Royal Caribbean kicked off the countdown to a new era of family vacations, officially welcoming Star of the Seas into the family. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the keys to the next Icon Class ship were officially handed over to Royal Caribbean just a few weeks ahead of its August debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.
To mark the milestone, 1,250-plus crew members and partners gathered in the ship’s next-level AquaTheater. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, along with Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm, hosted the event, celebrating the team of engineers, designers and architects who made it all possible.
The delivery of the new ship marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku and celebrated the feats of engineering accomplished during construction, like the installation of the glass-and-steel AquaDome, the development of six record-breaking waterslides and more. Soon, Star will make its way from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will put the finishing touches before it sets sail on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures to top-rated destinations, including the vacation brand’s fan-favorite Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
Star will feature new rides and attractions, expanded relaxation areas, and over 40 dining, bar, and entertainment options across eight distinct neighborhoods.:
- Thrill Island—Adrenaline lovers can find thrills of all kinds at Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea with six record-breaking waterslides including family raft slides, a drop slide and dueling mat racers; Crown’s Edge, the part skywalk, part thrill ride 154 feet above the ocean; and fan favorites, such as the FlowRider surf simulator and rock-climbing wall.
- Chill Island—Spread over three decks, Chill Island has four pools, including Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea. Vacationers can enjoy live bands and DJs while they party poolside and sip on tropical drinks from the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar or at The Lime & Coconut just steps away.
- Surfside—Designed for young families, Surfside is the place to stay and play all day together. Kids and tots have more ways to splash at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay, while adults relax at the nearby Water’s Edge. When it’s time for a bite, Surfside Eatery and Pier 7 have menu options for all ages.
- AquaDome—With wraparound ocean views, this tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot at night features shows at the marquee AquaTheater with high divers, aerialists, robots and more. AquaDome is also home to a variety of food and drink spots including the AquaDome Market food hall, the Rye & Bean bar, Hooked Seafood and The Overlook bar for sweeping views.
- The Hideaway—Tucked away at 135 feet above the ocean, the adults-only spot features a suspended infinity pool—the only other pool of its kind having been first introduced on Icon—a DJ, bar, a terrace with whirlpools and vast ocean views.
Fleet favorites updated for the Icon Class round out vacationers’ experience, including the Royal Promenade with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the Pearl, the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture; the open-air Central Park with more than 30,500 real plants; the new 1930s Chicago-inspired Lincoln Park Supper Club; and convenient pick-up windows for sushi, champagne, sparkling wine, and more. Plus, vacationers have more ways to stay across four decks at the Suite Neighborhood, with exclusive amenities at the Grove Suite Sun Deck and the two-level Coastal Kitchen.
Star will also be the vacation company’s third ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature a proven lineup of environmental programs. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Star will advance Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035. The vacation brand is also set to deliver their fourth ship powered by LNG with Legend of the Seas, the third Icon Class vacation set to debut in 2026.
In addition to Star, Royal Caribbean continues to expand upon its lineup of vacation experiences across the ultimate destinations with the December 2025 debut of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas. The adventures continue with Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027 and an exclusive beach destination in Lelepa in the South Pacific in 2027.
Vacations on Star are available to book on Royal Caribbean’s website.
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