I've just spent three nights onboard Star Pride on its first round-trip sailing from London (12-15 May) following a recent refurbishment, and the trip really cemented my view of Windstar as a genuine luxury product.
As a cruise ambassador for Travel Counsellors, I do a lot of ship visits, particularly in and around Southampton, so I've seen many luxury ships from brands such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.
And while I hadn't sailed with Windstar Cruises before, the standard onboard really stood out to me.
For one, embarking in London was a real highlight. Boarding by tender from Tower Millennium Pier and sailing under Tower Bridge felt incredibly special – and quite iconic, really. It's not something many cruise lines can offer.
The food was also exceptional throughout the sailing. We dined in each of the ship's main restaurants, including the newly added Basil + Bamboo restaurant, which was introduced during the refurbishment.
For me, dinner at Star Pride's al fresco fixture, Candles, was probably the standout experience – I had the most excellent fillet steak.
However, what left the biggest impression were the crew. They were incredibly warm and friendly, and you could tell they genuinely loved their jobs. Nothing was too much trouble for them, which added to that boutique, personal feel.
One of my favourite moments was the crew show on the final evening, where staff performed for guests. It created such a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, and because Star Pride carries a maximum of 312 guests, you already knew quite a few fellow passengers just from seeing them around the ship!
We visited Zeebrugge and Antwerp during the sailing. Antwerp, in particular, really demonstrated the advantages of a smaller ship. Star Pride was able to sail right into the city and moor close to the centre, almost like a river cruise, which meant we could simply walk straight off and explore.
Onboard, I was impressed by how much was included within the experience. One thing I hadn't realised before sailing was that complimentary room service is available 24 hours a day! On our final morning, we had breakfast delivered to our suite, which felt like a lovely luxury touch.
The suites themselves were immaculate and very well-designed. Guests can really tailor the experience however they like; you can spend time socialising around the ship or enjoy the privacy of your suite, including during mealtimes, if you prefer something quieter.
The ship also has an open bridge policy, which I think guests really enjoy, alongside facilities including a spa, steam room, Jacuzzi and "yacht club" cafe.
While the weather during our sailing wasn't quite pleasant enough to fully enjoy the outdoor areas, I also think the watersports platform would be a huge selling point for guests sailing in warmer destinations.
For me as an agent, one of Windstar’s biggest strengths is how varied the product offering is. A short ex-UK sailing like this works brilliantly as a second or supplementary holiday, but the line also offers much longer itineraries worldwide that could easily become a client's main annual trip.
Windstar's wider fleet also gives clients lots of choice depending on the type of experience they want. Alongside its all-suite yachts, the line also operates traditional sailing yachts in destinations such as Tahiti, so I can see myself recommending the brand to a broad range of luxury cruise clients across different seasons and holiday styles.
Experiencing a product properly is invaluable as an agent. Ship visits are useful, but actually sailing, dining, using the facilities and immersing yourself in the guest experience gives you a completely different level of understanding when recommending it to clients.
As told to TTG's Dea Jusufi.
