Royal Caribbean Just Released New Details About Its Latest Ship

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Star of the Seas, will welcome guests on week-long cruises out of Port Canaveral in Florida and delight them with half a dozen thrilling waterslides, more than 40 bars and restaurants, and more.

The ship, which will debut in August 2025, will be the next in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and will feature many of the features travelers have come to love on the company’s Icon of the Seas, which launched earlier this year. And from a dizzying number of thrills and family-friendly poolside fun to an adults-only escape complete with a suspended infinity pool, this ship will have something for everyone.

“Star of the Seas is the second bold act of this exciting, new era of vacations first introduced with Icon of the Seas, and it’s putting the world’s best vacation on the map at yet another top travel destination,” Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in a statement. “Between Miami and Port Canaveral (Orlando), more adventurers than ever can set their sights on the only vacation that combines the best of all vacations – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – with experiences that have and will continue to make headlines and memories for years to come.”

Star of the Seas will feature eight different neighborhoods, several of which will be dedicated to cooling off, like at Thrill Island with its six waterslides from family raft slides to a drop slide option. Then there’s Chill Island, which is spread over three decks and features four different pools (of seven total on the ship), including a swim-up bar and the largest pool at sea. 

Families aren’t left out either with the Surfside neighborhood, featuring splash pools for small children along with a nearby Water’s Edge pool for their adults.

And speaking of grown ups, Royal Caribbean will bring back the adults-only The Hideaway neighborhood with its suspended infinity pool, a DJ, a dedicated bar, whirlpools, and more.

Guests will also love Royal Caribbean classics like the FlowRider surf simulator and mini golf, and the AquaTheater complete with a 55-foot waterfall, along with favorites like the Royal Promenade — which runs through the heart of the ship — and the open-air Central Park with more than 30,500 real plants.

When it comes to bars and restaurants, Star of the Seas boasts plenty to choose from, including a new Lincoln Park Supper Club inspired by 1930’s Chicago, pick-up windows for sushi and Champagne, and even an AquaDome Market food hall.

As a bonus, the ship will feature its own resident dog named Sailor to surprise guests similar to Icon’s chief dog officer, a Golden Retriever puppy, USA Today reported.

Star of the Seas will sail 7-night cruises to popular destinations like Cozumel, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and more, and will stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.