Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship has reached an important construction milestone. 

Legend of the Seas, which is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, has touched water for the first time.

Construction began in January 2024 with the celebratory steel-cutting ceremony, meaning it's taken around 18 months to get to this point. 

During her float out, over 90 million gallons of water filled the dock. It's a major step forward in the mega ship's construction process, bringing her closer to sea trials and her anticipated debut. 

Now, the construction will focus more closely on the interior, as most of the exterior work has been completed. For example, the ship's 2,805 cabins will be installed and decorated soon. 

Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship and will join her sisters, Icon and Star of the Seas, in August 2026. 

During her inaugural season, Legend of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, marking the first time an Icon Class ship will offer cruises around the Mediterranean. 

European itineraries range from 3 to 13 nights and call at ports like Naples, Italy; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and more. 

She'll then move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a 13-night transatlantic cruise at the end of October. Her first sailing from Florida is scheduled for November 11, 2026. 

"Legend of the Seas continues the state-of-the-art Icon Class, which allows the Finnish maritime industry to showcase its unique expertise at its best," said Casimir Lindholm, C.E.O. of Meyer Turku. 

"The shipyard, Royal Caribbean, and an extensive network of partners work together to develop the processes and concepts from ship to ship. Alongside its sister ships, Legend of the Seas will also mark an important milestone in increasingly responsible shipbuilding."

As the third Icon Class ship, guests can expect a similar framework to Icon and Star of the Seas. However, there will be a few changes. 

For starters, the supper club will have a Hollywood theme, compared to New York on Icon and Chicago on Star. 

Moreover, it's likely that the entertainment line-up will differ from her sister ships. Onboard Icon of the Seas, for example, the Broadway-style musical is The Wizard of Oz. It was replaced by Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean plans on building a fourth Icon Class ship

According to Meyer Turku's Facebook post, the shipyard is already preparing the dry dock for the fourth Icon Class ship. 

"As Legend starts her outfitting phase, the dry dock awaits the keel laying of the fourth Icon Class ship," the post reads. 

Little is known about the next-gen Icon Class ship. However, it’s expected to build on the innovations introduced with Icon, Star, and Legend of the Seas. 

Celebrity Cruises is getting ready to put its first ever river cruises on sale, but a lot of questions remain.

The company held a webinar for travel agents and revealed that the deposit is $500 per reservation, however, they haven't shared many other details yet. Key information, such as itineraries, ship deck plans, and departure dates, is still under wraps. 

Guests can place a $500 deposit starting at 9:00am EDT on September 3, 2025, for early access to bookings once they officially open. This means that those who take advantage of the refundable deposit option will be among the first to secure a spot on Celebrity’s debut river sailings.

Celebrity said that the reason they're requiring deposits is because of the demand for the new cruise product; it's the first time a mainstream cruise line will offer river cruises. 

"We are excited to offer guests the chance to experience the first-ever Celebrity River Cruises vacations in 2027 with Priority Booking Access," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. 

"Guests will enjoy the warm hospitality Celebrity is known for, on innovative ships, with land experiences unlike any other, as we set sail on Europe’s iconic Danube and Rhine rivers."

However, placing a deposit does not guarantee anyone an actual booking. Starting on September 9, 2025, Celebrity Cruises will be converting the priority deposits into actual ship and sail dates. Conversions will be done based on Captain's Club loyalty status.  

To place a deposit on September 3, you can visit celebritycruises.com/river, call Celebrity River Cruises at 1-833-474-8803, contact a trusted travel advisor, or visit Future Cruise on board.

General sale for Celebrity's river cruises will open to the public "later this summer."

Read more: Celebrity confirms when they will open bookings for river cruises

Here's what we know about Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity River Cruises will have a fleet of 10 ships. However, when the line debuts in 2027, it will start with just two vessels sailing the Danube and Rhine Rivers.

According to executives, each river ship will accommodate around 180 guests and be designed after the cruise line's award-winning Edge Class series, which launched in 2018. 

Edge Class ships, including Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel (in Nov. 2025), focus on connecting guests to the ocean with their outward-facing designs and innovative features like the cantilevered Magic Carpet.

All cabins on Celebrity's river ships will be based on double occupancy, meaning the vessels won't be outfitted with staterooms for three or four guests. 

Additionally, the fares will be more inclusive than when sailing on their mainstream ocean cruise ships. All Celebrity River Cruises will include:

• Dining (including a 24-hour option)
• Drinks (select wine, beer, cocktails, coffee, and soft drinks, with the opportunity to upgrade)
• Wi-Fi
• Onboard experiences
• One complimentary shore excursion every day

Cruisers also have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Prague and Budapest when Celebrity's river cruises open for booking.

What Celebrity hasn't revealed about its river cruises yet

Although it's nice to know that the cruises will be more inclusive, one of the biggest questions remains unanswered — the price.

