Star of the Seas: Icon-Class Cruise Ship Specs & Itineraries

Royal Caribbean’s newest megaship has families buzzing — Star of the Seas arrives as the line’s second Icon-class vessel, promising the same colossal scale as its predecessor but with a few tweaks learned from real guest feedback. Whether you’re sizing up a once-in-a-lifetime sailing or just curious how this ship stacks up against the original, here’s what you need to know before booking.

Ship Class: Icon-class (second ship) · Operator: Royal Caribbean International · Home Port: Port Canaveral · Debut Season: Summer 2025 · Promoted As: World’s Best Family Vacation

Is Star of the Seas the biggest boat?

Star of the Seas doesn’t break the record — it ties it. Both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas share identical dimensions, making them the world’s two largest cruise ships at any given moment.

Comparison to Icon of the Seas

At 248,663 gross tons, Star of the Seas matches its sister ship inch for inch. The two vessels operate from different homeports — Star from Port Canaveral, Icon from Miami — which means guests on the Space Coast can access Icon-class innovation without routing through South Florida. Cruise critics at Cruise Critic note that both ships have nearly identical neighborhood layouts, with subtle differences in dining and entertainment themes keeping repeat riders curious.

Gross tonnage and length details

Verified figures from multiple sources show both ships at 248,663 GT, stretching 1,196 feet long across 20 decks. The beam spans 159 feet, giving each ship a footprint roughly four city blocks wide. Passenger capacity at double occupancy sits at 5,610, with maximum occupancy reaching approximately 7,600 when all beds are full, according to Cruise Critic’s detailed comparison.

What is special about Star of the Seas?

Star of the Seas carries the same eight neighborhoods, seven pools, and Category 6 waterpark that made Icon of the Seas famous — but Royal Caribbean used the first ship’s debut to refine the formula before launching number two.

Thrills and family activities

The ship doubles down on what families actually want: variety. Surfside sits at the family’s center with water views and casual dining, while the Suite Zone keeps luxury seekers in their own world. The Category 6 waterpark delivers the kind of slides that require a second try, and Eat Sleep Cruise reports that Star adds expanded dining variety compared to its predecessor — a direct response to guest feedback.

Next-level chill zones

For guests who prefer quiet over adrenaline, the ship’s Adults-Only Pool area and multiple outdoor lounges offer escape routes from the family action. Cruise Fever notes that both ships visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Caribbean itineraries, giving Star passengers access to Royal Caribbean’s private island without sacrificing ship amenities.

What is free on Star of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships include most dining venues and daily activities in the base fare, though specialty restaurants and premium experiences come with additional charges. The exact boundary between included and paid amenities shifts as Royal Caribbean updates its offerings.

Included onboard activities

Standard inclusions cover the waterpark, pools, fitness center, live entertainment in main theaters, and youth clubs for kids. The eight neighborhoods provide free exploration, from the family-focused Surfside to the active zones throughout the ship. Daily programming — trivia, dance classes, poolside games — doesn’t require an extra wristband.

Dining and entertainment options

With over 40 dining venues on board, most are included in the cruise fare. Specialty restaurants like Chops Grille or Izumi Hibachi charge per person, while the Windjammer buffet, main dining rooms, and casual options like El Loco Fresh come at no extra cost. Shore excursions, spa treatments, and alcoholic beverage packages remain add-ons regardless of cabin tier.

Star of the Seas size and capacity

Here are the hard numbers that define Icon-class scale — both ships sit at the top of the cruising world by most metrics.

Dimensions and passenger limits

• Gross tonnage: 248,663 GT
• Length: 1,196 feet
• Decks: 20
• Beam: 159 feet
• Double occupancy capacity: 5,610 passengers
• Maximum occupancy: approximately 7,600
• Staterooms: 2,805
• Crew: approximately 2,350

Comparison metrics

The guest-to-crew ratio of 2.39 means Star of the Seas maintains the personalized service standard its sister ship established. Built in Turku, Finland, both Icon-class vessels use LNG-powered engines, and both feature golden retriever mascots — Rover on Icon, Sailor on Star — adding a touch of corporate charm to the fleet, as noted by Cruise Critic.

The pattern is clear: Royal Caribbean built two nearly identical ships to double down on the Icon-class bet rather than innovate with a third design.

Star of the Seas itinerary and ports

Star of the Seas launches its career from Florida’s Space Coast, giving guests a convenient launch point near Kennedy Space Center and Disney World before heading into Caribbean waters.

2025 and 2026 sailings

The ship began with four-day preview sailings from Port Canaveral before transitioning to seven-night Caribbean rotations. According to Cruise Fever’s itinerary tracking, Star visits St. Maarten, San Juan, and Labadee on its seven-night sailings — different stops than Icon of the Seas, which favors Nassau and Falmouth from Miami. Both ships include Perfect Day at CocoCay on their Caribbean routes.

Departure and destinations

Port Canaveral’s advantage is clear: it’s roughly an hour closer to Walt Disney World than Miami, making fly-drive cruise packages more affordable for families combining a land vacation with sea days. Star’s Western Caribbean focus includes Labadee on most sailings, while the Eastern Caribbean itinerary adds Puerto Rico’s historic Old San Juan to the mix.

The table below compares the two Icon-class ships across the key metrics that matter most when choosing between them.

The implication: geography dictates the itinerary — Star’s Port Canaveral location steers passengers toward Eastern Caribbean ports like San Juan, while Icon’s Miami base opens Western Caribbean routes.

Technical specifications

Nine data points that define what Icon-class engineering looks like in practice.

What this means: both ships are essentially twins on paper, but their different homeports and itineraries make them complementary rather than competing options.

The catch: despite expert praise, both ships command premium pricing that puts them out of reach for budget-conscious cruisers.

The bottom line

Star of the Seas doesn’t reinvent the megaship — it sharpens it. The 248,663-GT vessel carries families everything Icon of the Seas promised, with a homeport change that opens Florida’s Space Coast to Icon-class sailing for the first time. Royal Caribbean Blog tracks interior cabin pricing from $1,483 to $2,096 per person for seven-night sailings, placing these ships firmly in the premium tier. For families weighing Port Canaveral departures against Miami options, the choice comes down to logistics: Star offers theme park combinations that Icon’s Miami terminal simply can’t match.

Related reading: Icon of the Seas comparison

Star of the Seas builds directly on the massive success of the Icon and Star overview, matching its 248,663 gross tons while adding fresh family-focused innovations for 2025 itineraries.