Star of the Seas: Review of the World's Largest Cruise Ship

When I first saw Star of the Seas docked next to her little sister, Utopia of the Seas, I was struck by how massive she looked. Even though she’s the largest cruise ship in the world, Star never felt overwhelming. Instead, she’s cheerfully designed, easy to navigate, and full of fun surprises at every turn.

First Impressions & Ship Stats

Impressive stats:

• Gross Tonnage: about 250,800 GT

• Length: 1,198 feet

• Guest Capacity: around 7,600 at maximum occupancy

• Crew: about 2,350

• Decks: 20

Onboard, the flow and layout make it feel expansive without being chaotic. After two sailings, I can confidently say she feels big in the best way—lots of options, but not overwhelming.

Star sitting next to the oldest and smallest ship in the fleet, Grandeur of the Seas

Eating My Way Through the Ship

Dining is always one of my favorite parts of a cruise, and over the course of two preview sailings, I got to sample quite a few venues. Here are my highlights and honest thoughts:

Pier 7

This laid-back Californian vibe was my first dinner option on both cruises. I ordered a burger on the first cruise that was nothing short of amazing—juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly and a tasty club sandwich on the second sailing. The dessert was one of my favorites on a ship, Belgium waffles with a salted caramel, ice cream and berries. I still am dreaming of that decadent caramel. The portions are huge here; there was no way I could finish everything, but it was a happy struggle. Pier 7 is not included in your cruise fare.

Windjammer Surprise

On embarkation day, Windjammer served up an incredible seafood buffet, including lobster tails. This lavish spread, however, is only being offered on the earliest cruises. I’m so glad I got to experience it—it was a real treat! In general, the Windjammer fare was comparable to other buffets at sea. If that’s something you enjoy, you will certainly be satiated. If buffets are not your thing, this ship has so many additional options available. Windjammer has great hours of operation and is included in your cruise fare.

Hooked Seafood

This is a personal favorite of mine from other Royal ships, and it delivered again. The steak and lobster combo is a must-try, and both were cooked to perfection. I highly recommend indulging in the oysters Rockefeller for your first course. I could make a meal out of just those oysters. Hooked feels familiar in the best way—like a comfort spot I know will always be good. Hooked is considered specialty dining and can be purchased both individually and part of a dining package.

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi

The food here was tasty and fresh, but the space itself was a bit challenging. The hibachi and sushi areas are not very well separated, which makes the whole venue loud and bustling. If you’re going for sushi, expect great food, but not a quiet experience. If noise is an issue, you can always order your favorites from Izumi in the Park, a takeout window outside of the restaurant. Izumi can be purchased individually or part of a dining package.

Chops Grille

Chops is always a classic Royal Caribbean choice, and the food here didn’t disappoint. My steak was perfectly cooked, and the sides were just as satisfying. The only downside for me was the atmosphere—the venue was very busy, and the low ceilings made it feel loud and crowded. Combine that with a photographer strolling around getting photos, and you had a bit of sensory overload between the noise, crowd, and flashing bulbs. As a suggestion to avoid some of those issues, try scheduling Chops for any night BESIDES the final evening. I think that contributed to our large crowd. Chops is considered specialty dining and does incur an additional charge above standard cruise fare.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Giovanni’s was a real standout for me. I loved the location and open-air concept, which gave the whole experience a relaxed, breezy vibe. The food was plentiful and rich—classic Italian comfort dishes that really hit the spot. It’s the kind of place where you want to linger over a meal, and I definitely will again. This specialty dining venue is one not to be missed.

Getting Around the Ship

Despite its size, I found Star of the Seas very easy to navigate. Royal has done a great job with directional signage, and the neighborhoods make it easy to orient yourself.

The automated elevator system is different from most ships: you select your floor at a kiosk, and it assigns you an elevator. On embarkation day, it felt slow with the crowds, but by the second day, everything ran much more smoothly. By the end of the cruise, I appreciated how efficient it was.

Accessibility on Board

While Royal Caribbean continues to make strides toward accessibility, I did notice that Star of the Seas still has room for improvement in this area. The line deserves credit for their accessible staterooms with ample room, wider doorways, thoughtfully-designed closet and bathroom spaces. I found there to be more well-placed outlets in the cabin which would allow for more easily charging accessibility devices. That said, there are still opportunities to refine the experience further so that accessibility is not just accommodated, but seamlessly integrated into every part of the ship.

• The elevators have a designated accessibility button, but we found that it often didn’t work properly. Several times after pressing it, the system wouldn’t allow us to select a floor at all. That being said, we usually found ample room in the elevators after the first day.

• The casino was particularly challenging. During busy times, there was absolutely no way to navigate through with a wheelchair. The casino is chock full of tables, chairs, machines, and people, which leaves very little walking space, let alone room for mobility devices.

