this stateroom.
Food and Dining
Food is the most subjective topic to cover because everyone has different tastes. Overall, the food on Nieuw Statendam is good. There are some exceptional meals that stick out in my mind, and some that were less impressive.
Lido Market (included)
Lido Market is the ship’s buffet located on Deck 9. There is a wide selection served here at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I should preface my comments with letting you know that I am generally not fond of buffets, and try to avoid them if possible. The Lido Market has identical serving lines on the port and starboard sides of the ship, each with multiple themed stations: “breads”, “sandwiches”, “desserts”, etc. On the port side, you will find an Asian station serving different Asian dishes each day.
The food I tried here was pretty typical buffet fare. I did not find anything unusually good or bad. The Asian station had the most interesting items, in my opinion.
One thing I did like about Lido Market is that the food is served by crew members behind the serving line as opposed to guests grabbing utensils and serving themselves. This is a much more sanitary system.
The Dining Room (included)
The Dining Room
The Dining Room is the ship’s main “traditional” restaurant. Breakfast and dinner are served here each day and the dinner menu changes each evening. I only dined in The Dining Room a couple of times during this cruise, once for breakfast and once for dinner.
My breakfast was good, but my poached eggs were overcooked (read my Day Two blog). My dinner meal here was the Gala Night dinner which featured Surf and Turf. Of course, I ordered the Surf and Turf (Tenderloin and Lobster). My Shrimp Cocktail starter was excellent, as was the Chicken Orzo soup. The Lobster was very good, but the beef was not as tender as I expected. Overall, I enjoyed The Dining Room. Service on both occasions was excellent.
Dive In (included)
This is the ship’s burger joint located on Deck 9 poolside. Here you can get hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, etc. The burgers are served fresh, made-to-order and are okay. The French fries are some of the best you will find, served hot and very crispy.
Pizza at New York Deli & Pizza
New York Deli and Pizza (included)
If you are in the mood for a morning bagel or afternoon pizza, this is the spot. From 7:00am until 11:00am, you can get bagels, cream cheese and a variety of other breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Starting at 11:30am, you can get made-to-order pizzas, sandwiches and salads. There is no ‘pizza-by-the-slice’.
I found the Caesar salad here to be good, but the pizza was somewhat lacking. The crust tasted like it was undercooked and a little “doughy” (is that a word?). The Meatball Sub sandwich was quite good, but could have used more marinara sauce. This is a popular place at lunch, so get here early.
Canaletto ($19 pp)
Canaletto is the ship’s evening Italian-themed bistro dining located on Deck 9 starboard. Actually, Canaletto is a section of Lido Market that is transformed into the bistro dining each evening. Caneletto is only open for dinner and reservations are required.
The menu is different than my last visit to Caneletto (on Nieuw Amsterdam). Sadly, the Braised Beef Short Ribs have been moved from the regular menu to a daily special, and I am not there on that day.
For a complete review of Canaletto, read my post in the Cruise Ship Dining blog click here.
Tamarind ($30 pp)
Panang Red Curry
Tamarind is the Asian-fusion restaurant found on all Pinnacle-class ships. Tamarind is located on Deck 10 aft. I dined here my first evening on board and the meal was excellent. Tamarind remains one of my favorite restaurants on Holland America ships.
You can read my full review of Tamarind here.
Nami Sushi (a la carte)
Nami Sushi is located in the same space as Tamarind on Deck 10 aft. Nami Sushi is a new restaurant serving sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls and a variety of main courses, starters and desserts. I dined here one time and loved it.
You can read my full review of Nami Sushi here.
Rudi’s Sel de Mer (a la carte)
Rudi’s Sel de Mer is an intimate, very upscale French seafood restaurant located on Deck 2 midship. I dined here one evening and enjoyed the meal. However, I did not order a seafood dish, which was a mistake. The bread served here is to die for.
You can read more about my meal at Rudi’s Sel de Mer in my Day Two blog.
Pinnacle Grill (Lunch $15, Dinner$39 pp)
This is the first Holland America cruise in recent history where I did not dine in Pinnacle Grill, other than for lunch one day. I did have reservations to dine at Pinnacle one evening, but I somehow screwed them up when I got on board the ship. My bad.
