Launch Date For The New Biggest Cruise Ship In The World Brought Forward

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Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Star of the Seas will now debut sooner than originally planned, offering two additional cruises ahead of its official inaugural voyage.

Star of the Seas float out

The cruise line confirmed that the ship’s delivery has been expedited, allowing it to set sail on 23rd August 2025, a full eight days earlier than its previously rescheduled launch date.

As a result, two new showcase sailings have been added before the first full inaugural cruise on August 31.

The newly added voyages are both 4-night Bahamas cruises, departing from Port Canaveral on 23rd August and 27th August, 2025.

Each sailing will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, with additional itinerary details yet to be confirmed.

These showcase sailings will not include the full inaugural cruise fanfare, but guests can still expect a celebratory atmosphere, warm welcomes from the crew, and the opportunity to experience the ship before the official maiden voyage.

Exclusive booking opportunity for inaugural guests

Royal Caribbean has extended an exclusive early booking window to passengers already booked on the 31st August inaugural sailing, allowing them to reserve one or both of the new showcase cruises.

Guests will be able to move their booking to an earlier date at no additional charge, with suite reservations held until 6th February to give passengers time to decide.

Those in Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony cabins can also switch sailings, though exact staterooms are not guaranteed.

Passengers who choose to sail on both a showcase sailing and the inaugural cruise can enjoy back-to-back voyages aboard the brand-new Icon-class vessel.

The second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, is currently in the final stages of construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

She will follow in the footsteps of Icon of the Seas, which made waves when it debuted in January 2024 as the world’s largest cruise ship.

Star of the Seas will feature many of the same revolutionary experiences, including:

  • Thrill Island Waterpark – the largest at sea
  • Crown’s Edge Ropes Course – an adrenaline-pumping attraction
  • AquaDome – featuring awe-inspiring aerial and aquatic performances
  • A variety of entertainment venues and dining experiences
  • The Ultimate Family Townhouse – a three-story family suite with direct access to Surfside, the ship’s dedicated family neighbourhood

Once in service, Star of the Seas will homeport year-round in Port Canaveral, Florida, offering alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, each including a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

It’s good news for Icon-class fans although it seems like the popularity of the class has dipped since Icon of the Seas first launched, with guest review scores tumbling…

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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