Since its first cruise in 1970, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has been a player in the cruise ship industry. Today, Royal Caribbean is a major player.
In 1968, hospitality entrepreneur Ed Stephan and three Norwegian ship owners, Sigurd Skaugen, Anders Wilhemsen and Gotaas Larsen, created a cruise line to sail the Caribbean. The partners chose the name “Royal Caribbean” – with the connection to royalty signifying the high standards of service guests could expect from the new company. The first ship, Song of Norway, set sail on her maiden voyage from Miami, Florida on November 7, 1970, followed by two more ships in the next two years.
Influenced by the state-of-the-art Norwegian marine industry, the Royal Caribbean team built those first three ships for speed and fuel efficiency, with shallow drafts that could allow the ships to berth at small island quays. Impressed also by the Norwegian culture of ship safety, they made sure the vessels were designed for quick, efficient evacuation. Those early ships pioneered the wide, open-air decks and the round-cantilevered Viking Crown Lounges that separated Royal Caribbean ships from other cruise lines.
In the decades that followed, Royal Caribbean has continued to be an industry innovator – from accommodations and dining, to entertainment, safety, technology and private destination development.
Getting bigger has a lot of positives. But there are certain traits that helped Royal Caribbean get to where they are today. Chief among them is their entrepreneurial spirit, hiring the right people at all levels, and the ability to innovate and constantly strive to do better.
“Guests have come to expect the biggest, best and boldest from Royal Caribbean Group. And we aren’t going to let them down — ever. Star of the Seas delivers everything families want in a vacation with more adventure and more ways to make unforgettable memories together. We’ve created the world’s best vacation for all ages yet again, and it’s truly a magical moment to celebrate that with our Royal Caribbean family who made it all possible.” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean President and CEO.
Today there are 29 Royal Caribbean ships sailing in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Europe and Asia, including: Anthem of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas.
Pursuitist was recently invited to experience Royal Caribbean’s newest floating palace, Star of the Seas.
Star of the Seas is the sister ship to Icon of the Seas and represents the next evolution in Royal Caribbean’s largest, most innovative class.
Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas emphasizes family-friendly mega-resort experiences, sustainable technology, and superior amenities.
Time to Set Sail: Seamless and Professional
Once we arrived at the Orlando, Florida Airport, we followed signs in the baggage claim area for the Royal Caribbean check-in desk. At the desk, staffed by very kind professionals, we quickly boarded one of several motor coaches for the complimentary trip to Port Canaveral.
Approaching Star’s home dock at Port Canaveral, we were struck at the size of Star. Our last cruise was on Utopia of the Seas, and Star is bigger with more amenities. At more than 250,000 Gross Tons, and 1,198 feet long, this massive vessel cuts an imposing figure at Port Canaveral.
At the Star of the Seas dock, the boarding process was super fast. The well-orchestrated process included checking in, passing through security, and proceeding to the boarding ramps with the help of courteous staff. The boarding process took less than ten minutes, as Royal Caribbean has the boarding process down pat.
We were greeted by a Caribbean band and dancers, and welcome champagne from smiling Star of the Seas greeters.
Star of the Seas can carry 7,600 passengers – 5,600 at double occupancy. There about 2,300 crew aboard, representing an impressive rainbow of home nations.
Once onboard, we marveled at the full-luxe atmosphere aboard Star, and headed to our ocean-view balcony suite.
Depending on the thickness of your wallet, Star of the Seas has a room for you, as there are over 2,800 staterooms, including new layouts designed for families. For the very well heeled, consider the full-luxe Family Infinite Balcony rooms and Ultimate Family Townhouse which include multi-story suites with cool sliding boards and cinema rooms.
Top tier Luxury suites are in expanded suite neighborhoods with exclusive pools, restaurants, and concierge services.
During the Media/Trade event, we had the opportunity to tour a variety of rooms and luxury suites. From inner cabins with no windows, to our ocean-view balcony room, to impressive, dual levels suites with prices in the five and six figure range, there is a well-appointed room/suite for you – all serviced by outstanding cabin attendants.
Let’s Go!
Star of the Seas offers 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, both with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. More on Perfect Day later in the story.
Our first evening included a media welcome event with CEO Michael Bayley; Lyan Sierra-Caro, Director of Global Public Relations; and the Ketchum Agency team including Michael Marti who invited Pursuitist to the Media/Trade cruise.
The Star Media team laid out a full slate of opportunities to explore the myriad things you can do onboard, including media briefings, food and beverage tastings, and the wildest of them all – the opportunity to strap up and experience Crown’s Edge – a ride that lets you swing out over the ocean! I’m not brave enough for that kind of adventure, but it sure was a lot of fun to watch those who did it!
Dining & Culinary Experience
There are over 40 dining options aboard Star, ranging from casual grab-and-go to fine dining.
Our personal favorite was the main dining room, as there were so many buffet food options to choose from, including many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten/allergy friendly options. And the wait staff was just superb, always at hand to make sure you had everything you need.
On the food safety front, you can’t enter the main dining room without being greeted by a smiling team of sanitation staff, singing and dancing, making sure you “washy-washy” your hands before you enter. There were also hand sanitizer stations throughout the dining room.
Want to dine while enjoying 1930s Jazz? Then the Lincoln Park Supper Club is just the ticket. The new Lincoln Park Supper Club serves up an elevated dining experience inspired by 1930s Chicago. Vacationers can embark on a multi-course journey with curated dishes thoughtfully paired with sophisticated cocktails and jazz music.