I did, however, have lunch at Pinnacle Grill one day and it was AMAZING. You can read all about my experience in my Day Three blog.
A Taste of De Librije ($49 pp)
De Librije is the only three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Netherlands. The restaurant has teamed up with Holland America to deliver a unique dining experience on Pinnacle-class ships. One evening per cruise, the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into “A Taste of DeLibrije”. To read all about my incredible dining experience here, click here.
Ham and Cheese Omelette
Room Service (included and a la carte)
Room service is available 24 hours a day and there are items throughout the day that are offered at no charge. There are, however, some room service items for which you pay. For example, you can order a Ham and Cheese Omelette for breakfast at no charge. If you want Steak and Eggs, it will cost you $9.50 (US). I had room service breakfast on the day of disembarkation and it was delivered to my stateroom on schedule and my omelette and coffee were hot. The toast, however, was ice cold. I did not order the toast, so it did not matter. Even the best room service has difficulty keeping toast warm without it getting soggy. I also had coffee delivered to the stateroom one morning, which was hot and quite good.
Club Orange
There is a private dining room on Nieuw Statendam for guests who have upgraded to the Club Orange VIP experience.
Bars and Lounges
You will not have a problem finding a place to quench your thirst aboard Nieuw Statendam. Drink prices have increased since the last time we sailed with Holland America. Soft drinks have gone from $2.00 to $2.50, a 25% increase. A glass of sparkling wine is now $9.50, a Crown Royal is $8.50, beers range from $7 to $9. And, all drinks come with a 15% gratuity add-on.
Bar service is the one area where the ship felt understaffed. I was on the Lido deck, poolside during sail away from Port Everglades and I never saw a waiter taking drink orders. I was there for more than an hour. The bar, however, was very busy with guests crowding around to order and receive drinks.
On the Lido Deck, they have placed little electronic buttons to request drink service, but I cannot tell if they work or not. I pressed one several times at the pool and no waiter ever arrived.
Beverage service in the Lido Market was very good. I visited the Lido Market three times, and within just a couple of minutes, a waiter or waitress arrived asking for a drink order. This was true of every dining venue. Only in the bars did I find slow or non-existent service.
Happy Hour has also changed on Holland America. As I recall, there used to be Happy Hour in all bars and lounges at the same time each day, and waiters would circulate through the lounges (or at least a couple of the lounges) with trays of complimentary canapés. Happy Hour is now offered in the Ocean Bar (Deck 2) from 4pm to 5pm and in the Boardwalk Bar from 6pm to 7pm. The Happy Hour special is “buy a drink and get the second for only $2.” Oh, and the canapés are no longer offered.
Happy Hour Example - Crown Royal Double
1st Crown Royal - $8.50
2nd Crown Royal - $2.00
15% gratuitiy - $1.58
Total: $12.07
By having Happy Hour at only one bar at a time, it creates huge crowds and puts the bartenders and waiters under extreme pressure to deliver drinks to all the guests in attendance. A better system, in my opinion, would be to have Happy Hour at the same time (4pm to 5pm, or 5pm to 6pm) in at least two lounges to spread the crowd out a bit. On one afternoon at the Ocean Bar, I waited 20 minutes for my drink to arrive, and an additional 30 minutes to get my key card back from the bar waiter.
Entertainment and Activities
The variety of entertainment aboard Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships is unmatched for ships of this size. The World Stage is the ship’s main theater, and it is the most innovative theater we have seen on any cruise ship. Guests are not only seated in front of the stage, but around it as well creating sort of a “theater-in-the-round”.
The World Stage on Nieuw Statendam
The seating is not the only innovative part of World Stage. The lighting and wrap-around LED screens literally surround the audience with images and sound. And, the sound system is one of the best I have heard on any cruise ship. However, what was interesting on my seven-night sailing was that there were no vocalists performing in either of the production shows. The cast from StepONE Dance Company consisted of six dancers, all of whom were quite good. Other performances in World Stage included Wayne Hoffman (magician); Doug Funk, comedian;and singer/impersonator, Karen Grainger.
