Host Jazzbeau

IMO the market for the category has gotten oversaturated. MSC is building 6 ships for Explora (despite major teething problems figuring out how to market the new brand), Four Seasons is building 4 (admittedly at a new hyper-luxury level), Ritz Carlton is building 5, Scenic another 5 (including its Emerald brand). I wonder if they knew this when they announced 7 Atlas yachts? They say they are still committed to completing the series, so that would give Atlas 5. [For background, and I may be a little hazy here]: the company that owns Atlas had a monopoly on building and operating river ships on the Douro; the announcement of Atlas and these new-builds came [I believe] in reaction to losing that and needing to keep their shipyard busy. That may have led to less-than due diligence on planning this new cruise line. But luckily the basic design of the ships is very good, and they have now found a good partner. Hopefully these new ships will work out for Windstar and they will order more – their ex-Seabourn 'little sisters' are not really competitive as they lack verandas. They would need 4 of these to replace the capacity of the older 3 and even more to expand.]

I think the new-build purchase is a terrific idea, as the changes can be made early in the construction process. But I question the refit – why not take the next new-build instead of sending this back to the shipyard for 'some work'? Will it come out looking like Cher???

Be careful Davy – I can protect you from some things on Cruise Critic, but not from a fatwa. 😱

The alterations include this: "the bow will be changed a bit to look more yachtlike, and a ducktail added to support the watersports platform" – which I think would reduce the seaworthiness for extreme polar itineraries. Also "Prelog indicated they won't be operating as expedition ships or going to the poles. But the capability could come in handy for destinations like Alaska and Greenland." Why buy them? Probably because they were cheap and the ice-strengthened hull is just an added benefit in the "why not" category? The article from which I took those quotes also indicates that the new owner's suites will be where the helipad was [which I'm guessing is the big circle at the front of Deck 8]. The extra passenger capacity may be reflected in adding 3rd berths to some suites, rather than adding new suites – which would also mean that the ship is less likely to sail at 100% [relevant to the overcrowding question] Here's the full article: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-equipment/windstar-cruises-acquiring-two-mystic-invest-ships-one-newbuild

Right! Nile cruise – ship stocked with local water – everybody loses weight!!!

One difference (which may or may not make a real difference) is that these new ships were designed for polar voyages (meaning the interior spaces are heavily used) and Windstar says they aren't going there – in warmer climates many people will be outside.

Me too. I'm scheduled on the brand-new Silversea Silver Ray for Jan. 2026, but with all the comments here about Silversea cutbacks I would seriously consider cancelling in favor of a brand-new Windstar yacht. Happier to stick with a cruise line that's moving in the right direction!

And that expensive free laundry perk!

I also got it this morning.

They will be modifying both ships for Windstar, adding the Watersports Platform and two extra-large Owner's Suites at the rear (and somehow increasing the number of passengers from 176 to 224), but I suspect that most existing cabins will remain as they are. Here is what World Explorer looks like now on its charter to Quark: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/expedition-ships/world-explorer#deck-plans-cabins

Maybe we should be thankful – it proves we're not dealing with the IRS!!! 🤣

Windstar announced two new-builds today! But once again, Azamara stays with the old ones.

New article on CruiseIndustryNews: Scenic Announces Enhancements for Scenic Eclipse Ships "Scenic Group announced a design update to 18 Scenic and Emerald Cruises river ships to update the ships’ main decks and introduce modern furniture."

That chair clearly has a 4th leg that is hidden by the upholstery – the 3 you can see only cover 180 degrees, so the chair would have tipped over already!

Thanks. If you post in the Reviews area of Cruise Critic, please also start a thread here with your review – many of us in the Boards community rarely read the Reviews!

It's all fun and games until the thread gets shut down and GRs handed out.

At least they seem committed to AzAmazing Evenings.

Odd. I had gotten the 'save the date' email, but nothing today...

Did anyone get an email today announcing the big news? Or is it just the new itineraries on the website? That hardly seemed worth the build up.

OK, correcting yet again: Onward's cruises on the website are the already-announced segments of the World Cruise 2026. There are no cruises for Journey.

Go Petoonya!

I don't understand Oreos either – or rather, why I like them so much. If I describe them, it's two not-very-chocolately wafers mashed around some not-very-flavorful 'creme' filling. But popped in the mouth, the flavors blend and become nirvana. [Maybe it helps that I prefer milk chocolate to dark.]

I don't know if this is part of the 'big' announcement, but as of 11 pm Eastern there are now 24 cruises for Jan – June 2026 on the Azamara website. [Onward, Pursuit and Quest only; no cruises listed for Journey]

I don't know if this is part of the 'big' announcement, but as of 11 pm Eastern there are now 24 cruises for Jan – June 2026 on the Azamara website. [Onward, Pursuit and Quest only; no Journey cruises]

DW always went to La Terrazza for breakfast. I always went to The Restaurant [on Whisper]. Neither of us could understand why the other did this... [Which just proves Ogden Nash's observation that "marriage is a legal and religious alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut and a woman who can't sleep with the window open." 😀]