After the Media/Trade welcome event on the first night of our cruise, we joined two other media couples for an impressive seafood dinner at Hooked Seafood where we enjoyed Lobster tails, grilled Shrimp, Oysters, Crab Cakes and tasty Salmon.
Entertainment & Activities
There are literally dozens of activities and entertainment options onboard, including:
We spent most of our evening time in the outdoor Central Park on Deck 8, where we hung out and enjoyed live jazz at the Louis Armstrong inspired Lou’s In Central Park Jazz Club.
And we danced into the early morn with the Star Dance Team on the Royal Promenade!
Aquadome!
Oh yes, we thoroughly enjoyed the amazing performance at the Aquadome, where a team of men and women synchronus water damcers and high divers totally wowed the crowd. The Aquadome is configured so that performers can disappear below the water during performances, and reappear at high diving platforms where dives were breathtaking.
Add in flying cable dancing above water shooting up from the floor, and the whole experience was jus fantastic. WOW!
We also laughed our butts off at the Comedy Club, and saw the performance of Back to the Future: The Musical in the Royal Theater.
After enjoying the evening’s entertainment, we headed to the pool areas on docks 17 & 18 to enjoy delicious, curated, Caribbean-themed drinks at the Coconut Bars and late-night munchies at El Loco Fresh.
Throughout the evening, we were wowed by the specially curated artwork and scupltures througout Star.
A Truly Perfect Day
On day two of the cruise, we sailed to one of Royal Caribbean’s private islands, CocoCay. The theme of CocoCay is “The Perfect Day.” We moored next to Symphony of the Seas, a large vessel in its own right, but still dwarfed by Star.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is a great combination of thrill and chill. The private island is only available to Royal Caribbean guests, and provides an array of distict adventures including the tallest waterslide in North America, Daredevil’s Peak, and Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. You can also take rides in Up, Up & Away a hot air balloon that rises to heights taller than the Statue of Liberty. If you have kids, there are plenty of activities for them!
Our choice for The Perfect Day was Hideaway Beach. Hideaway Beach is for adults only, and offers a covered beach loungers, a walk up pool bar, private cabanas, amazing food and drink options including delicious coconut shrimp and more. CocoCay is fully staffed, and we had a ball.
Debbie and I spent our entire time at the walk up pool bar, where we enjoyed the Sun and great cocktails, and watch the great team in the Bahamas dance in Caribbean Carnival costumes.
Just like our time at CocoCay during the Utopia of the Seas media cruise, it was a blast to see CEO Michael Bayley walking on the bar top armed with a champagne “shooter,” delivering Moet to wide open mouths soaking in the pool bar area, including me and Debbie.
That’s the thing we love about Royal Caribbean. Everyone from Michael Bayley at the very top of the company to the thousands of super awesome staff onboard is “all-in” to make your RC experience top notch!
Our Perfect Day was indeed perfect, and we reluctantly took the last shuttle to Star of the Seas as we didn’t want to leave.
That evening, we enjoyed more entertainment and a late night dip in a hot tub. And of course, enjoyed some more late night munchies and entertainment on the Royal Promenade, where freshly baked pizza is always available.
Star of the Seas Godmother and Chief Dog Officer
Pursuitist had earlier reported that music icon Diana Ross was named Godmother of Star of the Seas. During the media briefing, we learned that Ms. Ross had stepped down, and was replaced by NASA Astronaut Kellie Gerardi.
Left to right- Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. Kellie Girardi, Michael Bayley, and Captain Rob Hempstead.
And everyone loved Royal Caribbean’s Chief Dog Officer “Sailor,” who was introduced to us at the media/trade press conference. Following in the steps of “Rover” on Icon of the Seas, Sailor’s role is to bring joy to families and vacationers of all ages on Star of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean – Sustainability at Work
Star of the Seas advances Royal Caribbean’s commitment to sustainability by building flexibility into ship design. These initiatives help improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and promote responsible resource management. Key sustainability features include:
- Liquefied Natural Gas – A transitional fuel powering the ship
- Waste Heat Capture – Harnesses and repurposes excess engine heat
• Air Lubrication System – Reduces friction as the ship sails
• 100% Fresh Water – Produced onboard via reverse osmosis/desalination
• Wastewater Treatment System – Treats water above regulatory standards
• Landfill Free – Achieved through the Green Hub program
Star of the Seas is 24% more energy efficient than required standards for ships in design today.
We Don’t Want to Leave!
The only bad thing Debbie and I experienced during our truly enjoyable cruise was having to disembark on the final day.
On departure day, the process was as seamless as the boarding process. We were given specific times to depart in groups, and the U.S. Customs and Immigration process only took five minutes. We then boarded motor coaches for the return to the Orlando Airport.
Thank you Team Star of the Seas!
Pursuitist wants to give special thanks to the entire Star of the Seas Team. From top to bottom, from our room attendant, to greeters, to bartenders and wait staff, everyone was super kind and super professional. We were welcomed and appreciated no matter where we were on the ship.
Star of the Seas cements Royal Caribbean’s dominance in the mega-resort cruise market. It is ideal for families, multi-generational travelers, and anyone looking for a floating city with unmatched entertainment and dining options.
Star of the Seas is a marvel of engineering and a true bucket-list cruise experience.
Read about our experience on Utopia of the Seas here!
