Star of the Seas: Size, Itineraries, Pricing & Comparison to Icon

Few cruise ships generate as much anticipation as Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class vessel, Star of the Seas. Set to debut in summer 2025 from Port Canaveral, this 250,800‑GT megaship carries 5,610 passengers and aims to refine the family-friendly formula first tested on Icon of the Seas.

Gross Tonnage: 250,800 GT ·
Passenger Capacity (double): 5,610 ·
Crew: 2,350 ·
Year Built: 2025 ·
Homeport: Port Canaveral ·
Maiden Voyage: Summer 2025

The official specifications confirm the ship’s dimensions and capacity.

The implication: these numbers place Star of the Seas among the largest passenger vessels ever built.

Is Star of the Seas the biggest boat?

Star of the Seas is the second Icon‑class ship built by Royal Caribbean, with a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT and a length of 365 meters (1,198 ft) — numbers that make it the second largest cruise ship in the world, trailing only its older sibling Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean (cruise line); Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

How big is Star of the Seas compared to other ships?

• At 250,800 GT, Star of the Seas is roughly 6% larger than the third‑largest ship, Wonder of the Seas (236,857 GT).
• Its 365‑meter length is equivalent to about 3.5 football fields.
• Beam spans 48.5 meters (159 ft) — wide enough to accommodate a 10‑lane bowling alley.

What is the gross tonnage of Star of the Seas?

• Official figure: 250,800 GT (Royal Caribbean (cruise line)).
• Same as Icon of the Seas — both share the Icon‑class platform.
• Passenger capacity (double): 5,610; maximum including crew: ~7,600.

The pattern: size alone won’t be the deciding factor for most passengers.

Where is Star of the Seas right now?

Ship tracking data from CruiseMapper (ship tracking site) places Star of the Seas in the Caribbean Sea, en route to Roatan Island, as of its most recent reported position. The ship sails 7‑night itineraries out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

What is the current itinerary of Star of the Seas?

• Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day route: Port Canaveral → Perfect Day at CocoCay → Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) → Basseterre (St. Kitts) → Port Canaveral (Royal Caribbean Incentives (booking portal)).
• Western Caribbean and Perfect Day route: Port Canaveral → Perfect Day at CocoCay → Puerto Costa Maya → Roatan → Cozumel → Port Canaveral.

Which ports does Star of the Seas visit?

• Homeport: Port Canaveral, Florida (Port Canaveral (port authority)).
• Call ports include Perfect Day at CocoCay, Charlotte Amalie, Basseterre, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.
• 2026 itineraries already open for booking.

The pattern: homeport access from Port Canaveral gives central Florida residents a clear geographic advantage.

What is special about Star of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean bills Star of the Seas as “the world’s best family vacation” (Royal Caribbean (cruise line)). The ship carries over the Icon‑class hallmarks: the Category 6 water park (largest at sea), Thrill Island, the Surfside neighborhood for young families, and the 20‑plus dining venues that range from complimentary to specialty.

What onboard attractions does Star of the Seas offer?

• Category 6 — six waterslides and a wave pool (Cruise Critic (cruise review platform)).
• Royal Promenade with bars, shops, and live entertainment.
• AquaDome — an indoor/outdoor venue with diving shows (Cruise Hive (cruise news)).

Is Star of the Seas good for families?

• Surfside neighborhood — a dedicated zone for kids with splash pads, carousel, and family dining.
• Adventure Ocean youth program (ages 3–17).
• Suites with separate family bunk areas.

What dining options are available?

• Over 20 eateries: complimentary main dining room, Windjammer buffet, and specialty venues like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, and Izumi.
• Inclusive options cover most meals; specialty restaurants add $15–$60 per person.

The implication: variety is the ship’s main selling point over smaller competitors.

How does Star of the Seas compare to Icon of the Seas?

Both ships belong to the same Icon class, but Star of the Seas launched a year later and incorporates minor refinements — updated decor, tweaked dining concepts, and fresh itineraries (Travel Weekly (travel industry news)).

