Star Legend review, 1/28/17

Windstar: Star Legend

Sailing Jan. 27, 2017

7 day San Juan round trip

Cabin #124 ocean view suite

Beverage package was free perk for booking

Booked through travel agent

1st Windstar experience

Married couple in our 50's, still working full time

Dennis and I flew to Tampa, Fl on Jan. 27th from our home airport in Houston. Overnighted at the Home Suites near TPA. Dinner, using their free shuttle, was at Leeroy Selmons. The meal was excellent and the hotel was perfect. Excellent shuttle pickups at airport and the rooms were suites with a mini kitchen. Ordered a few items through Instacart and had them delivered to hotel room just before our arrival. Checked out very early on the 28th and used the shuttle to take us back to the airport for our flight to SJU. Flight was uneventful and we arrived on time. Headed to baggage claim and waited a bit, luggage arrived and we headed outside for ground transportation. Taxi for us and our 4 pieces of luggage was $26 to pier. Ride took about 15 minutes. Porter assisted with luggage (zero lines) and we headed inside terminal. New luggage tags are placed on suitcases and staff X-rayed our hand carried luggage and then climb the staircase onto our Ship! We entered the ship on deck 4 and then were directed to the Show Lounge on deck 5 forward to Check In. We were given a number and a tall champagne flute of rum punch and invited to have a seat as we waited for our number to be called. Once called (15 minutes) we checked in with personal. Passports were taken and held. Room cards were given out. Photos were taken for ID. Our drink package was noted on our card. After complete, attendants carry your hand baggage to your room. We were on deck 4 about mid ship.

Cabin: HUGE! Very compatible to Carnival Ocean Suite, Celebrity Sky Suite or Royal Caribbean Junior Suite minus the balcony. No plastic laminate anywhere in this cabin, light wood cabinetry and carrera marble in the bathroom. Shower/tub combo. Mini bar was stocked and restocked through out the week and was included in our beverage package. Large glass carafes of drinking water were provided each day. Glass door cabinet displayed fine crystal stems available for use in the room. Our king bed was very comfortable with high quality linens. Cabin service were great, never once caught Puji cleaning! We utilized the free laundry service and that was great. We left a bag of inventoried dirties on our door hook in the evening and laundry was returned washed and ironed by 5pm the next day. We had a large picture window that offered great views. A nice couch and two chairs provided extra seating. Large flat screen tv and DVD player and a Bose speaker for playing music was provided. Robes and slippers were provided too. Safe was easily accessed. Walk in closet was narrow, but plenty of space. One 110 outlet available, so we used a three way extender. A/C was perfect, room was always cool.

Ship: Interior public rooms were stunning and understated. Calm colors and very well laid out to offer cozy spots to visit with new friends and enjoy the views. The Yacht Club offered morning continental breakfast with a coffee shop. At lunchtime, the fare switched to sandwiches. The Compass Rose was adjacent to the tiny casino (12 slot machines and 2 tables) and there was nightly music here before and after dinner. The Show Lounge was gradually sloped to offer everyone great site lines. The Star Bar on deck 8 was a common hangout for all as we sailed away. Formal sail away ceremony each day with officers in attendance. The Veranda cafe offered sit down breakfast and buffet lunch. In the evening, Candles offers a different dinner option and reservations are required. Amphora on deck 3 is their open seating main dining room. There is a small gift shop on deck 6. Spa and fitness are on deck 7 and the 'open bridge' is also on deck 7. Small current pool and hot tub are on deck 7. Lounge chairs are terrific, large fitted cushions with umbrellas and end tables. Service in public areas is swift and unpretentious. Beverages get refilled discreetly and the staff learn your name and cabin number quickly. There isn't the constant swipe and sign that other cruise lines use. Sail away and evenings there is live music near Star bar. There are three elevators on the ship. These are tiny and only hold 3-5 passengers. This ship isn't wheelchair assessable. Two staircases move passengers from deck 3-8. Reception desk is on deck 5. Tendering is through Show Lounge and then down two flights of stairs. This is also how you access the Watersport deck. The Watersport deck offers water skiing and tubing, hobie sailboat, kayaks, floating trampoline, funnoodles for floating, paddle boards, life jackets, etc. Beach towels are waiting for you shoreside as you arrive on tender boats. The two tender boats actually stow in the Watersport area and travel with the ship. The ships size makes it very easy to get around. No long walks from forward to aft. Twice during the sailing the crew grilled meals for us on the open deck. Lunch one day and a fabulous dinner the other day.

