At the stroke of midnight on our first night on board, 9,000 balloons came tumbling down at The Pearl—the dazzling centrepiece of the Star of the Seas. With everyone dressed in white, we were the perfect human canvas against neon lights and pulsing music. The vibe encapsulated all that was in store for us over the next few days—fun, style, and a little bit of dazzle at every corner.
When you’re invited to the global media preview of Royal Caribbean’s newest baby you know you’re in for something spectacular. I’ve been on a Royal Caribbean ship before, but this one? It’s less of a ship and more of a floating city that manages to combine the best of a beach retreat, a luxury resort, and a theme park adventure.
Setting Sail: Party At Every Corner
We got our first glimpse of the ship when we reached Port Canaveral in Orlando on a bright and sunny morning. There she was, stretching majestically against a clear blue sky. The sheer size was mammoth—twenty decks in total, eighteen just for guests; more than 2,800 staterooms.
As we sailed out of port, the atmosphere on deck was as vibrant as it could be. Every corner buzzed with music, cocktails, and laughter. A Latin band had people dancing by the pool, a pop-up bar served mojitos with theatrical flair, and kids ran giggling between ice cream cones and splash zones. I simply leaned against the railing, sipping chilled bubbly and watching the shoreline slip away. That night the party was on full swing with live bands spilling out rock anthems, DJs spinning in tucked-away lounges, bartenders theatrically shaking cocktails and couples dancing under the starry sky.
Icon Class: Bigger And Bolder
The Star of the Seas is the latest in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class—the largest class of cruise ships. Last year, Icon of the Seas was launched, this year Star of the Seas and next year, the third icon class ship, Legend of the Seas, will set sail in July. With a capacity of up to 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew from across the world, it can sound overwhelming, but somehow it never feels crowded. The ship is cleverly carved into eight neighbourhoods, each with its own mood and character.
If most ships have a lobby, the Star has the Pearl. The soaring, futuristic sphere is the central hub. It feels part-art-installation, part-social-core, and connects two decks via a grand staircase weaving its way through the sphere. The Pearl is the first thing you see when you step onto the Royal Promenade—a reimagined, double-deck space with floor-to-ceiling ocean views. Here, day and night, the neighbourhood comes alive with more than fifteen restaurants, bars, and lounges, including the Dueling Pianos bar where sing-offs can stretch late into the night, the stylish 1400 Lobby Bar where you sip cocktails while watching the ocean roll by, and fun walk-up windows where you grab Starbucks or champagne on the go.
Another one of my favourite neighbourhoods aboard is the Central Park. Yes, there’s a park on this ship, a real park, with thousands of living plants, winding pathways, and the soft strum of live jazz in the evenings. But Central Park is more than green spaces—it’s where food and music meet. You can sip champagne from the playful Bubbles bar, linger over live jazz at Lou’s Jazz ’n Blues, enjoy the ship’s first Izumi restaurant tucked among the trees, or go all out with the eight-course extravaganza at the Empire Supper Club.
Showtime: Olympians On Ice, Broadway At Sea
Cruise entertainment has come a long way from tired cover bands and cheesy magic tricks. Royal Caribbean has upped the ante by bringing Olympians and world champions onboard across four stages: on ice, in the air, under water and a large Broadway style production. Yes, athletes who’ve competed at the highest level are now dazzling crowds on ice rinks and acrobatic stages. One evening, I found myself gasping as a former world-champion skater executed a triple spin inches from the audience. On another, Back to the Future musical regaled us with the best-ever theatre experience on sea. Behind the scenes, I learned, the production team actually rivals Broadway’s in size and ambition. And in this case, the co-creator and writer of the original Back to the Future movie, Bob Gale, collaborated with Royal Caribbean to adapt the musical for the Royal Theatre on Star of the Seas.
Next, perched at the very top is the futuristic AquaDome. By day, it’s a quiet space with wraparound ocean views, perfect for sipping coffee at Rye & Bean or grazing at AquaDome Market, the ship’s first food hall. By night, it explodes into next-level aqua shows featuring world-class high divers, dancers, and even robotic performers, all under a 55-foot waterfall curtain.
