The Star of the Seas cuts through crystalline waters to its stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
When it comes to planning a vacation, oftentimes it becomes a choice between the familiar and foreign, the relaxing and adventurous. Add the kids and ageing parents into the equation, and suddenly, what was supposed to be a well-deserved break turns into an exercise of mediating parleys. That said, holidays need not be a zero-sum game. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which shares the crown of the largest cruise ship in the world with sister vessel Icon of the Seas, offers a sweet proposition — one where all members of the family can enjoy themselves simultaneously.
Spanning the length of three football fields, Star, the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class line-up, was not built to break records but provide “the ultimate family vacation”. With two more vessels underway — Legend of the Seas, arriving next summer, will be the first Icon Class ship to sail in the Mediterranean and the Southern Caribbean; the other unnamed ship is set for delivery in 2027 — and over 8.5 million people choosing to cruise with the brand in 2024, it is clear that Royal Caribbean has hit the nail on the head.
To solve the problem of differing interests, Royal Caribbean has developed neighbourhoods where family members can split up to enjoy their own activities and then reunite for lunch or dinner at one of the 40 F&B spots on the ship.
“What we’ve managed to do is create really unique spaces and experiences that work for every generation and group. The totality of all that is really expressed through the neighbourhoods. Each serves a different purpose and leans into a grouping of experiences people want,” explains president and CEO Michael Bayley.
For example, adventure seekers will gravitate towards Thrill Island, which features the largest water park at sea with a tangle of six looping slides, visible even from Florida’s Port Canaveral as we boarded. There is also a rock climbing wall and an aerial adventure course dubbed Crown’s Edge that dangles participants 154ft over the ocean.
Too extreme? Those who would rather take a soak in a cantilevered whirlpool or devour a book on a sun lounger can head to Chill Island instead, where spectacular views and a limoncello and tonic await at the adults-only infinity pool at the aft.
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The Royal Promenade is the place to go for retail therapy while the vibrant and open-air Central Park, filled with plants and (virtual) birdsong, provides a welcome respite from overstimulation. While there are plenty of complimentary dining options on board, including the Windjammer buffet and Pearl Café for grab-and-go meals, those with an occasion to celebrate can book a table at one of Star’s many speciality restaurants, ranging from Japanese to Italian cuisines.
“The team did a really phenomenal job in delivering fine dining experiences, such as the Lincoln Park Supper Club,” says Bayley. The new glitzy Chicago-style jazz speakeasy only hosts one sitting a night for no more than 40 guests. Entertainment is nothing short of fantastic. There are marquee performances held daily across air, ice and water. At the AquaTheatre, ex-Olympian divers, slackliners and synchronised swimmers make jaw-dropping stunts seem like child’s play in Torque. Professional figure skaters carve out energetic storylines on ice in Sol. And theatre fans would be delighted to know Back to the Future: The Musical is Star’s headlining show.
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While seasoned cruisers will recognise most areas from Icon, there have been hundreds of improvements made on Star, including a design overhaul of the signature kids’ club, Adventure Ocean. There are multiple programmes catered to babies (six to 36 months old) and kids (up to 12 years old), with numerous play spaces and interactive activities, from head-to-head challenges to techy crafts and a puppet show, to keep them entertained, all under the supervision of childcare professionals.
Additionally, it is just a hop, skip and jump away from Surfside, the family-friendly neighbourhood with a new and improved toddler splash zone, arcade and bottomless soft serve ice cream. Direct (and private) access to this neighbourhood is given to occupants of the Ultimate Family Townhouse, a three-storey suite with a musical piano staircase, karaoke and slide that connects the bedrooms to the living room. Essentially, every child’s dream come true. Star also features a new stateroom configuration where floor-to-ceiling electric cabin windows replace balconies for added safety.
“You’ll see that many of our family rooms have two peepholes on the doors: one for the adults and the other for kids. A lot of things we do very much have children in mind,” Bayley assures.
