Royal Caribbean·Star of the Seas

Star of the Seas - Eastern Caribbean: St. Thomas & Samaná

4.7(72 reviews)
via U.S. News · Jul 2026
|7 Nights|3 Ports|3 Sea Days

This Star of the Seas routing from Port Canaveral trades the usual St. Maarten call for Samaná on the Dominican Republic's lush northeast peninsula, pairing it with Charlotte Amalie and a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It's the Icon-class experience with an off-the-beaten-path port most megaships skip.

FamiliesNew Ship EnthusiastsNature LoversBeach Lovers

Price Range

$$

Mid-Range

DeparturePort Canaveral, FL
Dress CodeFormal Nights
MealsIncluded
WiFiPaid

*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Royal Caribbean before booking.

Ship Details — Star of the Seas

View full Star of the Seas details

Year Built

2025

Tonnage

248,663 GT

Passengers

5,610

Crew

2,350

Decks

20

Class

Icon Class

Itinerary & Route Map

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Onboard Amenities

Category 6 waterpark with six waterslides
AquaDome with aerial and dive shows
Crown's Edge skywalk thrill ride
FlowRider surf simulator
Absolute Zero ice-skating arena
Surfside family neighborhood
Central Park open-air garden neighborhood
The Pearl kinetic sphere on the Royal Promenade
Chill Island with four pools
Hideaway suspended infinity pool
Cloud 17 adults-only retreat
Swim & Tonic swim-up bar
40+ restaurants, bars and lounges
Back to the Future: The Musical production show
Lost Dunes escape room
Rock-climbing wall

Cruise Highlights

Samaná call with El Limón waterfall and Los Haitises National Park excursions
Magens Bay beach day in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay to close the week
Two opening sea days aboard the newest Icon-class ship

About the Ship

What Travelers Say About Star of the Seas

Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Star of the Seas sailing. Based on 620 discussions.

Star of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's second Icon-class ship and co-holder of the world's-largest-cruise-ship title, and travelers consistently describe it less as a ship than a floating resort town. The eight-neighborhood design - from the greenery of Central Park to the thrill decks of Thrill Island - gives it a theme-park energy, and the consensus from early sailings is that it lives up to the hype as long as you arrive expecting crowds and pounding energy rather than a quiet week at sea.

What People Love

  • Entertainment lineup is a genuine standout - Back to the Future: The Musical and the AquaDome dive shows draw repeat mentions as the best productions at sea
  • Eight-neighborhood layout spreads 5,600+ guests surprisingly well - travelers report rarely waiting for food or drinks outside peak events
  • Category 6 is the largest waterpark at sea, with six full-size slides that keep kids occupied for entire sea days

Common Complaints

  • It is a genuinely crowded ship when everyone gathers - sailaway, headliner shows and holiday sailings can exceed 7,000 passengers
  • Noise is a recurring complaint - music around the pools and Promenade often runs at nightclub volume all day
  • As a newer ship some crew are still learning their roles, and service consistency lags veteran ships like Harmony
See the full Star of the Seas ship page — all 16 pros & cons, review & FAQs

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