A Grand Suite is one of Royal Caribbean's most popular suites because it's the entry point to having a full suite experience, complete with access to special areas of the ship and extra perks.

Junior Suites are technically the entry-level suite category, while Grand Suites are the first tier in the “full” suite program with elevated benefits.

However, despite the many extra benefits and larger room size, a Junior Suite is likely going to cost a lot less money and deliver enough added value to make it a more compelling option.

Both types of suites have much more living space than a standard balcony, and you'll earn the same amount of loyalty points too.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabin guide

If you're debating between booking a Grand Suite or a Junior Suite, there are compelling reasons why you should stick with a Junior Suite. Let's dive into them.

Comparing Royal Caribbean's Junior Suite and Grand Suite

Here's an overview of the key differences between the two suites:

Suite layout and size differences

Think of the Junior Suite has being big, and a Grand Suite being bigger.

Both suites have much more living space than a balcony category. The Grand Suite feels much more spacious, as it often has separate seating areas

Using Icon of the Seas as an example, the balcony size between the two can be substantial.  Both offer larger balconies than a standard balcony, but a Grand Suite is giant.

• Standard ocean balcony: 50 square feet
• Junior Suite balcony: 80 square feet
• Grand Suite balcony: 108 square feet

Another key difference in terms of the room is the layout. 

Grand Suites have much more storage space, including closets and drawers. The room feels more like a suite, whereas a Junior Suite still resembles a balcony room.

Plus, there's extra furniture in a Grand Suite, such as a dining table and chairs.

A Junior Suite bathroom is going to be a single bathroom with tub, whereas a Grand Suite has a larger bathroom, with possibly double sinks.

Perks offered by both suites

These are the main benefits of each suite type. Keep in mind the benefits are greater on an Oasis, Quantum, or Icon Class ship because of the extra perks that come with the Royal Suite Class.

Junior Suite:

• Crown & Anchor Society points: 2 per night instead of 1
• Dinner access only for Coastal Kitchen
• No access to Suite Lounge
• No concierge service
• Priority boarding and disembarkation

Grand Suite:

• Full Suite Class benefits (Sky Class on Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships)
• Concierge service
• Coastal Kitchen access for all meals
• Priority boarding and tendering
• Reserved seating for shows
• Reserved seating on the pool deck
• Complimentary Wi-Fi (on Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships)

Price difference

Another key differentiator is the price for each suite.

Depending on the ship, itinerary, and time of year, the prices can vary considerably.

Here are some example prices of a Junior Suite vs a Grand Suite for Oasis of the Seas in May 2026 for two passengers:

May 8, 2026

• Junior Suite: $2,713.82
• Grand Suite: $3,515.32
• Suite Guarantee: $2,414.32

May 15, 2026

• Junior Suite: $2,893.82
• Grand Suite: $3,960.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,494.32

May 22, 2026

• Junior Suite: $3,004.32
• Grand Suite: $3,903.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,433.82

May 29, 2026

• Junior Suite: $3,014.32
• Grand Suite: $4,234.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,433.82

Keep in mind pricing fluctuates based on how many cabins are sold for that specific sailing, ship class, and sail date.

Reasons to choose a Junior Suite over a Grand Suite

Now that their similarities are out of the way, let's focus on their differences and how those might sway you to choose the Junior Suite instead of a Grand Suite.

You just want the extra space, but not the price

I find many cruisers that love a Junior Suite prefer it because it's a bigger room, and that's really all they need.

Suites come with lots of lovely benefits, but it may be overkill if you won't take advantage of them.

By not splurging for a full suite, you still get a few important amenities: full size tub, priority embarkation, bigger room, an extra loyalty point per night, and a closet.

Essentially, if you're considering a Junior Suite or a Grand Suite and feel a Junior Suite is "good enough", that's the rationale for going with it.

If you mainly want space, a Junior Suite is the better value.

You'll spend more time exploring the ship than in your room

If you're going on one of Royal Caribbean's new and impressive ships, how much time will you really spend in your cabin?

By picking a Junior Suite, you get to enjoy a plush home base without paying for benefits you may simply never use.

This rationale could be applied to justify almost any lower room category, but some cruisers want to have enough room in their cabin for the time they're there.  Or they prefer having a bathtub, extra point, or access to dinner in Coastal Kitchen.

