Star Pride

The 1988-built cruise ship Star Pride, originally named "Seabourn Pride," is the first of three identical Windstar yachts, together with her fleetmates Star Breeze (Seabourn Spirit) and Star Legend (Seabourn Legend).

The vessel (IMO number 8707343) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311084000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Windstar Cruises is a luxury travel brand operating a fleet of smaller ships (mega-yachts) with passenger capacity of up to 340. The company calls at 150 ports throughout 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 Star Pride was purchased by Windstar in 2013. The ship was then leased back to Seabourn Cruises (her operator since 1988) for one year, until the transfer was completed in May 2014. Star Pride then entered service as the first of Windstar's three new power yachts.

Decks and Cabins

Star Pride staterooms (156 total in 13 categories) are all outside accommodations and all are suites, with the smallest being the Porthole Suite category (10 cabins). All cabins feature modern amenities, including fully stocked minibars, Wi-Fi Internet, smart HDTVs (infotainment system), a spacious wardrobe with electronic safe, direct-dial phone, and a large bathroom with double-sink vanity, bathtub, shower, toilet, and L'Occitane bath products. Additional amenities include premium bedding sets with top-quality pillows and linens, as well as fresh fruit and flowers.

The largest accommodations are the 3-Bedroom Grand Owners Suites (1375 ft2 / 128 m2, including an outdoor terrace).

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

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Star Pride guests may choose from various inclusive dining options, including AmphorA Restaurant, Yacht Club, and Sky Bar & Grill. Windstar travelers usually enjoy dressing up. There are 2 formal nights on weeklong cruises and 3 on fourteen-day voyages. On these nights, many men wear tuxedos, while women wear elegant cocktail dresses or ball gowns. Other evenings are casually stylish (jacket for men, tie optional; elegant attire for women) or casual (no jacket for men; sundress or slacks for women). For those who prefer to avoid formal nights, the Veranda Cafe offers a casually stylish alternative.

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

• AmphorA Restaurant (the ship's main dining room, open-seating; offers a 5-course gourmet dinner menu that changes daily; in addition to onboard-made bread, the executive chef shops in local markets at ports of call for fresh ingredients)
• Candles Cafe & Veranda (a smaller dining venue offering buffet-style breakfast and lunch, as well as an a la carte menu served by the waitstaff; the indoor area is called "Candles Cafe" and features floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows; the outdoor seating area is called "Veranda" and in the evenings transforms into "Candles Grill," an al fresco steakhouse)
• Star Bar (serves 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; alfresco dining venue serving complimentary BBQ specialties)

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

Also complimentary is Windstar's 24-hour room service menu. During dinner hours, Amphora Dining Room’s full dinner menu is also available for in-cabin dining.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

While Star Pride offers signature Windstar experiences such as the famous deck barbecue, she also reflects the company's product development initiative by providing intimate access to ports of call, themed sailings, and active interaction with local communities. Onboard activities are limited and range from visits to local food markets to performances by regional musicians. Public areas include the casino, library, computer center, WindSpa, fitness center, pool, and three whirlpool tubs. The marina offers complimentary watersports equipment.

Follows the complete list of Star Pride lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Marina (retractable watersports platform for water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and kayaking; the ship provides water rafts, wakeboards, paddleboards, and a water trampoline island; a steel cage forms a swimming pool in the sea)
• A Whirlpool (with sunbathing area and lounge chairs)
• Card Room (for bridge and board games); Library; Screening Room
• Computer Center (with discounted Internet packages and per-minute rates)
• Lounge (the ship's theater/main show lounge for live evening entertainment)
• The Boutique Shop (now Signature Shop), selling duty-free luxury fashion, clothing, and accessories
• The Casino (gaming lounge aft on deck 6, with blackjack and roulette tables and slot machines) was replaced by the Cuadro 44 restaurant
• Compass Rose (the ship's main bar lounge with grand piano)
• The Wellness Centre (WindSpa, Beauty Salon, Gym). WindSpa (operated by Steiner) has treatment rooms for massages, saunas, and steam rooms.
• The Fitness Center (with floor-to-ceiling windows; features free weights, treadmills, and elliptical machines; offers complimentary exercise classes); Courtyard
• Pool Area (with one rectangular swimming pool, two whirlpools on platforms, and a third whirlpool at the ship's bow, plus sunbathing and shaded areas)
• The Yacht Club (Constellation Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 270-degree views)
• The Sun Deck (with padded luxury sun loungers and deckchairs)

