Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend recently visited its new headquarters/hometown of Miami, showing off two new themed suites as well as a brand-new mural. 

The two specialty suites are inspired by Windstar’s Forbes Five-Star sister companies The Broadmoor and Sea Island and will be rolled out to Windstar’s two other Star Plus Class yachts next: Star Breeze in spring of 2023 and Star Pride in 2024. 

The new mural from Miami-based artist Alex Nuñez is the third and final to be added on board Windstar’s three Star Plus Class yachts as part of a collaboration with Fountainhead Arts to bring new works to sea. 

Windstar’s Star Plus Class yachts have two Classic Suites located on Deck 5 forward. These Classic Suites on Star Legend have been transformed, now called The Broadmoor Suite and The Sea Island Suite. While the suites are inspired by these unique, luxury properties, they are not an exact replication. The Broadmoor, located in Colorado Springs, is known for its endless adventures and European elegance paired with Western charm and mountain vistas. Sea Island is equally iconic: situated on the coast of Georgia and exuding Southern charm while providing the perfect backdrop for an exceptional array of outdoor activities. 

“Unlike hotel brands that have begun offering yacht-style cruises, this is a unique example of a cruise line bringing a separate land-based experience to sea,” explains Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “It connects and cross-sells a diverse and seemingly unrelated set of travel experiences that have shared ownership.”   

In the Sea Island Suite, guests find elegant touches that evoke the property’s Addison Mizner design including curved arches, light walls, and sophisticated wood furnishings. “The overall look is quite coastal and airy – colors like sea-glass green are used throughout,” says Prelog. “In The Broadmoor Suite, you’ll find a traditional space with classic furniture, floral motifs, white trim with gold finishes, and wide crown molding.” 

Several clever design workarounds had to be made to honor the resorts’ designs while also meeting International Maritime Organization rules and accounting for general safety at sea (like replacing resort throw rugs with inset carpet). For the wallcoverings, Windstar designed custom wallpapers for both suites on International Maritime Organization-certified paper. For The Broadmoor Suite a striking wallpaper adorns the suite’s bedroom and walk-in closet. It is an exact replica of the wallpaper used at The Broadmoor Main Building designed by Julie Penrose (wife of resort founder Spencer).  

“Her initials are actually part of the wallpaper design, and it’s a strong statement piece from the resort that anyone who has visited will instantly recognize,” Prelog says. “It’s sweet to think that Julie’s love for travel inspired and influenced the décor of the Broadmoor, and now her custom wallpaper will sail around the world on Windstar Cruises.” 

Both specialty suites include small details that help bring the overall Sea Island and Broadmoor experiences to life. Guests can flip through the pages of each property’s resort magazine or view historic black and white photography that punctuate the suites’ designs.

Alex Nuñez traveled aboard Star Legend from Lisbon to Miami in order to create a new mural. The mural is titled “First Light” is inspired by the artist awakening to the sun rising on the horizon while at sea. “The hues of blue envelop the marine life thriving beneath the crashing waves,” Nuñez says. 

Nuñez is a Cuban-American mixed media painter from Miami whose work alternates between the floor and the wall, using spontaneous mark-making and bold splashes of color, she layers acrylic paint, glitter, crystals, ink and collaged imagery. Earlier Windstar mural installations include works from artist Magnus Sodamin on Star Pride, and we are nice’n easy on Star Breeze. All muralists were selected by Fountainhead Arts, a Miami-based arts organization dedicated to elevating and supporting artists.