John and Karla sail with MV Star Breeze on her maiden run in Tahiti

19/02/2024

I’ve had some time now to think about these two weeks.

Some thoughts have jelled in my mind…

Cruises are subject to change. If you accept that premise before departure your focus will be on “what else can we do?”

A great crew finds ways to turn lemons into lemonade. Drink that lemonade joyfully!

Absorb the local flora and fauna.

If the captain, hotel GM and staff put together special events, absorb them with joy.

Get to know your fellow passengers and the staff. Friends for life will come from that.

Love the joy life gives you.

19/02/2024

The wine list, in one post

19/02/2024

All the menus in one post…

15/02/2024

Finally, Karla and I, and Karla and Peter-John de K**k

15/02/2024

15/02/2024

The unveiling of the second painting.

15/02/2024

15/02/2024

15/02/2024

The crews end of voyage farewell. Poignant.

15/02/2024

The Bora Bora authorities suspended all commercial navigation the day of the motu fire dance. Dont cry too much, we got a second shot at Candles. As much as I love the veal ribeye tomahawk chop, the 8 ounce filet mignon was perfection. The Cabernet reduction sauce was an amazing accompaniment.

15/02/2024

Some folks seem to have questions about bathroom shelf and counter space. We were in the addition, Star French Door Suite 538, this is the counter and storage space.

Note there are but TWO sinks, I wanted you to see the in between counter

15/02/2024

Lifeboat/tender launch…

14/02/2024

Power plugs in Suite 538, MS STAR BREEZE

14/02/2024

And what does Captain Terry do in Moorea? He procures a picture postcard day!

14/02/2024

As I look to the sunrise, I realize how blessed Karla and I are. You’ll hear no whining from us, this has been a voyage we will remember for many years.

Who needs things? We spend on adventures.

14/02/2024

14/02/2024

We bought fabric for shirts and dresses and vanilla for our own liquid vanilla

14/02/2024

13/02/2024

Friends,

On February 11, Chris Prelog, the President of Windstar Cruises, announced a new cruise format: The President’s Mystery Cruise! The first cruise of this format is for YACHT CLUB MEMBERS of any level only! Sorry, only first timers who were booked before February 12 will be able to participate.

The inaugural Mystery Cruise will be April 19-27, 2025, Athens to Athens, in MS STAR LEGEND. The mystery? Your ports of call and excursions.

If you wish to have a Star Collector cruise, your TA may ask to book Istanbul to Athens (Aegean Sea Odyssey and Corinth Canal), April 11-19.

The cruisers now aboard Star Breeze got first crack, this cruise is now open to all WINDSTAR YACHT CLUB MEMBERS.

Karla and I are booked!

12/02/2024

Chris Prelog, the President of WindStar Cruises, key staffers embarked, and Captain Simon Terry have lunch at Star Grill/Star Bar.

12/02/2024

12/02/2024

This chart of STAR BREEZE’s mystery adventure in French Polynesia is for auction for the crews welfare fund. Yes, I placed a bid!

12/02/2024

Yesterday was a lazy sea day! This voyage is a wonder and a joy! We’ve had four Windstar Signature level events so far, and we’ve yet to be on the Bora Bora motu for dinner and fire dancing.

We’ve eaten well, sang the night away, slept wonderfully, been pampered to the max, in other words, we’ve been in a mode of joyousness for days now.

The big lines seem to be about headcount. Windstar is about relationships. That a high compliment in my book.

12/02/2024

The final few minutes of the celebration!

11/02/2024

This is what you’ve waited for, the wedding ceremony!

11/02/2024

This is segment five of the Polynesian dancing culminating in a Polynesian wedding of two passengers embarked in STAR BREEZE.

Coming up, the wedding itself.

11/02/2024

This is segment four of the Polynesian dancing culminating in a Polynesian wedding of two passengers embarked in STAR BREEZE.