wesport

25 minutes ago, milepig said:

A posting up thread indicated that there is an additional cost for some menu items. Is this a first for WS? I don’t remember ever seeing it before. 

Candles

23 minutes ago, milepig said:

A posting up thread indicated that there is an additional cost for some menu items. Is this a first for WS? I don’t remember ever seeing it before. 

Only the huge tomahawk steak. I thing there was one other for a larger steak.

Unvaxxed on Crystal will have a red wrist band. 

5 hours ago, r&rd said:

A few questions on recent sailings:

Are you allowed to eat with others or are you restricted to your traveling companions?

With so few passengers are they doing any upgrades?

Are there activities like Trivia or Liars Club?

No restrictions on dining with others.

We booked a certain cabin and received no upgrades or upsells. 

They did trivia. 

New star cabins. Shower only. 

55 minutes ago, Babr said:

Do the new ocean view suites have walk-in showers or a tub/shower combo. I’m looking at the deck plan, but I can’t tell from the illustration.

 

 Thanks

We’ve done 21 days with no problem. Went by quickly. The only problem was we had to eat the Thomas Keller ribs at the Colonade a couple times. YUM!

3 minutes ago, cruiseej said:

@wesport Not that I needed any convincing, but you've made me glad that we aren't flying via St. Maarten! 😉 

 

How long before your flight's scheduled time did you arrive at the airport? Were there delays in boarding and departure because of all the delays checking in, or did everyone just get there way early and spend an extra several hours together waiting in lines. 

We arrived three hours before the flights departure. However, all flights were delayed as everyone was not through security on time. A real mess. 

7 hours ago, cruiseej said:

@wesport Out of curiosity, where was the nightmare? Waiting to check in? Security?

 

There's only been one cruise completed from Barbados. With relatively few passengers aboard, some of them staying on this week for the second cruise, and no one posting here on CC that I'm aware of, you may need to wait a week or two more to get current reports about returns from Barbados. 😉

3 hours ago, cruiseej said:

@wesport Out of curiosity, where was the nightmare? Waiting to check in? Security?

 

There's only been one cruise completed from Barbados. With relatively few passengers aboard, some of them staying on this week for the second cruise, and no one posting here on CC that I'm aware of, you may need to wait a week or two more to get current reports about returns from Barbados. 😉

Waiting to check negative status.

waiting in line to check in10 at a time

checking in.

scanning boarding pass.

scanning passport.

security line. Complete strip down. 
 

3.5 hours total. 

I just flew back from St Maarten on Saturday, and it was a nightmare. Wondering what it is like to fly out of Barbados?  Start to finish was 3.5 hours in SXM.

I miss not being on board already .

2 minutes ago, JJGOLD said:

Thanks for the great review, we are on board Star Breeze now, week of 7/24.  Arrived into SXM Friday, lines to get through the COVID documents check were very long, took about 45 minutes.  Be prepared and bring printed copies of your COVID test, even though you have to upload it to get the admission document, they want to see it.  Way too many people fumbling with their cell phones to show them a copy on the phone, and it delayed the lines.  Make sure you have printed copy of the clearance document as well, they need to stamp it.  Heard that Saturday departures are long lines as Wesport said, taxi driver said Sundays are better.  Tents were set up just outside the cruise terminal for Windstar passengers.  We got there early, and they did not start the process until 11:30.  After a quick passport check they shuttle you to ship.   Once onboard, you fill out a health form, get the nasal swab, then check in, dining reservations, and good to go.  RCCL has three ships sitting at the port with just limited crew. The usually bustling shopping area was dead empty.  It looked like Diamonds International and Sharkeys bar were the only things open, and no one in sight but the store workers.  It was a ghost town with several ghost ships showing some signs of reduced up keep, quite sad.  

 

The Star Breeze looks great, the Star Bar is further back from where it used to be due to the stretch.   The bar stools are off limits, no sitting at the bars at all.  I believe there are about 150 passengers and the CEO, President, and some other senior management are onboard for the week.  Service so far is wonderful.  

 

We are in a new suite, its very nice, but we could not fit our suitcases under the bed, we needed another inch for our full size hard sided suitcases, so they are in the closet.  There are two USB ports and plenty of electric

outlets.  I’m happy to answer any questions as the trip progresses.

If you go to the yacht club for coffees, say hello to YOGI. He was so good. 

1 minute ago, LTCOP said:

Wesport - Was that 3.25 hours the total time it took to get to your gate - or the total time you were in the airport?

 

Appreciated your reports from the ship!  We board next Saturday!  Wish we had planned to fly home on Sunday, instead of Saturday.

Drop off to the gate. With 4 ships in port turning around on Saturday, Sunday is wise. Wish I would have know that. Earlier flights seemed to fare better. 

After a long series of lines at SXM(3.25 hours) we are home. From another post, earlier flights are better that afternoon flights. Or, leave on Sunday.  Once we landed in Fort Lauderdale, 10 minutes to get through global entry.  The airport experience did not affect the great week we had on the Star Breeze.  You could tell how happy the crew was to be back on board. We had 133 people, and next week I believe there will be 166. 

32 minutes ago, RlyLvn said:

Thanks for the Pictures. Looks great!
 

Did you like the revised itinerary?

We had been to all ports before. Stayed on the ship except at pigeon island.  Did An island tour today in Antigua.

Deck BBQ was spectacular

Thursday night will be deck bbq all dining venues closed. 

1 hour ago, RlyLvn said:

Thanks for all the info. Will there be any opportunity to use the water sports platform this week?

We used all the toys on pigeon island for beach bbq. That’s it so far.

2 hours ago, MNgardens said:

Had you been on the ship prior to it being stretched? Are you in a new suite or one of the existing suites?

Do you have an opinion about the pool deck area?

Hoping you have great weather all week long!

We were in the new ocean view suite to start. Shower door broke , so they moved us to an older suite. Still redone. 
newer suite:

more drawer storage and more outlets for sure. Modern. 
Older suite quite nice with living area by the window instead of the bed. More wood like that of a yacht. Less outlets. 
 

pool area very nice. Especially during port days. Pool somewhat small. Only 3 feet deep. 
 

this is our first windstar cruise. Very impressed so far. 

Internet is painfully slow. I bought 500 mb. Used 400 in just 4 days. Recommend unlimited if you want to have access for full week.I am also using my T-Mobile when in port. 

Rapid antigen test today to go to Antigua.