Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas wins in the Cruise Hive Awards as the most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2025!
www.cruisehive.com
Star of the Seas Becomes Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2025
Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class ship, is the Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2025 in the
Cruise Hive Awards, garnering nearly 30% of reader votes.
The outcome is not surprising, considering that the line’s first Icon-class vessel,
Icon of the Seas, which debuted in January 2024, was the most anticipated new cruise ship of that year. Indeed,
Icon of the Seas was voted the
Best Cruise Ship of 2024.
Star of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, and due to enter service in late August 2025. Like
Icon of the Seas, now the largest cruise ship sailing,
Star of the Seas will be 248,663 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,610 at double occupancy.
When she debuts, Royal Caribbean will have the distinction of operating the world’s two largest cruise ships.
Star of the Seas will offer eight neighborhoods, each offering distinctive amenities, venues, and services, such as the exciting AquaDome entertainment and dining area; Chill Island, for those seeking a laid-back vibe; Thrill Island, where adventure rides await; the family-friendly Surfside; and longtime Royal Caribbean favorites like Royal Promenade and Central Park.
The new ship will homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida, and offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Undoubtedly, most itineraries will include a call at Royal Caribbean’s popular Perfect Day at CocoCay private destination.
In fact, Perfect Day at CocoCay was named Best Cruise Line Private Island in the 2024 Cruise Hive Awards.
Cruises aboard
Star of the Seas opened for sale in December 2023, with a launch date of August 24, 2025. However, two months later the line announced a
delay in construction would push the ship’s launch back to August 31, 2025.
No specific reason for the delay was offered, but the line was forced to cancel the ship’s inaugural 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise scheduled to depart Port Canaveral on August 17, 2025.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas
The Cruise Hive Awards were launched in 2014. Voting for this year’s winners opened in mid-October 2024, with seven award categories. All voting is by Cruise Hive readers, who had a choice of 13 ships in the Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship category.