by Eric Bowman
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Sun August 17, 2025
Royal Caribbean has debuted the next world’s largest cruise ship with?Star of the Seas, the second ship in its Icon Class.?
It’s 248,663 gross tons, can hold 5,610 guests (double occupancy) and 2,350 crew with 2,850 total staterooms. There are 20 total decks and eight distinct neighborhoods on the ship: AquaDome, Central Park, Chill Island, Thrill Island, Surfside, The Hideaway, Suite Neighborhood, and the Royal Promenade.
Here’s the best of what the Star of the Seas has to offer.
The Thrills
One of the big wow factors for Star of the Seas is Thrill Island and the over 17,000 square foot Category 6 Waterpark, which features six record-breaking waterslides - Pressure Drop – the only open free-fall slide at sea, Hurricane Hunter, the only family raft slide at sea, Storm Surge, Frightening Bolt and the dual Storm Chasers ride, which is the only mat racing duo ride at sea.
Additional thrills across the ship include:
Crown’s Edge: it’s Part skywalk, part ropes course for a thrilling adventure 154 feet above the ocean.
The popular FlowRider surf simulator experience returns, and the ship also has mini golf, a sports court, a rock climbing wall, Laser Tag,? two escape rooms -
Plus each sailing day will include a variety of unique activities throughout the ship.
Chilling and Relaxing
Star of the seas has 7 pools and 10 whirlpools. Four of these pools can be found on in Chill Island, including the expansive Royal Bay - the largest pool at sea.
Adults will love the swim up pool bar Swim & Tonic and their own exclusive area in The Hideaway – a beach club vibe with arguably one of the best pool views at sea.
Parents of young kids will for sure be relaxing at the Surfside neighborhood. They can grab a fun drink from The Lemon Post Bar while the kids have fun at their own mini waterpark Splashaway Bay, or maybe they want to jump in the carousel, play on the playground, in the arcade – or just simply grab a ice cream cone – this neighborhood will be a massive hit for families of all ages and sizes.
The Nightly Entertainment
Headlining the nighttime fun onboard Star of the Seas is ?Back to the Future: The Musical: - which brings the iconic movie to life on the high seas in a full-scale Broadway level production with the largest orchestra at sea.
Other entertainment options include the Aqua Theater, which will feature the most synchronized swimmers of any AquaTheater show across the fleet, and amazing skills on ice will be on display over in Absolute Zero – home to the Largest ice-skating cast featuring extreme skaters for the first time ever.
And of course you can’t forget about the many live show performances taking place every night, from comedians to magicians, to dueling pianos, and also bands in the two-deck Music Hall
The Dining
Star of the seas features over 40 places to eat and drink.?
One of our favorites is the AquaDome Market – which features Crepes, Thai food at My Thai, Pig Out BBQ, FETA Mediterranean, and fantastic empanadas at La Cocinita.?
The highlight onboard though might just be the new specialty dining option: the Lincoln Park Supper Club - a glamorous, multi-course dining experience with live jazz inspired by 1930s Chicago.
Of course there’s also the main dining room sprawling across three decks, a variety of options at the buffet at Windjammer Marketplace, the iconic Chops Grille steakhouse, hibachi, sushi, Italian, seafood, tons of dessert options – like over the top milkshakes!, and so much more
You definitely won’t go hungry!
The Accommodations
There are 28 types of accommodations onboard Star of the Seas. ?
Families have tons of options to choose from like ocean-view balcony rooms, interior rooms overlooking the Central Park and Surfside neighborhoods, and unique infinite balcony rooms – where the room is extended but you still get that ocean breeze by lowering your window with the touch of a button.
Or they could amp up their stay with a luxurious suite ?- like the out of this world Ultimate Family Townhouse that features a slide in the room, musical steps, and an epic wrap around balcony.
Suites come with their own special perks too, like concierge service and access to special exclusive restaurants, making them a great way to elevate your vacation.
Star of the Seas is jampacked with fun for all ages. Contact a travel advisor to book!
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