PALERMO, Italy, Oct. 17,
2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- It's only appropriate that the culture
that gave birth to the Renaissance is where Windstar Cruises ushers
in a new era as the leader in small ship cruising by making the
final cut to the hull of Star Breeze
to "stretch" the first of its three ships and begins the process of
inserting a new 84-foot mid-section (25.6 meters) that will help
evolve and transform the Windstar experience.
The first Windstar ship to emerge from this transformation,
Star Breeze, will sail from
Barcelona to Lisbon on February 20,
2020, and celebrate re-inaugural activities in North America at the Port of Miami on March 19,
2020.
While many a ship has been "stretched," as it is referred to in
the cruise industry, the complexity and significant undertaking
with Star Breeze (and sister ships
Star Legend and Star Pride in 2020)
is not just cosmetic or experience-based. It also involves removing
and replacing the engines to ensure a cleaner, more
environmentally-friendly operation as the ships sail through some
of the world's most beautiful waters and call at small, enchanting
ports for decades to come.
"The $250 Million Star Plus
Initiative is the most complex and comprehensive small ship
lengthening, engine replacement, and renovation project undertaken
in cruising, and we are very proud to be working with Fincantieri,
the leader in major cruise ship renovations," stated Windstar
Cruises President John Delaney. "The
slightly larger ships and new enhancements will significantly build
upon the signature onboard environment Windstar is famous for. The
social and friendly public spaces on the ships create a welcome
chemistry with guests and the crew."
This is the first of three new mid-ship sections to be
constructed and inserted as part of Windstar's $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, which is
committed to the expansion and transformation of the cruise line's
three Star-class vessels. In addition to the all-important
propulsion system and "back-of-house" investment, what guests will
welcome most are the two new restaurants including the eclectic,
Spanish-styled Cuadro 44 by Anthony
Sasso and a modern, alfresco Star
Grill by Steven Raichlen
capitalizing on the ships' increase in deck space.
That additional space also translates into a new pool and
whirlpool on the upper deck, a re-imagined, world-class spa and
fitness center, a new retail shop, and more. In addition, every
bathroom on the ship with be re-built and fitted to modern luxury
standards. The new 84-foot (25.6 meters) mid-section will also
welcome most of the 50 new suites. With the new section,
Star Breeze will now be able to
accommodate 312 passengers (previously the ship accommodated 212
guests). The expanded ship will also allow for more crew and
maintain the enviable 1.5-to-1 guest-to-service staff ratio.
Vice President of Fleet Operations for Windstar Christopher Prelog said, "This is a momentous
undertaking for Windstar and a major milestone. Thanks to our
partners at Fincantieri, we are literally witnessing the evolution
of a cruise line. Star Breeze and
her sister ships have always been coveted for their beauty,
pleasing lines, and cozy yet seemingly spacious environments. The
significant investment and the transformation of these ships will
be stunning, and we are all eager for our guests to experience the
renaissance of Windstar Cruises."
Vice President Ship Repair and Conversion of the Fincantieri
Services Division Andrew Toso stated, "Today is a big day. A proud
day. A day of amazing accomplishment by Windstar, Fincantieri, and
our shipyard in Palermo. Cutting Star
Breeze in two, inserting a new section, replacing the main
engines and diesel generators is evidence of our ability in these
kinds of highly sophisticated and complex operations, which require
engineering and design skills, as well as project management
competence that represent the state-of-the-art in the
industry."
Windstar is transforming three of its Star-class ships –
Star Breeze, Star Legend, and
Star Pride – and renovating each
ship in succession at Fincantieri's Shipyard in Palermo,
Sicily, Italy. Work will be
complete in late 2020.
The second ship to undergo the transformation, Star Legend, will
debut in Barcelona on July 2, 2020. The third and final ship,
Star Pride, will be complete with
the departure of Star Pride from the
shipyard in fall of 2020, with her first cruise sailing from
Barcelona on November 20, 2020.
Reservations are open for 2020 and 2021 cruises aboard the
post-Star Plus Initiative Star Breeze, Star Legend, and
Star Pride, including a Colors of
Key West & Central America
10-day voyage from Miami to Colón,
Panama on March 20, 2020; sailing from Miami will be a first for the Seattle-based company.
For more information contact a travel advisor or Windstar
Cruises at 1-800-258-7245, or visit
http://www.windstarcruises.com.
Editor's note: images of the final cut and new section insertion
can be found here.
SOURCE Windstar Cruises