The World Stage is on Deck 2 Forward and as you exit, you walk through a literal corridor of entertainment venues that make up the forward half of Deck 2. The Rolling Stone Rock Room was packed with guests every night jamming to the THE ROCK ROOM BAND. It was one of the most popular entertainment venues on the ship. Just across from Rolling Stone Rock Room is Billboard Onboard with dual pianos facing each other where musicians play popular music.
Shows are staggered at various times throughout the evening between the various venues, making it easier for guests to hop from one venue to another, so as not to miss any of the fun.
B.B. Kings Blues Club and Lincoln Center Stage share the same venue midship. If you love heart-pounding jazz, you will love B.B. Kings. And for those who prefer the more sedate tones of classical music, the ship’s quintet performs at various times throughout the day at Lincoln Center Stage. I cannot think of any cruise ship that offers as much variety of entertainment as Holland America does on its Pinnacle-Class ships.*
*They may offer this entertainment on other ships, but we have not sailed on any non-Pinnacle-class ships in many years.
Swimming Pools
There are two swimming pools on Nieuw Statendam. The Lido Pool is located midship on Deck 9. There are three hot tubs at one end of the pool, and a large TV screen at the other end with programming throughout the day. In the evenings, movies are shown on this screen so guests can enjoy “movies under the stars”. Colorful loungers surround the pool and towels are complimentary and readily available.
Lido Pool
Nearby, you will find the Lido Bar, Gelato (ice cream), Dive In (burgers), New York Deli and Pizza and the Lido Marketplace (buffet) is just aft of the Lido Pool. This seemed to be the pool where most families would congregate. The Lido Pool’s exposure to the sun can be somewhat hindered by the large sliding glass roof which can be closed during rain or cold weather. However, the roof remained open during our entire cruise.
Sea View Pool
The Sea View Pool is located aft on Deck 9 and offers the best exposure to the sun of the two pools, since there is no roof overhead. There are plenty of loungers here as well as on Deck 10 just above and overlooking the Sea View Pool.
The Sea View Pool is served by the Sea View Bar and the Lido Marketplace is just steps away, should you get hungry while soaking up the sun.
Fitness Center/Spa
Nieuw Statendam has a very large and well-equipped fitness center located on Deck 9 forward. Those who use treadmills will have one of the best ocean views on the ship as they face a wall of glass. Excellent weight training machines from Precor can be found here as well as free weights.
Precor Weight Machines
The Greenhouse Spa and Salon is just aft of the Fitness Center and offers every possible massage treatment as well as hair and nail services. If you choose to partake of the beautiful Hydro Pool, sauna, steam and other spa area goodies, plan on spending $40 per day/per person. They do offer a discounted weekly plan, which is a good value if you plan to visit more than twice per cruise.
Itinerary - 7-Day Tropical Caribbean
My seven-day itinerary included port calls in Half Moon Cay (Holland America’s Private Island), Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Key West. There were two days at sea. Our first stop was on day two at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This is Holland' America’s private island and a highlight of any HAL Caribbean cruise. The island is spotlessly clean and has a beautiful white sand beach for those who want to take in some sun, or some snorkeling in the clear blue Caribbean waters.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
In addition to plenty of complimentary loungers to enjoy, there are other beach activities available. Bar service is also available and you can use your shipboard account to purchase drinks. An Island BBQ (complimentary) is offered for lunch with burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and a variety of salads and desserts.
After a day at sea, we made a stop in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. There are many excursions offered by Holland America in Grand Turk, or you may just want to walk to the cruise shopping area, just a five-minute stroll from the ship. There is also a public beach in Grand Turk visible from the ship and you can rent two loungers and an umbrella for $25 a day. There is also a large swimming pool next to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant that is free to use, as are the loungers! So, you don’t have to spend money on a ship’s excursion unless you just want to.
Beautiful Pool in Grand Turk
Our next stop was Amber Cove, a relatively new cruise port in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. This was my first time to visit Amber Cove, and I was quite impressed. The cruise terminal/shopping plaza is similar to the one in Grand Turk, but without a beach. However, what they do have is an even bigger and nicer swimming pool, free for cruise guests to use, a zip line that you can enjoy all day long, as many times as you like, for only $20! There are also private cabanas for rent as well as a variety of water toys (kayaks, peddle boats, etc.). Coco Caña restaurant and bar is located poolside for those who don’t want to walk back to the ship for lunch. I heard from some guests who ate there that the food was very good.