Because of the inclusivity and exclusivity of the river cruises, they'll likely be more expensive than their standard ocean sailings, but we don't know how the fares will compare to other river cruise lines. 

Celebrity also hasn't shared the dates of the first river cruises in 2027, as well as the ships' deck plans or cabin layouts. 

Labor Day weekend is a relaxing vacation for some, but it can also be the perfect time to save money on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean has kicked off its Labor Day Sale advertising up to 45% off drink packages, although some top-tier loyalty members are seeing even higher discounts.

That discount grows to 50% off if you're Diamond or higher in Crown and Anchor Society or Prime or higher in Casino Royale.

There are many sales throughout the year, but major holidays usually see more lucrative discounts too.

This is a good opportunity to check the price of popular add-ons to see if there's a better price.

As an example, I'm seeing the Royal Caribbean cruise is a drink package priced as low as $54.99 per person, per day on a few of my sailings.  Considering Royal Caribbean has been charging $120 per person, per day for the same drink package onboard, that's a great deal.

In fact, all purchases made online are cheaper than waiting to book during the sailing.

The Labor Day Sale runs between August 27, 2025 - September 3, 2025 and applies to select sailings departing August 30, 2025 - December 31, 2026.

Beverage: Up to 45% off

• Evian Water Package: 40% off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
  • CAS Diamond and above: 50% off Deluxe Beverage Package

Dining: Up to 50% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 2N – 25N sailings: 35% off to 50% off
• 3 Night/10 Dining Package: 30% off to 40% off
• Chops/Giovanni's/Sichuan Red + Your Choice Package: 20% off to 35% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Lunch: 25% to 40% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Dinner: 25% to 40% off
• Culinary Experiences: 25% to 35% off
  (Discount varies by ship.)

Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off

• PCC Products for sailings within 4 months: Up to 40% off
• PCC Products for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 35% off
• PCC Products for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Shorex for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Shorex for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Shorex for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Special Collection Tours: 40% off

Onboard Activities: Up to 25% off

• Behind the Waves - The Insider's Tour: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off

• Spa treatments: Up to 30% off select times

Internet: Up to 40% off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship

VIP Passes: Up to 45% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship.
• Royal Genie Package – Grand Suite and above: 20% off adults, 30% off kids
• Royal Genie Package – Junior Suite and below: 10% off adults, 20% off kids

Photo Packages: Up to 60% off

• Photo Packages from 5 - 100 Photos: Discount varies by ship.
• Private Photo Session: 50% off onboard prices

Gifts & Gear: Up to 35% off

• All Gifts & Gear products (excluding Inky Beach Towel): 20% off onboard prices
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe): 35% off onboard prices 

You can re-price to get a better deal

If you already bought one one of these add-ons but it's now at a lower price, you can still take advantage of the price with the Labor Day sale.

Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook Cruise Planner purchases with no penalty.

It's easy to check, you just log into the the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for the current prices.

I recommend ignoring the percentages off and focus on the total price when it's in the cart.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Up to $900 off on new cruise bookings

Royal Caribbean is also running a sale to coincide with Labor Day Weekend on new cruise bookings.

You can usually find a few different offers that are combinable at any given time, but this weekend has extra instant savings.

The "Beat The Clock" sale  applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made between August 29 – 31, 2025 on sailings departing on or after August 30, 2025, and provides an instant savings per stateroom, varying by stateroom category booked, sailing length as follows: 

• 5 nights or less
  • $125 USD for Inside and Ocean View
  • $200 USD for Balconies
  • $400 USD for Suites
• 6 nights or longer
  • $225 USD for Interior and Ocean View
  • $300 USD for Balconies
  • $900 USD for Suites

Another "Short Caribbean Kicker" applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made August 29 – September 3, 2025, on a Short Caribbean sailing departing August 30-April 30, 2026, provides OBC, varying by stateroom category booked as follows: 

• $25 USD for Interior Ocean View, and Balconies
• $50 USD for Suites

The Labor Day Sale is combinable with the BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, and Short Caribbean Kicker promotions.

BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Short Caribbean Kicker are also combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts; Beat The Clock is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, Short Caribbean Kicker and Beat The Clock are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.

Royal Caribbean has brought back its bling cup that costs as much as a new house.

The cruise line introduced a goblet guests could buy on Icon of the Seas when that ship launched, and it was one-of-a-kind in cost and perks it provided.

This insanely expensive cup was sold in the Royal Bling store, and it's an ornately decorated chalice meant for the ultimate super fan. Only was one initially made for the first Icon Class ship.

To quote Jedi Master Yoda, "No... there is another."

Bling cup available on Star of the Seas

Royal Bling is located in the Aquadome Neighborhood of Star of the Seas, and it too is selling one of these cups.

The store only sells Royal Caribbean branded rings, necklaces, and other keepsakes adorned with the cruise line logo.

