Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ship has officially joined the fleet.
Star of the Seas, the second-ever Icon Class vessel, was delivered to Royal Caribbean today at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
Measuring over 1,190 feet long with a passenger capacity of 7,600 at maximum occupancy, Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Royal Caribbean executives, including Michael Bayley and Jason Liberty, took delivery of the ship at a special ceremony at the shipyard.
"The completion of Star of the Seas is another significant step in Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward a completely new type of vacation experience," said Jason Liberty, C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean Group. "We are proud to bring this new generation vacation experience to life at Meyer Turku shipyard together with our esteemed partners."
Star of the Seas will leave the shipyard in mid-July en route to her new home: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Royal Caribbean's 29th ship joins the fleet
The delivery marks a major milestone for Royal Caribbean, as it continues to expand its fleet with record-breaking vessels.
Star of the Seas' sister ship, Icon of the Seas, debuted in January 2024. The long-awaited Icon Class ship redefined the cruise experience with a record-breaking waterpark, new onboard restaurants, an enclosed AquaTheater, over-water ropes course/zipline, and more.
Although Icon and Star of the Seas are more similar than not, there are a few key differences that help give Star a defining personality of her own.
First, Royal Caribbean is raising the entertainment bar even higher with its new theater production, Back to the Future: The Musical, which will have the largest orchestra at sea. Not only that, but there are also new shows in the ice skating rink and AquaTheater.
The AquaDome Marketplace is getting a refresh, too. Instead of GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden, guests will find Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita. The new venues will focus on dishing up fresh barbecue, tasty Southeast Asian favorites, and Latin American street food.
Similarly, the Lincoln Park Supper Club is replacing the Empire Supper Club. The $200-per-person specialty restaurant will feature a Chicago-inspired theme with the cocktails, menu, and music reimagined to reflect the spirit of the Windy City.
Read more: 9 big changes coming to Royal Caribbean's new mega-ship
One of the more exciting features is Royal Caribbean's pilot program for facial recognition cabins. While they won't be available throughout the entire ship, these innovative cabins use advanced technology to allow guests to unlock their stateroom doors with their face — no SeaPass or WOW Band needed.
They're also making the Surfside neighborhood better by appealing to older and younger children. As such, guests can expect new features added to the Playscape and Splashaway Bay aqua park. The Water's Edge pool will also be enhanced to better suit kids.
Speaking of water, one of the earliest changes announced for Star of the Seas was the addition of an extra hot tub. Initally planned for Icon, it was removed over weight concerns.
Star of the Seas size
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,196 feet
Passenger capacity (full occupancy): 7,600
Crew: 2,350
Staterooms: 2,806
Flag state: Bahamas
Godmother: Diana Ross
Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean
Star of the Seas' inaugural voyage is scheduled for next month. The first sailing for paying guests is August 16, 2025. Following a few shorter cruises, Star will begin offering weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral beginning on August 31.
According to Meyer Turku, construction on the next Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, is going well. Later this summer, the vessel will be moved from the construction dock to the outfitting dock. Legend will join Royal Caribbean's fleet in 2026.