Swimming Pool at Amber Cove
In Amber Cove, you will also find plenty of shops and local vendors selling tours. I found a vendor selling a 2.5 hour, air-conditioned motor coach tour of the island for $29 per person. Of course, many will feel more comfortable booking their excursions through the Shore Excursions desk onboard, but the options are available for those who prefer to go it on their own. I should also mention that the entire shopping plaza area was spotlessly clean. This is a place I would like to visit again.
3D Mini-Me
After another day at sea, our final stop was at Key West, Florida. Key West has become a popular cruise destination over the past few years. It is always fun just to walk around town, see the sights, or stop in for some Key Lime Pie at one of the many pie shops. Our favorite is Key Lime Pie Company on Greene St.
During this visit to Key West, I was able to re-visit 3D Mini-Me, a small business that I found a few years back. They make 3D figurines after taking a 3D scan/photo of you. I think the coolest thing you can do in Key West is to get your own “Mini Me” made using their 3D printer. It only takes a few minutes for them to shoot the photo and they ship the Mini-Me to you in two to four weeks. I had one made a few years ago and loved it. So, I am getting another one made. I think the technology has improved since I got mine, so I can’t wait to see it when it gets here!
The Holland America Experience
Everyone invariably asks, “so, what does Holland America compare to?” In the Carnival family of cruise brands I would say the HAL experience is pretty close to that of Princess Cruises, with each brand having some unique features not found on the other. HAL’s Pinnacle-class ships definitely have nicer Veranda staterooms than Princess, but Princess’ newest ships have that amazing Sanctuary (private cabana experience), which tops HAL’s “The Retreat”. Holland America is still a more adult-focused product compared to Princess or Carnival for sure, but that is changing. Where Holland America has really distinguished itself is with lounge entertainment. No other cruise line comes close.
When comparing to non-Carnival brands, anyone considering a Celebrity cruise should give these new Holland America ships a closer look. And, don’t forget, Holland America is a leader when it comes to Alaska cruises.
Summary
It is clear that Holland America has radically changed its target audience with this new series of Pinnacle-Class ships. It is not uncommon to find families with young children onboard these new ships, something that was almost non-existent 20 years ago. You may pay a little more for Holland America than you would on a “budget” or “mass-market” cruise line, but what you will get in return is some excellent dining options, unmatched entertainment choices, excellent itineraries and perhaps nicest Veranda staterooms in the industry.
Have a question about my Holland America experiences? Post your comment or question below.
ABC Islands on Windstar Cruises' Star Pride
We sail the ABC Island aboard Windstar Cruises new Star Pride.
Itinerary: Barbados, St. Lucia, Bequia, Grenada, Tobago, Mayreau, At Sea, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba
It has been a few years since we sailed with Windstar Cruises, so when the opportunity came up for us to spend nine days aboard one of their new motor yachts, Star Pride, we jumped at the chance. Windstar has gone through a lot of changes since our last review and we were anxious to see what has been going on with one of our favorite brands.
Windstar Cruises' Star Pride
History
Windstar Cruises has long had an admirable reputation as a small sailing ship cruise line, with 4- and 5-masted sailing vessels carrying from 148 to 310 guests to some of the most remote and exotic destinations in the world. The company continues to operate three sailing yachts: Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf. However, in 2014, Windstar launched the small motor yacht, Star Pride, followed by sister ships Star Breeze and Star Legend. Each of the new "Star" motor yachts can carry 212 guests. The addition of the three motor yachts makes Windstar one of, if not the, largest operator of small ships in the world.
The Ship
Star Pride was built in 1988 and was originally christened Seabourn Pride, operating under the Seabourn flag. At just under 10,000 tons, the ship is 438 feet long with a beam of 67 feet and, as previously mentioned, can carry up to 212 guests. The ship has stabilizers to smooth out any rough seas she may encounter. Because of her small size, Star Pride can take guests to smaller ports where large cruise ships simply cannot go, one of the big advantages of small ship cruising.