This particular cup costs $100,000 and comes with a lifetime benefit.

Buying it gets you an unlimited Royal Caribbean drink package for life.

That means you'll never have to pay for another Deluxe Beverage Package for yourself ever again.

The Deluxe Beverage Package includes cocktails, spirits, liquors, beers, wine by the glass, sodas, water, mocktails, premium coffee and tea, and fresh-squeezed juice. Basically almost any drink on the ship up to $14 in value.

If you're doing the math in your head, the Deluxe Beverage Package on the inaugural sailing of Star of the Seas for one person across seven nights is $65.99 per person, per day when pre-purchased online with a 45% off sale.  That's 461.93 before gratuities. 

The onboard price is $120 per person, per day for the same drink package.

Doing some "back of the napkin" math, if you only ever took 7-night cruises, you would need to take more than 150 cruises "break even" on the goblet purchase.

The novelty goblet is one of several jewelry choices cruises can purchase on the ship. Most of the other jewelry comes in at a much lower price point.

Yes, someone bought one on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 with the golden cup for sale, and within a few months it sold.

Cruisers on Icon spotted the person with the cup, walking around the ship.

The unidentified male evidently purchased the cup, spending the six figure cost to get it.

"I’m currently on Icon and noticed the Royal Bling Cup at a cabana on Coco Cay and went to speak to the guy who was very friendly and mentioned what he intends to do with it after the cruise. It was a shock to see it being used as an actual cup," posted Mick on the Royal Caribbean forums.

According to the poster, he was told by the gentleman he intended to, "auction it off and you can buy tickets world wide to win it and the monies goes to charity."

We're unaware whatever happened to those plans, but in case you are wondering, there is a market for this sort of an item.

Royal Caribbean jewelry is sold exclusively at this store

Royal Bling is a new store that was launched on the Icon Class ships, and it's for the Royal Caribbean super fan.

The Royal Bling store has Crown and Anchor bracelets, rings, earrings and more. The jewelry is made by Effy Jewelry.

Cruise line loyalists are a passionate bunch, and representing their favorite cruise line in their everyday life is just as important to some as going on the ships.

Star of the Seas started sailing in August, and is one of the world's largest cruise ship.

In addition to a very expensive chalice, it has an entire water park onboard, seven pools, an entire neighborhood for families with young children, 40 different restaurants, bars and lounges.

At 250,800 tons, Star of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral and offer cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean.

It's now easier to track and manage your Royal Caribbean casino rewards, thanks to a website overhaul.

The new Casino Royale website is available to guests, which features a better integrated login, sleeker design, and makes managing offers easier.

The casino loyalty program is more popular than ever, but its website had been an old design that wasn't mobile device optimized and required guests to enter their Crown and Anchor Society number instead of their usual Royal Caribbean login credentials.

The new site has an easier to follow navigation, and works well on all devices.

It's also a step forward in the prominence of the cruise line's casino offerings.

Better design

About two weeks ago, emails went out to alert guests a new casino site was coming, and now it's here.

The new site promises to make it easier to track your offers and view your personalized dashboard of tier credit earnings conveniently in one location.

After logging in with the same credentials you would use to access the main Royal Caribbean site, you can link your casino account to other partner casino programs.

Royal Caribbean has loyalty matching with a few other casino programs, including Hard Rock Casino and MGM Casino.

The new site makes it easier to quickly see how many points you've accumulated, your status, and offers you may have waiting.

The offers, in particular, are the most useful feature since they are a way to redeem free cruises.

Players that gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean ship can earn complimentary future cruises to go on, based on either how much they wagered on a sailing or simply an instant offer.

You can now easily pick an offer to use, and then actually book the cruise through the website instead of having to call in to redeem it.

There is a list of sailings to choose from, and then a way to pick an individual booking.

The site takes users through the options of redeeming or applying the offer, and selecting which complimentary sailing they'd like to sail on.

The new site replaces not only an old site, but PDF documents that used to be the only way to track the options players had available.

How to earn a free cruise from the casino

If you want to earn complimentary casino cruise offers, here's what you need to know.

A reminder that gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

The concept is simple: you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play).  By far, you'll want to play slots (instead of table games) to earn points faster.

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds.

Depending on your sailing, the lowest milestone could be a few hundred points or closer to 1,000. The lowest tiers offer an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

If you get more points, you can qualify for better cabins and/or more free play to go with it.

Casino Royale may add instant offers to your account, which are incentives to come back to cruise (and hopefully gamble). There's no rhyme or reason I've determined as to how these are offered.

In addition, if you can reach the Prime status within Casino Royale, then you can qualify for free annual cruise too.

A deepening casino integration

The new Casino Royale website coincides with Royal Caribbean's push into attracting more casino players.

A trend over the last few years has been to pursue and cater to more of its gamblers onboard.

Royal Caribbean has steadily been expanding its casinos on select ships, which has involved replacing public venues with new casino space.

