Star of the Seas cruise ship: who it suits and which cabin to book
Star of the Seas is the ship to book if you want the most to do at sea in one place: it's Royal Caribbean's second Icon-class ship, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, with the line's biggest water park and eight neighborhoods. It sails 7-night Caribbean round trips from Port Canaveral, near Orlando, and almost every sailing includes a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Book it if
- Your group ranges from toddlers to grandparents and everyone needs their own thing to do.
- The pools, slides and shows matter more to you than the ports.
- You can travel from Orlando and want a 7-night Caribbean round trip with a private-island day.
Skip it if
- Crowds and lines bother you. Busy sailings mean booking shows and restaurants ahead.
- You want a quiet balcony-and-book trip. Look at a smaller premium ship instead.
- Budget is tight. Icon-class fares, drinks and specialty dining are among Royal Caribbean's highest.
Star of the Seas at a glance
- Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Class
- Icon
- Entered service
- 2025
- Gross tonnage
- 248,663
- Guests
- About 5,610 (double occupancy)
- Crew
- About 2,350
- Decks
- 20
Part of the Royal Caribbean fleet. Sister ships: Icon of the Seas, Legend of the Seas. Home ports: Port Canaveral.
Star of the Seas was built by Meyer Turku in Finland and entered service in August 2025, following Icon of the Seas. It runs on liquefied natural gas as well as conventional fuel. The maximum capacity, with every upper berth filled, is over 7,000 guests, so on school-holiday sailings the ship carries far more people than the double-occupancy figure suggests.
Who it suits
Multigenerational families are the core market. The ship is split into neighborhoods so that each age group has somewhere to go: Surfside for families with young children, Thrill Island for older kids and teens, and The Hideaway for adults only.
Groups celebrating something get the most out of the range of bars, shows and restaurants, since nobody has to agree on one plan.
First-time cruisers who want the “big ship” experience will find it here, but should know they are starting at the top of the scale. If you’re not sure you’ll like cruising, a 3- or 4-night trip on an older Royal Caribbean ship costs far less. See our short cruise guide.
Who should look elsewhere: couples who want calm and older travelers who dislike crowds. Our adults-only picks and the Celebrity guide are better starting points.
Standout features
- Category 6 water park: Royal Caribbean bills it as the largest water park at sea, with six record-setting slides.
- Seven pools and ten whirlpools, including the Royal Bay Pool, Cloud 17 and The Hideaway’s suspended infinity pool, which is adults-only.
- AquaDome: a glass dome at the front of the ship with the AquaTheater, where high-diving and acrobatic shows run in the evening, and a food hall by day.
- Shows: Back to the Future: The Musical in the main theater, an ice show and AquaTheater shows. Book them in the app as soon as reservations open; popular performances fill.
- FlowRider surf simulator and a family neighborhood, Surfside, with its own pool, splash area and casual eatery.
Cabins to pick, cabins to avoid
Pick:
- Infinite Balcony cabins, where the window lowers halfway instead of opening onto a separate balcony. They are quieter than traditional balconies because there’s no shared balcony partition for noise to travel through, and the whole room gets the view.
- Surfside Family cabins if you have young children: they’re near the family neighborhood and designed around kids.
- Midship cabins on a deck with cabins above and below for the least motion and the least noise from public areas.
Avoid or think twice:
- Cabins directly below the pool deck or the water park, and those near the AquaDome, if you go to bed early or sleep late.
- Interior “Promenade” and “Central Park” view cabins if you’re sensitive to noise from the spaces they overlook.
- The very forward and aft cabins if you’re prone to seasickness.
Before you book, open the deck plan and check what sits directly above and below your cabin.
Dining and activities
Royal Caribbean lists 17 complimentary dining spots. They include the main dining room with a three-course menu each night, the Windjammer buffet, the AquaDome Market food hall, Pearl Café (open 24 hours) and the Surfside Eatery. Sprinkles soft serve and several quick-stop food spots are included too. Extra-charge venues include Lincoln Park Supper Club, a jazz-age dinner, and Giovanni’s Wine Bar, and drinks at bars such as the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar are extra. Specialty dining is one of the main add-on costs on this ship.
Drinks packages, Wi-Fi and gratuities are extra, as they are across Royal Caribbean. Budget for them before you compare fares with lines that include more. See our all-inclusive cruise guide.
Where Star of the Seas sails in 2026–2027
Star of the Seas is based in Port Canaveral, Florida, year round, on 7-night round trips, including a Western Caribbean holiday sailing on sale for December 2026:
- Eastern Caribbean: Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
- Western Caribbean: Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatán and Costa Maya. See our Roatan port guide.
Most itineraries include two or three sea days, which is when the ship’s facilities matter most.
| Departs | Line and ship | Nights | Itinerary | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 20, 2026 | Royal Caribbean, Star of the Seas | 7 | 7 Nt Western Caribbean & Perfect Holiday (from Port Canaveral, Florida) | $2,208 | Check price |
Sister ships
Star of the Seas is the second of the Icon class. Icon of the Seas (2024) is the first and Legend of the Seas entered service in 2026. Hero of the Seas is due in 2027. The ships share the same layout, so if the dates or port suit you better, a sister is close to the same trip. Compare Royal Caribbean’s other big ships in our cruise line rankings.
Star of the Seas FAQ
How big is Star of the Seas?
248,663 gross tons, with room for 5,610 guests at double occupancy and more than 7,000 when every berth is filled, plus about 2,350 crew. It has 20 decks. It shares the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with its Icon-class sisters.
Where does Star of the Seas sail from?
Port Canaveral, Florida, on the Atlantic coast east of Orlando; allow about an hour’s drive from Orlando International Airport. It runs 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean round trips, most with a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
How much does a Star of the Seas cruise cost?
Fares vary a lot by date and cabin, and Icon-class ships sit at the top of Royal Caribbean’s price range. Check the dated from-price in the price box and on the sailings table, then add drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and gratuities to compare fairly.
Is Star of the Seas good for adults without kids?
It can be, if you use The Hideaway, the adults-only area with its infinity pool, and book shows and restaurants early. But it is built for families. Adults who want a calmer week will do better on a premium or adults-only line.
What's the difference between Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas?
Very little: they’re the same class and design. The main differences are the home port and the itineraries, so choose on dates, departure port and price.
Sources
- Royal Caribbean: Star of the Seas ship page (neighborhoods, pools, dining, staterooms)
- Royal Caribbean: 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day from Orlando (Port Canaveral) on Star of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean: 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day from Orlando (Port Canaveral) on Star of the Seas
- Wikipedia: Star of the Seas (builder, tonnage, capacity, crew, decks)
- Wikipedia: Icon-class cruise ship (sister ships and delivery dates)
- Royal Caribbean Blog: Infinite Balcony vs traditional balcony
- CruiseBound: Star of the Seas sailings (listings checked September 2026)