Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas in Cádiz on 25 July 2025 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Royal Caribbean Group |
| Operator | Royal Caribbean International |
| Port of registry | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Builder | Meyer Turku, Finland |
| Cost | €2.12 billion[1] |
| Yard number | NB 1401 |
| Laid down | 15 December 2023[2] |
| Launched | 24 September 2024[3] |
| Christened | 20 August 2025[4] |
| Acquired | 10 July 2025 |
| In service | 16 August 2025 |
| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Icon-class cruise ship |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 248,663 GT, 307,895 NT[3] |
| Length | 364.83 metres (1,196.9 ft)[3] |
| Beam | 48.48 m (159.1 ft)[3] |
| Draught | 9.4 metres (31 ft)[3] |
| Decks | 20 |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 2,350[6] |
Star of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International and is the second Icon-class cruise ship, the first being Icon of the Seas.[7] She was built by Meyer Turku in Finland. The ship entered service in August 2025. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Star of the Seas shares the title of the largest cruise ship in the world with her sister ships.
History
Steel-cutting for the ship began on 15 February 2023,[8] the name was announced on 5 October 2023,[9] the keel was laid on 15 December 2023,[2] and the ship was floated out on 25 September 2024.[10] The sea trials took place in spring 2025[11] and the ship was delivered in July.[12] Service started on 16 August 2025.[4] She sails out of Port Canaveral in the United States.[13]
Design
Star of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 248,663 and a capacity for 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (over 7000 at full capacity).[14] She shares the title of the largest cruise ship in the world with her sister ship.[3][15]
The ship features seven pools and six waterslides, as well as over 40 restaurants and bars spread over its 20 decks.[14] It is split into 8 "neighborhoods": the Royal Promenade hallway that runs down the interior of the ship, the outdoor Central Park courtyard, the Chill Island pool deck, the Thrill Island waterpark, the AquaDome observation area, the family-oriented Surfside outdoor courtyard, the adult-only Hideaway pool deck, and an area dedicated to those staying in a suite.[14] Entertainment onboard includes an adaptation of Back to the Future: The Musical in the Royal Theater, the "Sol" ice-skating show in the Absolute Zero ice arena, and the contemporary circus "Torque" in the AquaTheater.[16]
The ship is powered by six dual-fuel generators, which can run on liquified natural gas. Electricity from these generators powers the ship's three 20-megawatt (27,000 hp) Azipod azimuth thrusters and five bow thrusters.[17]
References
- ^ "Amendment No. 9 in connection with the Credit Agreement in respect of "ICON 2" – Hull 1401". Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Keel Laid for New Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas". Cruise Industry News. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Star of the Seas (38566)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas Embarks on First Cruise". Cruise Industry News. August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Wärtsilä 46DF Product Guide" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Star of the Seas Fast Facts" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Star of the Seas: The Newest Icon of Vacations". royalcaribbean.com. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "The Next Iconic Adventure Begins with Royal Caribbean's Second Icon Class Ship". Royal Caribbean Press Center. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Hochberg, Matt (5 October 2023). "Royal Caribbean announces new Icon Class ship will be called Star of the Seas". Royal Caribbean Blog. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "New Mega Cruise Ships are Floated for Royal Caribbean and Princess". The Maritime Executive. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Assies, Christoph (9 May 2025). "Werft Meyer Turku: "Star of the Seas" vor Probefahrt" [Meyer Turku Shipyard: "Star of the Seas" ahead of sea trials] (in German).
- ^ "Royal Caribbean officially welcomes Star of the Seas". Travel Weekly. 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Port Canaveral Marks Arrival of Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas with Traditional Maritime Plaque Exchange". portcanaveral.com/. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Connolly, Patrick (13 August 2025). "First look aboard Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Star of the Seas". Meyer Turku Shipyard. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Leppert, Jason (6 June 2025). "Ship Preview: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas". www.travelagewest.com. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Shukla, Piyush (2 September 2025). "Royal Caribbean's futuristic massive LNG cruise ship just set sail, and it's a total game-changer". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 January 2026.