Crown & Anchor members looking to move up the loyalty ladder quicker

If you're chasing Crown and Anchor Society points, booking a Junior Suite is a strategy I've seen others use effectively.

Because you get an extra point per night, booking a Junior Suite will catapult you up the tiers faster than regular cabins. Heck, book yourself solo in one and you'll get three points per night.

Anyone that's chasing the highest tiers, such as Diamond Plus or Pinnacle, will find a Junior Suite more cost effective over the long haul than a Grand Suite.

Cabin location

In many cases, you may find a Junior Suite in a desirable location.

Royal Caribbean has Junior Suites on the aft of its ships, offering peaceful views of the ship's wake.  The cruise line reclassified these as "Sunset Junior Suites", but they're effectively the same room with a better view.

On the Icon Class suites, the Sunset Junior Suite has panoramic views and a corner balcony. At over seven feet tall, the ceiling is the tallest of all the Junior Suites. Plus, it's balcony is larger too, with 115-130 square feet of size compared to 80 in a regular JS.

You want to take advantage of a suite guarantee offer

When booking a cruise, there could be a suite guarantee option that would save a lot of money compared to picking a specific cabin.

The reality is with a suite guarantee, it's almost always going to be a Junior Suite.  That's because there are more Junior Suites than any other suite type, and they're more likely to remain unsold than the full suites.

The cost savings are worthwhile, so if you're trying to save money, a suite guarantee will likely be a Junior Suite.

With just days before her scheduled appearance, Diana Ross announced she will cancel her appearance on Star of the Seas as its godmother.

According People, the legendary singer and movie star said she has changed her plans.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Diana Ross will be unable to appear," a representative for the singer said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean had previously announced Ms. Ross as Godmother to Star of the Seas in June. This is an honorary position meant to bestow good fortune on the ship.

A cruise line representative confirmed the change, "We are disappointed that Diana Ross is unable to join us to be godmother of Star of the Seas.

"We look forward to announcing our new godmother soon." 

Ms. Ross was scheduled to appear on August 20 to perform her duties in the ceremonial role for Star of the Seas.

At the time, she shared her adulation for being picked, "I am truly honored to join the Royal Caribbean family."

"Having spent years of creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey as godmother of Star of the Seas."

Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons. 

Star comes in at 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide and can accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy across 2,805 staterooms. At maximum capacity, she can carry over 7,000 passengers. She also has 2,350 crew members onboard.

Star's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025, but construction moved quicker than expected. As such, Star will embark on a series of short preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage. The first of these will take place from August 16-20, 2025. 

Why did she cancel

The question of why the Diana Ross is pulling out of the deal is a mystery.

She had just completed a U.K. arena tour in July, and is set to start her Beautiful Love tour in the U.S. on August 16 in California.

People quoted Ms. Ross talking about taking care of herself as a top priority, "Health and well-being. And my family is everything to me. I like staying busy. Because I love what I do, it keeps me grounded. I’m swimming a lot lately to stay flexible. I must get my sleep which is important to me. I do my best to eat well, but I do like Häagen-Dazs ice cream."

No further information from the cruise line or Diana Ross has been shared as to why the change is occurring.

A new tropical disturbance is brewing, and Royal Caribbean is already moving one of its cruise ships away.

Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center are monitoring the track of Tropical Storm Erin as it continues to track westward through the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

While the storm is still quite distant from land, it's expected track has caused Royal Caribbean to re-route one of its ships to avoid being anywhere near it.

Guests booked on the August 14 sailing of Vision of the Seas were originally scheduled to visit Bermuda, but the ship will now head south instead.

An email sent to passengers informed them that a change was made because of Erin's expected path, "Before we set sail, we have an important itinerary update to share with you. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, our Captain has been monitoring Tropical Storm Erin and its expected track that will take it near Bermuda during our sailing."

"In the interest of safety, we have decided to avoid the storm and head south."

The forecast models aren't certain where Erin will go, but a more northerly track is expected to occur as steering currents may lift Erin closer to the U.S. coast or there could be a direct impact to Bermuda.

Vision of the Seas will instead visit Port Canaveral, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas.

"While we will miss our overnight visit to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, we will now enjoy a full day in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, on Sunday, August 17, instead. "

"Additionally, our new itinerary allows us to update our arrival in Nassau, Bahamas, to 7:00 AM instead of 1:00 PM, giving you even more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!"

