My Review of the Star Legend T-Atl Feb 1

[CanadianKate]

As promised, I wrote a review. Yesterday. It still hasn't posted yet so I rewrote it this morning in case I did something wrong yesterday and I'll just post here as well so I don't ave to keep watching for the link. 

+++++++++

 

This cruise was thrust upon us when our booked Star Breeze BCN - MIA was cancelled. We took a refund on the BCN - LIS portion and replaced the LIS-MIA with this cruise. Since our Breeze DS suite was not available on the old version of the Legend we were moved to the mid-ship suite, which was larger, 2 bathrooms and a full balcony. We were also given a 20% cruise credit as compensation, and price protected, which meant this was a very affordable cruise for us. 

 

The WS rep warned me of the obstructed views but I cruise to be on a ship, not to be on a floating resort, and I loved the views! As well, the lifeboat hanging over us while we were on the balcony, provided privacy from those looking down from the pool deck area. For us, the suite was perfect. Unfortunately, after the stretch, it will no longer be the same, it will be larger, have no obstructed views and be much more expensive. 

 

This was the last cruise of the Star Legend in its current configuration as she is on her way to dry dock. 

 

The weather was warm and sunny for all 15 days and the seas calm due to hard work by the Captain. In his avoiding of rougher conditions, he got us to Madeira a day early so that was an extra bonus. We sailed with ~105 other people and ~150 crew so the service was excellent. 

 

Food was excellent. Service was very good. Ship seemed reasonably clean (and then they started increased cleaning due to Covid 19 precautions.) Things were a bit worn but that was to be expected on a ship headed to dry-dock. Nothing struck me as bad at all, just a bit faded around the edges in places and ongoing water issues outside one public bathroom. 

 

Entertainment was virtually non existent. I'm a small-ship, crossings, cruiser and I was worried about this but it turned out to be a perfect match for me. I went to trivia most days but aside from that I read, visited, watched movies from home or the library, or just sat and did nothing. I suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) and since there was nothing to miss out on, I had a stress free cruise. The only part I found stressful were the two days in Madeira, since there was so much to do and not enough time to get it all done, that's how FOMO affects me.

 

We used the gym and spa but our rating is lower simply because we had intended to spend our shipboard credit on a trainer during the 13 sea days of the cruise but there was no trainer on board. I spent the excess credit in the shop instead. The manager was a delight but also on top of things and when an item I'd bought went on sale, she issued a credit for the difference before I was even aware of the sale. 

 

I have already booked my next cruise and picked 2 more before that cruise that we may go on. The travel industry upheaval is all that is keeping me from booking immediately. 

 

We did have a major problem with while on board which was well resolved by Windstar, both head office as well as crew. Our suite flooded badly (main water intake line broke, soaking the bedroom of the suite from the bathroom all the way to the window, about 12', in a matter of minutes.) With the ship half full, we were offered a same class suite in the bow but opted instead for a regular suite down the hall, and using 2 cabins for 4 days. We always had access to the balcony (and coffee machine, living room and second bathroom when the blowers were off) but we slept in a standard cabin. Our cabin steward was wonderful, doing a great job of keeping track of us in both cabins and keeping both up very nicely. 

 

This gave us a chance to review that as well and the only thing I strongly disliked (the bathroom door so close to the side of the bed) is resolved in the Star Suites in the new configuration so we'll be booking our upcoming cruises on the motor yachts in the SS1 category (which gives us our preferred low and mid-ship position.) 

 

In hindsight the flood was a blessing since we could experience both the luxury of a suite (for this one time!) and still determine that we'll be comfortable in a regular cabin on future cruises. 

 

 

 

[minidonuts85]

Thanks for sharing Kate!

[CanadianKate]

Now, a comparison between my previous favourite cruise line (Silversea) and Windstar.

 

Windstar seems a better fit for us. We missed the formality of Silversea but at the same time we enjoyed having more time just being ourselves. Less formality means more time to do other stuff since you don't have to add in an hour most days to dress for dinner. 

 

I'm frugal so love the lower cost of Windstar.

 

We do not dine, we eat, so I can't comment on the gourmet aspect of the food but we didn't notice any differences between the quality of the food or selection on Windstar than Silversea. There are probably finer points that are lost on us, but we found the meals delightful, challenging ourselves from time to time to try things we've never had before. 

 

The table service was quite good but not SS standards.

 

We had problems with communications so I think SS has a higher English standard for their staff. On the other hand, most of the miscommunications (except with room service) was at the beginning of the cruise so it might have been us learning to adjust for the different accents of the staff. SS also has a policy of ONLY ENGLISH once you are outside crew areas. It didn't bother us hearing the staff talking directly to each other, but we did note it. 