Ports

El Culebra: we rented a golf cart from Carlos Jeep rental. They sent a shuttle to 'Boheme hotel' where our tender landed. We picked up the golf cart and with a map in hand, headed out. We went first to Flamenco beach. Gorgeous, but there weren't any rental-able chairs left. Kiosks sell beverages and food. Most folks brought ice chests and bought drinks and ice there. Not a lot of shade but a great sea breeze. We spent the remainder of the day touring the island. Relaxed and fun day. Zero wait for tender boats. Soft sided ice chest would have been great. Folding chairs would have been stellar!

St. Barths: met at pier by Turbé rental car shuttle. Headed to airport to pick up the rental car. Headed out to tour the island and made the entire island in just over 4 hours. Traffic was crazy and parking was even worse. Had lunch at a cafe in Gustavo. Turned car in early and were shuttled back to tender pier. Back on ship for remainder of the day. Overall impression wasn't great, too damn busy and frantic driving. Beaches were nice, but again, no facilities and no chairs. Would need to bring your own chairs or sit on the ground. Will need to bring lotsa cash if you want to shop😜

Montserrat: tendered off here but there was virtually nothing to do nearby. Taxis tours of the island were $100! Had a beverage and watched the tenders. Black sand beach nearby, zero facilities here. Back on board the ship. As we sailed from Montserrat, the Captain took us near the south point of the island where the volcano erupted and we could view some of the devastation.

St. Marteen: taxi to Orient Beach. $20 for two chairs, umbrella and wifi at Captain Jack's. Great lunch next door and cushy lush lounge chairs that were great for napping in the ocean breeze. Lotsa kite boarding, parasailing and some sky divers. Cab fare was $7/person each way.

Jost Van Dyke:

Tender to shore, cab to Soggy Dollar ($5/person each way) grabbed a free chair and enjoyed a few drinks and a great lunch (chicken roti). Got more crowded as the day went on. Headed back to tender pier and then spent time on the Watersport deck floating on funnoodles.

Virgin Gorda:

Private beach, got there about 10am and got a couple chairs with clam shaped umbrella. Lunch was terrific and had huge options. All the Watersport deck toys were brought to the island. Drink package works on island from ship. Terrific day!

Misc:

Stemware: every beverage is served in fine crystal

Marble restrooms all over the ship, walls and floor

Hand towels in all bathrooms, no wasteful paper towels

L'occitane bath products in all bathrooms

Laundry service was very reasonable and timely

Mid week charges summary sent to room

Doorbells on cabins

Room service breakfast is extensive

Watersport deck has bikes you can take ashore!

No kids!

Cold towels provided upon return from day at port

Cookies and beverages at tender pier

Phyllis Boedeker

Thanks for the very thorough report. Where did you embark? At the piers in Old San Juan or the Pan American pier?

Thanks for the very thorough report. Where did you embark? At the piers in Old San Juan or the Pan American pier?

Old Pier!

Very nice report Phyllis! Thank you for sharing and so happy you've discovered Wind Star's secrets!!

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Great review! Thanks for your insight! Headed on the same cruise 3/11

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Thanks for the detailed review. One question; why the stop at TPA?

Thanks for the detailed review. One question; why the stop at TPA?

Flight times worked best for our Friday work schedule and the cost was less even with the hotel added in on Friday night!

Old Pier!

Thanks very much. Windstar's San Juan port agent just confirmed Pier 4 west in Old San Juan on December 9.

Thanks for the review!!!

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing the same itinerary in 2 weeks. I'm curious about the golf cart rental from Carlos Jeep. I assume you reserved this ahead of time. Was it pretty easy to get around the island by golf cart or do you think a Jeep would be better? I love the idea of the golf cart but would we be driving on busy roads? (probably a silly question on such a small island) Also, how much was the golf cart for the day?

Thanks!

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing the same itinerary in 2 weeks. I'm curious about the golf cart rental from Carlos Jeep. I assume you reserved this ahead of time. Was it pretty easy to get around the island by golf cart or do you think a Jeep would be better? I love the idea of the golf cart but would we be driving on busy roads? (probably a silly question on such a small island) Also, how much was the golf cart for the day?

 

Thanks!

I checked the price for both a jeep and golf cart when we are cruising on 3/25 and it said the jeep was not available. I don't know if they were sold out or they only rent those for more than one day. The golf cart is $27.

Enjoyed reading your comments. I will be on the Legend in April/May. I have sailed many times on the original ships with sails. I love the ships with the sails especially the Windsurf. This will be my first time on yachts. Looking forward to it.

Thank you for the time and effort on this review. I'm booked for a transatlantic and I've never sailed with Windstar. This review really helps.

I am wondering if the Legend tenders or docks at the main cruise port terminal in Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten. Trying to figure out a place for our group to meet and that Sint Maarten sign at the port would be perfect. Thanks!

They dock at the pier.

They dock at the pier.

Thanks!

Excellent and well written review.

Thank you for sharing your experience.