Cruise ships in Charlotte Amalie Harbor, Saint Thomas

Regional context for Star of the Seas — this is destination photography, not a photo of the ship. Photo: Cruise ships in Charlotte Amalie Harbor, Saint Thomas by OldPine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Royal Caribbean International · Icon-class

Star of the Seas

Mega-ship — 5,610 guests — one of the larger ships at sea.

Line Royal Caribbean International · Class Icon-class · Capacity 5,610 guests · Crew 2,350

Star of the Seas tends to work well for travelers seeking family time and entertainment, while travelers prioritizing relaxation may prefer alternatives.

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Guide-ready (sourced). This page is backed by a sourced evidence file: dining, dress code, kids programming and more, each with a source and a last-verified date. Expand "Sources & verification" below. Jump to sources ↓

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Ship DNA

family time very high

entertainment very high

nightlife very high

adventure and activity very high

great dining high

a luxury feel moderate

relaxation low

How we score this →

Entertainment onboard tends to include Broadway-style production shows, live music lounges, a nightclub with DJ sets, a casino.

Good to know

Dress code: "Dress Your Best," optional/black-tie-optional framing, main-dining-room only, 1-4 nights depending on sailing length.
Dining: Main dining included; specialty venues and drink packages extra.
Onboard vibe: Generally family-friendly, mainstream energy and a modern, casual feel.
Crowd character: Typically very busy, high-energy crowd levels.
Typical itinerary: Caribbean and Bahamas

Line-level details sourced from Royal Caribbean International, last verified 2026-08-19 (confidence: medium).

Who it's for

Likely a good fit for

Families seeking the most activities at sea
Multigenerational groups
Travelers who treat the ship as the destination

May prefer another ship if

You prefer intimate ships and uncrowded public spaces
You want a quiet, destination-first voyage

Strengths

Industry-leading family attractions and water experiences
Exceptional variety of neighborhoods, dining, and entertainment
Strong programming for children, teens, adults, and multigenerational groups

Known trade-offs

Premium pricing for a mainstream cruise line
Very high passenger volume and a resort-like atmosphere

Dining

Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.

What's included at dinner (derived)

As an Icon-class sister to Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas carries 17 complimentary venues, including: the multi-level Main Dining Room, the Windjammer buffet, Surfside Eatery, Basecamp, Park Cafe, Sorrento's pizza, El Loco Fresh, the AquaDome Market food hall (five vendors), Sprinkles ice cream, Pearl Cafe, and 24/7 room service (small delivery fee). The Grove and Coastal Kitchen are complimentary but suite-guests-only. No cover charge, no reservation on the general-access venues.

What costs extra to eat (derived)

Specialty (extra-cost) venues: Lincoln Park Supper Club (an eight-course, cocktail-paired 1930s-Chicago-jazz-club dinner experience - Star's counterpart to Icon's Empire Supper Club, not the same venue name), Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Izumi in the Park, Chops Grille (steakhouse), Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Hooked Seafood, Pier 7, Playmakers, Celebration Table, and the Desserted Milkshake Bar. Individual covers roughly $40-70; Lincoln Park is priced as a splurge experience.

Reservations (derived)

Specialty restaurants are best reserved pre-cruise; popular seatings (Lincoln Park Supper Club especially) sell out before sailing on this ship. The Main Dining Room uses a fixed seating or My Time Dining, no reservation.

Family & adults-only

Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.

Kids' programming (derived)

Adventure Ocean is complimentary: AO Babies (6-36 months, with an adult), then AO Juniors (3-5) and AO Kids (6-12) - the naming used on newer ships. Social020 is the teen lounge (roughly 13-17). After-hours group childcare (after 10pm) is available for a fee, roughly $6-8/hour/child.

Adults-only spaces (derived)

Unlike Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas has BOTH a 2-deck Solarium (glass-roofed adults-only pool/whirlpool area, no extra charge) and The Hideaway (an adults-only infinity-edge pool at the aft of the ship). No adults-only restaurant.

Costs & practical

Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.

Gratuities (derived)

Automatic daily gratuity of $18.50 per guest for staterooms and Junior Suites, $21.00 for full suites, charged to the onboard account. A separate 18% service charge is auto-added to beverages, room service, mini bar and specialty dining; spa/salon carries 20%. Adjustable at Guest Services.

Wi-Fi (derived)

Paid. Royal Caribbean's VOOM 'Surf & Stream' Wi-Fi is not in the base fare - dynamic pricing runs roughly $20-30/device/day pre-purchased, up to ~$38-39/day onboard. Royal Suite guests get one complimentary package; Diamond/Diamond Plus loyalty get free internet days; Pinnacle gets unlimited single-device access.

Onboard life

Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.

Nightlife (experiential)

High-energy but family-forward, like its sister Icon. A large bar count, the AquaDome and ice shows, comedy, a nightclub and live music - but a multi-generational crowd, and the late-night scene winds down earlier than on adult lines like Virgin Voyages.

The main trade-off (experiential)

Same as Icon: onboard extras (specialty dining, the 18% drinks charge, Wi-Fi, excursions) add up fast, and with 5,610 guests at double occupancy (up to ~7,600 at full capacity, plus a record 2,350 crew) the popular venues and pool deck get genuinely crowded at peak times. Great for families who want everything in one place; frustrating if you want an all-in price or a calm ship.

Before you sail

Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.

Formal / dress nights (derived)

1-3 optional 'Dress to Impress' nights per sailing, at the ship's discretion (1 up to 5 nights, 2 on 6-10 night cruises, 3 on 11-14 night cruises). Never mandatory - Royal Caribbean states these evenings are encouraged, not required, and the main dining room seats guests in smart-casual attire on them.

What to pack for evenings (derived)

Smart casual most evenings (collared shirt or blouse; no swimwear or bare feet in the main dining room at dinner, shorts discouraged there). Buffet and quick-service venues have no dress code.

Ship facts

Year built: 2025
Gross tonnage: 250,800 GT
Passengers: 5,610
Crew: 2,350

More about Royal Caribbean International →

Sources & verification — 11 sourced details, verified 2026-09-04 or later

Each detail below carries a source, a nature (fact, derived, editorial or experiential), a confidence rating, and a last-verified date. Experiential attributes reflect what guests commonly report, not a hard fact. See how My Cruise Intel sources and reviews information.

formalNights: 1-3 optional 'Dress to Impress' nights per sailing, at the ship's discretion (1 up to 5 nights, 2 on 6-10 night cruises, 3 on 11-14 night cruises). Never mandatory - Royal Caribbean states these evenings are encouraged, not required, and the main dining room seats guests in smart-casual attire on them.