On some Oasis Class ships, the Crown Lounge and Attic areas were replaced in order to make expand the casino.

On Freedom of the Seas, the wine bar was replaced with a non-smoking casino.

Not only are there more gambling areas on these ships, but they're non-smoking venues.

Royal Caribbean hasn't officially announced a change in policy to cater more to non-smoking gamblers, but it's my guess it has to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

Royal Caribbean is actively fixing the water slide that broke on Icon of the Seas a few weeks ago, and if all goes well, it should be up and running before the end of the current voyage. 

An unidentified male passenger was injured on the Frightening Bolt drop slide aboard one of the world's largest cruise ships in early August. 

Moments after the trap door released him, he struck a section of the acrylic glass panel that broke off. Thankfully, he didn't fall through the gaping hole, but other guests reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands."

Royal Caribbean immediately closed the slide, although other slides within the Category 6 Waterpark remained operational, including the Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers mat slides, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Surge.

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

Because the water was forcefully gushing through the opening and spraying the chairs overlooking the adults-only Hideaway pool, Deck 15 was also closed to prevent further injuries and allow crew members to assess the slide's damage. 

They closed the slide on the brand-new Star of the Seas, too, so that the crew could conduct a thorough inspection to ensure guest safety. One user on Reddit confirmed that it has remained closed through at least Aug. 27. 

Since the incident, news broke that the passenger plans to sue Royal Caribbean for compensation. They hired Alex Perez of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., who confirmed that his client suffered injuries after the acrylic glass on the water slide broke on Aug. 7, 2025.

Read more: Royal Caribbean passenger plans to sue the company after being sliced during water slide accident

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

The malfunctioning water slide didn't impact Icon of the Seas' operations. As such, guests on recent sailings have begun sharing images of the repairs, showing crew members working on the orange and yellow slide.

"I did see someone [post] a photo that the drop slide on the Icon was being fixed. We are also on the sailing this week and spoke with one of the officers overseeing the work," shared one cruiser on Reddit.

"They removed the clear sections while we were docked in St. Maarten and plan to install the new pieces tomorrow while docked in St Thomas. They are replacing the clear sections with two solid colored sections and said it should be up and running again this sailing."

(Credit: @aaron.dv02 [left] and @fireal7 [right])

At 46 feet tall, Frightening Bolt is famous for being the largest drop slide at sea, as well as its suspenseful trapdoor launch that sends riders plummeting straight down. 

Following in initial incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson provided the following statement:

"Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation."

The most recent photos of the slide shared on Reddit were taken during Icon of the Seas' current 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. Icon departed from Miami, Florida, on Aug. 23, 2025, and called at St. Maarten and St. Thomas on Aug. 26 and 27, respectively. The final port is a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Water slides on cruise ships are safe. You shouldn't become overly worried because of this one isolated incident

The number of water slide-related accidents on cruise ships is low considering the hundreds of guests who use them every day. However, incidents do occur from time to time. 

Cruise lines heavily invest in regular maintenance and safety inspections to ensure that they're operating smoothly and efficiently. 

In fact, it's not uncommon to see slides closed for maintenance, even during full sailings. While annoying, it's better to experience a temporary closure than risk a malfunction that could result in serious injuries. 

That said, like with any thrill ride (on land or at sea), there are always inherent risks. As such, it's important to follow the posted safety instructions for any attraction, whether it's a zip line, rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating rink, or water slide. 

And if you don't feel comfortable, there’s no shame in skipping the activity altogether. Royal Caribbean ships definitely cater to adrenaline junkies, but there are so many other activities onboard to keep everyone happy. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship should you choose?

Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are the biggest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, but which one should you choose?

If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s hard to go wrong with an Icon Class ship. These megaships are the largest in the world and offer unbeatable amenities and attractions. Whether it's the Category 6 Waterpark or the indoor ice-skating rink, there are endless ways to have fun onboard.

Currently, there are two ships in the Icon Class: Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. For the most part, the two vessels are identical. You’ll find many of the same restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and cabins onboard.

Even still, there are a few differences between the two ships that may make you choose one over the other.

Here’s everything you should consider when choosing between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

First, where do you want to embark on your cruise?

Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas depart from different cruise ports in Florida, so it’s important to consider where you’d like to sail from before you book.

Icon of the Seas calls Miami home, whereas Star of the Seas sails from Port Canaveral.

As far as transportation logistics, both ports offer pros and cons.

Port Canaveral is located somewhat far from Orlando International Airport. Driving from the airport to the port takes just under an hour, and rideshare prices can be as high as $80 each way. Shuttles are available, too, which start around $25 per person.

The Port of Miami, on the other hand, is closer to Miami International Airport. You can expect to spend around $30 for the 20-minute ride. You also have the option of flying into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from the Port of Miami.

