Star of the Seas Guide & Review
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is the second ship in the groundbreaking Icon Class, following the debut of Icon of the Seas. At over 250,000 gross tons and carrying up to 7,600 passengers, she’s one of the largest and most expensive cruise ships ever built — a $2 billion floating city.
This guide covers her neighborhoods, dining, cabins, and exclusive entertainment, plus how she differs from her sister ship. And if you want to see every corner of the ship, don’t miss our full Star of the Seas video tour.
Watch Our Full Ship Tour
In our in-depth video, we take you deck by deck through Star of the Seas, showing every pool, restaurant, cabin type, and entertainment venue — plus our honest first impressions onboard.
First Impressions
Boarding Star of the Seas for the first time is surreal. She’s gigantic, colorful, and buzzing with energy the second you step onboard. After more than 100 cruises, we still got butterflies walking into the atrium and hearing the music from the pool deck.
Star feels familiar if you’ve been on Icon — but she isn’t just a copy-and-paste job. Royal Caribbean has made some smart changes and exciting upgrades that give her a personality all her own.
The Eight Neighborhoods on Star of the Seas
Like her sister, Star is divided into eight themed neighborhoods, each with its own design, atmosphere, and lineup of dining and activities:
Royal Promenade – the ship’s bustling main street with shops, bars, and entertainment.
Central Park – an open-air garden oasis with real trees, dining, and live music.
Surfside – a family-focused zone with kids’ dining, splash areas, and play spaces.
AquaDome – panoramic views by day, acrobatic water shows by night.
Chill Island – the main pool deck with multiple pools, hot tubs, and bars.
The Hideaway – an Ibiza-style beach club with an infinity pool and DJs.
Thrill Island – home to the waterpark, ropes course, mini golf, and FlowRider.
Suite Neighborhood – private pool, dining, and lounges for suite guests.
Entertainment on Star of the Seas
Star has her own lineup of exclusive shows that set her apart from Icon:
Back to the Future: The Musical (Royal Theatre) — In the Royal Theatre. A Broadway-quality production with a live orchestra and even a DeLorean moment.
Create (Royal Theatre) — An immersive show that takes guests on a journey through music, dance, art, and emotion. Family friendly.
Torque (AquaDome Theatre) — A jaw-dropping acrobatic and water stunt show.
Mermaids and Pirates (AquaDome Theatre) — A family stunt and water show in the AquaDome.
Sol (AbsoluteZero Ice Arena) — Featuring the largest ice cast at sea with immersive projections.
Deck/Promenade Parties: The New Millennium Party replaces Royal’s classic 70s Night, with Y2K outfits and 90s/00s hits.
Dining on Star of the Seas
Star features 20+ dining venues, with both included and specialty options.
Included dining:
Windjammer Marketplace – The classic Royal Caribbean buffet open for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a huge rotating selection
Pearl Café – Quick grab-and-go available all day.
Breakfast: pastries, fruit, hot breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, overnight oats
Daytime: hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and cakes
Park Café – Light bites for breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast: pastries, fruit, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, overnight oats
Daytime: carvery sandwiches, wraps, salads, and cakes
AquaDome Market – A food hall with five stations:
Pig Out BBQ – BBQ sandwiches and topped mac & cheese bowls
Crème de la Crêpe – sweet crêpes made-to-order
Mai Thai – Thai curries and spring rolls
Feta Mediterranean – shawarmas in a bowl or pita
La Cocinita – empanadas, arepas, and Cuban sandwiches
El Loco Fresh – Casual poolside Mexican serving quesadillas, burritos, and nachos with a toppings bar
Surfside Eatery – Buffet designed for families.
Surfside Bites – Quick-serve snacks in the Surfside neighborhood.
Sprinkles – Soft-serve ice cream station located in Surfside.
Sorrento’s – Freshly made pizza, available most of the day and late into the night.
Basecamp Grill – Grab-and-go hot dogs, tater tots, and pretzel bites
Specialty dining:
Chops Grille – Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse with Hand-cut steaks, seafood, and sides
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen – Classic Italian favorites such as Pastas, pizzas, and rustic mains
Izumi – Japanese hibachi grill
Izumi In The Park. - Grab and go Sushi rolls, sashimi and ice cream.
Hooked Seafood – New England-style seafood house.
Pier 7 – California inspired casual restaurant
Desserted – Over-the-top milkshakes and sweet treats.
Lincoln Park Supper Club – Immersive jazz-themed dining with live entertainment.
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade – Casual Pub-style food.
