Star ships question

[Redtravel]

We love the Star ships.  Our concern is capacity.  We sailed several times before the pandemic. With capacity of 212, it was good. We sailed on Breeze Sept. 2022.  It was after the stretch. Ship was empty.  135 passengers.  We never felt crowded. It was nice.  After stretch, some of our favorite spaces were not renovated.  Yacht club, Lounge and Compass Rose did not change much. The casino was eliminated. That added a few more seats.  Adding 100 more guests has us concerned.  Are Star ships crowded? If you have sailed on Star ships with full capacity 312, was it crowded?

[r&rd]

Our Iceland trip in September was at capacity. They did open the main dining room for breakfast and lunch so that helped with meals. It was a bit crowded in the indoor spaces. If you are sailing in warmer climates I don’t think it is as much a problem since there are outdoor venues to replace crowded indoor events. The Captains welcome and farewell were both held out on open decks. I anticipated it being far worse than it actually was.

[AmateurGO]

We recently (5 weeks ago) sailed on the Star Pride on a Iceland cruise.  (After sailing on only the Wind * sailing yachts for 6 cruises.)   Some of the areas did seem a bit crowded, but not terribly so.  The Yacht Club lounge was full (no good seats left) a couple of times and the Compass Rose did get full a couple of evenings.  However, this was a cruise on which the outside/exterior spaces were essentially unusable (temps 40 - 50F, wind 15 - 25 mph, frequent light rain) so everyone was "compressed": into the available/usable spaces more so than usual.  The restaurants were not overly busy/full (although the Veranda was a bit "close" because the outside tables were not usable).  I did not get an exact passenger count, but I believe the ship was very close to capacity.

Hmmm, I see that r&rd had a similar reaction, although I don't think we could have been on the same cruise, since the Captain's reception and farewell were both held in the lounge because of the poor weather.  We cruised Sept 2 - 9.

Edited October 23, 2023 by AmateurGO
adding response to previous post

[r&rd]

You’re right - it was the following cruise that they were held outdoors (they were scheduled to be outdoors but weather forced them indoors). We have been on near capacity cruises before and it was more crowded because staffing was down and service was slower. When the main dining room is not open for breakfast or lunch the veranda is much busier especially when it is too cold to eat outside. 

[ssawjo]

Is there any way to determine how many will be on the ship, e.g., Star Pride, before sailing?  We are on the Pride from Nov. 18-Dec. 5, 2023.  Thanks.

[hamrag]

1 hour ago, ssawjo said:

Is there any way to determine how many will be on the ship, e.g., Star Pride, before sailing?  We are on the Pride from Nov. 18-Dec. 5, 2023.  Thanks.

According to my TA, not for us mere mortals! When I booked our 7 nights from 18th November, back in early August, the cabins at that time were 96% booked before our booking so that equates to about 12 cabins available then. But, it's impossible to know how many solo passengers are booked.                                                                            

Edited October 23, 2023 by hamrag

[Strenz]

We were on the Reykjavik to Montréal Via Greenland, 9/9-23. 190 pax, and very little outside activities due to weather cold and wind. We felt it was not at all crowded, yes the Veranda tables were close together but this was a ship of good cheer. The lounge had plenty of space for the lectures and presentations, the Yacht Club's front row window space yes filled up but with patience one always found a space, the Compass Rose never full. On the day we were in the end of Tropical Storm Lee, by then, near Newfoundland they closed the Veranda and lunch and breakfast was in the lounge, winds too windy and the ship really rocked and rolled. I am not sure with full capacity and the weather we had being to cold for sitting any length of time or eating  outside it might have been a bit crowded in some places. On the weather for most of the trip blue sky, or blue sky and big sky clouds, 40-50's and wind, North Atlantic after all.   We loved our balcony room and in the afternoon would go there sit next to the open door despite the colder weather and read, very nice, very comfortable.  I do not think I would go on a motor ship without a balcony, the sailing ships have such huge decks there is always a place to enjoy the air and they are usually positioned in warmer climates. We loved the original configuration with the sitting area near the balcony. This was our 27 with WS, 25 sails, one pre stretch and this past one after stretch. We think WS did a great job with the stretch. Great Trip. No complaints. Happy Sailing.  

[ssawjo]

6 minutes ago, hamrag said:

According to my TA, not for us mere mortals! When I booked our 7 nights from 18th November, back in early August, the cabins at that time were 96% booked before our booking so that equates to about 12 cabins available then. But, it's impossible to know how many solo passengers are booked.                                                                            

Just hope it is not TOO crowded.  We had no problems booking excursions with Windstar yesterday.  It seemed that everything, tour wise, is available.   Reading other reviews of the Pride on its' Iceland cruises, the ship was at capacity and the main restaurant was full very night and other venues were also.