It’s always recommended to arrive in your embarkation city the day before your cruise departs. Both Orlando and Miami offer plenty to do before you embark.

If you’re cruising on Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral, you might consider spending a few days at Universal Studios or Disney World before your cruise. This can be a great way to extend your trip and experience Orlando’s top attractions.

Those cruising from Miami on Icon of the Seas can enjoy the city’s highlights before embarking. You might choose to spend the night in South Beach, explore nightlife in Brickell, or take a street food tour in Little Havana.

Either embarkation port is an excellent choice. Ultimately, I recommend searching flight options from your home airport to Orlando and Miami. If flight itineraries and prices are significantly better at one airport, you might want to consider cruising from that port instead of the other.

Is one ship less expensive than the other?

Icon Class cruise ships may offer an unbelievable number of things to do onboard, but they aren’t cheap. For most 7-night itineraries, you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,000 per person for an interior cabin.

Star of the Seas launched a year after Icon of the Seas, but prices are similar between the two vessels. You’ll find little difference in cruise fare, and prices may vary drastically depending on the month you sail, as well as how far in advance you book the cruise.

Related: The best time to book a cruise by day, month, and last-minute

Sometimes Icon of the Seas might be priced higher than Star of the Seas, and vice versa.

Let’s take a look at a few itineraries to gauge how prices might vary:

7-night Western Caribbean itinerary during hurricane season
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $1,205 per person
• Star of the Seas: $1,483 per person

7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary in November
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $1,628 per person
• Star of the Seas: $1,607 per person

7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary in June
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $2,048 per person
• Star of the Seas: $2,096 per person

For the most part, price differences between the two ships are negligible. As always, you’ll want to book your cruise further in advance to snag the lowest deal. Plus, you can always reprice the sailing up until the final payment date to save money if the price drops.

Entertainment is similar, but Broadway shows differ

Like all of Royal Caribbean’s new ships, both Icon and Star of the Seas offer stellar entertainment options.

Even an entire week isn’t long enough to experience the vast array of entertainment choices. Whether live jazz music in Central Park or a high-energy piano performance at Dueling Pianos, every evening offers a wide selection of things to experience.

When it comes to live music and activities, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are on an even playing field. You’ll find the same bars and lounges on both ships, including fan favorites like the Schooner Bar and English-style pub.

The signature shows, however, differ between the two vessels. There are three main entertainment venues: the Royal Theater, the AquaTheater, and the Absolute Zero ice rink.

Related: Royal Caribbean shows by ship

Shows in the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero are similar on both ships. Despite having different themes and soundtracks, you’ll see many of the same stunts, dives, and jumps during any show.

The main difference in entertainment is in the Broadway shows in the Royal Theater.

On Icon of the Seas, the Broadway show is Wizard of Oz, whereas Star of the Seas showcases Back to the Future: The Musical.

Both shows are equally entertaining, but some guests may prefer seeing one show over the other. If Broadway shows are an important part of the cruising experience for you, you may want to take the two shows into consideration before picking a ship.

Dining options are almost the same, but come with two major differences

Food is an important aspect of any cruise vacation, and there’s no shortage of places to eat on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

Most dining venues are exactly the same between the two vessels. You’ll find classic restaurants like the Windjammer buffet and Main Dining Room, but also Icon Class-specific eateries like Pearl Café and Surfside Bites.

Still, there are two differences in dining to note between Icon and Star of the Seas.

First are the food stalls in the AquaDome market. The AquaDome market is a staple of the Icon Class ships, and it offers quick-service bites from a variety of cuisines around the world.

There are five food stalls on each ship. Two—Crème de la Crêpe and Feta Mediterranean—are offered on both vessels. The other three differ from ship to ship.

On Icon, you can enjoy mac n’ cheese at Mac’s, sandwiches at Toast & Garden, and Chinese classics at GNGR. Star of the Seas, however, features BBQ favorites at Pig Out BBQ, spicy Thai food at Mai Thai, and Latin American street food at La Cocinita.

Related: Royal Caribbean updated its food hall, and it's even better than the original

Likewise, the supper club varies from ship to ship, too. This elegant, fine dining restaurant combines curated cocktails with a regionally-inspired menu.

The concept is similar between the two ships, but they differ in their theming.

On Icon of the Seas, the Empire Supper Club features a 1920s New York theme, whereas Star of the Seas’ Lincoln Park Supper Club transports guests to 1930s Chicago.

Related: Lincoln Park Supper Club review on Star of the Seas

For the most part, though, subtle variations between the AquaDome market food stalls and the supper club make little difference in the overall experience onboard Icon or Star of the Seas.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend picking one ship over the other just because of these minor differences. Rather, if you’ve already sailed on Icon of the Seas, consider sailing on Star to try out the new dining options.

Overall, the ships are nearly identical, and either option is a fantastic choice

Both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas offer, for the most part, the exact same experience.

