A naming ceremony is more than a ribbon and a photo, it is a promise of care for the ship and everyone who sails on her. In Port Canaveral, research astronaut Kellie Gerardi stepped into the time-honoured role of godmother to the new Royal Caribbean arrival, connecting a spirit of exploration with a very down-to-earth family holiday.
A Naming That Connects Sea and Space
The ceremony unfolded in Royal Caribbean’s open-air AquaTheater, a fitting stage for a ship that celebrates movement, water and sky. Gerardi’s background in research missions gives the ritual a modern edge, and her message was simple, safekeeping for the crew and for every guest who will step on board. That blend of tradition and forward-looking optimism sets the tone for a ship designed to delight families who want fun that is easy to reach and simple to share.
What the Godmother Tradition Signals Today
In cruising, the godmother stands in as guardian and storyteller, reminding us that a vessel is a community as much as a piece of engineering. For families choosing a first voyage, that symbolism matters, it points to the people behind the hardware, from bridge officers to youth staff. On a ship of this scale, it is reassuring to see the service culture underlined before the first itinerary even sails.
A Platform Shaped for Families
This is an Icon-class build, which means neighbourhoods rather than disconnected venues, and a layout that keeps parents and kids within easy reach of what they love. You will recognise the Surfside family neighbourhood, the big-ticket waterpark thrills, and the way the ship clusters dining, play and pool time so you spend less of your holiday walking and more of it doing. It is a design language that prizes flow, so your day holds together without a spreadsheet.
Where Play Meets Sea Days
A family cruise works best when high-energy moments share the stage with quiet time. On this ship, the headline thrills get the attention, but the real win is how many places there are to pause, recharge and watch the ocean pass.
Thrills Without the Queue Spiral
Category 6 waterpark packs serious punch, yet the spaces are spread so crowds diffuse across the day. Add Crown’s Edge, a sky-walk experience 154 feet above the sea, and you have a mix of brag-worthy moments and confidence-building wins for teens. Seven pools, including a suspended infinity pool, mean you can always find a spot that matches your mood, the splash-happy, the sun-lounger, or the late-afternoon reader who wants a dip before dinner.
Chill Spaces That Work for Real Families
The stay-and-play Surfside neighbourhood is built for families with young kids, keeping slides, snacks and shaded seating within sight lines. Parents can watch the action without orbiting all day, and little ones feel in the middle of the fun rather than parked on the sidelines. Around the ship, you will notice low-stress details, places to stash prams, handy towel stations, and cafés that make a quick refuel painless.
Entertainment With Range
Royal Caribbean’s entertainment catalogue is broad, and here it stretches across air, ice, water and theatre. A marquee title, “Back to the Future: The Musical,” gives families a shared reference point, while AquaTheater shows deliver that gasp-and-grin combination you will be talking about at breakfast the next morning. Night after night, there is something that suits each energy level, a full production, live music on the promenade, or a deck movie under the stars.
Dining and Evenings, Simplified
Choice is only useful when it stays manageable. With more than 40 ways to dine and drink, the trick is to pick an anchor plan, then stay flexible enough to chase a surprise.
Forty Ways To Dine Without Decision Fatigue
Start by agreeing on a handful of favourites, perhaps a family lunch spot, a date-night dinner, and a dessert ritual. With that framework, you will never lose time to indecision, yet you can still grab a serendipitous bite when a venue catches your eye. Daytime options balance poolside quick service with sit-down breaks, so you can match meals to your plans rather than breaking your plans for meals.
Shows, Schedules and Seat Picks
Prime-time productions are popular, so treat show reservations as you would a good restaurant booking. If your children are early birds, target the first evening performance and leave the post-show hour for a gentle walk and a hot chocolate. Night owls can flip the script, a later show after a long, late dinner, followed by a quiet swim when the pools thin out.
Cabins for Every Pace
Cabin choice frames your week. A balcony stateroom pairs beautifully with sea-day heavy itineraries, giving you a private retreat for first light and sunset. Families often prefer connecting rooms over a single large suite, two showers and extra floor space make evenings smoother when the ship is buzzing. If you plan to live in public spaces from breakfast to lights-out, an oceanview can keep the budget trim without losing natural light.
Itineraries and Destinations To Watch
Homeporting in Port Canaveral means easier access for many families, and the itineraries keep the focus on bright water, warm evenings and easy logistics. Expect classic loops that deliver big smiles without the drag of complicated transfers.
Eastern and Western Loops From Port Canaveral
Seven-night adventures rotate through Eastern and Western Caribbean staples, pairing sea days with island stops that reward simple choices. If you love snorkelling and sand, you will be happy whichever route you pick. If you are all about variety, choose the week with a good balance of port time and restful stretches, then build in a slow morning mid-cruise to keep energy steady.
Private-Island Days That Just Work
Many sailings include a call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, where layout and transport are nearly invisible to the guest. You step off, pick your zone, and the day happens without friction. The brand’s beach-club pipeline also grows over the next few years, with Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opening in December 2025, Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, and a new Perfect Day destination in Mexico slated for 2027, so the shore-day menu will only get richer.
How To Pair Sea Days With Shore Days
Families thrive on rhythm. Use the first sea day to explore and set your favourites, then keep port days focused on one headline activity, a reef, a local lunch, or a guided walk. Bring everyone back on board with time for a swim, then slow the evening with live music and an early dessert, the kind of simple pattern that makes a week feel both full and restful.
Plan Your Sailing the Easy Way
The best holidays are shaped by a few calm decisions made early. With bookings open, take a breath, sketch your preferences, and then choose a week that suits your calendar rather than fighting it.
When To Book for School Terms and Leave
If you are aiming at school holidays, move early so you can secure the right cabin locations and dining times. Shoulder weeks often reward flexible travellers with quieter ports and milder weather, a sweet spot for families who like to explore without the press of peak crowds. Mark deposit and balance dates in your calendar so you are never making big choices in a rush.
Flying Into Orlando With Less Stress
Port Canaveral sits within easy reach of Orlando International, and the transfer is straightforward. We recommend a pre-cruise night near the coast or at the airport to soften the flight and keep embarkation morning relaxed. On the flip side, a late flight home buys you a final lunch and a beach walk, a nicer way to end a great week than clock-watching.
Budgeting Your Onboard Extras
A few smart moves keep spending predictable. Decide in advance how you want to use any onboard credit, for a speciality dinner, spa time, or a shore tour upgrade, and then stick to that plan. If you are travelling with teens, agree on a daily treat budget and let them choose where to spend it, which reduces corridor negotiations and keeps everyone smiling.
This new Royal Caribbean build is already earning attention for its mix of neighbourhoods, marquee shows and well-designed play zones. If you are choosing between school-holiday weeks or weighing Eastern versus Western routes, a side-by-side view helps the decision fall into place.
To line up dates, ships and routes that match your calendar, open our Cruise Finder. You can filter by homeport and duration, then save a shortlist to share with your travel party so the final pick is quick and calm.
Turn Your Plans Into a Port Canaveral Sailaway
With one foot in tradition and another in tomorrow, Star of the Seas gives families a clear, simple way to holiday together without sacrificing anyone’s favourite thing. If you want help aligning dates, flights and the right cabin mix, get in touch with a travel adviser and we will prepare a clean shortlist that fits your pace, budget and wish list, then hold the best options while you make the call. Your launch point is set, your week writes itself, and the only question left is which swimsuit goes on top of the suitcase first.
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