 

In-suite dining is nothing compared to Silversea. We had trouble getting our orders correct (and when the order is popcorn, there's not a lot to get right!) There seemed to be a consistent communication problem with us not being understood over the phone. Along with snacking almost daily, we dined in suite a couple of times and both times the trays were dropped off, but it was up to us to lay the table and arrange the food for us to consume. This is a balancing act, SS goes overboard in the other direction, setting up the table, putting down a tablecloth, laying the silverware and literally putting on your napkin. 

 

On Silversea the 'coffee table' rises and there's a tabletop stored in the closet that fits over, making a small table for the suite. While we were in the regular suite we looked and there was no evidence this is the case on WS, so I'm not sure how one would comfortably dine in a regular cabin. Our suite had a full dining table for 4, though, and yet the trays were dropped there and we were left to move them and arrange the table ourselves. 

 

We had to constantly ask for napkins to be brought with our popcorn order. Eventually, they brought a stack and I hid them in a drawer so we could stop having to ask for them to come. 

 

I had to ask my steward for a plate, knife and napkin so I could enjoy the fruit that needed cutting. And it would often be taken away when used and not replaced. That's just always in the suite on Silversea. 

 

We missed knowing the dinner offerings the night before. On SS we'd plan days to have burgers, fries and a movie in the suite as a break from dining each night. The next day's menus are delivered with the activity sheet so you can see if that would be a good night for a break. Instead we'd hang out at reception starting after lunch waiting for the menu to shop up. (Knowing the dinner menu makes your lunch choices more informed so there were times when my choices at lunch made a dinner choice less appealing.)

 

I really missed afternoon ritual of tea on Silversea;  the ritual of sitting in the lounge, listening to a live piano player, reading and watching the ocean, while have very good tea and lovely treats. That was the only SS item I truly missed. And I ended up missing out on the afternoon tea at the hotel in Madeira, something that added to my FOMO. 

 

Our suite had several cleaning misses on arrival. I opened the drapes and found some shoe boxes, laundry slips and an accounting of purchases made by what I assume was the previous guest all left on the window sill. In the bathroom, the 'don't put anything in the toilet' cards were artfully installed above the light fixtures (plus a paper cup balanced up there.) I let them stay for over a week before pointing them out to the hotel director. Obviously it was the work of a passive aggressive passenger but it did point out that the mirrors up high weren't being cleaned (you'd have to move the paper to clean.) 

 

Still, I preferred less cleaning to the obsessive cleaning by SS. Every day, twice a day, we were aware everything we had out had been moved to clean. Once we came back to find that my husbands running shoes had been polished! This was not true on WS and is actually less stressful. It wasn't as if anything important was dirty, but there were some attention to detail things being missed, not just once but between cruises. 

 

The lack of entertainment and lectures is a big difference from SS. They probably make up a good share of the price difference as well. As I said in my review, I loved the lack of activities and had my most stress-free cruise ever. FOMO is real to me and takes away from my enjoyment of some things. So, for me, WS is the much better fit. We did have a guest do a couple of lectures on archaeology (he was taking the ship to a dig in Israel) and I attended one of those. That reminded me of the quality of SS lecturers and I do miss learning stuff (but it is a balancing act and I'd rather not learn something and have a more stress free cruise.) 

 

Having spent 4 nights in a regular suite I can say that they are about the same as SS. Crystal's is the best design of the 3 companies, roughly the same amount of space but way more practical use of it for storage as well as movement. I look forward to trying out the SS1 suites since having the bed by the window was one of things we liked about suite 05. 

 

I cruise to be on a ship. WS wins on this point entirely. End of discussion. (Before WS, this is why SS was my favourite cruise line!) 

 

We ran out of diet soft drinks during the trip. First Coke Zero, then Sprite Zero, then Diet Coke. 

 

We gave up trying to get them to remove the alcohol from our suite after 2 tries (SS has it out of suite entirely when we arrive, per our customer requests.)  It isn't a health issue with us but it was annoying. 

 

Finally, SS wins on having canned soft drinks on a tray (with glasses and ice) in common areas when bar service isn't being offered. So if you show up for a lecture, you can serve yourself. Or if you are in the card room or just sitting in a closed bar area, there are drinks available without having to go somewhere else.  It is a nice touch and was something I missed having.  

 

So, those are my random thoughts and some of the reasoning (aside from price) that WS is now my favourite cruise line. 



 

Edited March 5, 2020 by CanadianKate

[CanadianKate]

Finally, the answers to the Newbie questions I asked:

 

1. Is there a library and is it any good?  It was pretty good. The library books will be in the Yacht Club after the stretch and the videos will be gone, replaced by a video-on-demand system. 

 

2. Is Press Reader offered on board. Nope. I could get the paper version of our local paper but I had unlimited internet so just downloaded my local paper when I wanted to read it. 
 
3. We'll be on for the Superbowl. Does the ship make it a viewing party? No, it wasn't due to licensing costs. One fan watched the streaming in his cabin. 