There are small differences between the ships, but they’re much more alike than they are different. They have the same layout, neighborhoods, pools, activities, and onboard thrills.

Differences in artwork, dining venues, and entertainment productions are minor in the big picture of your vacation.

In addition, despite having different homeports, the two ships offer the same itineraries. Both sail 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, which include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

When choosing between the two ships, I’d argue there are only two things to really consider:

1. Where you’d prefer to embark on your cruise
2. The price difference between the ships for a particular week

If you’re hoping to sail in mid-March and Star of the Seas is $500 more expensive than Icon, you’re better off choosing the latter. Likewise, if cruise fares are similar but a flight to Orlando is $300 cheaper than to Miami, Star of the Seas would be a better choice.

Regardless of which ship you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind cruise experience on an Icon Class ship.

For those that want a higher level of service and amenities, Royal Caribbean's new ship offers more for those that are willing to pay for it.

The brand new Star of the Seas has reserved areas just for those that booked a suite, which are the most expensive and lavish staterooms on the ship. It's also available to the top tier loyalty members, but it requires 700 cruise points to get there.

Guests that book a Sky Class or Star Class suite get access to these areas, and I wanted to show what the extra cost of a suite gets you in terms of suite perks.

Here's a look at the exclusive areas on Star of the Seas available for most passengers can't access so you can determine if it's worth it for you to spend extra.

The suite area is spread across three decks

Suite guests will have access to the Suite Neighborhood, which is on deck 16, 17, and 18.

This is one more deck of space than on Wonder or Utopia of the Seas, which are Oasis Class ships.

Access to all of it requires guests to use their SeaPass card to enter.

Since I was staying in a Surfside Family Suite, I had access to this area of the ship. However, for sailings on or after May 2, 2026, that perk will end.

I paid $4,472.60 for my suite on a 4-night sailing. 

The Suite Lounge is combined with an exclusive restaurant

On deck 16 is the area where I think most suite guests will spend the most time and it's a combination of lounge and restaurant.

The left side is the Suite Lounge, which has comfortable seating, a full service bar, and even a buffet area.

Before you reach any of it is the suite concierge, and there are two of them on Star of the Seas. 

The concierge is there to assist with any problems or concerns suite guests may have, such as billing issues, making restaurant reservations, or general questions.

Behind them is the Suite Lounge bar, where there is beer, wine, and soft drinks served from 11am to 11pm. A cocktail hour takes place in the evening. All of these drinks are included with the cruise fare as a suite guest when ordered in the Suite Lounge (or anywhere in the Suite Neighborhood).

This means you can enjoy unlimited drinks in the suite lounge during these select hours, making it a compelling alternative to a drink package.

If you proceed even further into the lounge, there's more seating and a food station.

Throughout the day there are light snacks and au d'oeuvres served. There's also a 24 hour coffee and espresso machine suite guests may use.

The suite lounge seating is essentially the "left side" of the space, with the rest reserved for Coastal Kitchen.

I enjoyed walking up to the bar and taking a seat for a drink and getting to know the very talkative bartenders. 

They'd often engage in conversation with other guests, and it's a fun way to meet people. As a solo cruiser, I love to engage in conversation with the crew members as a way to break up the quietness.

Coastal Kitchen is a restaurant that replaces the Main Dining Room

One of the best benefits of being a suite guest is access to Coastal Kitchen.

This is restaurant that is exclusively available to suite guests, and it's included in your cruise fare.

Guests staying in Sky and Star Class rooms can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner here every day.  Guests in Sea Class can go for just dinner.

Coastal Kitchen is like a Main Dining Room that's just for suite guests, offering a menu that changes each evening.  But I like there's a "classics menu" that has the same items each evening.

This means I can choose from a changing array of options, but still indulge in French Onion Soup when I want it.

I think dinner is it's strongest option, and breakfast is nice too for a relaxing start to your day.

Some suite guests will eat exclusively at Coastal Kitchen, but I prefer to mix it into my plans. Be sure to go there for the embarkation day dinner, because I think that's the best menu of any sailing.

Suite guests have a private pool, buffet, and loungers just for them

Moving up to deck 18, you'll find the Suite Sun Deck.

This is an entire pool area just for suite guests, and it's much larger than I expected.

Before you reach the pool, there's The Grove.  

The Grove is a buffet, but the food quality is so much better than the Windjammer. You'll find tapas, fruit, spreads, and even Magnum Ice Cream Bars.

I was impressed by the quality and selection available, and made a few trips up to The Grove for pseudo meals during my sailing.

Across from The Grove is a bar, where you can grab a drink or sit and enjoy another conversation opportunity.

Walking around the sun deck, there is a wading pool in the middle, plus a hot tub nearby.

You'll find seating all around the Suite Sun Deck, and this is more than just loungers.

There are chairs, day beds, suspended chairs, and more.  Some of it in the shade, and the rest in the sun.

