Vicki Arkoff, based in Los Angeles, serves as Editor at Large…
While Ritz-Carlton and other hotel brands have faced issues and delays with their private yacht launches, two iconic resorts — the century-old Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and Sea Island in Georgia — found an innovative solution: they revamped existing Classic Suites to mirror the refined five-diamond Broadmoor and Sea Island styles aboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Plus Class yachts.
The elegant Star Legend, accommodating 312 passengers, is the first to showcase two new themed suites alongside a commissioned mural by Miami artist Alex Nuñez. The mural, “First Light,” is a mixed-media piece inspired by the artist’s experience of sunrise at sea. Nuñez describes it as capturing “the hues of blue surrounding the thriving marine life beneath the waves.”
These specialty suites draw inspiration from Windstar’s Forbes Five-Star sister companies, The Broadmoor and Sea Island, and will also be featured on Windstar’s other Star Plus Class yachts: Star Breeze this spring and Star Pride in 2024.
Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar, explains, “Unlike hotel brands that have started offering yacht-style cruises, this is a unique example of a cruise line bringing a distinct land-based experience to sea. It connects and cross-sells a diverse set of travel experiences that have shared ownership.”
The Sea Island Suite features elegant touches that reflect Southern hospitality and design by Addison Mizner, including curved arches, light walls, and sophisticated wood furnishings. Prelog notes, “The overall look is coastal and airy, with colors like sea-glass green throughout.” The Broadmoor Suite offers a traditional space with classic furniture, floral motifs, white trim with gold finishes, and wide crown molding.
To honor each resort’s distinctive style while complying with International Maritime Organization sea safety regulations, Windstar made several design adaptations. Resort throw rugs were replaced with inset carpets, and custom wallpapers were created on IMO-certified paper. The wallpaper in the Broadmoor Suite replicates the pattern from The Broadmoor’s Main Building, designed by Julie Penrose, the founder’s wife.
“Julie’s initials are part of the wallpaper design, making it a recognizable statement piece for anyone who has visited the resort,” Prelog says. “It’s touching to think that Julie’s love for travel influenced the Broadmoor’s décor, and now her custom wallpaper will travel the world on Windstar Cruises.”
Vicki Arkoff is an Editor at Large for Pursuitist and a founding editor for Holiday Goddess. Her travel and lifestyle reports appear in publications such as Atlas Obscura, The Awesomer, DaySpa, The Chicago Tribune, CNN Travel, JustLuxe, Lonely Planet, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Toronto Star, WellSpa 360, WestJet Magazine, Where Traveler, Where Guestbook, Yahoo News, and more. She co-authored the bestselling Holiday Goddess books and has edited books like ‘Sinatra’ (DK), ‘Inside Mad’ (Time-Life), and ‘Virgin Los Angeles’ (Virgin Books). Arkoff is also a contributor to MAD Magazine and an entertainment reporter, as well as an authorized biographer for pop culture icons.