Star Legend Review

Star Legend is a ship for the well-heeled, experienced voyager who enjoys warm, attentive service and excellent dining options without myriad distractions and activities.

Despite being 34 years old, Star Legend underwent a complete overhaul and stretch in 2021. Even with the refurb, the ship still exudes a contemporary, luxurious vibe while at the same time allowing guests a casual, low key cruise experience.

The ship boasts a well-equipped gym and spa, a water sports platform where guests can swim in the sea off the ship’s stern, a small wading pool, two whirlpools and plenty of open and sheltered deck space, as well as elegantly appointed public rooms that include an observation lounge, showroom, nightclub, two bars and no less than four dining venues.

The all suite ship’s accommodations have been completely renovated, offering thoughtful design touches like multiple outlets and USB ports and all are oceanview, with most sporting French balconies that open directly to the sea.

As far as overall service was concerned, it was simply wonderful during our time on board.  With 206 crew and staff serving 312 guests, there was never a shortage of crew offering a cheerful hello, a drink or just asking how our day went.  This is an extremely friendly ship.

Star Legend’s Deck Plan Has Accommodations Forward and Public Rooms in the Back

Star Legend is one of the three original former Seabourn all-suite mini-cruise ships introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s with a pioneering layout of forward-situated accommodations and most public spaces stacked in the aft decks, keeping the accommodations free of noise, above and below.

The top level, Deck 8, has an observation terrace overlooking the bow and a beautifully appointed combination observation lounge, library, coffee and snack bar called the Yacht Club. Back of the Yacht Club is the sheltered Stars Bar and Grill, followed by teak-lined sunning space that overlooks the midships pool area and continues aft to the stern.

Back of the bridge on Deck 7, there is the World Spa, a beauty salon and the fitness center. The pool area – also teak lined -- has sheltered space for cushioned loungers, a terraced wading pool and a jacuzzi. Deck 7 concludes with the indoor/outdoor Veranda buffet style eatery with a canopied terrace that overlooks the ship’s wake.

The forward portions of Decks 6 to 3 contain accommodations that are linked by a central passage. On aft Deck 6, the Compass Rose is a quiet lounge by day and a favorite watering hole and live music venue in the evening. Flanking its right side entrance is the Boutique and on the left side, there is Cuadro 44, the ship’s Spanish-themed dining venue.

At the back of Deck 5, there are the Reception and Destination Services offices, the Screening Room (a combination meeting, card and games room with audio visual equipment and theater seating) and the Lounge, which functions as the main showroom. This is also where you access the water sports platform in the ship’s stern, which was not used on our shoulder-season Aegean cruise.

A striking, skylight-topped spiral staircase links all of these areas at the back, including the entryway on Deck 4, where most guests will first board the ship and the Amphora Restaurant main dining room in the heart of the ship on Deck 3. The Amphora is a more traditional restaurant with portholes near sea level that are usually masked by curtains.

Star Legend has Roomy, Well-equipped Suites and Cabins

When built in 1990, Star Legend was considered an “all-suite” ship as even the bottom category (out of ten categories available) Porthole Suites on Deck 3 boast a bedroom area that can be divided from the sitting area with a thick curtain. At that time, balconies were not as much of a necessity, although French Balconies were eventually added to the accommodations on Decks 5 and 6 in 2007.

In Windstar’s 2021 lengthening and refit, two 641-square foot Midships Owner’s Suites were added, which boast small balconies, a separate living and dining space, a large bedroom and two bathrooms (including a powder room with just toilet and no shower), and, when combined with one or two neighboring Balcony Suites, become 1,097 or 1,374 square foot Grand Owner’s Suites.

Probably the most desirable and attractive staterooms are the forward-situated 575-square foot Owner’s Suites with their curved forward facade overlooking the bow. But those come with a caveat, as the forward facing balcony is basically unusable at sea and the location in the ship is prone to more movement. The same would go for the recently renovated, 400-square foot Classic Suites on Deck 5, directly below, but those at least have side-facing balconies that can be used at sea.

Probably the most popular rooms are the 277-square foot Balcony Suites like the one we occupied that feature French balconies that open up to a narrow ledge overlooking the sea, separate bedrooms, a sitting area, a walk-in closet, a bathroom with twin sinks and a tub with shower.

Although more attractively priced, key cabins to avoid are the Ocean View and Porthole Suites, especially the ones that are farthest forward, for those with motion sickness issues, although the ship handled beautifully during windy conditions and moderate seas on our cruise. In addition to not having the French balconies, these cabins are farthest away from the ship’s public areas and activities, which isn’t that much of a problem on a ship of this size, where everything is pretty much a few steps away.

Star Legend has Varied and Tasty Food Options

From the flawless room service to an elegant main dining room in the heart of the ship, a buffet with an open terrace overlooking the wake, a sheltered deck grill, a Spanish-themed eatery and a convenient coffee and snack bar at the top of the ship, you can’t go wrong with Star Legend’s all included-in-the-fare dining options. Especially on a ship of her small size!

The traditional main dining room, the Amphora, is located at the bottom of the ship on Deck 3 and serves up a wide assortment of starters, soups, salads, main and side courses and desserts with selections curated by James Beard Foundation award-winning chefs that include plant-based and salt, oil, sugar or gluten free options with suggested wine pairings.

The Veranda, which becomes Candles in the evening, offers a wonderful buffet with hot main courses, a chef’s station for made-to-order dishes, ethnic choices, desserts, fresh fruits and a superb salad bar. Especially handy at breakfast is the adjacent coffee bar, where espresso drinks are included, along with a chef’s station where eggs and omelettes can be prepared. At lunch, this station alternates between a carvery and a fresh pasta station.

Reservations are required but Candles is included-in-the-fare and features a primarily sea food and meat grill with James Beard Foundation award-winning chef selections. This venue is one of Windstar’s most popular, not just for the setting but the food, which comes with a selection of gourmet salts, signature starters, entrees, side dishes and sauces that include a vegetarian option or two.

The other reservations-required eatery, Cuadro 44, located on port Deck 6, exceeded our already high expectations with its wonderful service, tapas and Spanish selections prepared in an open kitchen near the entrance.

Located at the top of the ship on Deck 8, the sheltered, al fresco Stars Grill offers a grab-and-go breakfast as well as lunch and dinner fare sponsored by celebrity chef Steven Raichlen. For non-red meat and sea food guests, this was the most challenging venue as it sometimes did not offer chicken or vegetarian main course options.

The Yacht Club was one of our favorite go-tos throughout the day for its excellent specialty coffees and selection of quick bites, including yogurts, smoothies and pastries for breakfast and sandwiches and salads for lunch.

We often ordered a room service breakfast that has a surprisingly wide selection of juices, egg dishes, pastries, bread and even cappuccinos, delivered hot and on time, which was a special plus on mornings when we had long excursions scheduled.