This exclusivity is a big selling point for a cruise line that doesn't usually target luxury travelers

Suites on Star of the Seas aren't cheap, so the perks you get with them are a major reason to book one.

Having access to an entire neighborhood just for suite guests means you have essentially an enclave, especially if your suite is located on deck 16 or 17.

Not only is there a sense of exclusivity, but there are less people to compete with for the amenities. This is especially important on the Suite Sun Deck, because loungers and pool access is always in high demand on any cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have a true "ship within a ship" concept like other cruise lines, but this is as close as they've come to having something similar to it.

More suite perks beyond the neighborhood

The benefits of staying in a suite go beyond the Suite Neighborhood.

Royal Caribbean includes a special check-in in the cruise terminal, as well as an escort off the ship by the concierge team when the cruise is complete.

There's also reserved seating at shows for suite guests.  And suite guests get an extra point per night in the loyalty program, which catapults guests faster to the higher tiers.

Junior Suite guests don't get access to most of this area

It's important to remind you that despite its name, Junior Suite guests don't get access to the full suite perks.

Sea Class Junior Suite cabins only have access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner, but not to the Suite Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, or the services of the concierge.

There are some Sky Class Junior Suite staterooms that would have those perks.

Royal Caribbean has a great app, but it could use a few upgrades.

While I think the Royal Caribbean app has come a long way and is one of the best in the cruise industry, there's always room for improvement.

I was using the app while I was sailing on Star of the Seas, and was frustrated by a few of its shortcomings. These aren't major problems or bugs with the app. Rather, they're necessary upgrades to make the app far more useful.

The cruise line has delved more into the digital realm by relying more on its app rather than a printed Cruise Compass.

So in the interest of making things better, I came up with a list of 6 features Royal Caribbean should add as soon as possible to its app to make it even better.

Ability to add custom events

An app feature I've heard many cruisers ask for years is the option to add their own events to the calendar.

When you scroll through the daily events, you can select an event and add it to your own calendar. Then Royal Caribbean reminds you with a push notification 30 minutes before it starts.

I really wish they'd add an option to create your own events within your calendar.

This would be useful for things like "Meet the kids at the slides", or "Go to Playmakers to watch the Yankees game".

It serves both as a reminder and means to block out time in your calendar for things happening on the ship that aren't listed in the app.

While I could always use my own calendar app on my phone, leveraging Royal Caribbean's app prevents double booking myself.

Search function

I really can't believe there is no way to search for an activity within the Royal Caribbean app.

While on Star of the Seas, I spoke to a member of the activities staff that were was going to be a WWE wrestling theme song trivia event but he didn't know when it was.

I had to scroll through every single day, looking carefully to spot it.

There should be a search function where I can search for a keyword in the activity title or description to make it simpler.  I think many guests are aware certain events may be occurring, but unsure when exactly.

This would make it so much easier to plan out favorite events, or filter certain events by themes.

See all events in a certain venue

Similar to the search function, I think you should be able to have a way to show all the events happening in a certain lounge, area, or room.

As an example, I love Two70 on the Quantum Class ships because of how innovative and fun it is.  So I'd love to see just the events coming up in Two70.

Or perhaps guests that love trivia would want to see all the trivia happening in the Schooner Bar on a given day.

Cruise countdown widget

I'm really surprised there isn't a proper countdown widget in the Royal Caribbean app that easily shows how many days until your next cruise.

I think it's safe to say everyone with a Royal Caribbean cruise booked is excited for the start of their vacation, so there should be a very prominent countdown option within the app.

Heck, I'd go one step further and add a way to have that countdown appear as a widget on your home screen. 

The excitement of an upcoming cruise is almost as good as the cruise itself, and having an easy to find list of how many days are left until the cruise begins seems like an easy win.

Ability to track Diamond drink vouchers

While the use case is the least of all my app feature requests, I think there's value in tracking how many drink vouchers you have left each day.

Diamond members in Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program get 4 free drinks per day, every day of the cruise. They can be used at any bar, restaurant or lounge, and it's good for any drink up to $14 in value. 

Diamond Plus members get 5 drinks per day and Pinnacle Club members get 6.

As of now, the only way to know how many drinks you have left per day is to look at the bottom of the receipt or ask the bartender.

The reason why the receipt isn't trustworthy is sometimes a waiter or bartender doesn't actually use your voucher. They could accidentally charge your SeaPass card or simply give you a freebie.

It would be lovely to be able to see how many drink vouchers I have left each day without bugging a crew member.  And since it's all tracked digitally already, it seems like it would be an easy lift to pull that data into the app.

Order food from the app

Once upon a time, Royal Caribbean said it would bring mobile food ordering to its app.  They even tested it on Symphony of the Seas on at least one sailing.

But then other features got prioritized, and the idea fell to the wayside.

I think it's time to revisit this idea.

The concept is you can be somewhere on the ship in a public area and order food or drink. 