[ssawjo]

3 minutes ago, Strenz said:

We were on the Reykjavik to Montréal Via Greenland, 9/9-23. 190 pax, and very little outside activities due to weather cold and wind. We felt it was not at all crowded, yes the Veranda tables were close together but this was a ship of good cheer. The lounge had plenty of space for the lectures and presentations, the Yacht Club's front row window space yes filled up but with patience one always found a space, the Compass Rose never full. On the day we were in the end of Tropical Storm Lee, by then, near Newfoundland they closed the Veranda and lunch and breakfast was in the lounge, winds too windy and the ship really rocked and rolled. I am not sure with full capacity and the weather we had being to cold for sitting any length of time or eating  outside it might have been a bit crowded in some places. On the weather for most of the trip blue sky, or blue sky and big sky clouds, 40-50's and wind, North Atlantic after all.   We loved our balcony room and in the afternoon would go there sit next to the open door despite the colder weather and read, very nice, very comfortable.  I do not think I would go on a motor ship without a balcony, the sailing ships have such huge decks there is always a place to enjoy the air and they are usually positioned in warmer climates. We loved the original configuration with the sitting area near the balcony. This was our 27 with WS, 25 sails, one pre stretch and this past one after stretch. We think WS did a great job with the stretch. Great Trip. No complaints. Happy Sailing.  

Thanks for your input.  We are on a two-week sailing in the Caribbean, Barbados to Aruba.  So, the weather will be, hopefully, a bit warmer.  Bill

[Strenz]

8 minutes ago, hamrag said:

According to my TA, not for us mere mortals! When I booked our 7 nights from 18th November, back in early August, the cabins at that time were 96% booked before our booking so that equates to about 12 cabins available then. But, it's impossible to know how many solo passengers are booked.                                                                            

Sorry did not answer your question. You can call WS and get a percentage full estimate. What we have heard is that right before the last day to pay in full there usually is a 10% cancelation rate.  Of all the cruises we have had we have never had more that 5-10 singles on a cruise and those are mostly on trans ocean crossings. This past cruise we met the one and only single person. We are on the Surf 1/6-20 need heat in January, we live in New England.  Happy Sailing

[hamrag]

17 minutes ago, Strenz said:

.....I do not think I would go on a motor ship without a balcony, the sailing ships have such huge decks there is always a place to enjoy the air and they are usually positioned in warmer climates....

Happy Sailing.  

We are, and never feel the absence of a balcony. With 55 cruises sailed, across 16 cruiselines, I'd estimate no more than 25% of our bookings were balcony. Most outside or inside cabins, they cost less and enable us to cruise more often.

 

The WS outside cabins are the same size as balcony, with acres of space. The outside spaces of the ship will be our 'balcony'. We are eagerly awaiting our first WS cruise, from everything we've read we are truly excited about sailing with them. 

[Strenz]

3 minutes ago, hamrag said:

We are, and never feel the absence of a balcony. With 55 cruises sailed, across 16 cruiselines, I'd estimate no more than 25% of our bookings were balcony. Most outside or inside cabins, they cost less and enable us to cruise more often.

 

The WS outside cabins are the same size as balcony, with acres of space. The outside spaces of the ship will be our 'balcony'. We are eagerly awaiting our first WS cruise, from everything we've read we are truly excited about sailing with them. 

Wishing you a great first time with WS. Everything is preference. We always get the least expensive cabins on the sailing ships, we love being down under and the gentle rocking. We did enjoy the 2 times balcony. We obviously are fans of WS in January our 28 th, and it is the only company we have ocean cruised with: 3 exceptions one river cruise in 2002, did not love it, twice supply ships on the St. Lawrence loved it and once ship/taxi up the coast of Norway, loved it. We are former sailors, now we enjoy having others sail the ship! Enjoy. Susanne

[Misty Morning]

We were on the stretched Pride last November. We had lots of rain initially (Caribbean) and 270 onboard and even though we had to squeeze in to avoid the rain sometimes at the Star Bar, it never felt crowded.  We are late diners (i.e. after 8pm) and never had an issue getting a table.  If there's a deck BBQ, you may need to come in a bit early to secure the table that you want, but the layout of the Star Ships is better for the BBQ as everyone is in the same area and every table has a good view.  I can understand some people may be worried about capacity but it wasn't an issue on our cruise.

[new_cruiser]

We were nearly full on Star Breeze for New Zealand and Australia. Weather was cool to cold for much of our trip. Yacht Club could have used expansion - it gets crowded on cold weather scenic cruising days. Sometimes I would go to Compass Rose instead which has lots of window too, but not as easy to pop outside for pictures.

 

The rest of the ship felt fine. 

[ssawjo]

Does anyone know if Windstar provides distilled water for CPAP machines?  Both my DW and I use the machines.  Thanks.

[Redtravel]

9 hours ago, ssawjo said:

Does anyone know if Windstar provides distilled water for CPAP machines?  Both my DW and I use the machines.  Thanks.

Yes. Just ask.  Also will provide electrical extension cord if needed.

[Pudgesmom]

On 10/24/2023 at 8:57 PM, Redtravel said:

Yes. Just ask.  Also will provide electrical extension cord if needed.

And tape it down in the event you want to plug it in across the room!

 

I’ve been told most ships make distilled water for use in the engine room. 

Edited November 7, 2023 by Pudgesmom