Royal Caribbean officially received its new ship, Star of the Seas, in a delivery ceremony held at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, this past July 2025. This vessel is the second in the cruise line’s Icon Class and is scheduled to begin operations this August from its homeport in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.
The delivery, which took place after nearly two years of construction, was commemorated with an event in the ship’s AquaTheater, attended by more than 1,250 crew members and partners. Executives from Royal Caribbean and the shipyard marked the transfer of ownership, which begins the final phase of preparation before the ship’s debut.
Star of the Seas shares many features with its sister ship, Icon of the Seas. It is structured into eight “neighborhoods” or themed areas, including “Thrill Island,” which houses the Category 6 waterpark with six slides; “Chill Island,” with four pools; “Surfside,” an area designed for young families; and the “AquaDome,” a steel and glass dome with an aquatic theater and ocean views.
In terms of technology, the vessel is the third in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Additionally, it is equipped with waste heat recovery systems and shore power connection capabilities. These features are part of the company’s environmental strategy.
Following its delivery, the ship headed to Cadiz, Spain, for final touches before its inaugural journey. From Port Canaveral, Star of the Seas will offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, which will include calls at the company’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