One would not have a problem clocking in 10,000 steps a day across the mini golf course, pickleball courts and escape rooms, but if a relaxed walk is more up your alley, there is a jogging track that circles the ship. PS: lucky cruisers may even get to meet Sailor, Star’s chief dog officer and golden retriever pup, out on a potty break.
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While there is clearly much to do on board, every excursion on Star stops at Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. Perfect Day at CocoCay, while a mouthful, employs the same zoning strategy to allow all passengers to maximise their beach time.
“When we created Perfect Day at CocoCay, we asked thousands of customers if they were going to have a perfect day in the Caribbean, what would it include? And it really came down to ‘thrill’ and ‘chill’. The parents wanted beach, sand, water, Corona in hand and a good burger. They didn’t want their kids bothering them, but to be super happy in the water park. So we built it and it’s worked very well,” shares Bayley.
Fourteen water slides, nine dining spots, seven beaches, five pools and a helium balloon ride — the island truly has it all. The shrieks from the water park and parties at the adults-only Hideaway Beach are audible signals of fun, but quieter cabanas and villas atop aquamarine waters can also be booked for private get-togethers. Guests can also hop on an excursion to nearby islands for a different Caribbean experience. One trip brings us to Treasure Island, where swimming pigs and gentle stingrays become beachside companions. All arrangements can easily be made via the Royal Caribbean app.
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Touching on the company’s strategy to continue offering shorter packages, Bayley says: “Historically, the cruise industry started with very long trips, but it has gotten shorter over many decades. The prime time was typically a seven-night cruise in the Caribbean. But I think we all began to realise that the on-ramp to the cruising experience is a shorter product because people are unsure about the idea of committing to seven or 10 days of vacation for an experience they don’t really know. No one really has an issue with jumping on a cruise ship on Friday and getting off on Monday because if it’s no good, it was just a weekend.
“Once people have experienced a product or brand and they like it, it’s so much easier to offer them longer itineraries.”
If an arduous journey to the States sounds less than ideal, there are a couple of Royal Caribbean cruises sailing out of Singapore, stopping by Penang, Phuket, Langkawi, Ho Chi Minh City or Bangkok, to explore. These include two Voyager Class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, equipped with an ice skating rink and laser tag rooms, as well as the Quantum Class Ovation of the Seas, featuring a riveting 10-storey multi-sensory water slide.
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Star was all set for its maiden voyage from Florida, with American legend Diana Ross in tow as godmother of the ship, a symbolic role given to a woman who blesses the vessel, bringing it luck and protection. But alas, the singer and actress pulled out at the last minute.
Disappointed, management had to find an alternative quickly.
“We spent time thinking about it and somebody came up with a brilliant idea. Since the ship is called Star of the Seas and offers another level of adventure and excitement, why don’t we find an astronaut, someone who has been to space and seen the stars?” Bayley divulges. “And then we found Kellie Gerardi. She was the 90th woman in space.”
On Aug 21, the research astronaut and payload specialist officially bestowed safekeeping onto the ship. “A vacation on Star is a combination of two of my greatest passions in life: embracing the spirit of exploration and creating lifelong memories with my family. So, I’m very excited to be on this journey with Royal Caribbean. My hope to you is, as you sail on Star, that your journeys are filled with joy and the spirit of adventure that unites us all,” she said at the naming celebration.
Even though Icon and Star have merely begun their journeys at sea, the Royal Caribbean team is already deep into building a new class.
“A whole group of us spend 50% of our workday designing for the future of Royal Caribbean, be it destinations or ships. It’s a lot of fun,” Bayley adds.
A new Royal Beach Club is set to open this December on Paradise Island in Nassau, the Bahamas, where it will feature the world’s largest swim-up bar. The adventure continues with Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027 and an exclusive beach destination in Lelapa, the South Pacific, in 2027.
This article first appeared on Sept 1, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
