Star of the Seas is the near twin of Icon of the Seas: same 248,663 gross tons, same 5,610 double-occupancy guests (7,600 maximum) and the same neighborhood layout. She entered service on August 16, 2025, and is based at Port Canaveral, which makes her the easiest Icon-class ship to reach for anyone combining a cruise with an Orlando theme park trip.
Royal Caribbean describes Star as sailing weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, each including Perfect Day at CocoCay. Entertainment includes Back to the Future: The Musical in the main theater, an ice show and AquaTheater productions, and the ship has seven pools, the Category 6 waterpark and a large spread of included dining.
Highlights
Back to the Future: The Musical
The stage adaptation of the film plays in the main theater, one of the ship's signature shows.
Category 6 waterpark
Royal Caribbean bills it as the largest waterpark at sea, with record-setting slides on Thrill Island.
AquaDome
A glass-domed venue at the bow that combines AquaTheater shows with bars and dining.
Seven pools and ten whirlpools
Spread across several decks, including The Hideaway's suspended infinity pool.
17 included dining spots
Per Royal Caribbean, including a nightly three-course dining room menu and two buffets.
Best for
- Families pairing a cruise with an Orlando vacation
- Travelers who want Icon-class features on a weeklong Caribbean trip
- Groups with mixed ages and interests
Good to know before you book
- Port Canaveral is about 45 minutes to an hour from Orlando International Airport by road, so most fly-in guests arrive the day before.
- Book shows like Back to the Future and AquaTheater performances in the app before you sail; they are included but seating is limited.
- Outdoor slides and pools close in high winds or lightning, which is common in Florida summer afternoons.
Where Star of the Seas sails
Deployments change by season and year. Recent and announced itineraries include:
Regions: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Bahamas
Home ports: Port Canaveral
Star of the Seas questions
When did Star of the Seas enter service?
Star of the Seas entered service on August 16, 2025, as the second ship in Royal Caribbean's Icon class.
Is Star of the Seas the same as Icon of the Seas?
They are sister ships with the same gross tonnage (248,663), the same guest capacity and the same neighborhood layout. Star sails from Port Canaveral while Icon sails from Miami, and the show lineups differ.
Does every Star of the Seas cruise stop at CocoCay?
Royal Caribbean says Perfect Day at CocoCay is included on every Star of the Seas sailing.
Sources and fact-checking (last checked October 14, 2026)
We write our own guides and check hard facts like fleet sizes, ship specs and published fees against these sources. Cruise lines change things often, so we re-confirm details in every quote. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