• The Royal Theater had accessibility seating but arrive early; as it was limited and almost full when we entered for our scheduled show. Also, please be mindful if you have a condition that makes you light-sensitive that the new Back to the Future show incorporates some heavy strobing lights toward the end of the performance that could be triggering for some guests.

• Our Infinite Balcony cabin had a generous doorway clearance of about 25 inches, which allowed a wheelchair to pass through without collapsing it. That worked well for us, but the interior space was a bit tight. We made it work, but I would recommend booking an accessible cabin if traveling with a wheelchair, as the extra room would make a big difference for all guests in the cabin. A standard cabin can work, but designated cabins will make your experience far smoother.

Infinite Balcony Staterooms

The infinite balcony staterooms really impressed me with how spacious they feel. Unlike a traditional balcony cabin, the enclosed design gives you the sense of more air-conditioned square footage, making the room itself feel larger and more open. At the same time, you don’t lose that fresh-air connection to the sea — with the touch of a button, the top half of the balcony window drops down, letting you enjoy the ocean breeze whenever you like.

The bathroom deserves a special mention, too. It’s laid out in a way that feels much more functional and roomy than the typical balcony bathrooms I’ve seen on other ships. The extra space and smarter design make it feel far less cramped, which is a welcome upgrade for comfort during a cruise. Overall, these staterooms strike a great balance between modern design and practical livability.

Activities & Relaxation

If you’re looking for things to do, this ship has you covered. The water park is enormous! If you love water slides, this is your ship. Along with water thrills, be prepared for aerial chills as you experience the rock climbing wall or, for the extra brave, the Crown’s Edge for a sky walk! Those were above my pay grade, but all looked very fun. For the sports enthusiasts, the ship offers basketball and pickleball courts as well as a free mini golf course and multiple table games around the ship.

The Aqua Theater has been moved to the front of the ship, and while I didn’t get to see a show yet, I’m already excited for what’s to come. It has a different feel from the aqua theaters on other ships, as this venue is completely enclosed by a dome.

I did miss the Solarium, which is one of my favorite spots on other Royal ships for shaded relaxation. Instead, there’s The Hideaway, an adults-only space with a suspended infinity pool. It’s a fun area with stunning views of the ship’s wake. With a few more shaded loungers, this spot would be perfect for adults looking to unwind without the littles around.

The casino is large and impressive, but there is a significant changed from the Oasis class ships: Royal has done away with the separate non-smoking casino. Instead, there’s just a designated non-smoking area within the same large space. Personally, I preferred the old setup. The size is great, but the smoke mix and tight quarters weren’t ideal.

My Positives & Negatives

After two preview cruises, here’s what really stood out to me:

What I Loved

• The Crew: As always, the Royal Caribbean staff were incredible—warm, friendly, and always ready to help.

• My Stateroom: I stayed in an Infinite Balcony cabin, which was spacious and modern. The balcony setup made it feel like I had a private retreat, and I loved it. I loved the warm lighting, new bathroom layout and neutral hues throughout.

• The Food: Between the specialty venues and the quick service dining options, the food was consistently delicious. There are so many choices onboard—many of them included in your cruise fare!

• Something for Everyone: From water slides to fine dining to live shows, there’s truly no shortage of things to do.

What I Didn’t Love

• Not Enough Shade in the Adults Area: The Hideaway definitely needs more shaded loungers.

• Limited Shopping: There aren’t many shops onboard, which makes the retail options feel sparse.

• Casino Layout: Combining smoking and non-smoking into one space just doesn’t work as well as separate rooms. Combine that with the machine and table layout, the space just felt very tight

Final Thoughts

Two preview cruises later, I can honestly say that Star of the Seas is a stunning, exciting new ship. She feels massive but not overwhelming, and there’s something here for everyone. There are ample activities on board to fill a 7-night sailing. While there are a few areas I’d like to see improved, the overall experience left me thrilled to sail her again. While my first true loves are the Oasis Class ships, this new Icon did not disappoint.

If you love variety, modern design, and endless dining and activity options, you’ll feel right at home on Star of the Seas.

Base Camp, AquaDome Market, Pearl Cafe, and Everything Else!

Star includes over a dozen complimentary food venues on this ship. There were more here than I even had a chance to experience in 8 days. For guilty pleasures, I highly recommend a fresh-made smash burger with tater tots or pretzels and cheese from Base Camp. For grab and go yummies, Pearl Cafe had everything from crudités to dessert. I love the AquaDome concept, where you can get made-to-order crepes, indulge in some pad Thai, grab a BBQ sandwich or satisfy your need for a late night Greek or Mexican snack. Of course, there's always the classic Sorrento's Pizza on the Promenade--a great people watching location in the late-evening hours. Whatever cuisine you desire, chances are you are going to find it on board the Star of the Seas.