The ship has been fitted with a large marina at the aft section to allow guests to enjoy a variety of water toys (complimentary) such as paddle boards, water skis, wake boards, etc.
Marina
Star Pride has five decks (passenger decks) and three elevators. The two amidship elevators and the nearby dual spiral staircase extend between Deck 3 and Deck 7. The forward elevator and stairs go from Deck 3 all the way to Deck 8. We found the forward elevator to be quite small and possibly a tight fit for a wheelchair. The aft (main) elevators are larger. Therefore, it may be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to get to Deck 8.
Main, dual spiral staircases amidships
Most of the interior public spaces are located aft on Decks 5, 6 and 7 with the exception of The Yacht Club which is located on Deck 8 forward. The ship is small enough that it never takes more than a couple of minutes to walk from one space to another which is yet another advantage of small ship cruising.
The public rooms appear to have been recently refurbished with new carpeting, furnishings and other surfaces. Only the stage and dance floor in The Lounge are showing some signs of wear. Carpeting throughout the hallways, and even in the suites, all appear to be in very good to excellent condition. The HVAC system seems to be working well, perhaps too well. A sweater may be in order when visiting The Lounge or AmphorA Restaurant. However, based on our experience, interior cold temperature is not unique to this ship.
Windstar has an "open bridge" policy allowing guests to visit the navigational bridge while the ship is underway, or anchored. It may be closed during sail away or docking procedures.
Guests are invited to visit the Bridge on all Windstar ships
As far as outdoor spaces, Decks 7 and 8 provide loungers for sun-lovers, and shade-lovers as well. However, on days at sea with a full ship, you should pick out your lounger early as they can get scarce. We had about 140 people on our sailing (72 below the max) and on our one day at sea, we had difficulty finding a lounger on the non-smoking Starboard side of the ship.
Loungers with tables and umbrellas on Deck 8
There are also a few loungers hidden forward on Deck 3 at the bow, along with a little-known-about hot tub.
Hot tub and loungers at the bow on Deck 3
A larger hot tub and swim-against-the-current pool are located aft on Deck 7.
Resistance pool and hot tub on Deck 7
On this cruise, there were several ports requiring use of the ship's tenders. It should be noted that the tender service was the best we have experienced on any cruise line. There were always two tenders running continuously between ship and shore, so you never had to wait very long to get to shore or return to the ship
One of the ship's two tenders at Pigeon Island
The ship is equipped with WiFi Internet access which we found to be quite good. Cruise ship Internet is never as good as what you are used to on land, but Windstar's was better than average. Windstar offers a choice of Internet packages as follows:
The Email Plan $60 This plan gives you 200 MB of data to use during your cruise. This plan is recommended for people who will be checking email and doing very limited browsing. The estimated minutes range from 15 to 60.
The Surfing Plan $120 This plan gives you 500 MB of data to use for additional browsing and small file transfers (such as posting pictures to a social media site). The estimated minutes range from 90 to 360 (approximately 5 hours).
The Unlimited Plan This plan gives you unlimited internet access. You have no worries about how much time you spend on the internet
- 7 Day Cost $250
- 8 Day Cost $280
- 9 Day Cost $315
- 10 Day Cost $350
- 11 Day Cost $385
- 14 Day Cost $490
- 15 Day Cost $525
- 2 devices
- 1 ticket issued onboard valid for two devices
Accommodations
We were assigned to Balcony Suite 308 located, contrary to what you might think, on Deck 6 port side. Balcony suites and Ocean View Suites are essentially identical with the exception of the narrow, step-out balcony in the Balcony Suites. Both configurations are 277 sq. ft. and are identical as far as their layout and amenities.
Queen bed configuration
The "suites" are technically "suites" because they have a separate living room which can be separated with a curtain, quite nice when one wants to stay up late and watch TV while the other one sleeps. The living room has two comfortable chairs separated from a medium-sized sofa by a coffee table. The coffee table can double as a dining table when enjoying room service.
