Windstar takes delivery of Star Legend, second stretched cruise ship

Windstar Cruises has taken delivery of Star Legend after the luxury former Seaborun cruise ship completed a comprehensive refit and refurbishment that saw her cut in half and lengthened.

Star Legend is the second of three former Seabourn ships to go under the knife as part of a massive US $250-million upgrade project undertaken by Windstar, which purchased the three sister ships back in 2015.

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Windstar President Chris Prelog accepted delivery of the vessel from Fincantieri in Italy. Windstar plans to put the ship back into service in September with a number of Northern European cruises from London.

The refit and refurbishment of Star Legend, during which she was stretched by 25.6-metres, has resulted in a number of new staterooms and public areas, increasing her passenger capacity from 208 to 312 guests.

In addition to the new lounges, restaurants and cabins, Star Legend also got a new engine as part of the refit, significantly expanding the service life of the 30-year-old cruise ship. She is the second vessel to complete the refit, with similar work done to Star Breeze last year.

Star Pride will be the final ship of the trio to be stretched, that work is expected to be completed this year, with Star Pride due to resume cruises with Windstar in November, 2021, sailing 7-, 10- and 14-night cruises from Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of the island of St Martin.

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The work is being done by Fincantieri in Palermo and will include the stripping out and total rebuilding of all ensuite bathrooms in every stateroom, as well as the cabins themselves, the addition of an all-new mid-ship Owner’s Suite, two new dining rooms, a new pool area and a new One Spa by Windstar.

The two new restaurants are Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso, and Star Grill by Steven Raichlen, a steakhouse and outdoor BBQ respectively.

The Star Grill by Steven Raichlen will sit on the upper deck of Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride just steps away from the popular Star Bar, which offers ocean views. The restaurant will occupy newly created space thanks to the ships’ refurbishments.

The One Spa concept debuted on Wind Surf, which emerged from her separate renovation in December, 2019 but has been included aboard the trio of engine-only vessels being stretched.