Itineraries

Star Pride's itinerary program is based on Asian cruises departing from Singapore and Hong Kong. The ship also sails in the Eastern Mediterranean from Venice, Piraeus-Athens, and Istanbul, with Suez Canal transits during repositioning voyages.

Star Pride was acquired from Seabourn Cruises and renamed from "Seabourn Pride". In 2013, Windstar announced that the vessel would be rebranded as "Star Pride" in May 2014. The ship left Seabourn on March 30, 2014, and officially joined Windstar’s fleet on May 5. Like her sisterships, Seabourn Pride was equipped with LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) — a non-lethal acoustic system designed for anti-piracy and deterrence operations.

In 2006, a Forbes article ranked Seabourn Pride’s “New Year Cruise” among the most expensive cruises in its category globally.

The ship underwent a drydock refurbishment in June 2016, costing approximately USD 4.5 million. The project included a full renovation of the two Owner Suites (including their forward-located private sundecks), redesign of the AmphorA Restaurant, and upgrades to public spaces such as the Screening Room, Reception area, lobby, corridors, and hallways.

Windstar “Star Plus Initiative” (2019–2021) – reconstruction and modernization

On November 15, 2018, Windstar Cruises announced the “Star Plus Initiative” — a USD 250 million fleet-wide modernization program focused on stretching and re-engining its three Star-class vessels: Star Breeze (completed February 20, 2020), Star Legend (July 2, 2020), and Star Pride (November 20, 2020, with final delivery in October 2021).

The project, partially financed through an Export Credit facility guaranteed by SACE Italy, was executed at Palermo and Trieste shipyards (Fincantieri).

The modernization delivered substantial technical and commercial upgrades:

• Passenger capacity increased from 254 to ~312–320; crew from 140 to 190
• Gross tonnage increased from 9,975 GT to 12,995 GT
• Length extended from 134 m to 159 m via insertion of a 25 m prefabricated midship section
• Staterooms increased from 106 to 156 (+50 new suites)

The structural modification involved cutting the vessel and inserting a prefabricated midship block (built in Trieste and transported to Palermo). This section also added an additional elevator and enabled expanded public areas.

The stretched Star Pride was delivered on October 13, 2021, at Fincantieri’s Palermo yard.

Post-refit enhancements include:

• Two new dining venues: Cuadro 44 (specialty restaurant by Anthony Sasso) and Star Grill (casual BBQ by Steven Raichlen)
• Expanded retail space (Signature Shop)
• Enlarged Fitness Center with Motion Studio
• Expanded WindSpa wellness complex (by Steiner)
• New lounge (deck 5)
• Expanded sundeck and swimming pool (deck 7)
• New tender loading area (deck 3 midship) and two 90-passenger tenders
• Additional whirlpool and enlarged pool (deck 8)
• Upgraded crew areas and accommodations

The ship’s propulsion system was модернизирана, replacing the original 4x Bergen diesel engines (model B33:45, ~7.3 MW total output) with 4x Wärtsilä 46F engines (~5 MW combined output), operating on ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), improving fuel efficiency and emissions performance.

Each vessel received 50 new staterooms (total 156), equating to an estimated cost of ~USD 267,000 per berth. New accommodations include two midship Owner Suites and two enlarged Forward Grand Owner Suites (Deck 6). All existing staterooms were fully refurbished, including bathrooms, balconies, furnishings, and onboard systems.

The redesign of interiors and new spaces was carried out by the New York-based “The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry”.