Comparison of sailing & motor yachts

[IpswichChris]

We were recently on the Wind Surf, the first cruise we've ever taken.  We were very happy with the Windstar experience and are already talking about which cruise to book next.  A couple of the European/Mediterranean itineraries we're interested are on the Star Legend, others are on the Wind Surf or Windstar.  I know preferences between the two types are matter of personal taste, but interested to hear about what are possible downsides to the Star Legend (and motor yachts in general) if any?  We loved the quiet, space and light of the Wind Surf, but might enjoy the updated decor of the renovated motor yachts.  Do the motor yachts encounter significantly more lines for anything because of the added passenger capacity?  

[6rugrats]

The Wind Surf holds 312 passengers.  The motor yachts have the same capacity - 312.

[Strenz]

We love the Surf because of the huge decks, the feeling of the sails, and we love sailing. We have been on a motor yacht once and are  going again  in September Iceland to Montréal and will write about it.  When  we took a motor yacht The Breeze ( pre stretch ) we loved the room, the French balcony, the service was the same, great and the food was the same, great. We found with 250 people, those days, the decks were more crowded, people chair hogged more, we did not like the lounge as much and of course the Sail Away was not as moving and dramatic. We also believe that the Caribbean, the Med. Sea and the lagoon in Tahiti scream sails. Too bad the Spirit is leaving Tahiti soon. We are looking forward to this experience with the new, stretched motor yacht. We will be able to judge more but then again we have a prejudice the Sails. We are also not into bling so not sure updated decor will impress us, probably nice though.  I love the rooms and suits on the Surf but honestly on any motor yacht would have to have a balcony. That is simply us. It will be our 27 th cruise with WS. Our other cruises were a river cruise, the Hurtigurten to the Arctic, and supply ships up the St. Lawrence. Hope this was a bit helpful will write when we get back in September. 

 

[Strenz]

The Surf holds more now due to reverting back to fewer suites  I think it  is 342 and the motor yachts I think have 325 not sure. 

[Strenz]

I was wrong motor yachts 312. Happy Sailing.

[IpswichChris]

1 hour ago, 6rugrats said:

The Wind Surf holds 312 passengers.  The motor yachts have the same capacity - 312.

We met a couple of people on our cruise who had sailed recently on the Star Breeze or Star Legend and said that, in particular, Amphora and lounge were more crowded now since these ships now carry more passengers but public spaces weren't made any bigger. So just wondering how much of an issue this might have been to others who have been on them lately and whether this should be major consideration for our next Windstar cruise.

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, IpswichChris said:

We met a couple of people on our cruise who had sailed recently on the Star Breeze or Star Legend and said that, in particular, Amphora and lounge were more crowded now since these ships now carry more passengers but public spaces weren't made any bigger. So just wondering how much of an issue this might have been to others who have been on them lately and whether this should be major consideration for our next Windstar cruise.

Amphora was completely redesigned and is now located in the new part of the ship – with increased capacity to mirror the increase in cabins.  The pool was also relocated and enlarged.  The lounge (I believe) is the main public area that was not enlarged.

[6rugrats]

There was no bling in the Star Pride.

[avalong]

5 hours ago, IpswichChris said:

We met a couple of people on our cruise who had sailed recently on the Star Breeze or Star Legend and said that, in particular, Amphora and lounge were more crowded now since these ships now carry more passengers but public spaces weren't made any bigger. So just wondering how much of an issue this might have been to others who have been on them lately and whether this should be major consideration for our next Windstar cruise.

Full disclosure: this is hearsay, something I read here on Cruise Critic. It sounds like the indoor public areas become rather crowded if it is a cold weather itinerary. Not enough indoor space if everyone wants to be indoors. Warm weather itineraries are OK since people are more spread around between indoors and outdoors. Based on this info, I decided not to do Alaska or Norway on a Windstar yacht.

Maybe someone who's actually been on a cold-weather itinerary on a full ship can weigh in on this.

[r&rd]

We have done three sailings on the yachts since the stretch. Although the ships were not full it did seem crowded in colder weather. The other issue that has occurred lately is that if the ship has several not full sailings and then has a full ship there are not enough crew. Staffing issues (which we did experience on one sailing) made it seem more crowded because service was slower. The veranda is definitely crowded in cold weather when there are more people and no one wanting to eat outdoors. Another consideration is port intensive cruises may not seem as crowded than cold weather cruises with a lot a sea days. We are doing Iceland and the transition from Iceland to Montreal in September. Hoping the ship is not full!

[marinaro44]

If there is not enough wait staff to open Amphora for breakfast and lunch on cold weather cruises, Veranda will not have sufficient seating and people will stand waiting for a table.  Yacht Club was not expanded and is too small for full ships.

[IpswichChris]

Thanks everyone -all good info