A morning aboard Windstar's Star Pride: Small-ship cruising with a yacht-like feel

Last month I swapped my desk in Reigate for the deck of Windstar Cruises' Star Pride, spending a morning aboard while she was moored on the Thames near Greenwich. I'd heard of Windstar before, but this was my first opportunity to explore one of their ships properly. And within about ten minutes, I realised something important. This isn't really a cruise ship. It's a yacht. Or at least that's how it feels.

With just 312 guests on board, Star Pride is tiny compared to most ocean cruise ships. There are no bustling promenades, giant theatres or endless rows of balcony cabins. Instead, everything feels intimate, relaxed and surprisingly understated.

First impressions

One of the first things I noticed was how easy it was to find a quiet corner. The public spaces feel more like a boutique hotel than a huge floating resort. Guests can sit outside with a coffee, read a book by the pool or enjoy lunch overlooking the sea without fighting for a sunbed or queueing for a drink.

Every cabin is a suite and the crew-to-guest ratio is an impressive 1:1.5, which helps explain why Windstar has such a loyal following.

The food

Food is clearly a big part of the experience. Unlike many cruise lines, all of the speciality restaurants are included in the fare, so there are no difficult decisions about whether dinner is worth the extra charge. My personal favourite was the Star Grill, an al-fresco restaurant at the stern of the ship. On warm-weather itineraries I can imagine it becoming one of the most popular spots on board. I also thoroughly inspected the ice-cream machine, all for research purposes of course!

What makes Windstar different?

For me, it's the sense of adventure. The bridge is open, with guests welcome to visit during the day, chat with the officers and see how the ship is navigated. If you're the sort of traveller who likes to understand how things work, it's fascinating and a feature you rarely find on larger cruise ships today.

One of Windstar's other signature features is its marina platform. When conditions are right, the stern opens up to create direct access to the water, turning the yacht into its own floating beach club. Depending on the destination, guests can snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, try sailing or simply relax on the floating platforms and water trampolines. It's the sort of experience you'd normally associate with a private yacht charter rather than a cruise ship.

In further-flung destinations such as Alaska and Costa Rica, Windstar also uses Zodiacs to get guests closer to wildlife and scenery. These small inflatable boats allow guests to leave the ship and explore at water level, whether that's cruising past glaciers, spotting wildlife along remote coastlines or reaching places larger vessels simply can't access. It's not full-blown expedition cruising, but it does feel much more connected to the places you're visiting than many traditional cruise experiences.

And one thing I hadn't fully appreciated before visiting was the advantage of the ship's size. Carrying just 312 guests isn't only about a quieter onboard experience, it also opens up destinations that larger ships simply can't reach. In fact, some Windstar voyages begin in central London, with guests watching Tower Bridge open as the yacht sails away. It's exactly the sort of experience that wouldn't be possible on a larger vessel and perfectly captures Windstar's yacht-like approach to cruising.

Life on board

The entertainment programme is intentionally low key. There are quizzes, talks, live music and evening entertainment, but nobody boards a Windstar yacht for Broadway-style productions or water slides. The focus is firmly on the destinations, the food and the company you're travelling with. There's also a spa, gym, sauna, steam room, heated relaxation beds and complimentary fitness classes including yoga and Pilates.

So who is Windstar for?

I think Windstar is ideal for travellers who like the idea of luxury cruising but don't necessarily identify as "cruise people". Perhaps you've looked at some of the larger ships and worried they might feel too busy. Perhaps you'd rather spend your evenings lingering over dinner than rushing to secure a seat for the evening show. Or perhaps you simply like the idea of sailing on something that feels more like a private yacht than a floating city.

If that sounds like you, Windstar is definitely worth a closer look.