PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION: We flew Air France business class from Los Angeles to Papeete and spent the night at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti. Early the next day a car took us to the port to board Star Breeze for a 10-day Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands cruise with the Global Traveler Globility subscriber group. This was our second annual trip with this experienced group of travelers. Joining my wife Michele and me were J.C. and Sonia Murat; Celeste and Tom Linhard; and Jonathan Fuchs and his wife, Catherine Cannan. We all met at the Hilton for dinner the night before to coordinate plans for our time aboard Windstar’s Star Breeze.
Boarding was smooth and well organized, with room keys ready and identification photos taken. One of the first priorities was securing dining reservations for our party of eight. As the organizer, I booked the specialty restaurants and, with guidance from our dining manager Hubert, we were assigned the same table in Amphora every night. That table became the Captain’s Table in the center of the dining room for the entire cruise, making for lively evenings and great conversation.
After boarding, we dropped hand luggage at our Balcony Suite No. 513 and enjoyed lunch with wine in the Veranda restaurant at the rear of the ship. The Veranda served cooked-to-order breakfast and lunch throughout the cruise and became a convenient, casual spot for our group.
Windstar purchased and extensively refurbished the vessel in 2020, adding a new midsection with 50 cabins and expanded public spaces. The transformation is impressive and explains the ship’s updated layout and amenities.
PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
GUEST QUARTERS: Our suite featured a queen bed that could convert to two twins, bedside lighting for reading, and a comfortable sitting area by the balcony windows. A large sofa and two chairs framed the view, creating a pleasant space where I set up a small “command center” to check emails. Starlink internet exceeded expectations with reliable, fast service. Storage was plentiful: a built-in credenza, drawers, additional shelving, and a large closet with hanging space and a safe. Luggage fit neatly under the bed, keeping the room uncluttered.
The bathroom included double sinks and a roomy walk-in shower, stocked with L’Occitane toiletries.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: Dining in Amphora was a highlight. We enjoyed attentive service from our server Anna and James Beard-inspired dishes across multiple nights. At Celeste Linhard’s request, the culinary team added Filipino specialties that became crowd favorites. We also arranged a special wine pairing dinner with the ship’s sommelier, Antony.
Specialty venues enhanced the culinary experience. Each evening Candles transformed the Veranda into a romantic steakhouse/seafood venue. Caudro 44 offered Spanish-inspired small plates developed in collaboration with chef Anthony Sasso; we were fortunate to secure an excellent table there for our group of eight. Star Grill, located at the bow Yacht Club, served rotisserie and grilled items for lunch and dinner in partnership with barbecue master Stephen Raichlin. The Yacht Club itself provided light bites, wraps and coffee — a pleasant spot to start the day reading or checking messages.
Polynesian entertainers Tapari and Tiki performed around the ship, often at Star Grill, providing ukulele music and local songs. The bar team, led by Arnel, was consistently friendly and efficient.
PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
Our group gathered regularly for cocktails and trivia in the Compass Rose lounge at the stern. We became known for our trivia prowess and for ordering French 75s — a lively cocktail made with Champagne, gin, lemon juice and sugar. Lounge entertainment was engaging, and one evening Sonia and I won a spontaneous dance contest.
When at anchor, the ship’s stern opened to provide direct access to the water for swimming, kayaking and other activities, including giant inflatables for lounging — a great way to cool off after excursions or to enjoy a full day on board.
The range of excursions was extensive and flexible. Our group often split up during the day and reconvened for dinner. Notable excursions included an e-bike tour on Fakarava, a deluxe lagoon snorkeling tour in Bora Bora, and a relaxed day snorkeling and beachcombing at Rangiroa’s Green Lagoon. On Motu Mahaea we visited a vanilla plantation and purchased high-quality beans to take home.
One of the most enjoyable days was a self-guided tour in Bora Bora using Renault Twizy electric cars rented from the local Avis. The compact two-seaters were fun to drive and allowed us to explore at our own pace. We stopped at Matira Beach to swim and met a friendly local child who joined us in the water, and later had a light lunch at Snack Restaurant Moi Here. J.C. led the group to a World War II site with eight coastal guns; the guns sit on private land and require a short, somewhat rugged hike to reach, but the effort and views were rewarding. We returned the cars to Avis without incident and ended the day with happy memories.
The spa on board offered a variety of treatments and was well regarded by our group. I also had a professional haircut from Lily while at sea.
We had two full days at sea to relax, attend lectures and enjoy shipboard amenities. The crew and performers provided excellent entertainment, and I even joined Tom Linhard in the final-night haka dance, which received top honors.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
- Front desk staff were responsive and resolved any internet issues quickly.
- The small-ship atmosphere felt personal; crew members made guests feel like friends.
- The ship’s Motu Party with fire dancers was a standout event.
- Amphora provided consistently casual yet elegant dining.