What are the key differences between Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas?

• Nearly identical dimensions: same gross tonnage (250,800 GT), length (365 m), and capacity (5,610 double).
• Star of the Seas sails from Port Canaveral; Icon of the Seas homeports in Miami.
• Star of the Seas reportedly starts at $1,293 per person for a 7‑night cruise; Icon of the Seas can dip to $791 on some sailings (Fox 35 Orlando (local news); Cruise Critic).

Which ship is better for families?

• Both offer identical family zones (Surfside, Adventure Ocean, water park).
• Star of the Seas may benefit from lessons learned on Icon’s first year, e.g., crowd management tweaks.
• Early Cruise Critic commentary suggests similar service quality and crowd levels.

The pattern: the hardware is identical, so the choice hinges on logistics and price.

How much does a Star of the Seas cruise cost?

Royal Caribbean advertises starting fares from $1,293 per person, taxes and fees included, for a 7‑night Caribbean sailing. Third‑party aggregators like CruiseMapper show current double‑occupancy prices from $1,880 per cabin.

What is the price per person for Star of the Seas?

• Interior cabin: from $1,293 per person (Royal Caribbean official site).
• Ocean view balcony: $1,600–$2,200 per person depending on sailing date.
• Suites: $2,500+ per person (Cruise Hive (cruise news)).

Does Star of the Seas offer value for money?

• Compare to Icon of the Seas, which Fox 35 Orlando reported as low as $1,007 per person for an interior cabin.
• Star of the Seas is generally slightly cheaper than Icon of the Seas for similar cabin categories, partly because it’s newer and less established.
• Included amenities (water park, shows, kids clubs) are extensive — most activities are complimentary.

The implication: pricing is dynamic, so booking early can lock in lower rates.

Star of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: full comparison

The side-by-side comparison highlights the similarities between the two ships.

The pattern: nearly identical specs mean the decision comes down to homeport and timing.

Detailed specifications: Star of the Seas

Eight additional specs provide practical details for planning.

The implication: 20 decks and 2,805 cabins means the ship operates at the scale of a small town.

Pros and cons of Star of the Seas

The pattern: the trade-off for scale and family focus is crowding and limited uniqueness vs Icon.

Timeline: from construction to first sailing

• 2023–2024: Construction at Meyer Turku shipyard, Finland (Meyer Turku (shipyard)).
• Early 2025: Float out and sea trials.
• Summer 2025: Maiden voyage from Port Canaveral.
• 2025–2026: Seasonal Caribbean itineraries, including Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The implication: early bookers get first pick of cabin categories and dates.

Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s still unknown

Confirmed facts

• Gross tonnage: 250,800 GT
• Capacity: 5,610 passengers (double occupancy)
• Maiden voyage: summer 2025
• Homeport: Port Canaveral
• 20 decks, 2,805 staterooms

What’s unclear

• Exact 2026 pricing (dynamic rates subject to demand)
• Specific new attractions that may differ from Icon of the Seas
• Customer satisfaction ratings until the ship has sailed with paying guests
• Long‑term reliability data for a brand‑new vessel

The pattern: confirmed specs are solid, but real-world performance remains untested.

What experts say

Star of the Seas is described as ‘the world’s best family vacation.’

— Royal Caribbean press release

Great ship for families, solid free food options, friendly service — but crowded, weak casino value.

— Cruise Critic editor review

Royal Caribbean’s own marketing and early reviewer impressions converge on one theme: the ship delivers on family fun but struggles with crowd management in popular venues.

For anyone weighing a booking, the choice comes down to timing and homeport. Port Canaveral is a shorter drive for many East‑Coast families than Miami, and the newer ship may offer slightly better dining concepts. The pattern: Star of the Seas is a near‑copy of Icon of the Seas with incremental improvements, but the real differentiator is price and location.

For a detailed breakdown of the differences, read our full comparison of Star of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Icon of the Seas: size, pricing, activities
• Port Canaveral cruise guide
• Royal Caribbean family cruise tips
• Icon Class overview: all ships