Well, what a treat this was! I have just returned from a fantastic voyage with Windstar Cruises on the newly refurbished luxury yacht, the Star Pride. It was the Star Pride’s Inaugural voyage, since having had a major facelift, and it certainly delivered on all levels! We sailed from Athens through to Barcelona, stopping off at various ports throughout Greece and Italy. It was such a lovely experience, and one the most intimate cruises I have been lucky enough to have sailed on so far, carrying just 312 guests!

At the end of September I was lucky enough to spend 10 amazing days with Windstar on board their Star Class ship, Star Legend, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona. This was the first time I’d stepped on board a cruise ship of any kind since November 2019, so I was incredibly excited, but also curious as to how it would all look on board post-pandemic.

With svelte yachts offering a glimpse into the elusive cosmos inhabited by A-listers and fashionistas, suddenly cruising has dropped anchor in a new realm. Boutique-style offers a unique insight into the wunderkinds of cruising. Unlike gin palaces where bohemians rub shoulders with billionaires and rock stars mingle with royals; our collection is less ostentation, more sophistication.

One of the best activities on a cruise is to take to the water on an exciting excursion. Snorkelling around the tropical islands of French Polynesia, scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, or simply floating in the warm waters of the Dead Sea top many cruisers’ bucket lists in warm climates. Alternatively, exploring frozen islands by Zodiac or kayaking amongst mountainous icebergs are thrilling activities for a colder climate, expedition-style cruise.