Living room in Ocean View and Balcony Suites
And, while you can't sit on your balcony and enjoy breakfast or soak up the sun, the step-out balcony is quite useful for photo taking purposes, or just to get some fresh air. There is a small, narrow desk/vanity at the end of the bed with a mirror and too-dim-to-put-on-makeup lighting. You can control most of the lighting in the suite from switches located near the desk, and there are woefully few electrical outlets for today's techno-junkies, a sign of the ship's age. The comfortable, leather desk chair is nice, but when someone is sitting at the desk, the other person may have to climb on the bed to get from the living room to the bathroom or closet. There's just not enough space between the end of the bed and the back of the chair. A small, round pedestal-type stool tucked under the desk might be a better solution.
Desk and chair
To free up desk space, we quickly re-located the huge World Atlas and magazine rack to shelves in the living room where they were out of sight, and out of the way. The added space made the desk very usable for my laptop and for Rickee's makeup application duties. She, of course, would like to see brighter lighting for the mirror lights, LEDs perhaps? The portable magnifying mirror that she relocated from the bathroom to the desk, is a nice touch, but it would be even better if it were a lighted makeup mirror. The large drawers (six of them), on each side of the desk came in very handy for storage. In fact, there is quite a bit of storage throughout the suite.
The very ample walk-in closet had more than enough hanging space for our 9-day cruise. There were drawers and an electronic safe tucked away at one end of the closet, and a series of shelves as you walk in on the right. Storage was not an issue.
Walk-In Closet
The queen-sized bed is flanked by small nightstands, each with a small drawer and cubby for additional storage. The linens and bedding were high quality, however, the mattress was a little firm for our liking and not very plush. The bed seemed very low to the ground! There are small, lamps attached to the wall on each side of the bed in addition to the wall-mounted adjustable reading lights. The suite was very quiet and peaceful notwithstanding the occasional "whoosh" from a flushing vacuum toilet.
The flat-screen television offers decent satellite programming with major news channels, a couple of closed-circuit movie channels and a European sports channel. A DVD player is connected to the TV with DVDs available on a complimentary basis from the library. Underneath the TV is a Bose iPod sound system. A mini-fridge is stocked with soft drinks, tonic and club soda, all of which are complimentary. Small, airline-type bottles of liquor are placed in the cabinet with the refrigerator and are available for purchase, as are beer and wine stocked in the refrigerator. Bottled water is also available from your room steward(ess) upon request. Two bottles of filtered water are refilled as needed.
Filtered water is refilled as needed
The bathrooms have double sinks, a very nice touch. There is plenty of storage for your toiletries in the bathroom, too, in mirrored cabinets on each side of the vanity. The bathtub/shower combo makes taking a shower a bit clumsy because of where the shower head/wand is mounted on the wall. We would prefer a nice shower stall, but we understand that some people just love bathtubs. Top-quality L'Occitane soaps and bath products are provided and replenished as needed.
Food and Dining
The one area where we noticed the biggest improvement over past Windstar sailings was food and dining. That's not to say that the food on Windstar was bad before, but it was nothing notable, at least in our opinion. The food on this cruise, however, was notable. Let's start with Veranda, the ship's indoor/outdoor venue for buffet breakfast and lunch. We are not breakfast eaters, so we only had a morning meal there on the day of disembarkation. Nevertheless, the buffet was well stocked with every item you could possibly want. However, on the day of disembarkation, they do not offer Eggs Benedict, most likely because of the large crowd. Omelets and eggs made-to-order were available, however, and were very nice.
Eggs made-to-order at Veranda
Lunch is typically served from 12:30pm until 2:00pm in Veranda and the buffet items change every day. We were quite impressed with the quality of the soups, salad choices, and entrees available on the buffet. And, the amazing breads made watching carb intake a real challenge!
Chicken noodle soup, Thai beef salad, grilled zucchini and fresh bread
An à la carte menu is available at lunch with daily specials prepared à la minute. Hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers and hot dogs are always available with lunch, and are quite good. The French fries are hot and crispy, too. It may sound nit-picky, but you would be surprised how many cruise lines, even 5-star cruise lines, cannot deliver something as simple as a decent hamburger. The burgers and hot dogs on Star Pride were delicious.