At the very least, being able to order a drink from your lounge chair would be a huge win. It means less wandering for bartenders and less waiting for guests. 

I know there are many times I spend more time trying to flag down a waiter than for the drink to be delivered.

Sure, I'd love for them to add pizza, Playmakers food, or sushi to a mobile delivery option.  And room service, while we're at it.

But let's at least begin with drinks.

I challenged myself to go on the biggest cruise ship in the world and spend less than $50 to eat at three restaurants.

I was inspired when I ran across a recent Royal Caribbean pre-cruise sale that brought the price down of one restaurant just $9.

Specialty dining is quite popular, but also tends to be expensive. However, if you know when to book, there are deals to be had.

For my recent 4-night showcase sailing on Star of the Seas, I was able to eat at three different restaurants and have a meal at each one for less than $50.  Here's how I did it.

Pier 7

I came up with this dining challenge when I spotted Pier 7 going for just $9 for brunch.

It's common that the price of a specialty restaurant for lunch would cost less than dinner. I think it's because there's less demand for a sit down meal on a busy sea day.

Pier 7 is the a casual sit-down restaurant right in the middle of the kids-only Surfside neighborhood. 

It costs extra to dine here for adults, but is complimentary for kids under the age of 12.

Royal Caribbean describe the food as, "California-inspired dishes," and I really like that there are different foods you won't usually find elsewhere on the ship.

For $8.99, I was able to order one item from "Board Bites", one item from "Wave-Riding Entrees" and one dessert.  

I tried the Pier 7 salad, although I regret not going with the Buddha Bowl instead.

I wasn't in the mood for breakfast, so I had the Surfer's Club sandwich.

Dessert was the Caramel Waffles, and it was so decadent.  I probably would have skipped dessert, but since I got it included, why not.

I paid $9 for a meal that's listed as $25 if bought a la carte, or two dishes for a flat $15 fee.  

Izumi

Not only do I love Izumi, but it's now the most popular Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant by volume. So I felt I was in good company to choose this.

The pre-cruise sale listed dinner for $23.99, and I jumped on it since it would leave me some breathing room on price for my third restaurant and because you don't have to twist my arm to dine here.

Just like Pier 7, you have the choice of ordering off the fixed price menu or going a la carte.

Basically you can order food up to $40 in value, either with one small plate, two large plates, and dessert; or just pick and choose what you want up to $40. 

So with the sale, that's an additional $16 in value. 

I picked:

• Miso soup (included with the fixed price menu)
• Tofu ginger salad
• Spicy crispy tuna roll
• Chef's sushi selection
• Chocolate lava cake

That's a lot of food for just twenty four dollars, and certainly very satisfying too.

It's worth mentioning I could have had an even less expensive meal if I went to the Izumi sushi window.

This is a to-go window, where you can order a few different sushi rolls.

The sushi options include a choice of two rolls, plus edamame or seaweed salad. You'll find both sashimi and nigiri rolls to pick from. And then you can either eat it in Central Park, or take it elsewhere on the ship, such as your balcony!

If you prefer dessert for your meal (I won't tell your mom), they also have amazingly decadent bubble cones too!

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

With about $17 left in my budget, I had a lot of good choices for my third dinner.

I was actually impressed by how many inexpensive meal choices I had that would fit with a $17 budget:

• Burger at Playmakers
• Giovanni's Wine Bar food menu
• Trellis Bar

I looked at each of the menus, but went with Giovanni's because I could squeeze in two things and also enjoy air conditioning (sorry Trellis Bar).

You may not be aware, but you can go to the wine bar at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen without a reservation and order off the bar menu.  There's a sub selection of food items from the restaurant menu available.

I was able to order the Giovanni's House Salad and the Margherita Pizza for just $15 total.

I usually order the salad when I dine at Giovanni's, because I like the mix of greens and light, yet tasty dressing.  It's one of the few non-carbs on the menu, so I'll embrace it.

I love the pizzas at Giovannis and I think they're vastly underrated.

The pizzas Royal Caribbean serves at Giovanni's were actually created by Renato Viola, who is one of Italy’s best Master Pizza Chefs in the world. 

If you find yourself in South Florida, check out Mister O1 Pizza, because it's the creation of Renato's works and you can order the same pizzas (plus many more) as you'd find on Royal Caribbean ships.

Pre-planning pays off

My $50 challenge is the result of a simple, yet effective strategy: pre-book your cruise and do your research.

It's amazing how many discounts and deals you can get by simply booking in advance and researching what's available for your cruise.

I was more impressed I could get prices this low for both Izumi and Pier 7, considering this is a brand new ship.

It also helps this challenge to be on a ship that has a lot of restaurant choices, which is an advantage of bigger and newer Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

In the end, I ate at three restaurants for about $48 and each was a legitimate meal. It was a great way to enjoy plussed up dining without breaking my budget.