Royal Caribbean has never shied away from spectacle, but with the launch of the Star of the Seas, the line has gone all in. At 1,196 feet long and boasting nearly 3,000 staterooms, the ship is now the largest in the world — and it wears the crown proudly. When I stepped on board ahead of its maiden voyage on August 31, 2025, the scale alone was enough to stop me in my tracks.

But here’s the thing: the Star of the Seas isn’t impressive just because of its size. What sets it apart is how the ship manages to feel both vast and carefully considered. It’s less a floating hotel and more a floating city — one where every alley, atrium, and pool deck seems to have a personality of its own.

rear view of Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's largest cruise ship — Simone Cheri

A Naming Ceremony Written In The Stars

Big ships deserve big stories, and this one started with a twist. Initially, Diana Ross was expected to serve as godmother, but when plans shifted, the honor fell to Kellie Gerardi, a commercial astronaut who has logged flights with Virgin Galactic. It turned out to be a fitting choice. With Gerardi at the helm of the ceremony, the ship’s “star” identity felt less like branding and more like a lived-in theme — an invitation to think bigger, dream wilder, and look up as much as out.

That sense of ambition carried into my own exploration of the vessel. Whether I was walking through Central Park, an open-air garden filled with live greenery and acoustic music, or watching families spin around the carousel at Surfside, it struck me that Star of the Seas is a playground suited for travelers of varying vacation preferences.

Dining, Entertainment, And A Dash Of Adrenaline

Food is often where cruise ships win or lose guests, and here, Royal Caribbean went all in with more than 40 dining and drinking venues. Fine dining at specialty restaurants one night, an around-the-world culinary mashup at Windjammer Marketplace the next, and just about everything in between. The variety keeps things interesting and effortless, from casual eats spanning 23 cuisines to elevated steak, seafood, sushi and hibachi, available with an upgrade.

Entertainment follows the same formula for scale and surprise. The AquaDome is the ship’s showpiece, a glass-topped arena where a 55-foot waterfall becomes part of the performance. It’s the kind of spectacle that could easily veer into gimmick territory, but here it works — part Cirque du Soleil, part high-tech water ballet. And if that wasn’t enough, Back to the Future: The Musical has made the jump from Broadway to the high seas, DeLorean and all. It’s nostalgic, theatrical, and entirely on brand for a ship built to wow.

Of course, not everything is about sitting back and watching. Thrill Island pushes the envelope with the largest water park at sea. The Pressure Drop slide — a near-vertical plunge — offers a jolt of pure adrenaline, while Crown’s Edge, a ropes course dangling over 150 feet above the ocean, might be the ship’s boldest feature. It’s part adventure, part dare, and all nerves if you’re not comfortable with heights.

Balancing Thrills With Quiet Corners

aerial view of Central Park, an indoor neighborhood mimicking a tropical garden with bars and restaurants — Simone Cheri

What surprised me most about the Star of the Seas wasn’t the jaw-dropping attractions, but the quieter spaces tucked in between. After an afternoon in the chaos of Thrill Island, I found myself drawn to the Hideaway, an adults-only pool complete with the line’s swim-up bar, Swim & Tonic. Here, the soundtrack shifted from squeals of excitement to the clink of ice in cocktails, and the horizon stretched unbothered in every direction.

Then there’s Central Park — a lush, open-air garden that somehow feels like a world apart despite being at the heart of the ship. Walking through in the evening, with live strings playing under a canopy of stars, I was reminded that the magic of a cruise isn’t always in the flashiest features. Sometimes it’s in the quieter moments when the ship feels less like an attraction and more like a companion to the sea itself.

With Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has doubled down on its unspoken philosophy of going big but also carved out space for something more thoughtful. It’s a vessel where thrill-seekers and relaxation devotees can both feel at home.

Verdict: Adventure At Sea For Families Who Want It All

The Star of the Seas is not for travelers looking for a quiet, boutique cruise. This ship is unapologetically big, bold, and buzzing with energy. For families, though, that’s precisely the appeal. From the sheer variety of dining and entertainment to the record-breaking slides and water park, kids, parents, and even grandparents can find something to love.

Yes, the scale can feel overwhelming at first — navigating neighborhoods the size of city blocks isn’t what most people picture when they think of cruising. But if you approach each day as an adventure, the ship begins to unfold in a way that feels less intimidating and more like discovery. By the end of my preview, I found myself not only comfortable with the layout but also looking forward to what might be around the next corner.

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