Beyond these four spectacular shows, there’s entertainment galore. My favourite is the ‘surprise’ piano recital, a quirky show that you stumble upon in unsuspecting venues, like inside an elevator, or at the end of a corridor leading to the staterooms. The stand up comedy has limited seating and is worth queuing up for; we were treated to a plethora of jokes inspired by the cruise itself, and as hilarious as it was, it seemed to connect the audience at a human level—no matter our backgrounds, the core experiences of most individuals are so similar when it comes to our basic needs (just some food for thought!).
Family Time: Fun And Full-On Thrills
With surf simulators, water slides, zip lines, and escape rooms, families are spoiled for choice. Kids can spend entire days bouncing between supervised clubs, pools, and rides, while parents sneak off to the spa or casino. There’s truly no age group left out.
Thrill Island on Deck 17 is a sprawling theme park at sea. There’s Category 6, the largest waterpark afloat, with six record-breakers ranging from Pressure Drop, the first open freefall slide at sea with a 66° incline, to Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea at 46 feet tall and 282 feet long, to Hurricane Hunter and Storm Surge, the family raft slides that spiral for 395 and 425 feet, to Storm Chasers, the first-ever mat-racing duo at sea. And if that doesn’t make your heart pound, try Crown’s Edge, a part-skywalk, part-ropes course, part-freefall ride for some undeniable adrenaline rush.
Star of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International
Families with little ones get their own neighbourhood—Surfside on Deck 7. It’s cleverly designed so parents can relax at Water’s Edge pool while keeping an eye on kids splashing at Splashaway Bay or toddlers doing their own thing at Baby Bay. Just steps away, there’s a reimagined beach-themed carousel, an arcade, food counters serving everything from tacos to smoothies, and neighbourhood-wide festivals like the Larger-than-Life Family Festival and the Big Shark Block Party hosted by Admiral Awesome, a new character who seemed to be an instant hit with the kids.
When I needed a break from all the buzz, I sneaked off to The Hideaway on Deck 15, a chic, adults only beach club where the centrepiece is the first suspended infinity pool at sea, surrounded by multi-level terraces and whirlpools.
Island Dreams: Perfect Day At CocoCay
Midway through our cruise, we docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island. No Royal Caribbean itinerary is complete without a stop at CocoCay. Imagine turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and just enough curated fun to keep everyone happy. I contemplated kayaking out into the pristine waters, but eventually flopped into a pool bed with my piña colada. Back on board, there was a Caribbean themed party with everyone dressed in their colourful florals adding to the island vibe.
Dining: From Silver Service To Street-Style Eats
Let’s talk food, because on a ship this size, dining is also an immersive activity. Specialty restaurants abound—from steak houses to sushi bars—but even the inclusive dining halls are a cut above. One night, I watched silver being polished and checked under torchlight to ensure not a single smudge escaped inspection. That level of detail, multiplied across thousands of guests, is impressive, to say the least, especially since it was not a specialty dining. With 40+ restaurants, bars, and lounges, you can go from champagne-on-the-go at Bubbles to sushi at Izumi, to all-you-can-eat brunch at Windjammer, to decadent dinners at Empire Supper Club.
Why I’d Cruise Again
I used to think that cruises are overhyped, because I am a believer of slow travelling and enjoy immersing myself in each destination, rather than making a dash on each port on a multi-day cruise itinerary. But if you think of the cruise as the destination itself, then it’s a game changer.
While the shows and rides were dazzling, my most memorable moments were quieter ones. Standing on the outdoor deck at 1400 Hours, sipping the ship’s signature cocktail, inspired by The Pearl, with a perfectly crafted shimmery, citrusy sphere atop the refreshing drink, watching the horizon blur into endless blue. Or sneaking up to the Bridge—an exclusive media perk—and watching the crew at work, navigating this luxury liner through open seas.
There’s always something to do to suit every kind of mood. But what makes a cruise truly memorable, though, are the people you meet along the way. By the end of the three days, I’d traded life stories with a couple celebrating 25 years of marriage (their first trip without kids!), danced through an Abba trivia night with fellow media, exchanged notes with fellow journalists from across the world on the state of media in their respective countries, and learned about the ins and outs of luxury travel design from a consultant in Boston.
So, would I recommend the Star of the Seas? Wholeheartedly. Cruises are perfect if you’re travelling in a large group—everyone finds their rhythm, and the built-in variety keeps everyone happy. But they’re equally rewarding for couples or even solo travellers. The ship’s atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and just social enough where friendships spark as naturally as the sunsets.
