I recently sailed on a preview cruise for Royal Caribbean’s newest mega-ship, and now biggest cruise ship in the world, Star of the Seas. The ship will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, near Orlando, on seven-night itineraries visiting the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The 20-deck ship is filled with what Royal calls “thrills and chills.” This means that there’s truly something for everyone in the family, from the grandparents who want to enjoy days on deck near the pools to kids who want to participate in thrilling adventures like the adventurous Crown’s Edge or onboard water park.
The massive 248,663-gross ton ship can carry 5,610 guests at double occupancy. Though since this is a family-friendly ship there will likely be many more people on board. The 2,350 international crew members are stellar, ensuring that every guest is well taken care of, and anticipating needs before someone even needs to ask.
MAKE MEMORIES: 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages
But what is it really like to sail on the world’s largest cruise ship? While I couldn’t do it all in three days, I was able to do some of the highlight activities, eat and drink my way around the ship, and even take some time to relax at the adult only pool. The longer seven-night sailings that you’ll be booking should allow your family to do nearly everything you could want on vacation, but be sure to make time to hit some of the highlights listed below. I promise, it’s worth taking a break from the pool for some of these incredible experiences.
Staterooms are small, but functional
The first place you’ll likely head once you get onboard is your stateroom. On Star of the Seas there are 2,805 cabins. I stayed in a spacious infinite ocean view balcony room. Upon entering, I loved the bright pops of color around the room from blankets, pillows and art. The room is clean and well-kept. The room could sleep up to four people, but it would be very tight. The bed was comfortable. I also liked how high it was off the ground so I could roll my suitcases underneath.
Further into the room was a small couch that turns into a bed, and a desk with a chair. The desk featured multiple drawers for storage. Speaking of storage, an entire wall is covered with a closet and cubbies so you can hang clothes and put away small things like socks and swimsuits.
BEST TRIP EVER: 101 fresh new family vacation ideas for every age and budget
The bathroom, like most cruise ship bathrooms, is small. I liked the glass-enclosed shower, but the overall space still feels cramped. You certainly can’t get dressed very easily in there.
The “balcony” is part of the interior your room, which I don’t really like on the newer Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises ships. The idea is that you can press a button and the window rolls down like a car window, instead of opening a door and stepping outside onto a traditional balcony. This does make your room warm, and it’s not the same feeling as stepping outside to enjoy the breeze on a real balcony. After experiencing this type of room on multiple cruise ships, I’d rather book a traditional balcony or a traditional ocean-view room where the window doesn’t roll down, the latter of which is usually cheaper.
Highlights for families on Star of the Seas
There’s endless possibilities for families on Star of the Seas. The Surfside neighborhood is completely designed with younger children in mind. The bright and colorful neighborhood is known for its kid-friendly grab-and-go snacks, cute splash pad, and giant pink flamingo.
Older kids and teens will love taking on the thrills of Category 6, the onboard water park where they can zip down some of the biggest and fastest slides at sea. My favorite slide is the Pressure Drop, which is the first open free fall slide at sea. But if you need a buddy to take on the massive slides, consider getting in line for Hurricane Hunter, a raft ride that the whole family can ride together.
SET SAIL: 12 best family cruises and ships in the world
For the same thrills as Category Six, book a time to take on the daring Crown’s Edge. The attraction is a mix of an obstacle course and a zip line. Once you’re in your suit and strapped into a harness, you’ll take a walk out over the side of the ship then take a leap of faith as the floor drops out from underneath you and you swing back to the ship.
Of course, there’s also the exciting kids clubs. Here dedicated crew members lead kids of all ages in games and activities designed just for them. The kids clubs are a great spot to drop your kids off if you’re looking for an adult night out.
Highlights for adults on Star of the Seas
While Star of the Seas mainly caters to families, there’s still plenty for adults to enjoy, whether they are traveling with kids or not. One of my favorite areas to hang out during the day is Pearl Cafe. The space offers cozy seating near windows that look out over the ocean while enjoying a snack.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY: 11 cheap family vacations that are super fun
For even more great views of the sea, The Hideaway at the back of the ship is the perfect spot. This adult-only pool area features a suspended infinity pool, an adjacent bar, a whirlpool, and some lounge chairs. I enjoyed this area while the ship was docked at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. The Hideaway was nearly empty since so many people were enjoying the beach.
As night falls, Central Park is the most adult-feeling neighborhood onboard. Here, a champagne bar called Bubbles is continuously pouring glasses, while the nearby sushi window, Izumi in the Park, is dishing out dumplings and sushi rolls. But the real star of this area is Lou’s a jazz bar where live music entertains guests all night long. You can even make a real date night of Central Park by booking a meal at Chops Grille, the steakhouse on Star of the Seas, then heading to Lou’s for a post-dinner drink and entertainment.
Best dining board Star of the Seas
Cruises have become more than just boring main dining rooms and overrun buffets, and that’s true of Star of the Seas too. The ship has over a dozen included restaurants, plus 14 specialty restaurants that you can choose from throughout your cruise.
A few of my favorite complimentary dining options are the Aquadome Market, a food hall style eatery where you can enjoy everything from fresh empanadas and BBQ to Mediterranean bowls and crepes. El Loco Fresh is also a fun option if you’re up on the pool deck and craving some tacos. And inside the Promenade, the classic Sorrento’s pizza is always a hot spot for a slice and people watching.
CRUISE DEALS: Kids sail free on these 8 cruise lines
Over the years, I’ve also been able to dine at quite a few of Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining options, and they are typically the same from ship to ship. For a good steak dinner you can’t beat Chops Grille, while Izumi combines dinner and a show with a teppanyaki-style dining experience.
Of course, no cruise is complete without a drink or two. Royal Caribbean is ensuring that everyone has some fun options whether you consume alcohol or not. At Rye & Bean you can get a fantastic espresso martini or a non-alcoholic coconut iced coffee. The Lime & Coconut pool bar also has a fun drink of the same name that comes in a tiny bucket and features rum, coconut milk, and guava syrup for a perfectly sippable poolside libation.
Can’t-miss entertainment on Star of the Seas
While there’s entertainment all over the ship in the form of music, dueling pianos, trivia, games, and more, there are three main shows that you must see while on Star of the Seas. The first is inside Absolute Zero, the onboard ice skating facility. Here, you can see Sol, an ice skating show that combines popular music, acrobatics, and stunts into one incredible performance. Then inside the Aquatheater, you can see Torque, a water dancing, acrobatic, and diving show themed to cars and racing.
TEEN-FRIENDLY TRIPS: 10 best vacation ideas for families with teenagers
The big showstopper is Back to the Future: The Musical inside the Royal Theater. The show is a near carbon copy of the show on Broadway with fun musical numbers, talented performers, and you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it special effects. I will say that the show has some language and suggestive material (which you’ll know if you’ve seen the musical or the movie), so it may not be good for really young kids. I saw the matinee performance of the show, which I enjoyed. The show is two hours, and seeing it in the middle of the day let me enjoy an evening with friends jumping from activity to activity.
For all three of the big performances, you need a reservation. These can be made on the Royal Caribbean app. If you aren’t able to get a reservation, you can arrive about 10 minutes before the start of the show and attempt to get any extra seats that are left open.
Overall impressions of Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas is a hit vacation from Royal Caribbean. The ship features plenty of areas for the entire family to enjoy, plus dedicated spaces for adults and kids to have some time to themselves. Dining and entertainment are endless, and you’ll never be bored with so much to do onboard. The ship is ideal for families and multi-generational groups looking for a vacation that truly has something for everyone, and it delivers on its tagline, “The World’s Best Family Vacation.”
