Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, has begun service from Port Canaveral, Florida, following her arrival in August and a naming celebration on 20 August 2025 with research astronaut Kellie Gerardi as godmother. The ship then moved into preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage on 31 August.
Tying with Icon of the Seas as the largest cruise ship afloat, Star is designed as a floating holiday precinct, with eight distinct neighbourhoods that parcel the big-ship scale into walkable zones that feel intuitive.
Royal Caribbean’s Star leans into multi-generational travel, from baby-friendly family restrooms to Social020 for teens and a Surfside neighbourhood for little cruisers. That mix means a grandparent can enjoy the piano bar while the kids attack the splash areas without anyone feeling short-changed. Early sailings underline that both couples and families can carve out their own pace onboard.
You are not just walking decks, you are moving between mini-districts. Thrill Island carries the headline adrenaline, Chill Island layers in multiple pools, and the AquaDome reimagines evenings with wraparound ocean views and a 55-foot water curtain framing the next-gen AquaTheater.
Despite the ship’s size, flow is helped by the neighbourhood layout, the central Royal Promenade and plentiful venues that disperse crowds. Sea days become part pool club, part theme-park day, part foodie crawl, which is exactly the point of the Icon blueprint.
Star’s big attractions are not just for show, they are engineered to be queue-friendly and repeatable, which matters on a weeklong itinerary with sea days in the mix.
Category 6 is billed as the largest waterpark at sea, housing six record-breaking slides including Pressure Drop, Frightening Bolt, Storm Surge, Hurricane Hunter and the dual Storm Chasers mat racers. Add the FlowRider surf simulator and Crown’s Edge, a part skywalk and part ride suspended 154 feet above the ocean, and you have a genuine thrill corridor.
Evenings shift into the AquaDome, where the AquaTheater stages high divers, aerialists and special-effects shows set against that 55-foot waterfall. Expect brand-new productions, including the aquatic show Torque, plus a shortened production of Back to the Future The Musical that includes a DeLorean stage moment.
There are seven pools, including an adults-only Hideaway pool that acts like a suspended beach club, and kid-centric splash zones that occupy prime space rather than a forgotten corner. Water’s Edge at the aft frames ocean views while keeping families close to refreshments.
Star carries more than 40 places to dine and drink, split across included and specialty choices, so planning a loose food strategy is wise.
Royal Caribbean counts 17 complimentary spots, which helps keep day-to-day spend predictable. Families can graze through casual counters at AquaDome Market and Surfside Eatery, then switch to pizza at Sorrento’s or settle into a proper sit-down without a surcharge.
If you do want to splurge, the supper club concept and Japanese options such as Izumi consistently rank as guest favourites. Book prime-time nights early, then mix late-night bites around bars with live music or duelling pianos for a change of pace.
Think of specialty dining as accents rather than your entire plan, use the included breakfast and lunch choices to save, then aim one or two paid dinners for show nights. That way the entertainment and dining feel layered rather than competing.
Star homeports in Port Canaveral for year-round seven-night runs to Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, typically including a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
Star arrived in Port Canaveral in mid-August, hosted a naming celebration on 20 August, then operated short preview cruises before the official maiden voyage on 31 August. This explains why you may see different “first sailing” dates in the news feeds.
Look for Eastern itineraries that call at St Thomas or St Kitts, and Western loops that reach Cozumel and Costa Maya. The seven-night rhythm builds in sea days that let you sample the neighbourhoods without rushing.
Most runs include Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, so you can split your big waterslides between ship and shore. Hideaway Beach adds an adults-only option, while families can spread out around the island’s multi-zone layout.
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From interior staterooms to suites, the ship-wide design emphasises storage, charging points and family-friendly layouts. If you are sailing with little ones, placing yourselves near Surfside shortens those to-and-from moments that add up over a week.
Small touches like family restrooms, mocktail menus and the optional tracking wristband for kids reduce friction during busy hours. Teens get their own Social020 space, which helps everyone enjoy time together as well as time apart.
The neighbourhood model, clear signage and multiple lift cores help with navigation on a ship this size, which is important for prams and mobility devices. If you want a calmer route between venues, our advisors can suggest vertical transport strategies that avoid peak times.
Before you choose dates, consider school holiday windows in your region and US holidays like Thanksgiving and Spring Break that raise demand. Our team can cross-reference your flexibility against quieter weeks to help you pick a sailing where pool decks and signature rides feel more relaxed.
You will also want to line up shows ahead of time. AquaTheater productions and the Back to the Future musical are popular, so locking in reservations through the app helps you cruise at your own pace rather than queueing. Explore live sailings and pricing via our Cruise Finder to see what suits your timing.
If you prefer milder seas and slightly cooler air, target the shoulder months either side of peak summer. Your airfares may also benefit, particularly if you are flying long-haul from Australia.
Star’s Caribbean calls have been adjusted away from Haiti’s private resort, Labadee, due to ongoing security concerns, with Royal Caribbean pausing visits through at least October 2025 and some updates guiding towards May 2026.
Second, the entertainment slate is genuinely new, from the AquaDome’s high-diver spectacle to a DeLorean-charged musical, so planning your show nights matters almost as much as choosing your shore days. When you are ready, have us firm up dates, cabins and flights, then secure everything with a personalised plan with our team today.