A sail-away party is a mainstay of the start of many cruises but there is something special about being on a Windstar luxury cruise ship and having traffic stop while Tower Bridge opens up for you.
It was 11pm on a cold spring night in May. The lights of the bars and offices along the embankment were still twinkling but Windstar’s Star Pridecruise shipwas centre stage, slowly navigating under the historic bridge. Even the London drivers seemed uncharacteristically happy to stop and take photographs.
I had to stop myself humming “Rule Britannia” as we got closer to the iconic towers, providing a unique view of the 132-year old blue bascules.
It felt close but there was just enough room for Star Pride to pass through Tower Bridge (Marc Shoffman)
The bridge towered over us as the ship seemed to squeeze through – with around 21 metres of clearance on each side – and sailed towards the Thames Barrier for northern Europe.
It was also a significant day for Windstar. This was the first time the boutique cruise line has started sailing from the capital as part of a collection of three and four-night packages known as Quick Getaways – and I was one of the first passengers to try it out.
It felt strange and special to be boarding at Tower Pier, which is certainly not your typical cruise embarkation port. In fact, most ships are too big to reach these parts of the River Thames.
It is ideal for passengers who are Londoners or live in the home counties like me, with nearby London Bridge station accessible via rail and Tube.
London has plenty of landmarks across the river but Star Pride was drawing all the attention. Its shining white exteriors were a strong contrast to the greys of the Shard and HMS Belfast, which it is docked beside.
The first thing I noticed was the peacefulness of Star Pride as I waited for the 312 passengers to trickle on board. I was checked in via an Uber boat, across the river from Tower Pier, and was sitting on my comfortable balcony cabin sipping champagne within 10 minutes.
The cabins aboard Star Pride are spacious and comfortable (Marc Shoffman)
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It was a world away from larger ports where embarkation involves travel, parking, check-in and queuing with thousands of other passengers.
I was on board just weeks after Star Pride hadcompleted a period in dry dock where fresh carpets and soft furnishings were added.
My cabin felt fresh and full of nautical nods, kitted out in blonde wood, cream walls and blue and white curtains. The queen-sized bed was separated from a spacious lounge area that looked out to a Juliette balcony. At 277 square feet, the a generously-sized stateroom was easily comparable with larger ships. There was even space for a walk-in wardrobe to for my clothes, as well as his-and-her sinks. It created a creating a home-from-home experience – albeit with free room service.
This was my first time on a luxury cruise ship and it was a life I quickly become accustomed to. I immediately visited the onboard spa – which is included in the price – to relax on the heated beds and make use of the relaxing steam room and sauna. Unfortunately, it was too wet and windy to jump into the pool or hot tubs.
The Yacht Club lounge aboard Star Pride provides great coffee and views (Marc Shoffman)
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Unlike the larger cruise ships I more frequently sail on, there was no rush for waterslides or to book stage shows, nor were there crowds to beat for a table at mealtimes.
In fact, the only thing I had to worry about was securing a seat in my favourite onboard venue, the Yacht Club coffee lounge. This is where I started most mornings, sitting in a comfy armchair surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. It was a perfect setting for a flat white or board game such as Scrabble.
The daytime was for exploring. A stop in Zeebrugge offered a choice of a walking tour of Bruges or an afternoon on the canals of Ghent. I opted for the canals, which felt like a quieter version of Amsterdam. Another day served up a food tasting tour of Antwerp, where I learned the important difference between crunchy Brussels and soft Liege waffles.
In the evenings, we gathered for pre-dinner drinks among the plush sofas of the onboard Compass Rose bar, while being entertained by a saxophonist. I recommend the Old Fashioned whisky cocktail.
Guests can dine with great views in the Candles restaurant during the evening (Marc Shoffman)
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Comfort is clearly a priority on board and so are the culinary options.
Breakfast is freshly prepared in the Veranda, which turns into the more atmospheric Candles restaurant at dinner. We dined at sunset on succulent steak and fish, finished off with a delicious salted caramel popcorn cheesecake. This restaurant would be a paid-for specialty steakhouse on a mainstream cruise ship but is included in the fare with Windstar. You also get a blanket if sitting on the terrace, which is handy for dealing with the British weather.
Guests need to book for Candles but there are also options for those who don’t like to be tied to dining times. We could stroll into the main dining room, the Amphora Restaurant, for dinner at any time between 7 and 9pm.
Basil and Bamboo is Windstar’s new restaurant aboard Star Pride (Marc Shoffman)
My favourite restaurant was Basil and Bamboo, a new pan-Asian and Mediterranean venue constructed during the ship’s April refurbishment. Its olive-green armchairs, paired with fanned, mirrored spotlights, felt on trend. There are no extra charges to eat here but a reservation is needed, and I would especially recommend ordering the tuna tartare and the black cod.
Our days were brought to a close with evening entertainment, including a tribute to British bands and an ABBA night. The biggest laughs, however, came during the crew talent show on the final night. We watched people who had served us throughout the week perform sketches, play guitar beautifully and dance instead.
The view also took top billing, especially as we headed back into London, passing through the Thames Barrier and following the river as it twisted and turned towards Tower Bridge. It provided a unique perspective of London landmarks such as the O2, Canary Wharf and Greenwich Park.
The London landscape looks uniquely different from a cruise ship in the capital (Marc Shoffman)
The captain sounded the ship’s horn as we passed back through Tower Bridge and motorists returned with their own beeps, as if we were in a musical duel. It was a reminder that we were away from the serenity of the sea and it was time to rejoin the busy London traffic.
How to do it
The three-night “Belgium: A Sweet Getaway” cruise aboard Star Pride starts from £1,198 per person. Departing on 7 and 19 May 2027.
