Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet Including First Star Class Newbuild

[RMS Olympic]

Me, I want a stunning bow, and a stunning rear(transom). So these new ladies will be the Ava Gardener and Sophia Loren of the cruising world.

Hey, I’ve great taste in elegante ladies😉

[Misty Morning]

3 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

But I question the refit – why not take the next new-build instead of sending this back to the shipyard for 'some work'?

They probably got the existing one on the cheap.  These ships cost EUR71mm each when they were ordered in 2017, so they were not too expensive to start off with when you compare the US$250mm+ cost of extending the 3 Seabourn ships.  This is excellent news.

[new_cruiser]

9 hours ago, RMS Olympic said:

I was thinking the bow needed to be modified to look like the existing motor yachts. So happy this May actually happen.

As for the purchase….my thoughts are: ships available as Atlas may be struggling. These two ships are the right size, designed to be environmentally clean and with one still under construction easy to modify.

As for not planned for expeditions, the expedition market is full, WS demographics might not support cold itineraries beyond Iceland.

I'm wondering if the new engines are clean enough to meet the coming strict requirements for Norwegian fjords. I was booked on a Windstar cruise there that got canceled due to COVID and haven't managed to fit another into my schedule. 

 

Two additional ships might also give flexibility to go back to Asia or try some South American itineraries.

[ridethetide]

16 hours ago, new_cruiser said:

I'm wondering if the new engines are clean enough to meet the coming strict requirements for Norwegian fjords. I was booked on a Windstar cruise there that got canceled due to COVID and haven't managed to fit another into my schedule. 

 

Two additional ships might also give flexibility to go back to Asia or try some South American itineraries.

The following came from the Atlas Ocean Voyages website regarding these ships: "Our intimate yachts realize the possibilities of environmental stewardship with the latest hybrid power management and propulsion systems, maximizing fuel efficiency and consuming as low as one-fifth the fuel compared to conventional cruise-ship systems, reducing our impact on the environment. We minimize underwater noise that stresses marine wildlife by using a hydro-jet propulsion system that allows us to cruise virtually silent up to five knots for incomparable, up-close encounters while keeping the sensitive ecosystem in mind. It’s also our responsibility to prevent damage to the fragile ecosystems on ocean floors. That’s why we avoid using anchors to maintain ship position by using a GPS-based Dynamic Position System."

[RMS Olympic]

I just watched a YouTube video on an epicurean cruise on the World Explorer. The interior of the ship and the cabins were beautiful and were very Wind Star. I’d even go to say the decor is nicer than the WS yachts….minus the geometric carpeting.

Now to find some construction photos of the modifications….especially the bow.

[RMS Olympic]

If interested, check out WestSea ship yard images. There are a number of construction photos of this series of ships being built. I hope the WS conversion will be found on line towards the end of the year.

[MNgardens]

I am really pleased that there will be many balcony cabins.The light and fresh air of a balcony is something I had come to appreciate on my Azamara cruises.

[ynottravel?]

This is very exciting news!  We love the motor yachts, so I can't wait to see where the new ships are sailing!  

[CulverCityCruisers]

I think that extra cabins might be added where the current casino is, if Windstar continues to have ships without casinos.  That would definitely give space for more capacity like the Star Portholes added to the triplets.

[ridethetide]

1 hour ago, CulverCityCruisers said:

I think that extra cabins might be added where the current casino is, if Windstar continues to have ships without casinos.  That would definitely give space for more capacity like the Star Portholes added to the triplets.

There are no casinos on the current Atlas ships.

[RMS Olympic]

The one area that the World Explorer has which WS does not have is the lecture Hall up forward. On an expedition ship….lectures by science/environmentalists makes sense but WS states these vessels will be cruise ships not expedition ships.

I hope the first itineraries are in the Caribbean and not on the other side of the pond during the winter months.

Come on June!

[Host Jazzbeau]

More details in this new article:

Windstar’s Prelog: New Ships Bring Opportunities, New Features

 

The helideck is set to be converted into additional guest space: “It will be replaced with two big owner’s suites and balcony cabins as well,” [Prelog] explained, adding that Windstar is also changing the general arrangement of the pool decks on the vessels.

With the addition of the new cabins, the ship’s current capacity is expected to increase by approximately 30 percent, reaching 224 guests.

 

Andrew N. Todd, President & CEO of Xanterra, added: "We hope that it’s the kick off for beginning of what we planned to add additional ships and sail to destinations and locations that we’ve been wanting to go.”  [giving me hope that Windstar will buy more ships in this class as Atlas keeps cranking them out]

[Host Jazzbeau]

Here are some images to make it clearer:

 

Atlas existing design:

 

Windstar image:

 

Atlas Deck Plans:

[BruceMuzz]

On 4/12/2024 at 2:42 AM, ridethetide said:

Did I miss something? Did WS state that they will not be doing polar itineraries? Why buy ships that are rated for ice if you don't need that function?

