Eying French Polynesia? This cruise line will double its number of available cabins
Editor's Note
Visits to French Polynesia have always been niche — aspirations for travelers looking for an idyllic beach getaway or honeymooners who want to kick off their marriages on the right foot. But demand has grown so much recently that one cruise line has added a ship that will double its capacity in the region.
As one of many signs that the destination is flourishing, small-ship specialist Windstar Cruises will station its newly refurbished Star Breeze in French Polynesia full-time, beginning in February 2024. The ship was stretched in 2020, during the pandemic shutdown; that expansion added 50 cabins and increased the vessel's capacity from 212 to 312 passengers.
Star Breeze paid a visit to the region on Oct. 9 with a sailing around the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea and Taha'a, marking the 35th anniversary of Windstar's commitment there.
When it makes its transition, the ship will replace Wind Spirit, one of the line's masted sailing ships, in offering year-round voyages to the French Polynesian islands. Wind Spirit has a capacity of 148 passengers; its replacement by Star Breeze will effectively increase the number of passengers Windstar can bring to the region by more than 100%.
[table-of-contents /]
Thoughtful expansion
"For us, [expanding capacity] made sense because we are year-round in French Polynesia already," said Christopher Prelog, Windstar Cruises' president, in an interview with The Points Guy. "With the airlift increases we're seeing ... there's just an increased interest in French Polynesia. This is our home turf. This is the perfect place to grow. This is a great destination for us to develop a larger footprint."
Although the French Polynesian government welcomes growth, that doesn't mean cruising will expand in a way that will create overtourism in the region. In fact, some islands in the area are limiting ship sizes, and although there are some dock improvements planned in the ports that currently have docks, there are no plans to build new ones to accommodate larger vessels. Instead, ships anchor and tender passengers ashore in most ports.
"Tourism is our first industry," said French Polynesia President Edouard Fritch during an interview onboard Star Breeze, noting that, in 2019, French Polynesia saw about 260,000 visitors who stayed at least one night — a number similar to the destination's population of 281,000. "I'm saying 'first industry' because almost half of all working people in this country work for that industry. Tourism represents around 10% or 11% of our [gross domestic product]."
"Our strategy is one tourist per capita," Fritch said. "We don't want to be a destination like Hawaii or Fiji, where tourism has taken over the population. We're convinced that our ancestors left us with a beautiful legacy, so we have to enjoy it and grow it but not destroy it. And, as you all know, the main destructor of this legacy is human. We need to be careful ... thinking about what we're going to leave to our children."
Expansion beyond cruise
In addition to Windstar, two other cruise lines -- Paul Gauguin and Aranui -- routinely sail year-round voyages in French Polynesia. Greek line Variety Cruises recently announced it, too, will begin cruising there all year, beginning in January 2023.
But cruising isn't the only sector that's growing in this absolutely gorgeous destination.
Within the last few years, airlines have begun offering additional routes, including United's nonstop San Francisco-to-Papeete route, which kicked off in 2017, and Air Tahiti Nui's new nonstop route between Seattle and Papeete, which just started service this month.
Additionally, local infrastructure, including everything from transportation to Wi-Fi and cell service access, has greatly improved, and the French Polynesian government is funding a project to construct guest houses for tourists who wish to stay with Polynesian families while they're in town for a more immersive look at the local culture.
"We like to place the Tahitian, the Polynesian, at the center of [our tourism ambitions], Fritch said. "That's why, in our strategy for the next five years, we're talking about tourism for the Polynesians and by the Polynesians.... It starts with guest houses — living with the inhabitants, the Polynesians.... We have decided for French Polynesia to develop quality tourism. That doesn't necessarily mean it's high-end tourism.... Luxury is not for us. Quality is for us."
The area is also home to one of the world's largest marine sanctuaries, which recently shared plans for a major expansion that would grow the sanctuary to 350,000 square miles by 2030.
What's next for Windstar
Dovetailing with Star Breeze's inaugural French Polynesia voyage is the formation of a new three-year partnership between the line and Coral Gardeners, a Moorea-based organization that protects and rebuilds local coral reefs.
"This new partnership is a wonderful way for us to celebrate Tahiti during our 35th anniversary season, but more importantly to make a positive impact for the future of these incredible islands," Prelog said in a statement. "We've been focused on reducing our carbon footprint via updating our fleet's engines and operations, and this next step in climate action at sea is to partner with Coral Gardeners."
As for its hardware, Windstar recently finished stretching two other Star Plus-class ships — Star Legend and Star Pride — in addition to Star Breeze, to the tune of $250 million. It is also refurbishing its Wind-class sailing vessels, including Wind Surf, which got a completely new spa and lounge, and Wind Spirit and Wind Star, which have new Yacht Club cafes.
As for whether the line will look to acquire additional vessels or, perhaps, build new ones, Prelog said Windstar is always on the lookout for opportunities.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees