Star Legend

The 1992-built (as "Royal Viking Queen") and acquired in 2015 from Seabourn (as "Seabourn Legend"), Star Legend is the third and final of the three identical superyachts in the Windstar fleet, together with Star Pride (Seabourn Pride) and Star Breeze (Seabourn Spirit).

The vessel (IMO number 9008598) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311085000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Windstar Cruises is a luxury travel brand operating a fleet of small-sized ships (mega-yachts) with capacity up to 340 passengers. The company calls at 150 ports across the Caribbean, Central America, the South Pacific, Asia, and Europe. Windstar is currently a subsidiary of Xanterra Parks and Resorts (the USA's largest national and state park concession management company).

The 340-passenger ship Star Legend was constructed in Bremerhaven Germany (by Schichau-Seebeckwerft) and inaugurated in February 1992 by Kloster Cruise. She was originally named "Royal Viking Queen" and operated by Royal Viking Line (founded in 1972, defunct since 1998). In 1995, the vessel was renamed "Queen Odyssey" and operated by Royal Cruise Line (1995-1996), before being sold to Seabourn Cruises and renamed "Seabourn Legend." In April 2015, the ship left Seabourn and joined Windstar’s fleet in May as "Star Legend."

An interesting fact is that Seabourn Legend was featured in the film "Speed 2: Cruise Control" (1997, starring Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, and Willem Dafoe). In the movie, Alex Shaw (Jason Patric) and Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock) are trapped onboard after the ship’s navigation systems are reprogrammed by a hacker (Willem Dafoe), setting the vessel on a collision course with a supertanker.

Decks and Cabins

Star Legend staterooms (156 total, in 13 grades) are all outside and exclusively suite accommodations, with the lowest category being Porthole Suite (10 cabins). All suites feature modern amenities, including fully stocked minibars, Wi-Fi Internet, smart HDTVs (infotainment system), spacious wardrobes with electronic safes, direct-dial phones, and large bathrooms (double-sink vanity, bathtub, shower, WC-toilet, L'Occitane bath products), as well as premium bedding (high-quality pillows and linens), fresh fruit, and flowers.

The largest accommodations are the 3-Bedroom Grand Owner's Suites (1375 ft² / 128 m²), which include private outdoor terraces.

The ship has 8 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

A major advantage of Star Legend is the wide variety of dining options for a ship of her size. Guests can choose from several inclusive venues, including AmphorA Restaurant, Yacht Club, and Sky Bar & Grill. Windstar guests often enjoy dressing up—there are 2 formal nights on weeklong cruises and 3 on 14-day voyages. On these evenings, many men wear tuxedos, while women opt for cocktail dresses or evening gowns. Other nights follow a casually elegant dress code (jackets for men, ties optional; stylish attire for women) or casual dress (no jacket for men; sundresses or slacks for women). Guests preferring a relaxed atmosphere can dine at the Veranda Cafe.

Follows the complete list of Star Legend restaurants and food bars.

• AmphorA Restaurant (main dining room with open seating; offers a daily-changing 5-course gourmet dinner menu; the executive chef sources fresh ingredients from local markets in ports of call)
• Candles Cafe & Veranda (a smaller dining venue offering buffet-style breakfast and lunch, plus a la carte service; indoor "Candles Cafe" features floor-to-ceiling windows, while the outdoor "Veranda" transforms into "Candles Grill," an alfresco steakhouse in the evenings)
• Star Bar (serving the open-air top deck area)
• Basil+Bamboo (deck 6 aft portside, complimentary specialty restaurant serving Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine)
• Star Grill by Steven Raichlen (deck 8 midship, an alfresco venue serving complimentary BBQ cuisine)

In 2025 (on Star Breeze), Windstar introduced the specialty restaurant Basil+Bamboo fleetwide, replacing Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso (Iberian cuisine). The new venue is complimentary and serves Mediterranean-Asian fusion dishes. The menu includes items such as miso black cod with pea puree, jamon Iberico de Bellota, pickled wood ear mushrooms, free-range chicken with artichokes and yuzu kosho, crispy Brussels sprouts in Korean honey-soy sauce, and gourmet desserts like Citrus Olive Oil Cake and Chocolate Caramel Cremeux, paired with ginger-cinnamon hibiscus ice cream and sake caviar.

Also complimentary is Windstar's 24-hour room service. During dinner hours, AmphorA Restaurant’s full menu is also available for in-suite dining.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Onboard activities on Star Legend are relatively limited and include market tours, enrichment programs, and performances by local musicians. Public areas include a casino, library, computer center, WindSpa, fitness center, swimming pool, and three whirlpools.

Follows the complete list of Star Legend lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for guests of all ages.

• The Marina (retractable watersports platform for water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and kayaking; equipment includes water rafts, wakeboards, paddleboards, and a water trampoline; a steel enclosure can be used as a sea pool)
• A whirlpool (with a sunbathing area and loungers)
• Card Room (bridge and board games), Library, Screening Room
• Computer Center (Internet access with per-minute rates)
• Lounge (main show lounge for live evening entertainment)
• The Boutique Shop (now Signature Shop) offering duty-free luxury fashion and accessories
• The Casino (formerly located aft on deck 6, replaced by Cuadro 44 restaurant)
• Compass Rose (main bar lounge with grand piano)
• The Wellness Centre (WindSpa, beauty salon, gym; includes treatment rooms, saunas, and steam rooms)
• The Fitness Center (with floor-to-ceiling windows; equipped with free weights, treadmills, and elliptical machines; offers complimentary classes), Courtyard
• Pool Area (with one rectangular pool, two whirlpools on platforms, and a third whirlpool at the bow; includes sunbathing and shaded areas)
• The Yacht Club (Constellation Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 270-degree views)
• The Sun Deck (with padded luxury loungers and deckchairs)

Itineraries

Star Legend's itinerary program focuses on Mediterranean cruises, with departures mainly from ports in France, Italy, and Spain. In Northern Europe, the ship operates Baltic Sea and Norwegian Fjords itineraries, as well as voyages to Iceland, departing from Denmark and the UK.

In November 2016, Windstar announced a return to Asia (for the first time in three years), deploying Star Legend in the region for the winter 2017-2018 season. The program included itineraries from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to destinations in South Korea and Japan.

In 2018, Windstar homeported Star Legend in Vancouver BC Canada, operating three distinct itineraries (May through August), including 11- and 12-day Alaska voyages from Vancouver to Seward, 14-day Seward-to-Vancouver cruises, and two 12-day roundtrips from Vancouver. The Alaska program also included pre- and post-cruise land tour packages.

In 2023, Star Legend completed Windstar's longest voyage—the "Star Collector - Grand European Bucket List Adventure." The 79-night itinerary (ship's Wiki section) departed Stockholm on July 25 and ended in Istanbul on October 12. Prices started from USD 40,000/EUR 34,035 per person with double occupancy.

In October 2023, Star Legend's inaugural Middle East season (November 2023 through April 2024, based on homeporting in Dubai UAE) was canceled and rescheduled for the 2024-2025 season (November through April).