Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the most recent within the fleet, formally debuted in August 2025. However even with capability for greater than 7,500 friends (plus 2,300 crew members), the very first thing you discover about this large ship is just not its measurement, it’s the vibrancy.

Each flip reveals one other splash of colour — a larger-than-life mural, a glittering sculpture, or a playful piece of hallway artwork — making the ship really feel like a floating pageant of design throughout its 20 decks and greater than 40 eating places, bars and lounges.

I used to be aboard the inaugural crusing out of Port Canaveral, Florida, which lasted three nights. That was positively not sufficient time to see or do all of it. That claims rather a lot, coming from somebody who tends to maneuver via my travels at lightning velocity and customarily hates enjoyable.

By way of what to see, there’s something vying to your consideration in each nook. You may come across a whimsical ice cream cone statue standing proudly in a nook or wander down a hallway lined with cheeky, surprising wall artwork and staircases splashed in daring paint as a substitute of the standard beige. It’s a visible sugar rush that hits more durable than the dessert counter on the Windjammer buffet onboard.

I left this ship wanting to come back again to do (and see) much more.

As a result of this was a particular preview voyage, Royal Caribbean coated the prices related to my keep, however that didn’t affect my ideas on this ship.

• Greatest for: Households who need continuous leisure, vacationers who thrive in huge crowds and cruisers who need selection in eating and actions.

• Skip it: Vacationers preferring quiet, small-ship intimacy, have zero curiosity in water slides or hate navigating a crowd.

• Standout options: Large water park, whimsical artwork, top-tier reveals, number of included eating places and distinctive stateroom layouts just like the Infinite Balcony.

• Potential dealbreakers: Dear suites, additional charges for a lot of sights and specialty eating, sensory overload in busy areas.

At 1,196 toes in size (which is nearly the identical size because the Empire State Constructing if it have been turned on its aspect), the Star of the Seas is large. The ship is primarily grouped into certainly one of eight neighborhoods, a few of that are extra clearly devoted to totally different ages or pursuits than others. They’re:

• Surfside: A colourful, open-air neighborhood designed for younger households. Highlights embody a splash space for youths and a carousel.

• Thrill Island: An out of doors deck that includes the world’s largest water park at sea, the FlowRider surf simulator, an impediment course, sports activities courts and mini golf.

• The Hideaway: An adults-only retreat with an infinity pool, whirlpools, lounge seating, and a seaside membership vibe full with a DJ and cocktails.

• Chill Island: A sprawling, multi-deck pool zone with 4 swimming pools and a number of bars (together with a swim-up bar).

• AquaDome: Probably the most architecturally spectacular neighborhood, consisting of a glass-domed house with panoramic views. Its centerpiece is the high-tech AquaTheater, used for reveals.

• Central Park: This lush, open-air backyard is lined with eating places, wine and cocktail bars, dwell music and romantic stroll-worthy pathways.

• Royal Promenade: This bustling two-deck hub is stuffed with eating, bars, lounges, retailers, leisure venues and artwork installations.

• Suite Neighborhood: This VIP enclave is unique to suite friends and contains non-public decks and eating places.

Although this information received’t cowl every thing on the ship, right here have been the highlights.

Embarkation and first impressions

Boarding was surprisingly fast — about quarter-hour from curb to ship, due to Royal Caribbean’s app-based pre-check-in. That effectivity issues on a vessel with the inhabitants of a small city.

The primary main house you’ll hit is the Royal Promenade, a futuristic, whimsical “town square” type space. It’s residence to the crown jewel of the ship’s artwork items: a monumental 45-foot-tall sculpture referred to as The Pearl. This kinetic paintings shimmers like an outsized golf ball sprinkled with glitter.

Then, I headed outdoors to the Central Park space, which is an out of doors purchasing promenade lined with crops — sure, 30,500 actual crops. It is simple to neglect you are at sea if you’re in Central Park.

I stayed in what’s referred to as an Infinite Balcony Cabin, which isn’t an precise exterior balcony. As a substitute, it’s acquired a floor-to-ceiling window that converts right into a “balcony” by opening midway to let in that cool ocean breeze — all on the contact of a button. I truly favor it to a conventional balcony stateroom as a result of the inside felt extra spacious.

Different intelligent use of house included built-in storage in just about each nook and cranny, fashionable touches like USB-C charging, upgraded lighting and good TVs. Plus, colourful pillows and fabric (like a palm tree print pillow) assist the room look brighter.

Households looking for more room can go for bigger rooms. The standout of the most important rooms is the Final Household Townhouse — a three-story suite with a slide, cinema room and yard that sleeps eight. It could actually price $75,000 per week. Price it for ultra-luxury households? Possibly.

For many, inside cabins usually begin at lower than half the value of a balcony (or infinite balcony). Such a room is one of the best worth in the event you’ll spend most of your time outdoors the room anyway.

There are greater than 40 locations to eat or drink onboard, with a mixture of eateries which are included in your cruise fare, plus some specialty eating (which incur a further payment).

In contrast to smaller ships that may solely have one or two included eating places, this one has about 10 included together with your fare. You can simply do a three-night (or longer) cruise with out feeling such as you missed out by skipping the paid eating places. You’d doubtless solely get tired of the free stuff for sailings longer than 5 nights.

I’m a sucker for a meals corridor, and I’m more and more seeing these at sea. (I first fell in love with the cruise meals corridor idea after I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Aqua ship.)

Royal Caribbean has constructed meals halls earlier than, however Star of the Seas provides in three new stalls which all occurred to be my favorites within the AquaDome Market. Menu gadgets embody:

• Barbecue staples similar to pulled pork and beef brisket.

• Southeast Asian classics like pad thai and beef panag.