Royal Caribbean apologized for the change in plans due to the weather, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority."

Any pre-paid shore excursions booked in Royal Naval Dockyard through Royal Caribbean will automatically be refunded to the original payment on file within 14 business days. 

A possible category 3 hurricane

If all goes as expected, Tropical Storm Erin will become the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Erin's growth is being limited currently by a combination of dry air and dust from the seasonal Saharan dust plume. However, that won't last for long.

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding what, if any, impacts Erin will have to land.

Most of the models are consistent with a westerly track that may bring Erin just north of the Caribbean Islands. The storm may intensify over warmer Atlantic water as it moves west and north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend.

A quicker intensification would make it more likely to curve north sooner, while a slower strengthening could allow it to push farther west before turning.

Guest reactions

Whenever a tropical storm impacts cruise ship plans, there's quick reaction on social media.

Marjil Gosnell posted, "I'd be mad. I’d be mad in general if I paid for Bermuda and docking at Cape Canaveral instead. Big difference.

Diane Rivera posted, "Every time a cruise line reroutes or cancels ports for whatever reason, some people get so upset at them. A lot of us understand why and go with the flow. This is a safety issue, not to mention, ports will close because of storms and they couldn't go in anyway."

Gwendolyn Salzman added, "They change to keep the ship and passengers safe."

When Royal Caribbean upgrades Ovation of the Seas, it's going to have a few big changes to it.

Earlier this year, the cruise line announced plans to upgrade three of its cruise ships with new updates as part of its next phase of ship updates.

Ovation of the Seas is getting a Royal Amplification, and we have a look at what those changes entail, thanks to the updated deck plans.

Here's what you can expect to be different on Ovation of the Seas when the work is complete.

Deck-by-deck changes coming to Ovation of the Seas

The Royal Amplification will take place in April 2026.

Starting on deck 3, the casino will be significantly expanded.

The updated deck plans reveal Casino Royale will take over Music Hall entirely and replace the venue.

Royal Caribbean has been expanding its casino footprint on a few of its ships. Freedom of the Seas had its wine bar replaced with a casino, and both Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas expanded the casino to include more non-smoking areas.

More casino space means more revenue, and it's the most likely reason for Music Hall being eliminated on Ovation.

Moving up to deck 4, the upper level of Music Hall will become "Sound Cellar". 

Here's the description of Sound Cellar from Royal Caribbean's website:

Turn up the volume on late night music in the all-new, first-of-its-kind Sound Cellar. This is a venue tuned for all kinds of shows — a Hollywood-style scene bringing nonstop whoas. Like electric sessions with the house band, covering your favorite jams. And DJ fueled beats that will keep you on your feet all night long. Rev up any adventure — or wind down with an epic nightcap — in this groovy wonderland, only on the newly Amplified Ovation of the Seas®.

Starbucks will replace La Patisserie.

La Patisserie was the de facto Starbucks location on Ovation, but will now be transformed into a full Starbucks standalone kiosk.

New cabins are being added to deck 5, replacing the photo gallery.

Ten new cabins are being added to this space, which is near the Schooner Bar.

Pesky Parrot will replace the Bionic Bar.

Pesky Parrot first debuted on Utopia of the Seas, and it's a tiki bar concept that will replace the aging robot bartenders.

Royal Caribbean will replace Wonderland specialty restaurant with Izumi Teppanyaki.

Arguably one of the most popular restaurants on Royal Caribbean, the hibachi tables will offer guests a cooking style not previously available onboard.

If you prefer sushi, Izumi sushi is still located just around the corner on deck 5.

Another change on deck 5 is the shore excursion desk is being replaced with "Royal HQ."

There are no details what that will be, exactly.

We can also expect to find Giovanni's Italian Kitchen replacing Jamie's Italian towards the aft of deck 5.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is the cruise line's home grown Italian specialty restaurant concept.

The Concierge Club (otherwise known as the Suite Lounge) has been replaced by a number of new suites.

Likewise, the Conference Center on deck 13 has also been replaced with new suites.

I believe this is where you'll find the Ultimate Family Suite, a two-story space with a slide and other family-focused amenities.

Up on deck 14, we see a number of changes to the pool deck.

Splashaway Bay remains, but the footprint will be reworked a bit.  It appears it might be slightly expanded.

Splashaway Bay is the kids aquapark that has splash areas, geysers, and more.

The Living Room (teen club) is being replaced by a Suite Lounge, since the old one is being removed on deck 12.

More cabins are being added to deck 16, in front of the fitness center.

A total of 7 cabins are being added, and they appear as though they could be panoramic view rooms, similar to the ones that were added on the Freedom Class ships.

Changes coming to two other ships

Ovation of the Seas is one of three ships getting major upgrades as part of Royal Caribbean's renewed Royal Amplification process.

Harmony of the Seas will also get an overhaul in April 2026.

Updates include a new Caribbean-style pool area with The Lime & Coconut, a redesigned Solarium, the addition of Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, and the largest Casino Royale in the fleet.

They will also add the Ultimate Family Suite onboard.

Liberty of the Seas is also due for changes in 2026.

We can expect a reimagined pool deck, a new Royal Escape Room concept, and additional food and beverage options including El Loco Fresh, Izumi Teppanyaki, and Starbucks. 

Royal Caribbean is undertaking these updates as a means of keeping its aging vessels relevant and compelling to book.

While new ships introduce new concepts, existing ships need to keep up with amenities.  By adding back new amenities, it increases interest in trying these ships for passengers.

I found a way to combine two of the included restaurants on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas to create my new favorite cruise snack.

While aboard the newest Royal Caribbean ship, I was given an idea by one of our writers to try a food hack out to see if it was as good as it sounded.

There are two restaurants on the pool deck of an Icon Class cruise ship within steps of each other: Basecamp and El Loco Fresh.

On their own, there is tasty food at each, but what if we took something from both to create a super snack?

In the name of research, I decided to give it a try.

Mexican loaded tater tots

The idea was simple: grab a basket full of freshly made tater tots at Basecamp, and then top them off.

I went to Basecamp, which is located in the Thrill Island area of the ship. 

This restaurant has grab-and-go quick service food for anyone that's busy enjoying all the fun of the Category 6 waterpark, mini golf, sports court, or Flowrider.

Originally some of the menu items here cost money, but Royal Caribbean changed it to be completely included later.

I ordered tater tots, and asked for enough to essentially create a base at the bottom of the basket.

I then took a short walk out of Basecamp, past the rock climbing wall, and down the stairs to El Loco Fresh.

El Loco Fresh is another included restaurant that has Mexican food for a quick meal.

I bypassed all the tacos, burritos, and quesadillas on the buffet and instead went to the toppings bar.

The genius of this hack is I topped the tater tots off with anything from here that I liked.

I went with salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, and jalapenos.  As you can tell, I like a kick to my food.

I was a bit concerned about making the tots too soggy, but eating them quickly, it was amazing how much better the tots tasted.

No matter which toppings you choose, it really takes the monotony of plain fried potatoes to offer a terrific flavor combination.

I probably could have just added hot sauce and been good, but I really liked how the the taco toppings elevated it all together.

Without a doubt, you want to grab the tater tots down as soon as you can.  The warmer they are, the better it all tastes.

My dessert hack

I felt so good about my food hack experimented, I had to go and try my other favorite cruise pool deck food hack.

This idea is simple, but it's so much better!

Grab a plastic water cup at El Loco Fresh, and then walk across Chill Island to Sprinkles.

At Sprinkles, you can enjoy soft serve ice cream.  Usually, it's served in a small sugar cone.

The problem with the cone is it's a small serving, and it all melts so quickly.

Hand them the cup and you get a less messy, yet significantly bigger ice cream serving.

If you really want something fun, take your cup of ice cream back to El Loco Fresh and get a shot of rum to pour into the cup at the Cantina!

Either way, dessert is better when it's not messy and there's plenty of it!

Parents will have an easier way to keep tabs on their kids' location while on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is offering parents a tracking feature within its app on its new ship.

The "Find My Kid" feature is an optional add-on for parents to use, and it's exclusively available on Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean previously tested it on Icon of the Seas last summer. According to the cruise line website, it's only available on Star.

How it works

After registering a child at the kids club onboard, parents can purchase a special Adventure Ocean WOW Band.

The device is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

The band costs $14.99.

After that, parents just need to activate the Find My Kid feature in the app.

Parents can tap the Find My Kid icon in the app menu.

Royal Caribbean says it's for kids between 3 and 12 years old, and allows you to see the location of your kids onboard in some areas of the ship, like certain public areas and staterooms, through the app’s deck maps. 

Parents can choose which other passengers can track the kids, such as parents, older siblings, or friends and family can opt into it as well.

Better tracking

Tracking within a cruise ship is a helpful idea.

Unlike Apple Airtags, Find My Kid seems to have the ability to better geolocate itself across decks of the ship and within certain venues. 

Moreover, Find My Kid integrates into the Royal Caribbean app.

The device isn't a replacement for parenting. Rather, it's peace of mind for parents to have another way to keep tabs on where their children are onboard.

Not only does it make it easier to know where kids are, but it potentially could reduce the chances of a lost child situation later.

Available only on Star of the Seas

As of now, it's only available on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Star of the Seas.

While the feature was originally tested on Icon of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean website only mentions Star as the ship offering it.

Star of the Seas is days away from welcoming passengers onboard.

The new ship will be one of the biggest ships in the world when it launches, capable of carrying 7,600 guests at maximum capacity.

Royal Caribbean designed Star to be the follow-up to the very successful Icon of the Seas, and both ships offer the ultimate family cruising experience.

The ship has an entire waterpark, a park, a neighborhood dedicated to families, and much more.

The official first sailing begins August 31, although there are four showcase sailings that precede it.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Star of the Seas is ready and we have a first look around this new Royal Caribbean ship!

In a first look event, Matt went onboard Star to see the ship before anyone else.

This is your first opportunity to see the finished ship and what to expect onboard.

Royal Caribbean News

• Best family-friendly cruise ship cabins: What to book & why
• 5 things you can do right now to probably save money on your cruise
• Grand Suite on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas: What to expect
• Officials warn of glacier flood in Alaska, but expert says don’t worry
• A week in Europe proved things are better on a cruise
• Story behind Back to the Future, as told onboard a ship

New RCB Video: I cruised on Royal Caribbean's BILLION Dollar cruise ship BEFORE anyone else!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — I cruised on Royal Caribbean's BILLION Dollar cruise ship BEFORE anyone else! — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Video captures scary moment Royal Caribbean water slide breaks, injuring guest

A passenger was injured on a water slide aboard one Icon of the Seas when it broke.

The scary moment was captured on video, with the acrylic panel breaking open. Luckily, the person did not go through it.

Other passengers reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands." 

What's new and different on Star of the Seas

Curious to know all the changes Royal Caribbean made to Star of the Seas compared to Icon?

The two ships are quite close in design.  In fact, the deck plans are nearly identical to each other.

Matt walked through the entire ship to get an idea of what's been added, replaced, or changed out on Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean updated its fleetwide drink menu

After almost five years, Royal Caribbean has updated its drink menu.

The new menu was spotted on Star of the Seas, and is likely to make its way to other ships soon.

A few new cocktails have been added alongside cruise favorites. Plus, there's a much greater emphasis on non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails.

I tried the new food hall updates on Star of the Seas

One of the big changes to Star of the Seas are a trio of food hall restaurant options.

The cruise line replaced three of its halls in Aquadome Market with a Thai, Latin American, and American BBQ option.

Matt tried out the new foods to see how they stack up.

Royal Caribbean added its first food hall on Icon of the Seas, but it's gone one step further with it on Star of the Seas.

The second Icon Class cruise ship is very similar to the original, but one of the notable changes are the updates to the Aquadome Market.

This is one of the restaurants included in the cruise fare, and there are five stands that offer a completely different cuisine.

I instantly loved this restaurant on Icon of the Seas, so I was eager to see the changes on Star.

Royal Caribbean invited me to sail as their guest on a special pre-inaugural cruise before any paying passengers arrive, and I made a point to review the changes to Aquadome Market.

Three new options

From the original five food halls, Royal Caribbean swapped out three of them.

Luckily they kept my two favorites: Feta (Mediterranean) and Creme de la Crepe (crepes). 

However, three others were replaced with new concepts. I tried the food at each to see how they compare.

First up is Mai Thai, and Royal Caribbean offers pad thai or rice, along with two protein choices.

Beef Panang Curry or Grilled Lemongrass Chicken are the options, and I was really torn which one to try. I asked the crew member for her recommendation, and she said to try the chicken.

It's served in a bowl with the pad thai on the bottom, chicken on top, and optional spring roll to top it off.

In trying it, I was pleasantly surprised how much flavor this food had. 

I liked it a lot, and was also happy it was unexpectedly spicy.  As someone that prefers spice in their food, especially Asian food, this was a welcome twist.

The only reason I didn't finish it was because I wanted to leave room for the other food to try. Otherwise, I would have happily devoured it all.

The next food stall over is Pig Out BBQ, an American BBQ spot.

I'm not sure how close the menu is to Portside BBQ on Oasis of the Seas, but I was eager to try it. I think Portside BBQ is vastly underrated as a great place, so I had high hopes for Pig Out.

The choice here is to go with a sandwich or Mac & Cheese bowl. I picked the sandwich option.

The two protein choices are BBQ Brisket or pulled pork, and I'm a sucker for brisket so I went with that.

I got really excited about trying this when we got to the toppings. I love to top almost any food I eat with all sorts of veggies, sauces, or whatever.

I added pickles, onions, and topped it off with some sauce.

As I tried the sandwich, I found the BBQ sauce to be very sweet.  No hint of hotness here.  

I think this is the perfect size for a snack.  Most importantly, the brisket was very soft. That's impressive considering Royal Caribbean can't use a traditional smoker and has to rely on an electric cooking option.

Finally, I got to La Cocinita, which has South American staples like hot empanadas and arepas. There are also Cuban sandwiches available.

I wasn't sure which option to get here, so I did the responsible thing: I ordered both.

I've had plenty of empanadas over the years, and always lamented when they were more pastry than protein.  That wasn't the case here.  

The empanada was "meaty", and not very spicy.  Probably too big for a single bite, but satisfying.

Similar to the BBQ sandwich, I liked there were lots of topping choices for the arepas.

Pickled beets, salsa verde, and pretty much whatever they had, I threw on there. 

To be honest, I don't know if I'm supposed to eat an arepa with my hands or a fork, so I kind of did both.  

A new must-try

I thought Royal Caribbean set a high standard with Aquadome Market on Icon, but the choices on Star are so much better.

I'd rank the food I tried in this order of personal preference:

1. Pad thai
2. BBQ brisket sandwich
3. Empanada
4. Arepa

The real conundrum for me is when I return to eat here without the purposes of a review, what would I order. The falafel and gyro at Feta were always one of my must-eats onboard Icon, so now I have to balance that with these new choices.

Not only is Aquadome Market my favorite included restaurant on any Royal Caribbean ship, I think it's a must-try spot.

Because everything is freshly prepared, it's one step ahead of the buffets or other quick service options.

Moreover, the additions are much stronger choices than the original lineup. Having a greater variety of food that goes beyond traditional cruise food and leans into regional options is such a welcome choice.

Star of the Seas is here and you're probably wondering what's different about this ship compared to Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class ship is days away from welcoming aboard its first paying passengers, and the ship has lofty expectations from both them and the cruise line itself.

I'm lucky enough to be invited by Royal Caribbean to come get a first look at Star of the Seas before she begins sailing, and I've kept a careful eye out for what's new or different.

Here's a list of the changes you'll find on Star of the Seas that I've found so far.

All new shows

You can always count on Royal Caribbean to never be content with its entertainment lineup.

Star of the Seas has new shows in each of its three theaters.

By far the headliner show is Back to the Future: The Musical, which is the full Broadway production and included on this ship.

There's also a new high-diving spectacle in the Aquatheater, as well as a new show in Absolute Zero.

I always recommend everyone check out the new shows when they go on a ship, because each show is impressive in its own right.

Kaleidoscopes

Hidden around the ship are what look like whimsical telescopes.

The idea is similar to the Small Wonders on Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas.

So far I've found two, one on the Royal Promenade and the other in Surfside, and each has a different design when you peer through them.

Robot vacuums

A really neat idea is there are a few robot vacuum cleaners on Star of the Seas.

There are two types, with Bob responsible for hard surfaces and Betsy taking up carpets.

I'm used to seeing robots in supermarkets and BJ's stores, but it's fun that Royal Caribbean is getting in on the trend.

I suspect these robots can help augment the hard work crew members do in cleaning up, especially after hours.

New hot tub

Royal Caribbean was able to add a new hot tub on Star of the Seas, near the entrance to Aquadome Market.

The hot tub was originally intended to be on Icon, but the company was concerned about water weight. As it turned out, it wasn't a problem, so they added it to Star of the Seas.

Another pool deck change you'll notice are the bungee chairs on Deck 15 across from Royal Bay pool have been removed.

Instead, there are regular loungers on there.  Some crew members told me those bungee chairs on Icon had too many kids climbing and jumping on them, which likely lead to this change.

Lincoln Park Supper Club

The only new dining spot on Star of the Seas is the Lincoln Park Supper Club.

The supper club on Icon of the Seas was New York based, but this one is going to be Chicago based.

Royal Caribbean found inspiration from Chicago hot spots, from the Chez Paree club to the famed dining spot, The Pump Room.

Dining here will cost you $200 per person, and you'll get a pairing of live jazz music with the food. Each course has a paired cocktail and dish that matches up perfectly with the music.

Meet Sailor

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention there's a new Chief Dog Officer on Star of the Seas.

Sailor is the Golden Retriever that lives on the ship as the family dog.

You can meet Sailor if you're lucky enough to be in the right spot when she walks by for a belly rub.  Usually I've seen her near the Overlook, in Surfside, or even on the Royal Promenade.

Royal Caribbean got a lot of attention when it put a dog on Icon of the Seas, and it's such a lovely idea.

A more colorful Pearl

The Pearl has been upgraded visually.

Instead of a single color light ring in the back of each of those 3500 plus tiles, this version has full multicolor rings.

This allows arguably the top photo spot on the ship to have a much richer color palate.

New bar menus

I've noticed a few menus have gotten updates to at the least the look of them, and a few new cocktails too.

The fleetwide menu has been updated with new drinks and a new look.

Every few years the bar menu changes, and this is the bar menu you'll find in places like Casino Bar, The Overlook, and other bars without a specialized menu.

In the Pub, there's a new menu and each table as a ring toss game to help you pass the time.

I believe the Yuzu the One and Love Story are two new drinks on this menu.

Over at the Lime and Coconut, there's been a change to the lineup to offer more non-alcoholic drinks too.

There are are series of frozen drink machines, and two of them are now non-alcoholic.

In addition, a dedicated painkiller frozen drink dispenser has been added.

The tequila lineup as been improved at El Loco Fresh's Cantina.

You'll find a new Teqkil-ya Zombie drink, as well as higher quality tequilas to choose from.

Upgraded water fun in Surfside

Royal Caribbean said they wanted the kids only neighborhood on Star of the Seas to lean a bit more mature to appeal to slightly older kids.

The changes are subtle, but I think the 7-10 year olds may find more to enjoy in Surfside compared to Icon of the Seas.

Specifically, Splashaway Bay and Playscape received new features and more play activations to appeal to older kids.

In addition, the Water's Edge pool is dropping the idea it could be a haven for parents too, and instead is enhanced to be more kid-friendly. 

This change was done because in reality, kids took this pool over on Icon.

New art

You can also count on any new cruise ship for there to be new art all over the ship.

Royal Caribbean is proud of its artwork, and you'll find lots of it to catch your eye in every hallway, public venue, and bar.

I think the art in the elevator lobbies and on the Royal Promenade might be among the most noticeable, because they're so large.

Changes that I can't tell if they really did change

There are some changes that at one point were supposed to change, but perhaps it's being held back for a future ship.

Pier 7 remains in place. Right after Icon's launch, executives talked about it would be something else on Star.

Personally, I always liked eating at Pier 7 because it offers food you don't usually find elsewhere on the ship.  

There is much more outdoor seating too.

Something else that doesn't appear to have made it to Star are the first facial recognition cabins.

It's my understanding there aren't any cabins yet with that feature.  

Royal Caribbean is ready to double the fun with Star of the Seas.

The brand new ship is Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ship, bringing the total number of operational vessels in Royal Caribbean's fleet to 29.

It's the hotly anticipated follow-up to Icon of the Seas, which launched last year and instantly became a mega hit for the cruise line. Icon wasn't just exciting, it set a new standard for every other cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean invited me to come on a short 3-night sailing to see the new ship and what it's all about.  They flew me to Puerto Rico to meet the ship, and be among the first to get onboard.

