Setting Sail in Style: Royal Caribbean’s Newest Mega Cruise Ship Launches Next Year with Luxurious $230-a-Night Accommodations

Royal Caribbean says its next Icon class ship, Star of the Seas, will set sail in August 2025.

The first vessel in its class, Icon of the Seas, debuted in early 2024 to massive success.

Star of the Seas would be as large as its predecessor and have amenities like a six-slide waterpark.

Royal Caribbean’s next star will be born in the summer of 2025.

The popular cruise line has announced that its second Icon class mega-ship, Star of the Seas, will set sail on seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral in Florida starting in August 2025, with prices beginning at around $1,610 per person.

As the latest addition following a successful predecessor, Star of the Seas carries a significant legacy to honor.

Royal Caribbean introduced this upcoming ship several months before its sibling vessel, Icon of the Seas, made its maiden voyage in January 2024.

By then, the Icon of the Seas, already acclaimed as the world’s biggest cruise ship, had indeed fulfilled its expected grandeur.

Royal Caribbean experienced its highest ever day of bookings when it opened reservations for its Icon of the Seas in October 2022. Michael Bayley, President and CEO of the cruise line, has often highlighted that the first Icon class vessel is the most popular product they’ve offered.

Should the Star of the Seas garner the same level of interest as its forerunner, this new maritime resort could very well become a standout attraction.

Mirroring the specifications of the Icon, the Star would also feature a gross tonnage of 248,663, rise up to 20 decks, and stretch out to 1,196 feet in length.

With its maximum capacity, the Icon can host a population akin to a small town, accommodating up to 9,950 individuals, split into 2,350 crew members and 7,600 guests. Full capacity details for Star of the Seas have not been disclosed by Royal Caribbean, but it is expected to hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy, similar to its predecessor.

Like size, activities are expected to remain consistent across both behemoth ships.

Just like Icon, Star will feature a six-slide waterpark, seven pools, the amusement park-like Crown’s Edge ride, and eight neighborhoods. These areas include Surfside, a favorite for families with young children, and AquaDome, which houses Royal Caribbean’s renowned AquaTheater.

While Icon’s $200-per-person Empire Supper Club won’t be available on Star of the Seas. The new ship is expected to introduce Lincoln Park Supper Club, a premium “1930s Chicago-inspired” dining experience with live entertainment. Pricing details have yet to be released.

However, if you were fond of the grab-and-go sushi window, food hall, jazz venue, and swim-up pool bar introduced on Icon, you’ll be pleased to know these features will return on Star. These will be joined by Royal Caribbean favorites such as a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and a seafood eatery.

So, if Star of the Seas books as well as Icon, we could expect the upcoming mega-ship to be another mega-hit.

Royal Caribbean plans to keep busy in the next few years. A third unnamed Icon class vessel is scheduled to debut in 2026, followed by a seventh Oasis class vessel two years later.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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