Star of the Seas
An Icon-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International that entered service in August 2025.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Star of the Seas is an Icon-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International and the second vessel in the class, following Icon of the Seas. The ship was constructed by Meyer Turku in Finland and entered commercial service on 16 August 2025. It sails from Port Canaveral in Florida, serving the cruise market centered on the Caribbean and the wider United States market. The vessel has a gross tonnage of 248,663 and accommodates 5,610 guests at double occupancy, with total capacity exceeding 7,000 when all available berths are used. Its size places it among the largest cruise ships in the world, sharing that distinction with its Icon-class sister ships. The ship is arranged across 20 decks and is organized into eight themed neighborhoods intended to separate different forms of accommodation, recreation, dining, nightlife, and family activity. Its principal public spaces include the Royal Promenade, an interior entertainment and circulation area; Central Park, an open-air garden-style neighborhood; Chill Island, a pool-focused outdoor area; Thrill Island, which contains the ship's waterpark attractions; the AquaDome observation and performance space; Surfside, designed around families with young children; the adults-oriented Hideaway pool deck; and a dedicated suite neighborhood. The onboard offering includes seven pools, six waterslides, and more than 40 restaurants and bars. Entertainment is a central part of the ship's proposition. Production programming includes an adaptation of Back to the Future: The Musical in the Royal Theater, the Sol ice-skating show in the Absolute Zero arena, and Torque, a contemporary circus production presented in the AquaTheater. These spaces and shows position Star of the Seas as a resort-style cruise product rather than simply a means of transportation. The ship is powered by six dual-fuel generators capable of operating on liquefied natural gas. Propulsion is provided through three 20-megawatt Azipod azimuth thrusters, supplemented by five bow thrusters. The combination of large-scale accommodation, multiple activity zones, family and adults-only spaces, and dual-fuel propulsion reflects Royal Caribbean's strategy for its Icon class: concentrate a broad resort experience within a single ship while supporting high passenger capacity and destination-based itineraries.
History
Star of the Seas was developed as the second ship in Royal Caribbean International's Icon class, a series positioned around the concept of a large floating resort. The vessel followed Icon of the Seas and was built by Meyer Turku at its shipyard in Finland. Its construction formally began with steel cutting on 15 February 2023. Royal Caribbean announced the ship's name on 5 October of the same year, establishing its connection with the broader Star of the Seas product identity. The keel was laid on 15 December 2023, marking the beginning of the principal assembly phase. The completed hull was floated out on 25 September 2024. After further fitting-out and testing, the ship undertook sea trials in spring 2025. Meyer Turku delivered the vessel in July 2025, after which preparations continued for guest operations, crew activity, entertainment programming, and the launch of its commercial itineraries. Service began on 16 August 2025 from Port Canaveral in Florida. The ship's operating concept combines Caribbean cruising with an unusually broad set of onboard attractions. At 248,663 gross tonnage, it contains 20 decks and is designed for 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, with more than 7,000 guests possible at full capacity. Its scale allows the vessel to offer multiple distinct neighborhoods rather than a single central pool and dining layout. The eight neighborhoods are designed around different use cases. The Royal Promenade serves as an interior social and entertainment corridor, while Central Park provides an outdoor courtyard environment. Chill Island concentrates pool and relaxation facilities, and Thrill Island is dedicated to high-energy water attractions. The AquaDome functions as an observation and entertainment area. Surfside is oriented toward families, Hideaway provides an adults-only pool setting, and the suite neighborhood separates premium accommodation and related facilities from the wider ship. Star of the Seas also uses entertainment as a defining element of its onboard identity. Its listed productions include a Back to the Future: The Musical adaptation in the Royal Theater, Sol in the Absolute Zero ice arena, and Torque in the AquaTheater. Together with seven pools, six waterslides, and more than 40 restaurants and bars, these features make the ship's proposition comparable to a destination resort with changing ports of call. The propulsion system consists of six dual-fuel generators that can operate on liquefied natural gas. Electrical power is supplied to three 20-megawatt Azipod azimuth thrusters and five bow thrusters. The ship therefore combines the Icon class's very large passenger capacity with a propulsion architecture designed around dual-fuel operation. Since entering service, Star of the Seas has operated as a Royal Caribbean International vessel from Port Canaveral, with its principal market centered on Caribbean cruising.
- 2025
Sea trials conducted
[1]The ship completed sea trials in spring 2025.
- 2025
Delivered by Meyer Turku
[1]Meyer Turku delivered the completed ship to Royal Caribbean in July 2025.
- 2025
Commercial service begins
[1]Star of the Seas entered service on 16 August 2025, operating from Port Canaveral.
- 2024
Float-out completed
[1]Star of the Seas was floated out on 25 September 2024 for subsequent fitting-out work.
- 2023
Steel cutting begins
[1]Construction of Star of the Seas began with steel cutting at Meyer Turku on 15 February 2023.
- 2023
Ship name announced
[1]Royal Caribbean announced the name Star of the Seas on 5 October 2023.
- 2023
Keel laid
[1]The ship's keel was laid on 15 December 2023.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, resort-style cruise ship combining high-capacity Caribbean cruising with themed neighborhoods, extensive water attractions, varied dining, family programming, adults-only areas, suite accommodations, and headline entertainment.
Cruise vacation · 2025
Star of the Seas cruise experience
The ship's core offering is a resort-style cruise experience operated by Royal Caribbean International. It combines accommodation, transportation between ports, dining, entertainment, pools, water attractions, and neighborhood-based leisure spaces in one vessel. The ship is based at Port Canaveral and serves the Caribbean-focused cruise market.
Waterpark and recreation · 2025
Thrill Island
Thrill Island is the ship's high-energy recreation neighborhood. It includes the onboard waterpark and contributes to the ship's emphasis on waterslides and active family entertainment. The wider vessel has six waterslides and seven pools, making water-based leisure one of its most visible product features.
Observation and entertainment venue · 2025
AquaDome
The AquaDome is an observation-oriented neighborhood that also supports entertainment programming. It is associated with the AquaTheater and the contemporary circus production Torque, combining views, performance, and social space within one of the ship's signature public areas.
Live entertainment · 2025
Royal Theater entertainment
The Royal Theater presents the ship's stage entertainment, including an adaptation of Back to the Future: The Musical. This production forms part of a broader entertainment program that also includes ice skating and contemporary circus performances in dedicated venues elsewhere on the ship.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch of Star of the Seas serviceProduct launchBackground
Following construction, sea trials, and delivery by Meyer Turku, Royal Caribbean prepared the ship for passenger operations.
Action taken
Star of the Seas entered commercial service from Port Canaveral on 16 August 2025.
Aftermath
The ship became the second operating vessel in Royal Caribbean's Icon class and began serving the Caribbean cruise market.
2023
Naming of the second Icon-class shipOtherBackground
Royal Caribbean was developing a second vessel for its Icon class, following the introduction of Icon of the Seas.
Action taken
The company announced the name Star of the Seas on 5 October 2023.
Aftermath
The announcement established the vessel's identity before its 2025 delivery and entry into service.
Recent events
- 2025
Star of the Seas enters service from Port Canaveral[1]
Product launch
The ship began commercial operations on 16 August 2025, sailing from Port Canaveral in the United States.
- 2023
Royal Caribbean announces the Star of the Seas name[1]
Other
Royal Caribbean International publicly identified the second Icon-class ship as Star of the Seas.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/star-of-the-seas · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled