What is the best location for a cabin on a cruise ship?
05.10.2023 - 17:59 / thepointsguy.com / Royal Caribbean / Michael Bayley
And then there were two. Royal Caribbean announced Thursday the name and launch date for the next largest cruise ship in the world — a sister ship to 2024's Icon of the Seas.
The next Icon Class ship will be called Star of the Seas. It will debut in the summer of 2025.
For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.
Star of the Seas will be the cruise line's third ship powered by liquefied natural gas. It will be built around the same design as Icon of the Seas, so it will be approximately 250,800 gross tons and carry roughly 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (two passengers per cabin) or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy. With crew, the ship could sail with nearly 10,000 people on board.
The cruise line will reveal additional details about the ship and its itineraries at a later date.
Like Icon, Star of the Seas' goal will be to offer multiple vacation experiences all within one vessel, from a family fun trip and luxury resort stay to a thrilling theme park and water park adventure.
"The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we've seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas," Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in a press release.
Icon of the Seas, which will offer its first official sailing in January 2024, will set records for Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry beyond just its size.
The ship will feature a first-of-its-kind indoor AquaTheater under a giant glass dome, a section of the ship dedicated to young families, a larger number and variety of family-focused accommodations (including a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse), a cantilevered infinity pool and six-slide onboard water park.
Other notable attractions include a swim-up bar, an expanded suite enclave and a new supper club.
Star of the Seas will likely have many of the same attractions as Icon of the Seas, though Royal Caribbean might change up the theming or bring in a new restaurant to give travelers a reason to try both ships.
Stay tuned for more details as Royal Caribbean announces where Star of the Seas will home port and cruise (and when you can book those itineraries) and reveals the new and returning attractions you will find on its second vessel with the title of largest cruise ship in the world.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
What is the best location for a cabin on a cruise ship?
For some time now, Royal Caribbean has been known for operating some of the world’s largest cruise ships, creating vacation resorts at sea. In early 2024, its long-awaited new ship is set to redefine big ship cruising once again.
When images of the world's largest cruise ship went viral this summer, social media users described Icon of the Seas with less than flattering terms. Among them are "human lasagne," a "monstrosity," and "hell on water."
A massive German cruise ship is sailing back and forth around the English Channel, searching for a crew member the captain believes fell overboard early Sunday morning.
The U.S. Department of State issued a “Worldwide Caution” alert on Thursday, warning Americans around the globe to be aware of their surroundings.
A cruise passenger is suing Carnival after his balcony door "unexpectedly slammed shut with substantial force" and amputated his right index finger during a September 2022 cruise onboard the Carnival Horizon.
As air travel millions of Americans made their way back to the skies — in what may have been a few years — a new report shares how airfare for flights out of certain airports were impacted from last year to this year,
One of the rarest kinds of solar eclipses — the annular eclipse, also known as a “Ring of Fire” — will make its way across the Americas on Saturday creating a spectacle for those in its pathway.
Six Fantasy-class Carnival ships. Three vessels from Royal Caribbean's now-defunct Pullmantur line. Holland America Line's former Westerdam.
Royal Caribbean International announced the name of the cruise company’s next Icon Class ship, dubbed Star of the Seas.
Amid all of the buzz and attention for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas entering service in January 2024, the cruise giant has unveiled the behemoth vessel's new sister ship, the Star of the Seas. And if it captures the same attention as its predecessor, the new floating resort could be just that: a star.
Cruise ship passengers had a rude welcome to France yesterday (8 October) as environmental protesters gathered to condemn their choice of travel.