In just a couple of hours on Star, I wanted to share a glimpse of what this new ship is like and why you'd want to try it too.

Doubling what Icon did best

It's clear Royal Caribbean didn't want to mess too much with the winning formula that made Icon of the Seas such a success.

Star of the Seas began construction right around the same time as Icon, so their layout and look are very similar.

The difference is in the details, and I quickly picked up on the fact that Star is everything I loved about Icon.

Overall, Star is similar to Icon of the Seas in terms of onboard amenities and size. As such, guests can expect the same record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark, indoor AquaTheater, Crown's Edge ropes course/over-the-water zip line, massive Absolute Zero ice skating rink, and adults-only Hideaway.

It's a bright and colorful ship that is meant to evoke a party atmosphere.  You won't find the words "subdued" or "subtle" on this cruise ship.

Star of the Seas relies on the formula of open spaces, a connection to the water, and great things to do that are certain to make memories.

I loved how beautiful the pool deck is, and how the layout provides so much space for chairs, shade, pools, and bars.

Having an entire waterpark onboard means the ship has more thrills than any other, and that's in addition to the surf simulator, Crown's Edge, or sports area.

My favorite area of the ship remains Central Park because of how beautiful this space is, with so much packed in.

In walking around Central Park, I noticed a lot of new artwork and beautiful designs.  Plus, the Trellis Bar, Izumi sushi window, Bubbles, and Lou's are the perfect nighttime spot for a snack, drink, or both.

Over in Surfside, there's an entire area for kids.

Royal Caribbean says this version should skew to appeal to slightly older kids, but I'll need to wait for more kids to be onboard to truly see how it works.

You'll find tweaks, replacements and a few surprises on Star of the Seas

There are subtle differences that give Star of the Seas a defining personality of her own. 

For example, the Broadway-style show on Icon is the Wizard of Oz, whereas on Star of the Seas, it's Back to the Future: the Musical. 

Moreover, Royal Caribbean made changes to the AquaDome Marketplace food stalls. Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita will effectively replace GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden. 

The supper club also received a refresh. Instead of honoring New York City, the new Lincoln Park Supper Club reflects the spirit of Chicago.

I was surprised when I turned a corner and ran into a group of housekeeping robots, which are a first for the cruise line.

The two types of robots can clean the floors and carpets constantly.  Bob is for the hard surfaces, while Betsy takes care of carpeting.

I found them in the Overlook, but unsure yet how wide spread they will be.

I also noticed what looks like telescopes around the ship in various public areas.

Similar to the Small Wonders feature on Oasis and Allure of the Seas, each one has a different kaleidoscope design to it.

It's a fun sea day activity to try to find them all.

Also noteworthy to cruise fans are the new name tags.

Crew members have a different name tag design compared to any other ship.  I'm not sure if the new design will go fleetwide, or remain an Icon Class look.

The first Star of the Seas cruises begin in August

Measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons, Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, tied only with Icon of the Seas. Star comes in at 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. At double occupancy, Star of the Seas can accommodate 5,610 guests in 2,805 staterooms. However, at maximum capacity, she can carry over 7,000 passengers. She also has 2,350 crew onboard from countries all over the world. 

Star's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025, but construction moved quicker than expected. As such, Star will embark on a series of short preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage. The first of these will take place from August 16-20, 2025. It is ironic because when Star of the Seas' bookings were initially released, the maiden voyage was scheduled for August 17. It was later pushed back due to shipyard delays.

Star of the Seas' 7-night maiden voyage on August 31 will cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Unlike Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas' homeport is Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. Orlando is one of the top vacation markets in the world, so Royal Caribbean's decision to homeport Star at Port Canaveral makes sense. The location offers travelers easy access to the area's famous theme parks and attractions. Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's first-ever purpose-built ship for the short cruise market, also calls Port Canaveral home.

Cruises on Star of the Seas are available to book through April 2027. There are even a few last-minute cabins on the special showcase cruises. At the time of publication, an interior stateroom on the 4-night Aug. 16 sailing starts at $1,029 per person. The cheapest cruise on Star of the Seas is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2025. The 7-night cruise starts at $1,153 per person in an inside cabin.

All but one sailing is scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island in The Bahamas. The itinerary for the May 3, 2026, cruise is Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Haiti.