There's a kind of luxury that doesn't need to raise its voice. Star Pride hosts just 312 guests, a whisper compared to mega ships and proves that ultra-small ships still know how to make the biggest impressions.
It is cruising that feels personal, more like a private yacht, without sacrificing the comforts of a luxury ship. There’s no jostling for a sunlounge, no queues at the bar, and no need to rush.
We expected elegant suites and good food from Star Pride and found that easily enough. What we didn't expect was how adaptable the ship is, quiet and yacht-like on a sailing like ours yet built with its own watersports platform for guests who want to swim or kayak straight from the ship on others.
From the moment we stepped aboard, Star Pride delivered on that boutique promise. It is small enough to feel intimate and personal and spacious enough to offer choice, variety and comfort.
Star Pride is an all-suite ship, and even her smallest category doesn't feel like an afterthought. At 26 square metres, the entry-level suite offers a proper sitting area, a walk-in closet and a marble bathroom finished with proper amenities, not the usual cruise-ship compromise.
Spend a night in one of the Owner's Suites, and the experience shifts again, with separate living and dining areas, a private balcony, personalised wake-up calls with beverages, invitation to the captain or senior officer’s table and complimentary in-room dining.
On a ship this size, even the entry-level suite outsizes what most lines call a step up.
This is where Windstar quietly outplays cruise lines twice its size. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar brings restaurant-quality dining to sea. And the best part? All your restaurants are included in your fare.
Star Pride strikes a rare balance between intimacy and variety, and we never once left the table hungry or disappointed.
The spa occupies the best real estate on Deck 7 and a lot of it is included in your fare.
The thermal suite, sauna, steam room and heated loungers are complimentary, which is rarer on a small ship than you'd think. Treatments lean into the destination rather than a generic spa menu, and the gym is properly equipped rather than an afterthought bolted onto a stairwell.
The fold-down marina at the stern is the detail that gets forgotten in brochures and remembered by everyone who's actually used it. A hatch drops, and suddenly you're kayaking or paddleboarding directly off the back of the yacht; no tender required.
Up top, the infinity pool and twin hot tubs do the rest of the work. And if you want to know exactly where you are and why, Windstar's open-bridge policy means you can wander up and ask the captain yourself, something most ships would never dream of allowing.
Days at sea on Star Pride move at whatever pace you set. For us, the real luxury was time, a slow morning with coffee and a book, or nothing more than the breeze and open ocean for company. It's the kind of stillness we rarely give ourselves permission for.
One nice touch on the longer Star Collector voyages is that laundry's included, so there's no need to pack for every single day.
Of course, for those who want more, there's no shortage of it. A dip in the pool, a wellness session, evening entertainment or conversation with fellow guests. Be as social or as solitary as you like.
The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and never crowded. That’s another benefit of the ship’s size.
With 200 crew for just 312 guests, the service level is exceptional. That’s roughly one crew member for every 1.5 guests.
Staff are attentive without being intrusive and quick to remember your name, your usual drink and the table you prefer by night two without missing a beat. That's the part no deck plan can capture.
Included with your fare
Guests can add on the all-inclusive package that includes unlimited beers, wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Shore excursions always come at an additional charge.
What we loved about Star Pride was its intimate, yacht-like atmosphere and exceptional dining no matter where you ate with staff who know you and your preferences very quickly.
But the defining moment for us? Sailing beneath London’s iconic Tower Bridge.
Because of its size, Star Pride can access ports and waterways off-limits to larger ships. Embarking and disembarking beside HMS Belfast, within the Tower Bridge precinct, was nothing short of extraordinary.
It’s exactly the kind of experience that defines small-ship cruising: unique, immersive, and completely unforgettable.
Honestly? Nothing of note. The experience was seamless from start to finish.
This is a ship for travellers who want adventure without giving up their comforts, people who'd rather find their way into a quiet harbour than queue for a buffet with three thousand others.
We've watched it click again and again with our Australian guests. It’s her size that does it. She’s small enough to feel like your private space for the week. And that same size gets her into ports that big ships will never get near.
If you prefer ultra small over big ship cruising, this ship is for you!
Star Pride moves easily between short escapes and longer voyages, sailing Europe, Northern Europe and the Caribbean.
She's the natural bolt-on for Australian travellers after a brief taste of small-ship sailing, yet just as suited to those wanting a longer journey.
Her real charm lies in versatility, gliding into narrow waterways and open ocean alike, as comfortably as she moves between seasons and shores.
We sailed on a 4-night Quick Getaway from London (Millennium Pier, Tower Bridge) to Saint-Malo, in Brittany, France. It is the ideal addition to a UK or Europe holiday.
With a full day in port, we ventured further afield to Mont Saint-Michel, a breathtaking medieval abbey on a tidal island in Normandy and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of Europe’s most iconic landmarks.
Star Pride is everything small-ship cruising should be. It’s immersive, elegant and deeply memorable.
From sailing beneath Tower Bridge to sharing extraordinary meals and discovering hidden corners of Europe, every moment felt special.
Of course, Star Pride is just one way to experience the world by sea. Discerning Traveller is an Australian award-winning travel consultancy backed by over 40 years of experience with dedicated consultants to help you find a sailing that matches your own pace and taste, whatever that looks like.
For more information about Windstar Cruises and Star Pride itineraries, call the Discerning Traveller team on 1300 950 622.
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