Bars & Lounges on Star of the Seas
Every bar has its own unique drinks and atmosphere. Highlights include:
Schooner Bar – nautical piano bar
Boleros – Latin cocktails and dancing
Lou’s Jazz ’n Blues – live jazz in Central Park
Music Hall – live bands and nightlife
The Overlook Bar – panoramic AquaDome views
Rye & Bean – coffee by day, cocktails by night
Spotlight Karaoke – karaoke stage
Playmakers Sports Bar – beer and wings
Crown Lounge – loyalty cocktails
Lime & Coconut – poolside bars
Swim & Tonic – adults-only swim-up bar
Hideaway Bar – infinity pool vibes with a DJ
Cabins & Suites
With over 2,800 cabins, Star of the Seas offers one of the widest ranges of accommodations at sea. From simple inside cabins to multi-level luxury suites, there’s something for every budget and style.
Inside Cabins
Room without a window.
The most affordable category.
Ocean View Cabins – Windows without a balcony.
Large porthole or picture windows for natural light
Good mid-range choice if you don’t need outdoor space
Infinite Balcony Cabins – A signature Icon Class feature. (Read our full Infinite Balcony review here)
Floor-to-ceiling window that lowers with the push of a button
Expands the living space into a semi-balcony
Available with views of the ocean, Central Park, or Surfside
Ocean View Balcony Cabins – Classic balconies.
Private outdoor space with seating
Separate sliding door to a true balcony (unlike Infinite)
Found across multiple decks
Panoramic Ocean View Cabins – Floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Found in prime forward-facing locations
No balcony, but incredible wraparound views
Family Cabins – Built for groups with kids.
Multiple sleeping areas and bunk beds
Located near Surfside (read our review)
Suites – A broad range of upgraded accommodations with enhanced perks.
Junior Suites – larger cabin and balcony, priority check-in. (Read our full review of the Junior Suite experience on Royal Caribbean here)
Sky Suites – more space, upgraded amenities, access to some suite perks
Grand and Owner’s Suites – spacious layouts, separate living/dining areas
Royal Loft Suites – two-story lofts with floor-to-ceiling windows
Icon Loft Suites – unique loft design exclusive to Icon Class
Ultimate Family Townhouse – three stories with a private cinema, slide, karaoke, and even a white picket fence
What’s Included in Your Fare?
Included:
Main theater shows, AquaDome shows, and ice shows
Use of waterpark, FlowRider, rock-climbing wall, carousel and mini golf
Meals at included venues (Windjammer, Pearl Café, Park Café, AquaDome Market, etc.)
Basic drinks: water, iced tea, lemonade, drip coffee, some juices
Adventure Ocean kids’ club activities (6 months to 17 years)
Fitness center access
Not included:
Gratuities
Soda, specialty coffee (Starbucks), bottled water, alcoholic drinks
Wi-Fi packages
Specialty dining
Spa treatments and thermal suite access
Fitness classes and personal training
Casino and alcohol tasting events
Shore excursions, photography, and artwork purchases
FAQ: Star of the Seas
When did Star of the Seas launch?
2025 — she’s the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class.
Where does she sail from?
Year-round from Port Canaveral (Orlando) to the Caribbean.
What are the typical itineraries?
7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, all including a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Does Star have adults-only areas?
Yes — The Hideaway, Swim & Tonic, the Solarium (16+), and the Casino are all adults-only.
What shows are onboard?
Back to the Future: The Musical, Create, Torque, Sol, and more.
Is the ship busy?
Yes. With more than 7,000 passengers at full capacity, public areas like pools, the Windjammer buffet, and theaters can get crowded, especially on sea days. Some venues get very busy during show times — the Dueling Pianos lounge in particular was standing-room only.
Is the ship loud?
Yes. Expect a lively, high-energy atmosphere throughout the ship — particularly around the pool decks, Royal Promenade, and The Hideaway. Quieter spaces do exist: Central Park (when no deck parties are happening) and The Overlook (outside of rehearsal times) are two good options.
What’s new on Star compared to Icon of the Seas?
👉 Read our first impressions article here
How many dining venues and bars are onboard?
Star has 13 included dining options, 14 specialty restaurants, and around 18 bars and lounges.
Does the ship have good Wi-Fi?
Yes. Star offers Starlink internet packages, which are fast enough for streaming and video calls, though prices vary by package. We found the streaming package worked well for Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube. Calls with Teams and Zoom were smooth, VPN connections worked fine, but uploading large videos and photo batches took longer.
Who is the ship best for?
Primarily families from North America, often pairing their cruise with Orlando theme park visits. LGBTQ+ and solo meetups are available, but there are no solo cabins.
Our Verdict
Pros:
Incredible range of activities, dining, and entertainment
Perfect for families and groups
Exclusive shows are top-tier
Cons:
Expensive, both in fares and onboard extras
Crowded — expect full ships and busy venues
Bottom Line:
Star of the Seas is bold, confident, and unashamedly over-the-top. She takes what worked on Icon, fixes some flaws, and adds exciting new features.
If you’re after peace, tradition, or small-ship cruising — look elsewhere. But if you want the biggest, brightest, most entertainment-packed ship at sea, Star of the Seas is a fantastic choice.
