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 Seabourn
Cruises 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.