Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is a Go!

After the initial voyage of their showcase cruise to CocoCay, the second Icon-class ship returned to its homeport of Port Canaveral for her naming ceremony. The Star of the Seas will now mostly offer 7 night trips to the Caribbean and CocoCay.

An iconic naming ceremony.

The naming ceremony took place on August 21, 2025 with Godmother Kellie Gerardi who is a social influencer and commercial astronaut known for a sub-orbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic. Kellie was a last minute replacement for Diana Ross who was set to be the Godmother for the Star of the Seas but had to cancel at the last minute. 

The naming celebration had Royal Caribbean crew members, executives, loyal guests and more gathered together in Star of the Sea’s AquaTheater. In the photo is Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Kellie Gerardi, godmother of Star of the Seas; Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean; and Captain Rob Hempstead. 

“I’m honored to celebrate Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas in such a beautiful naming ceremony as godmother – a tradition that is close to my heart and a spirit that spans both sea and space,” said Kellie Gerardi, godmother of Star of the Seas. “A vacation on Star is the perfect combination of two of my biggest passions in life, a spirit of exploration and quality time with family, and I can’t wait for this journey to begin.”

The ceremony blessed the ship and those responsible for building and creating her were praised. There were more than 27 million man-hours to bring the Star of the Seas to life and get it sailing. Included in the audience was over 100 Pinnacle members. These are the highest level for Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society. To reach Pinnacle you have to have at least 700 points with the cruise line!

The Star of the Seas is big.

The vessel has 20 decks, 2,350 crew members, 2,805 staterooms, weighs 248,663 gross tons, and is 1,196 ft long and 219 ft wide! Check out their fact sheet (PDF). There is a lot to do in all this space. 

Star of the Seas boasts eight neighborhoods full of activities and food so there is always something to do. Here is a rundown of the neighborhoods and some of their offerings.

• Surfside is a kiddo focused area with pools and waterslides designed for young families.

• Thrill Island is the Category 6 waterpark for the adventurous ones in your group. You will find the FlowRider and rock climbing wall here.

• The Hideaway is the adults only area featuring a pool eight stories above the sea below and a DJ.

• Chill Island is the classic pool area featuring hot tubs, loungers, and a swim-up bar. You will also find the Windjammer Marketplace for food.

• The AquaDome is home to the AquaTheater showing some of the most over-the-top water performances. Behind the theater is the Overlook which has floor to ceiling windows for a clam and cozy retreat.

• Central Park is a lush space with real plants offering higher end food options and jazz music. You’ll find the Lincoln Park Supper Club here, a new venue for Star of the Seas.

• The Royal Promenade is the place for shopping and food with over 15 bars and restaurants. The Pearl lighting exhibit is located here, perfect for selfies.

• The Suite Neighborhood is exclusive to those that book in a suite with their own restaurant and pool.

“Here we are introducing the boldest family vacation ever! Star of the Seas delivers everything families want in a vacation with more adventure and more ways to make unforgettable memories together,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean. “We’ve created the world’s best vacation for all ages yet again, and it’s truly a magical moment to celebrate that with our Royal Caribbean family who made it all possible.”

What’s different from the Icon of the Seas?

Both the Icon-class ships share a lot of elements with each other, but there are some differences between them. The first is the homeport with Star of the Seas cruising from Port Canaveral and Icon of the Seas cruising from Miami.

Shows are another difference with Star having a new show in their AquaTheater but still keeping the robotic arms and 55-foot waterfall that Icon has as well. For headlining entertainment, Star will feature the Back to the Future, the Musical, which is the first time the show will be at sea. Not to be outdone, Icon has a spectacular Wizard of Oz show.

For food the Star of the Seas will have some slightly different venues. Icon has the Empire Supper Club in their Central Park that is New York City themed, while Star will head to Chicago with their Lincoln Park Supper Club.

The Surfside neighborhood for the little kiddos will be a little more older for the Star of the Seas. On Icon the neighborhood targets ages 0-6, with Splashaway Bay and a Playscape. For Star the age range goes up to 10 and includes more play activations in Splashaway Bay and the Playscape, and the Water’s Edge pool will be an expanded play area for children and parents.

The Pearl, an interactive lighting centerpiece that moves like it’s alive, will be upgraded on Star of the Seas with newer light and technology. Full multicolor rings will allow for richer colors in the 3,500-tile kinetic display.

For me it’s a tie on what the biggest difference is. It’s either that the Star of the Seas will have 10 hot tubs, one more than Icon’s 9 hot tub count, or it’s the Chief Dog Officer. On Star the CDO is Sailor, while Icon has Rover, and both are too cute to choose a favorite. You can follow their Instagram for all the adorableness.

Star of the Seas is open for booking.

You can meet Sailor in person when you take your cruise on the Star of the Seas. The ship will be doing 7 night cruises from Port Canaveral visiting the Caribbean and CocoCay. Royal Caribbean is planning more bespoke destinations over the next three years, including the ultimate beach day at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opening in December 2025 and Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, along with Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027.