Windstar Cruises’ President Chris Prelog officially received Star Legend back from the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy today after completion of its part of the line’s $250 million Star Plus Initiative. The yacht begins cruising in Northern Europe on Sept 4, 2021 with the Belles of the British Isles sailing roundtrip London.

“We’re proud to see Star Legend emerge from this major project with all initial plans completed,” said Prelog. “I am so thankful to Fincantieri for their great partnership on this complicated and innovative project. This is the ship I began my seagoing career on 20 plus years ago and to see it today like a new ship is more than exciting for me. I am blown away.”

“Many thanks to the team here in Palermo for their hard work and diligence on a long, complicated project,” said John Gunner, Windstar’s vice president of expansion projects. “It was an amazing process to get the ship to where she is now; and we have one more to go.”

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises embarked on its Star Plus Initiative in 2019 with plans to stretch all three Star Plus Class ships – Star Breeze, Star Legend, Star Pride – which inserted a new section into each ship with 50 new suites, new and reimagined public spaces and additional amenities. Though guest capacity increased from 212 to 312 guests, the size of these three all-suite motorized yachts still fit within Windstar’s credo to visit smaller, scenic ports for diverse itineraries mixing these with marquee ports.