Star Legend was re-built with an ice hull when it started as Royal Viking Queen with Royal Viking Line.

[Doh15]

On 4/12/2024 at 4:23 PM, new_cruiser said:

I'm wondering if the new engines are clean enough to meet the coming strict requirements for Norwegian fjords. I was booked on a Windstar cruise there that got canceled due to COVID and haven't managed to fit another into my schedule. 

 

Two additional ships might also give flexibility to go back to Asia or try some South American itineraries.

Tier III NOx is pretty clean-- about 1/4 the emissions of Tier II-- but I think the Norwegian fjords are now zero emissions areas, meaning only electrically powered boats are allowed.

[wrk2cruise]

On 4/16/2024 at 11:26 PM, BruceMuzz said:

Star Legend was re-built with an ice hull when it started as Royal Viking Queen with Royal Viking Line.

 

We just got off Legend this week.  When checking in an officer told us that it was Ice rated and was about 1m longer than it's 2 sisters.  I was surprised to hear this but yes it is ice rated.

[RMS Olympic]

I’m guessing the zodiac storage area will be used for the two suites with balconies….but for the life of me I can’t figure out where the Star grill will go. There is no space up forward, so could it go over the two new suites and wrap around the funnel? 
My excitement grows!

Whats your guess as to the Seekers start up….Europe or Caribbean?

Me, I’d love to see a maiden voyage starting in Miami (home of the new offices for christening ceremonies) and terminate in San Juan as a kick off for a winter season.

Come on June!

[Bigdogwon]

On the Atlas ships the grill area is forward of the pool, on the starboard side, there is also a small bar and a smoking area on the port side.  In my opinion this is already a great set up for the Star bar and grill.

[BruceMuzz]

On 4/12/2024 at 9:42 AM, ridethetide said:

Did I miss something? Did WS state that they will not be doing polar itineraries? Why buy ships that are rated for ice if you don't need that function?

Did you know that EVERY Drive-through ATM in America has complete instructions in braille?

Why buy braille ATMs for people driving cars, when they don’t need that function?

[marinaro44]

3 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Did you know that EVERY Drive-through ATM in America has complete instructions in braille?

Why buy braille ATMs for people driving cars, when they don’t need that function?

It may be possible that the driver is an Uber and is taking a blind passenger, or it's a teen taking a blind grandmother.

[BruceMuzz]

8 minutes ago, marinaro44 said:

It may be possible that the driver is an Uber and is taking a blind passenger, or it's a teen taking a blind grandmother.

And it is also possible that Windstar will send these ice hull ships to Alaska, where there are many icebergs floating around.

[Host Jazzbeau]

10 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Did you know that EVERY Drive-through ATM in America has complete instructions in braille?

Why buy braille ATMs for people driving cars, when they don’t need that function?

The drivers aren't blind, but the bureaucrats are! 😕

[Nearpost345]

At the risk of stating the obvious, the braille on the atm’s and the ice hulls are probably  a tooling issue. It’s more cost effective to purchase the keypads with a redundancy than tell the manufacturer to re tool and only make keypads with no braille. Similarly  the ships are presumably more attractive to Windstar with unneeded ice hulls than commissioning/ or purchasing vessels without ice hulls.

[new_cruiser]

On 4/24/2024 at 3:48 AM, BruceMuzz said:

And it is also possible that Windstar will send these ice hull ships to Alaska, where there are many icebergs floating around.

When they did the first Alaska sailings, they used Star Legend and said that they chose that ship because it has an ice rated hull. Later when Star Legend was not available, they sent another Star ship - obviously the ice rated hull wasn't necessary there but when convenient they might as well send the better equipped ship. 

 

In the Alaska cruise season typical routes (Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage), the only floating ice I've seen is pretty small stuff very close to the glaciers - we got closer to that in the kayaks and zodiacs than the ship did. No need for ice class unless they are planning on going much farther North.

 

BTW, saying a ship is ice rated doesn't tell you much. There are different classes of ice ratings specified by various countries and other bodies. The lowest classes are for operation in light ice conditions. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

When we did Alaska on Coral Princess we were unable to see Hubbard Glacier because of floating ice.  An ice-rated hull would have allowed this.  When we did the Chilean Fjords in Feb 2023 the bay leading to Pia Glacier was completely chocked with floating ice [see pics below] – the crew said that the previous week it had been clear and like glass...