Lamb Tikka Masala Burger Special
If you prefer something a bit lighter, there is a Continental breakfast served in the Yacht Club (Deck 8 forward) from 6am until 10am. Here you will find a selection of muffins and assorted pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee drinks, delicious hot chocolate, and a variety of smoothies. Oh, I almost forgot -- they have the most delicious chocolate croissants and almond croissants, too. I visited the Yacht Club early every morning, finding it to be the quietest place on the ship to enjoy my coffee and get my blogging done.
My morning workstation at the Yacht Club
At lunchtime until 5pm each day, the Yacht Club offers a selection of finger sandwiches, mini-wraps, cupcakes, and cookies. What a great idea!
Sandwiches and sweets at Yacht Club
At dinnertime, there are a couple of choices available to guests on Windstar's motor yachts. AmphorA Restaurant is the main dining room located on Deck 3. The restaurant looks as if it has undergone a complete refurbishment recently. It looks brand new and is one of the nicest public spaces on the ship. The menu at AmphorA changes every evening and offers a variety of delicious choices across multiple courses. The restaurant offers open-seating any time between the hours of 7pm and 9pm and there are tables for two available.
We were impressed with every meal we had here, although some offerings seemed a bit dated. Chicken Kiev? Seriously? It's 2017, not 1980. That said, there were contemporary dishes and everything we ordered was expertly prepared and presented. The Curry Duo I had one evening was very inventive and delicious.
Curry Duo
One night I ordered Prime Rib and was delivered a huge slab of tender, perfectly-cooked beef that was as good as I have ever had on a cruise ship. Rickee had a Sesame Crusted Seared Tuna one evening that she still talks about. The service in AmphorA was also top notch; however, when the restaurant begins to get busy, the time between courses can increase dramatically. We were impressed when the restaurant manager noticed that Rickee was wearing black pants and exchanged her white napkin for a black one to prevent lint transfer that sometimes comes from the white napkins. I don't recall that level of attention to detail on any other ship.
The other option for dinner is Candles, otherwise known as Veranda during the day. In the evening, Veranda is transformed into a romantic restaurant with candlelit tables and a steakhouse menu.
Guests dining at Candles can see the meat offerings upon entering the restaurant
Dining at Candles is complimentary, but guests are only guaranteed one meal per cruise. However, guests occupying an Owner's Suite do not have that restriction. We ate at Candles on the first evening of the cruise. We were seated outdoors, and while it was very romantic, it was also very, very dark. It was impossible to read the menu without using the light from my cell phone. A small flashlight on the table might be a nice touch. The food here was very good. My Veal Chop was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy.
Veal Chop with Chimichurri
There is one other, often overlooked, dining option: room service. Room service is complimentary and there is a quite an extensive room service menu. Guests can even order from the daily AmphorA Restaurant menu during dinnertime hours, a nice feature that you normally only find on luxury cruise lines. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
One of the highlights of the cruise was the Pool Deck BBQ held one evening on Decks 7 and 8. The outer decks of the ship are transformed into an elegant dining area for the event.
Tables set up on Deck 8 for BBQ
At sunset, the ship comes alive with guests lining up at the huge buffet line for everything imaginable: grilled lobster, steaks, lamb chops, pork ribs, boiled shrimp, and on and on. A gigantic Paella pan is overflowing with rice and seafood. The galley crew really put on an amazing display of food, and it was all delicious. We even enjoyed the music of a local steel-drum band that provided musical entertainment after dinner.
Paella anyone?
In every way, the food quality and dining experience on Star Pride exceeded our expectations.
Bars & Lounges
There are two main venues for enjoying cocktails. The Star Bar is located on Deck 8, just above the pool deck, and is open all day and into the evening. On any other ship, it would be called the Pool Bar, but it is actually located one deck above the pool. The Star Bar also serves as the cocktail center for anyone wishing to enjoy a drink in the Yacht Club.
Star Bar
The other bar/lounge is in Compass Rose on Deck 6 aft. This space appears to have been recently refurbished as everything here looks brand new. Compass Rose is closed during the day and opens sometime around 8pm for after-dinner drinks, music and dancing.
Compass Rose
The Lounge on Deck 5 aft is used for evening talks, events, and as a gathering point for shore excursions. There is no bar here, but waiters can be found taking drink orders during some events in the evening, so you can enjoy a cocktail here if there is a scheduled event.
