Windstar Star Pride Review: Five Days from London Bridge to St. Malo

On the evening of embarkation, after check-in and a welcome drink, Star Pride departed London Tower Bridge and sailed down the Thames in the dark. I have done this before on Star Legend nearly two years ago, but that was a repositioning move rather than an actual sailing. Doing it at night, as part of a proper voyage, with Tower Bridge lit up and London spread out on either side, is something else entirely. Not many people can say they have done it. I now can, and I do not think it will ever feel ordinary.

The same experience greeted us on the final morning. Arriving back under Tower Bridge at dawn on Tuesday, the city waking up around us as the yacht came in, was the perfect full stop to the trip. Two Tower Bridge sailings in five days. Both surreal. Neither one I will forget.

My home for the five nights was Suite 535, one of the Star Balcony cabins. Walking in, the first thing you notice is the space. A large sitting area with a comfortable sofa and chairs greets you as you enter, with a small table stocked daily with fresh fruit. The bed sits at the far end of the room, which creates a generous sense of separation between the living and sleeping areas.

The minibar deserves its own mention. Replenished daily after use, it covered rum, vodka, beer, ginger beer, and a full range of soft drinks. Not a token selection. A proper one.

The walk-in wardrobe is a squeeze for two, but it works. The bathroom is spacious with his and hers sinks and a large rainfall shower. And the little touches are where Star Pride genuinely earns its reputation. Water placed by the bedside each evening before you return from dinner. Loose cables gathered and wrapped in a neat Windstar-branded sleeve to reduce clutter. Fresh fruit replenished daily. A different biscuit brought by our steward, Dodo, who was one of the warmest and most genuinely lovely people I have met on any ship. These are the details that separate a good yacht from a great one.

AmphorA is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with changing menus. The first evening’s welcome dinner was hosted by COO Stijn Creupelandt and was an excellent introduction to what the kitchen can do. The food was genuinely impressive, beautifully presented, and the service was warm rather than formal.

Candles is the steakhouse-style venue and the surf and turf was exceptional. The salmon was so delicate it barely held together on the fork. In a good way.

Basil and Bamboo is the Asian fusion restaurant, combining Thai and Italian influences in a way that sounds baffling on paper and works brilliantly in practice. The stuffed chicken with mushrooms and jus on the last sea day was one of the best plates of the trip. The lychee cocktail alongside it was also outstanding. You have been warned.

The Veranda is the casual buffet venue for breakfast and lunch, with outdoor seating and sea views. I ate breakfast here most mornings and it never disappointed. Room service delivered a burger and quesadillas after a late return from St. Malo that were exactly what was needed at that point in the evening.

Disembarkation was seamless. The reception team and our steward made sure everything was in order before we left. We arrived back at Tower Bridge on Tuesday morning, having had five days that felt longer in the best possible way.

Beyond the ship itself, this trip was a genuinely special experience for another reason. Bringing together international sales agents from around the world, exchanging ideas, sharing what is working, and having the kinds of honest conversations that only really happen when you are away from a desk and on the water together, made this more than just a ship visit. And somewhere between the ABBA night, Ricky’s cocktails, and dinner at Candles, a few of those professional connections became something more like lifelong friendships. That does not happen at every work trip. It happened on this one!