Not many people can boast that they’ve sailed through London’s iconic Tower Bridge, with the road raised to let them pass, but that’s one of the bucket-list experiences offered by Windstar Cruises as part of its new collection of three- to five-night ‘Quick Getaways’ in Europe.
I joined a four-night cruise on Star Pride, from Tower Bridge to St Malo last Friday, and even though the sailaway wasn’t till 1am (of course, ships are at the mercy of the tide), there were still many of us wrapped in blankets on the deck for that moment when we slipped past the floodlit Tower of London and through the bridge, sailing on down the Thames to France, feeling like kings and queens.
Windstar has introduced these short cruises from London to boost awareness of its ‘casually elegant’ ships in the UK. The cruise line is hoping they’ll give guests a taste for its ships and they’ll go on to book its longer voyages.
Currently, only a small percentage of Windstar guests are British, with the vast majority coming from the US, but it has plans to change that. It will shortly have ABTOT bonding, which will allow independent agents to book direct, and later this year it is expecting to be granted an ATOL, so agents will be able to sell fully protected flight-inclusive packages too.
Our cruise to St Malo was on Star Pride, which has recently had a refresh, including the addition of a new Japanese restaurant, Basil + Bamboo and other little touch-ups here and there.
It’s an all-suite ship carrying a maximum of 312-guests, tastefully furnished in aquatic and earthy tones. It’s small enough to feel intimate, almost like a boutique hotel, but big enough to include a sizeable spa and a hairdresser, a well-equipped gym, exercise studio, a boutique and three restaurants – including the new Basil + Bamboo – plus an outdoor grill.
On deck, there is also a very small pool (not big enough for lengths, just dipping and floating) hot tubs, sun-loungers, deck chairs and four basket chairs.
The cabins
As mentioned, this is an all-suite ship, which means that every cabin has a separate sleeping and living area. They all include a walk-in closet; double vanity shower rooms or bathrooms, filled with L’Occitane toiletries; mini bars and drinks cabinets.
The majority – like my Balcony Suite (pictured below)– are 277 square feet (none is smaller) and if you can’t visualise that, I can tell you it’s more than enough room to swing a cat (but pets aren’t allowed!).
All have Queen-sized (or twin) beds and mine was super comfy.
The only thing that guests might find disappointing is the lack of outdoor space. The ‘balconies’ in the ‘Balcony Suites’ are ‘French-style’, meaning there is no seating area, just a very narrow standing platform. However, I guess this is an opportunity to upsell to the higher-category cabins.
The next category up from Balcony Suites is the Deluxe Suite, which has a separate bedrooms and living/dining room, and a bath tub as well as a walk-in shower.
Deluxe guests are invited to board up to an hour early, giving them priority access to restaurant and spa reservations, and putting them among the first in line to book excursions.
Head of UK & Ireland Sales Augustus Lonsdale tells me the Deluxe Suites are really popular. Worth noting, however, is that they don’t have full balconies either.
For this, you need to book one of the two Classic Suites, the Broadmoor or Sea Island, at the front of the ship on deck 5, or one of the four Owner’s Suites, two of which are in the bow and two are mid-ship.
The Broadmoor (Suite 500, pictured above) is inspired by the historic Colorado Springs hotel of the same name, while the Sea Island (501) is inspired by the renowned Xanterra property. Both have verandas and forward-facing windows.
The four Owner’s Suites are each 575 square feet (so you can swing multiple cats) and come with a good-size bedroom, large living and dining room, full bathroom with a tub and walk-in shower and a guest WC.
Which is the best cabin?
Windstar President Chris Prelog says his favourite are the mid-ship Owner’s Suites, 640/641, which can connect to the neighbouring Balcony Suites to create Star Pride’s six-bedroom Grand Owner’s Suites.
However, I’d go for one of the Owner’s Suites in the bow on deck 6 (600/601), which have forward-facing verandas and stunning views.
That said, if your guests are prone to motion sickness, they’d probably be better off in the middle of the ship.
The dining
All three main restaurants and the grill are included in the cruise fare. The newest is the Japanese restaurant, Basil + Bamboo, which you need to book. It has only a small menu featuring dishes such as tuna tartare, grilled octopus, sahimi, nigiri and maki. I had a very delicate miso black cod with Iberico ham and pea puree, which was delicious.
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style in the Veranda, at the rear of deck 8, but this transforms into Candles steakhouse at night. I had an excellent filet mignon with truffle fries, which would have only been improved if it had been warm enough to eat on the outdoor terrace, which I expect is lovely in the summer. Inside, Candles does still have buffet vibes in the evening.
Amphora, the main dining room in the middle of deck 3, is much more elegant, the menu is extensive and it also has a decent list of quality wines. You don’t need to make a reservation to eat here and, as this is such a small ship, we didn’t experience any of the queues you sometimes get on bigger vessels.
At lunchtime, you have the alternative option of the small outdoor Star Grill, on deck 8, which serves meats, curries and salads.
The spa
It’s impressive that such a small ship has such a good spa, offering ‘age-defying’ facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. Prices are punchier than in London, but they do deals such as three-for-the-price-of-two or discounts on second treatments, though be aware that 18% service is added to the bill.
I had a very thorough Elemis ‘Ultimate Facial’ that genuinely seemed to leave my skin firmer and more hydrated, so maybe it was worth the $249 plus 18%, let’s see how long it lasts!
The gym offers fitness classes, including free stretch and morning yoga, and personal fitness training, and health consultations are also available.
The activities
Star Pride has a daily schedule of activities, such as chess lessons, pamper parties, wine tasting, cooking demos, movie trivia and quizzes.
There are also games in the Yacht Club, which is actually just a really nice spot to grab a coffee and relax, soaking in the views from the front of the ship.
Of course, there are a range of excursions available at every destination, which can be booked on board, at extra cost. Our excursion at St Malo, to an oyster farm about 30 minutes’ drive from the port, was very good, with a well-informed guide.
The dress code
Windstar describes its dress code as ‘casually elegant’. It doesn’t allow jeans or trainers in the restaurants in the evening and the other guests on board did tend to dress up, with the ladies mainly in cocktail dresses and the gents in smart trousers and collared shirts. However, you can leave the ballgowns and ties at home, it’s not that fancy!
Windstar will repeat the London to St Malo roundtrip Quick Getaway in 2027, with a departure from London on 18 May. This year, it still has two three-night European cruises available, A Taste of Southern France on Wind Surf, departing from Barcelona on 11 June, and La Dolce Vita in Italy and France, also on Wind Surf, departing from Rome on 31 May.
