Windstar Cruises Menus: Main Dining, Specialty Restaurants, Room Service & Breakfast
Windstar Cruises is known for offering a more intimate dining experience than many larger cruise lines. Rather than focusing on dozens of specialty restaurants, Windstar emphasizes freshly prepared meals, regional ingredients, open seating, and personalized service across its fleet of small luxury yachts.
The menus shown below provide an excellent look at what guests can expect onboard, including selections from the main dining room, Star Grill, Basil + Bamboo, breakfast service, room service, and several wine offerings. While menus may change depending on itinerary and season, these examples showcase the style and variety that Windstar is known for.
Dining on Windstar Cruises
Unlike many mainstream cruise lines that rely on buffet-heavy dining, Windstar offers a more refined culinary experience with menus that change regularly throughout the voyage.
Guests can typically enjoy:
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included in the cruise fare
- Open seating in the main dining venues
- Specialty dining experiences
- Fresh seafood
- Premium steaks
- Vegetarian selections
- International cuisine
- Room service
- Wine pairing recommendations
Menus often reflect the destinations being visited, especially during longer itineraries where local ingredients are incorporated whenever possible.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
One of the featured dinner menus begins with an impressive selection of appetizers, salads and soups before moving into a variety of elegant entrées.
The starter selection includes:
- Twice-Baked Goat Cheese Soufflé
- Classic Shrimp Cocktail
- Classic Caesar Salad
- Market Salad
- Lyonnaise Salad
- Beef Consommé Celestine
- White Tomato Cappuccino
The goat cheese soufflé is one of the more distinctive appetizers, while traditional options like shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad provide familiar favorites.
Main Course Highlights
The entrée selection combines seafood, poultry, meat and vegetarian dishes.
Featured entrées include:
- Grilled Ahi Tuna and Tuna Poke
- Mussels à la Bisque de Homard
- Pink Roasted Milk-Fed Veal Tenderloin
- Truffle Roasted Chicken Breast
- Sesame Tofu Cake
- Fusilli with Prosciutto and Asparagus
Guests who prefer classic cruise favorites can also choose from everyday selections including:
- Grilled North Atlantic Salmon
- Grilled Chicken Breast
- Grilled Sirloin Steak
A selection of side dishes accompanies these entrées, including mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, steamed vegetables and truffle-Parmesan fries.
The menu even recommends wine pairings for certain dishes, suggesting wines that complement the meal without requiring guests to study the wine list themselves.
Basil + Bamboo
Basil + Bamboo is one of Windstar’s specialty dining venues, combining Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine into a multi-course experience.
The menu offers a noticeably different style compared to the main dining room, emphasizing lighter preparations, seafood and contemporary flavors.
Appetizers include:
- Mediterranean Raw Bar
- Tuna Tartare
- Hamachi Crudo
- Tapas and Shared Plates
- Artisan Burrata Salad
Soup options include a traditional miso soup.
For the main course, guests can choose dishes inspired by land and sea, including:
- Miso Black Cod
- Grilled Spanish Octopus
- Free-Range Chicken
- Beef Medallions
- Vegetarian Entrée featuring crispy Brussels sprouts
Desserts continue the international theme with selections such as:
- Citrus Olive Oil Cake
- Chocolate Caramel Crémeux
- Vanilla Panna Cotta
The overall menu leans toward smaller, refined plates with creative presentations rather than oversized portions.
Star Grill
Star Grill offers a more casual steakhouse-style experience while maintaining the elevated quality expected aboard a Windstar yacht.
The menu begins with appetizers such as:
- Roasted Shiitake Mushroom Cromesquis
- Korean-Style Steak Tartare
- Maine Lobster Bisque
- Iceberg Salad
- Caesar Salad
For the main course, guests can select from premium meats and seafood including:
- Atlantic Salmon Fillet
- Jumbo Shrimp
- Beef Filet Steak Mignon
- New York Strip Steak
- Australian Lamb Chops
- Pork Rib Chop
Several house-made sauces are available, including:
- Béarnaise
- Chimichurri
- Creamy Horseradish
- Bordelaise
- Au Poivre
Side dishes include favorites such as:
- Parmesan Truffle Fries
- Mac and Four Cheese
- Creamed Corn
- Brussels Sprouts
- Onion Rings
- Mashed Potatoes
Desserts feature classic comfort food with an upscale twist, including apple cobbler, brownie sundae and Windstar’s Salted Caramel Popcorn Cheesecake.