Entertainment
As is the custom on small ships, there are no evening "shows" as you might expect on a larger cruise ship. One duo, D' Harmony, performed nightly at the Star Bar on Deck 8. To their credit, they played at a reasonable volume so that you could enjoy their music, but still have a conversation.
D 'Harmony
The other performing duo, Mistura Fina, was not as considerate with the low volume. They performed in the Compass Rose and in The Lounge prior to some of the scheduled events such as the Crew Show. And speaking of the Crew Show, it was one of the most energetic we have seen in a long time. You definitely do not want to miss the Crew Show.
The crew takes a bow after the crew show
Activities
Small ship cruising is more about the destination than it is about the ship itself. Therefore, when the ship is docked or anchored in port, there is not much going on around the ship during the day. Windstar expects guests to seek their adventures on shore, either on their own, or through their shore excursions. We booked a Clear-Bottom Kayak excursion in Grenada and found it to be a good value, and a lot of fun.
Clear-Bottom Kayak in Grenada
Those who are into SCUBA and snorkeling will love the wide selection of Windstar excursions that cater to these activities, especially when sailing in the Caribbean. Windstar even provides complimentary snorkeling gear for guests. When the ship is anchored, and the waters around the ship are calm, guests have full access to the ship's marina and all of the water toys, which include kayaks, paddle boards, water skis, wake boards, and a big floating mat that is tethered to the back of the ship.
Some guests and crew members using the floating mat
Of course, the most popular activity any day in the Caribbean is just hanging out on Deck 7 or Deck 8 and soaking up some sun. The comfortable loungers have umbrellas for those (like me) who prefer the shade. Fresh towels are available at the Star Bar and drinks are also just a few steps away. On our one day at sea, we enjoyed a cooking demonstration presented by Executive Chef Stany, and a towel-folding demonstration where we actually got to make the cute and creative animals that our room stewards make for us each evening and place on the bed.
Anton shows Rickee how to turn a towel into a dinosaur
There is a library on Deck 6 and a very small casino next to the library. Since we had such a port-intensive itinerary, the casino was not open much, which was probably a good thing for us! There is also a small shop on board selling Windstar logo items, clothing and sundries. It was closed much of the time due to Customs regulations about not being able to open while the ship is in port
One of the most popular activities on a Windstar Caribbean Cruise is the signature Beach Party and BBQ. Our day at the beach was in Mayreau and was one of the best beach BBQs we have ever experienced. The beach was beautiful and the facilities, great.
Guests have access to the Windstar water toys to use from the beach and there are more than enough loungers for everyone. A steel band plays Caribbean music in the background and there is plenty of shade available for those who prefer to stay out of the sun.
Of course, there is a full service bar available and the galley crew put on a huge Beach BBQ with Jerk chicken, chicken skewers, shrimp mac & cheese, burgers, hot dogs and too many other items to list. Everyone had a great time and it was a highlight of the cruise.
Staff and Crew
Nothing new here. Windstar continues its tradition of hiring and training an excellent staff and crew. Crew members are predominately Indonesian and Phillipino and are always smiling and willing to serve.
Anto, our excellent room steward, was always there when we needed him
Fellow Shipmates
So, who exactly are you most likely to be sailing with on Windstar? This ship appeals to an active demographic, those who like to explore destinations rather than sit in a casino or ship's theater. You won't see many (if any) children, perhaps because there really are no programs for kids on these small ships. Average age is somewhere between 40 and 60, with a few on either side of that equation. On our voyage, 60 out of the 140 people had sailed with Windstar at least on one occasion before.
Summary
If you are into small ship cruising, then Windstar should be on your short list of choices. If you have never considered a small ship, perhaps you should. You won't have to worry about fighting large lines to get on or off the ship, or standing in line to be seated for dinner. The Star Pride (and her sisters, Star Legend and Star Breeze) represents the ultimate small ship experience. She was originally designed as a luxury, 5-star cruise ship, so the accommodations are huge by cruise ship standards and everyone gets a suite! The ship has multiple dining options, and plenty of space so you never feel crowded. Combine this with an excellent staff and competitive pricing, and you have quite a combination. Our advice: book a Windstar cruise and see for yourself. You might just become addicted to the experience!
