I am a frequent cruiser on Royal Caribbean, and I’ve sailed on Star of the Seas 5 instances. It isn’t solely its latest ship but in addition it is most spectacular.
New ships are unimaginable as a result of they provide the newest and biggest options. Whether or not or not you benefit from every little thing is secondary to the very fact it is nice to have entry to all of it, in the event you so select.
Since Star debuted in August 2025, I’ve found out all of the nuances of the ship. However somebody new to it ought to know a couple of issues earlier than boarding.
Listed here are the seven issues I want somebody would have instructed me earlier than I ever went on Star of the Seas to make it a greater cruise.
The included eating places are higher than on different Royal Caribbean ships
There are such a lot of completely different locations to eat round Star of the Seas, and I used to be stunned by how good the included eating places are.
Each Royal Caribbean ship has included and specialty eating places. Often the included eating places are passable, so you’re simply tempted by the additional value ones.
Nonetheless, the included choices on Star are so good which you could simply rely simply on them.
Eating at Aquadome Market, Basecamp, Park Cafe, and Pearl Cafe are all adequate to maintain me going all day. Add to that the Windjammer buffet and the Essential Eating Room, and I actually do not assume you’ll lengthy as a lot for specialty eating places as you’ll on different ships.
Do not get me fallacious, the specialty eating places are all actually good too. It is simply the included meals is that a lot better on Star.
To that time, I might additionally add you need to skip the Windjammer (and its crowds) on embarkation day.
You will discover actually good alternate options at Aquadome Market or Basecamp with far fewer folks to take care of.
Value is Proper is pay to win
Royal Caribbean added the Value is Proper recreation present to Star of the Seas as a brand new leisure occasion onboard.
The sport present presents company the prospect to win money and prizes, just like the tv present. Nonetheless, there are some notable variations.
At the beginning, it’s important to pay if you wish to play. Earlier than the present begins, you may have the choice of shopping for into the sport. Basically, you purchase entries in direction of the grand prize and that will get you into the sport as a possible contestant.
- 1 entry: $15
- 2 entries: $25
- 6 entries: $60
Should you do not buy in, you may’t be referred to as as much as take part and you’ll’t take part in any of the video games.
Every merchandise up for bid and recreation performed depends on passengers utilizing their cellphone to entry an internet site and submit their bid or vote. Solely people who paid to enter the sport can actually take part.
It jogged my memory how bingo works on the ship in that respect.
Once I performed, there have been simply over a 100 those who paid to take part. This made it fairly aggressive with any of the viewers voting.
When an merchandise was up for bid, you principally needed to get the quantity precisely proper and quick. Within the case of a tie, whoever put their value in quickest wins. A lot of the successful bids had been submitted in beneath two seconds.
I had a whole lot of enjoyable, however the cruise ship model is unquestionably not precisely what you keep in mind on tv.
Discovering the canine is probably going not going to occur
The highest factor everybody I met on Star of the Seas needed to see was the household canine that lives onboard, Sailor.
Royal Caribbean has captured the creativeness of its cruisers by including a canine to this ship. Nonetheless, the canine shouldn’t be really easy to trace down.
Actual speak: you are in all probability not going to even see the canine, not to mention meet her.
It appears they restrict Sailor to interactions in uncrowded areas and at random instances. This implies, you are not going to see Sailor on the Royal Promenade or the pool deck.
In all my sailings on Star of the Seas, I’ve seen Sailor solely a couple of times. On my current crusing, she made a really temporary look on the High Tier occasion for Crown and Anchor Society members.
Primarily based on photographs I’ve seen from different passengers, it appears the one tried and true method to discover Sailor is to stalk her aid pad on the jogging observe. Eventually, she has to go there. This does not sit properly with me as a method, however so many photographs I’ve seen of company with Sailor are on the jogging observe and that is not a coincidence.
Do not skip eating places in Surfside as a result of you do not have children
The Surfside neighborhood is an space of the ship particularly designed for younger households, however you should not keep away from it simply because you do not have children.
Certain, the arcade, Splashaway Bay, and the mini slide are in all probability not going to be of curiosity to you. However you need to nonetheless go to for the meals.
There are three eating places in Surfside which might be vastly underrated and ignored by too many cruisers:
- Surfside Eatery: family-friendly buffet
- Surfside Bites: grab-and-go consolation meals
- Pier 7: specialty restaurant
Surfside Eatery could be marketed as a “children buffet” however there are a whole lot of meals that adults will get pleasure from too. Heck, on embarkation day that they had the identical filet mignon and lobster tails that the Windjammer had.
Plus, this buffet is much much less crowded than the Windjammer.
I believe Pier 7 is essentially the most underrated restaurant on the ship. It is nearly hidden at the back of Surfside, and it serves up “California-inspired dishes,” and I actually like that there are completely different meals you will not often discover elsewhere on the ship.
Should you pre-purchase Pier 7 on the Royal Caribbean app, you may get in for simply $8.99 per individual and it is properly price it at that value.
The bathe is wonderful, however the basket storage is disappointing
Two issues stand out about many of the cabins on Star of the Seas.
First, I really like the bathe on Icon Class ships. Royal Caribbean designed a bigger than anticipated bathe that has a seat in it too.
Different cruise ships sometimes have a “tube” design to their bathe that feels constricted and tight.
However the bathe on Star of the Seas is one you’d truly need to spend extra time in.
Nonetheless, one design flaw in these staterooms are the selection of baskets for storage.
Whereas there are drawers and a closet, you may discover a set of wire baskets too. The problem is it places its contents on show for anybody to see. However worst of all, they make an terrible sound whenever you pull or put again the basket because it slides towards the wooden.
The ship’s structure makes it really feel a lot much less crowded
Should you’ve been on different cruise ships, then you know the way crowded they will really feel at instances. However that is not likely the case with Star of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean engineered the group circulate so properly that even with 2,500 children onboard our Thanksgiving cruise, it was uncommon to actually discover a crowd.
Having the Royal Promenade be two decks and absolutely loop actually helped open up that area and maintain folks shifting. The pool deck can be properly designed, with three decks and smaller, separate swimming pools that unfold folks out.
Plus, the vacation spot elevators are a godsend. You will not often watch for elevators and encounter even fewer crowded ones. This alone is without doubt one of the very best quality of life adjustments I’ve seen on a cruise ship.
Do not anticipate the ship to really feel like your personal personal yacht, however you may stay up for much less strains than you may need had on different ships.
Some folks actually are bothered that there isn’t any Solarium
I’ve heard from plenty of readers that they missed having an enclosed adults-only pool space on Star.
As an alternative, the adults-only pool space are each outside at Swim & Tonic and The Hideaway.
Each swimming pools are enjoyable for various causes, however every has a special vibe from the Solarium that you simply’d discover on different Royal Caribbean ships.
Personally, it would not trouble me as a result of I am not somebody that ever spent a lot time within the Solarium. Nevertheless it appears to be a bit of suggestions price repeating because it’s usually talked about after attempting this ship.
Ever since Royal Caribbean made the Swim & Tonic adults-only, I did not have as a lot of a problem with the grownup areas. I discover Hideaway too loud and missing shade, however I acknowledge I am not the goal demographic for that area.
I am going to gladly return on Star of the Seas anytime
Every time I’ve sailed on Star of the Seas I’ve come residence pondering how a lot I liked this ship.
Like Icon of the Seas, this class of ship is actually excellent and I believe it is worthy of being referred to as the perfect on the planet.
Sure, you may pay a premium to sail on it, however the adjustments, improvements, and additions to Star make it simply my favourite.