Breakfast on Windstar Cruises
Breakfast offers both lighter options and hearty cooked meals.
Guests can choose from fresh fruit, yogurt, cereals, pastries and smoothies before moving on to traditional breakfast entrées.
Cooked breakfast options include:
- Eggs Benedict
- Croque Madame
- Two Eggs Any Style
- Belgian Waffles
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Brioche French Toast
Sides include:
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Hash Browns
- Grilled Tomato
- Toast
- Bagels
Several breakfast cocktails are also available, including:
- Mimosa
- Screwdriver
- Bloody Mary
- Elderflower & Herb Cooler
- Salty Dog
Breakfast Continued
Guests who prefer a slower start to the day can order breakfast directly to their suite.
The room service breakfast menu includes many of the same options available in the dining room, including:
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Pastries
- Eggs prepared to order
- Eggs Benedict
- Belgian waffles
- Pancakes
- French toast
- Coffee
- Espresso drinks
- Tea
- Fruit juices
Having breakfast delivered to your stateroom can be especially enjoyable on sea days or while sailing into a scenic destination.
Casual Lunch and All-Day Favorites
In addition to formal dining venues, Windstar also offers casual selections throughout the day.
Available items shown include:
- Market Crudités
- Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Caesar Salad
- Garden Vegetable Burger
- Windstar 180° Smashed Burger
- Turkey Club Sandwich
- Margherita Pizza
These lighter meals provide a convenient option between excursions or during a relaxing afternoon onboard.
Casual Dining Menu
These menu pages feature a selection of casual favorites, including burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, soups, appetizers, and desserts. Guests can choose from items such as the Windstar 180° Smashed Burger, Turkey Club Sandwich, Margherita Pizza, Market Crudités, Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Classic Caesar Salad, and Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Compote.
The menu also notes vegetarian and vegan options where applicable and reminds guests to contact the culinary team regarding food allergies or dietary requests.
What the Menus Say About Dining on Windstar
These menus highlight one of Windstar’s biggest strengths: variety without being overwhelming.
Instead of offering enormous buffet-style selections, the cruise line focuses on thoughtfully prepared dishes across several venues. During a voyage, guests can enjoy elegant multi-course dinners in Amphora, premium steaks and seafood at Star Grill, Asian-inspired cuisine at Basil + Bamboo, casual burgers and pizzas, and complimentary room service.
The menus also demonstrate Windstar’s attention to different dietary preferences, with vegetarian dishes clearly identified and additional accommodations available upon request. Throughout the fleet, the emphasis remains on quality ingredients, made-to-order preparation, and a relaxed yacht-style dining experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food included on Windstar Cruises?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service, and the main dining venues are included in the cruise fare. Some specialty dining experiences may require reservations, but dining itself is generally included.
Does Windstar offer room service?
Yes. Complimentary room service is available, including breakfast and a lunch menu featuring sandwiches, burgers, pizza, salads, soups, snacks, and dessert.
Does Windstar have specialty restaurants?
Yes. Depending on the ship, guests can dine at specialty venues such as Star Grill and Basil + Bamboo in addition to the main dining room.
Are vegetarian options available?
Yes. The menus identify vegetarian selections, and many dishes can be modified to accommodate dietary needs when requested.
Can menus change during a cruise?
Yes. Menus rotate throughout each voyage, and selections may vary based on itinerary, seasonal ingredients, and the ship.
Are the same menus available on every Windstar ship?
Not necessarily. While many signature dishes appear across the fleet, individual restaurants and menu offerings can differ depending on the ship.
Conclusion
These real Windstar Cruises menus provide an excellent look at the cruise line’s culinary experience. From elegant dinners and specialty restaurants to casual lunches and complimentary room service, the emphasis is on fresh ingredients, diverse flavors, and attentive service rather than overwhelming quantity.
If you’re planning a Windstar cruise, reviewing the menus beforehand offers a realistic preview of what you’ll be eating onboard and helps you decide which restaurants you’d like to try first. While individual dishes may change from sailing to sailing, the overall dining philosophy remains consistent: refined cuisine served in an intimate yacht atmosphere.