• South American staples like empanadas and arepas.

Then there’s the Windjammer fundamental buffet — the most important within the Royal Caribbean fleet.

It’s additionally probably the most aesthetically pleasing of any Windjammer. Whereas variations of Windjammer on different ships provide weak theming, this one is gorgeous to chill out in. Even the handwashing stations are cute.

It’s a very good eating choice to get just about any kind of meals you need, whether or not that’s a recent salad with uncooked veggies and grilled rooster or a virtually infinite array of pastries.

For a sit-down meal, the primary eating room is exceptionally swanky. It’s three tales, which makes for an ethereal really feel.

When you’re focused on a few of the ship’s specialty eating places (which normally incur an additional payment), right here have been the standouts from my crusing that felt memorable and well worth the worth.

This restaurant serves California coast-style meals, together with Baja fish tacos and crunchy mango lime shrimp tostadas. The vibes have been vibrant and ethereal, and the fish was higher-quality than what you’ll discover in the primary eating corridor.

It is a reservation-only wonderful eating expertise with a multi-course tasting menu and dwell jazz. I’d positively e-book this for an adults-only date night time on an extended cruise.

That is dinner and a present rolled into one. My chef was half magician, half stand-up comedian — flipping knives, tossing eggs for individuals to catch of their mouths and conserving the entire desk laughing.

As with most ships, drinks come at an additional price. On Royal Caribbean, the drinks really feel distinctive and cleverly curated.

As a sucker for an espresso martini, my favorites have been the coffee-infused cocktails at a bar referred to as Rye & Bean. Different highlights included bubbly something at a bar appropriately referred to as Bubbles.

And for bars that mix leisure, Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues and the dueling piano bar (that are discovered on many Royal Caribbean ships within the fleet) additionally have been highlights.

Lots of the ship’s neighborhoods are kid-friendly, and so they’re all ultra-colorful. It nearly appears like the identical individuals who designed Mickey’s Toontown at Disney theme parks moonlit on this ship.

The Surfside neighborhood is a kid-focused space with a small splash space, slides, a carousel (with enjoyable animals to experience together with…a pineapple?).

It’s the spot the place youthful youngsters would hang around — or youngsters of all ages looking for Instagram content material. This space has the largest, boldest visuals, with vibrant colours like pinks and purples.

There’s additionally an arcade right here, although video games price additional.

Thrill Island is healthier for older youngsters and thrill-seeking adults. Highlights embody a ropes course referred to as Crown’s Edge. It’s a white-knuckle, don’t-look-down sort of expertise because it actually swings you over the ocean.

Class 6 is the most important water park at sea, with a number of slides together with a raft experience and a mat racing experience.

It additionally contains the return of a favourite attraction on many different Royal Caribbean ships, the FlowRider surf simulator.

The world additionally has a couple of different exercise areas like a multi-purpose sports activities court docket, rock wall and mini golf.

The children’ membership, referred to as Journey Ocean, is large, made up of a number of rooms largely divided by age group.

Its theater was probably the most stunning cruise ship theater I’ve seen, resembling a forest hideaway full with twinkling lights constructed into the ceiling.

I attempted one of many workshops on the youngsters membership and acquired a kick out of it. The workshop had STEM-focused actions, like constructing blocks of all types for various age teams. There have been loads of video games, together with foosball and an interactive, digital sport desk. I didn’t stick round as I’m 33 happening 13, however I can simply see youngsters not wanting to depart.

There are pockets of calm all through the ship, however true tranquility seekers will nonetheless discover the ship’s power relentless.

The Hideaway is an adults-only infinity pool with DJ beats and Ibiza vibes. On the opposite aspect of the ship, there’s one other pool space for ages 16+ referred to as Cloud 17.

Within the Aquadome, there are “Overlook Pods,” particular lounge chairs. It’s my favourite spot on the ship to take a seat, sip a espresso cocktail from Rye & Bean and watch the waves.

The Vitality Spa & Health Heart is 2 tales with Peloton bikes, a gaggle health studio and a jogging observe. The cardio machines had portholes as a substitute of sweeping ocean views, which was a slight letdown.

Fares for Star of the Seas fluctuate wildly relying on itinerary and stateroom kind.

At time of writing, a 7-night crusing in a regular balcony cabin begins round $2,400 per particular person (assuming two adults per cabin), whereas suites can command $10,000 or extra and that is not together with add-ons like drinks packages, Wi-Fi or specialty eating. Price range vacationers may go for an Inside room for about $1,200 per particular person.

That’s about the identical because the Icon of the Seas, its sister ship that debuted in 2024. Although, it will possibly simply price greater than double the value of certainly one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships, just like the Ovation of the Seas.

However none of that could be a unhealthy deal. $1,200 throughout seven nights is lower than $200 per day, and that features your lodging, meals and actions.

Positive, there are specific actions and meals for an upcharge, but it surely’s straightforward to skip them. And every thing from the meals to design to leisure is top quality on this ship. What’s extra, this ship has way more to do than any of Royal Caribbean’s different ships.

Usually one of the best offers are posted immediately on Royal Caribbean’s web site, although typically approved third-party journey businesses like Undercover Vacationer provide deeper reductions. It’s additionally obtainable to e-book on factors with sure bank card journey portals.

Star of the Seas: Is it value it?

Star of the Seas is colourful, maximalist and unapologetically showy. When you love the immersive really feel and scale of a theme park, you’ll really feel proper at residence right here. It’s a spot the place grandparents can chill out in Central Park whereas the children hit the splash zones and the adults rally for dueling pianos at night time.

Convey your urge for food, your digicam roll and perhaps a second pair of sneakers, since you’re going to need to see all of it.

(Prime photograph by Sally French)