Star Legend
Star Legend is a small luxury cruise ship operated by Windstar Cruises, formerly known as Seabourn Legend.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Star Legend is a small luxury cruise ship whose service history spans several cruise brands and corporate operating arrangements. The vessel was constructed at Schichau-Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany, to a design by Petter Yran and Bjørn Storbraaten. It belongs to a closely related group of ships that includes Star Pride and Star Breeze, which were designed as sister vessels. Construction began in 1990 after the ship had originally been ordered for Seabourn Cruise Line. Financial difficulties affecting the investors delayed the project, and the unfinished vessel was ultimately acquired by Royal Viking Line. The ship became the final vessel built for Royal Viking Line and was also the smallest ship associated with that line. It was launched in May 1991 and completed in February 1992. The vessel entered service for Kloster Cruise after conducting sea trials. Its maiden voyage began on 11 February 1992 and concluded on 29 February 1992. During its early career it operated various crossings for Royal Viking Line, a Kloster subsidiary. In 1995, it was renamed Queen Odyssey when assigned to Royal Cruise Line, another company within the Kloster group. That identity lasted until January 1996, when the ship was sold to Seabourn and joined the Seabourn fleet as Seabourn Legend. During its Seabourn career, the ship formed part of the company's small-ship luxury-cruise offering. Its public profile was increased by an appearance in the 1997 film Speed 2: Cruise Control. The vessel remained with Seabourn until April 2015, when it left the fleet. In May 2015 it entered service for Windstar Cruises and was renamed Star Legend. Windstar later pursued a major modernization and capacity-expansion program for Star Legend and its sister ships. In 2018, the company announced plans to lengthen Star Legend, Star Pride, and Star Breeze by inserting new midship sections. The work was assigned to Fincantieri in Palermo. Construction of the new section began on 6 September 2019, while work on Star Legend itself began in March 2020. The project was delayed after asbestos was discovered in the engine room of Star Breeze and because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Star Legend's lengthening was completed in May 2021. The ship is therefore best understood as a vessel identity rather than an independent consumer-goods brand. Its commercial identities have changed with ownership, chartering, and fleet assignments: Royal Viking Queen, Queen Odyssey, Seabourn Legend, and finally Star Legend. Its current identity is associated with Windstar Cruises and with the company's small-ship luxury-cruise portfolio.
History
Star Legend was conceived during the expansion of the luxury-cruise fleet associated with Seabourn Cruise Line. Construction began in 1990 at Schichau-Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany. Although Seabourn had originally ordered the ship, the project was delayed because of financial constraints affecting the investors behind the order. Royal Viking Line subsequently purchased the vessel while it was still under construction. The ship was launched in May 1991 and completed in February 1992. It was the final ship built for Royal Viking Line and the smallest vessel built for that line. After completion, it was operated for Kloster Cruise and conducted its sea trials before beginning its maiden voyage on 11 February 1992. That inaugural voyage ended on 29 February 1992. In its first operating phase, the vessel undertook various crossings for Royal Viking Line, which operated as a Kloster subsidiary. In 1995, the ship received the name Queen Odyssey after being assigned to Royal Cruise Line, another Kloster subsidiary. The Queen Odyssey identity continued until January 1996, when the vessel was sold to Seabourn Cruise Line. It then joined Seabourn's fleet as Seabourn Legend. The ship's design was by Petter Yran and Bjørn Storbraaten, and it was built as part of a group of closely related vessels that includes Star Pride and Star Breeze. Seabourn operated the ship for almost two decades. During this period, the vessel also gained a connection with popular culture through its appearance in the 1997 motion picture Speed 2: Cruise Control. In April 2015, it departed the Seabourn fleet. The following month it entered service with Windstar Cruises and adopted the name Star Legend. Windstar later announced a substantial fleet-renewal project affecting Star Legend and its sister ships. The plan called for each ship to be lengthened through the insertion of a new midship section. Fincantieri's Palermo facility was selected for the work. Construction of the new section began on 6 September 2019, and work on Star Legend began in March 2020. The timetable was affected by asbestos discovered in the engine room of Star Breeze and by the operational and industrial disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lengthening of Star Legend was completed in May 2021. The ship's history illustrates how cruise vessels can retain a continuous physical identity while changing names, operators, and market positioning. It began as a ship ordered for Seabourn, entered service under Royal Viking Line and Kloster-related operations, moved to Royal Cruise Line as Queen Odyssey, returned to the Seabourn family as Seabourn Legend, and later became Star Legend under Windstar Cruises. Its current identity is tied to Windstar's small-ship luxury-cruise business.
- 2021
Lengthening completed
[1]Work on Star Legend was completed in May after delays associated with asbestos-related work on a sister ship and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Lengthening construction begins
[1]Construction of the new midship section began on 6 September at Fincantieri's Palermo facilities.
- 2018
Lengthening program announced
[1]Windstar announced a plan to lengthen Star Legend, Star Pride, and Star Breeze with new midship sections.
- 2015
Transfers to Windstar Cruises
[1]The ship left Seabourn in April and entered Windstar service in May under the name Star Legend.
- 1997
Film appearance
[1]The ship appeared in Speed 2: Cruise Control.
- 1996
Joins Seabourn as Seabourn Legend
[1]The vessel was sold to Seabourn in January and joined its fleet as Seabourn Legend.
- 1995
Renamed Queen Odyssey
[1]The ship was reassigned to Royal Cruise Line and renamed Queen Odyssey.
- 1992
Completion and maiden voyage
[1]The ship was completed in February and began its maiden voyage on 11 February 1992, operating for Kloster Cruise and Royal Viking Line.
- 1991
Launched as Royal Viking Queen
[1]The vessel was launched in May after being acquired by Royal Viking Line.
- 1990
Construction begins
[1]Construction started at Schichau-Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany. The ship had originally been ordered for Seabourn Cruise Line, but financial constraints delayed the project.
Products and positioning
A small luxury cruise ship positioned within Windstar Cruises' yacht-style and small-ship cruising portfolio, with a multi-brand operating history that includes Royal Viking Line, Royal Cruise Line, and Seabourn.
Luxury cruise ship · 1992
Star Legend
Star Legend is the vessel's current identity and the name under which it operates for Windstar Cruises. It offers small-ship luxury cruising and onboard hospitality rather than a standalone consumer product line. The ship was substantially modified through a lengthening project completed in 2021, following Windstar's plan to add new midship sections to Star Legend and its sister ships.
Luxury cruise ship · 1996
Seabourn Legend
Seabourn Legend was the ship's name during its long period in the Seabourn fleet, beginning in 1996 and ending in 2015. Under this identity, it formed part of Seabourn's small-ship luxury-cruise offering and appeared in the 1997 film Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Marketing campaigns
- 1997Speed 2: Cruise Control film appearance
International
The vessel, then operating as Seabourn Legend, was featured in the film Speed 2: Cruise Control. The appearance provided incidental entertainment-media exposure for the ship during its Seabourn period.
Outcome. The ship became identifiable through its appearance in a major motion picture; no further campaign results are documented in the supplied reference.
Brand decisions
2018
Windstar approves a lengthening programGeneration changeBackground
Windstar Cruises announced that Star Legend and its sister ships Star Pride and Star Breeze would be lengthened by adding new midship sections at Fincantieri in Palermo.
Action taken
The company began planning and executing a major physical modification program intended to expand and modernize the three ships.
Aftermath
Construction began in September 2019, work on Star Legend began in March 2020, and the ship's lengthening was completed in May 2021 after delays related to asbestos findings on a sister ship and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources2 sources
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