 

I'll comment here that the internet speed was really quite good, especially considering how far into the middle of nowhere we were. We could skype with our grandkids a couple of times and the guy who watched the Superbowl said it wasn't perfect but it was awfully good. I did find that FB videos were too slow to watch, though. 
 
4. Do the suites have metal walls (in other words, should I bring magnets to attach notes, maps, to my walls?) Yes. And the suggestion from someone to bring a magnetic hook was a game changer for us. It gave us a handy place to hang our hats. 
 
5. Do they have a selection of decaf black tea on board or should I bring my own? There was some and my steward kept me supplied (in the suite you can make your own tea using the coffee maker.) They ran out before the end of the cruise, though. Also they ran out of regular English Breakfast tea. And diet soft drinks. 
 
6. Are there are both 120 and 240v outlets in each room (I'm in a suite) and the bathroom? Yes but the 110 outlets were too worn to use easily so we just used the 240 outlets. 
 
7. Do the suites come with binoculars? Umbrellas? The CS had both. The regular suite I was in had an umbrella. 

 

Other questions from that thread:
 
Can you see the menus on the room's TV screen? Nope. 

Can you access the inputs for the TV (to allow viewing of your own movies?) Yes. It was complete, we used HDMI but there was also SVGA. Unfortunately, there will be Video on Demand in the suites after refit so I'm not sure what will change. For instance, will there still be a DVD player so you can bring your own videos?

Does Windstar allow you to bring wine aboard at the ports or just at embarcation? Yes, within reason. 

Are all spa facilities only available for a charge or can you access steam rooms, ect without charge? No charge for sauna or steam room. 

 

I never got Diet Dr. Pepper on the cruise. But I couldn't find it in San Juan or Portugal so that's not a strike against WS. Running out of any diet soft drinks was, though.  

Edited March 5, 2020 by CanadianKate

[Pudgesmom]

Thanks for the great reviews!  Especially helpful that you were able to sample two types of cabins during your stay onboard. 

 

An additional note on  the binoculars: All of the bartenders have binoculars behind the bar. Just ask, and sure as shooting that whale won't surface again! 😛

[LewiLewi]

Lew and I also loved the Windstar Legend TA Cruise. We were on for 23 days from San Juan to Lisbon. After doing more than 165 cruises on most other lines, Windstar has become our favorite. We are also booked for another cruise in Nov.

We are still waiting for our airfare refund, because of the Star Breeze cancellation, to get processed. I’ve submitted papers three times. Hopefully, this time will work.

 

[O2B@Cagain]

Thank you, Kate. 

 

I wish you had asked about the spa/gym. I understand that it is a concession, like the late casino was. They are there to get you to buy spa services, but also some fairly questionable services (foot assessment, teeth whitening, etc.) I don't know what the background and certifications are of the gym director, but I don't think it's ACSM. The gym is fine to get in a workout, but definitely it's not extensive.  

 

LOL about the sodas. I don't get colored sweet carbonated water. 🤣

 

Re: entertainment. Last year we had a couple who were photographers. They gave almost daily talks about photography from beginners with iPhones to advanced topics. Also, there were movies in the lounge. We had a piano player who did two great Elton John shows, along with playing in the Compass Rose at night. However, you are right, You shouldn't go on a Windstar TA for entertainment. Go on a Royal Caribbean ship instead...

 

 

 

 

[CanadianKate]

3 hours ago, Pudgesmom said:

An additional note on  the binoculars: All of the bartenders have binoculars behind the bar. Just ask, and sure as shooting that whale won't surface again! 😛

 

There's a pro-tip I'll file away for the future. There are also binoculars on the bridge. 

[CanadianKate]

48 minutes ago, O2B@Cagain said:

I wish you had asked about the spa/gym. I understand that it is a concession, like the late casino was. They are there to get you to buy spa services, but also some fairly questionable services (foot assessment, teeth whitening, etc.) I don't know what the background and certifications are of the gym director, but I don't think it's ACSM. The gym is fine to get in a workout, but definitely it's not extensive.  

 

I'm not sure I would have used a fitness coach it was a disappointment to not have a choice (my goal was some private yoga, perhaps, or general weights.) 

 

I had a bang trim and a basic pedicure (really basic, not at all what I expected but because work was being done overhead, it would not have been relaxing to sit there for a foot soak, so...whatever.) My dh had a massage, manicure and a beard trim. I'm so allergic to stuff, I avoided all the other spa stuff.

 

Which reminds me....

 

I had expressed concern about the toiletries. I was able to use the soap for my hands. Everything else was too scented so I passed. 

 

And the stuff they put in the carpet to help it dry and stop mildew was horrendous. It meant an extra night in the other cabin and even so, it probably should have been another night, since I ended up sleeping with a cloth mask over my face since I was coughing so badly (despite taking allergy  meds.) Because it was calm, we were able to prop the bathroom door open all the time to help with the smell being pulled out of the cabin (plus the balcony door was open in the daytime.)