Star Breeze enters service for Windstar

The refurbished Star Breeze in Nice, France.

NICE, France — Windstar Cruises’ latest acquisition — the 9,975-gross ton, 212-guest Star Breeze — was christened on a brilliantly sunny day in a pier-side ceremony here on Wednesday. 

After a blessing by a local priest, godmother Wendy Perrin, a well-known travel journalist, christened the ship by releasing a magnum of Veuve Clicquot champagne into the ship’s bow.  It took three attempts to finally break the bottle, which oozed its bubbly contents over the word "Breeze." 

The 1989-built ship, which originally sailed for as the Seabourn Spirit, just emerged from an $8.5 million, three-week refit at Genoa’s San Giorgio del Porto shipyard. The ship was delivered to its new owners on April 15.  

The second of three former Seabourn ships to join the Windstar fleet, the Star Breeze follows last year’s addition of the Star Pride (the former Seabourn Pride) and will be followed in May by the Star Legend (the former Seabourn Legend).  The expansion doubles the size of Windstar’s fleet from three deluxe, sail-augmented cruise ships to six vessels, bringing its total berths to 1,242.  

The Star Breeze christening ceremony in Nice. Photo Credit: Peter Knego

Windstar has given the ship all new soft fittings in its suites and new soft fittings and furnishing in most public areas. 

The Star Breeze also has gained expanded outdoor seating in its Veranda restaurant, expanded outdoor decking on Star Deck, and added the Star Screening Room, an intimate theater and games room, in lieu of a card room.

Immediately after the christening, Star Breeze commenced its first voyage, a four night cruise to Rome via Monaco, Portofino and Portoferrraio.