RCI-Royal Caribbean has formally taken delivery of Star of the Seas, its second Icon Class liner, in a ceremony held at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The keys to the ship were transferred just weeks before its scheduled debut in August at Port Canaveral, signaling the start of a new chapter in family cruising.
More than 1,250 crew members, Royal Caribbean executives, and Meyer Turku leaders gathered in the ship’s forward AquaTheater to commemorate the occasion. The ceremony honored the accomplishment of the engineering and design teams whose work brought the vessel from steel cut to completion.
Meyer Turku’s CEO noted that lessons learned from constructing the prototype Icon of the Seas had enabled completion of Star of the Seas in record time and with superior quality.
The delivery marked the formal change of ownership from Meyer Turku to Royal Caribbean, and acknowledged key engineering feats such as the installation of the glass-and-steel AquaDome and six record-breaking waterslides aboard Star.
The Icon Class liner is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a feature it shares with only two other ships in the fleet. This positions the vessel as a step toward Royal Caribbean’s stated goal of launching a net-zero emissions ship by 2035.
Once outfitted in Cádiz, Spain, the ship will commence 7-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, calling at destinations including the cruise line’s resort island at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Configured with eight distinct neighbourhoods, the vessel offers a wide range of experiences: the largest waterpark at sea on Thrill Island; Chill Island’s expansive pools; the AquaDome with horizon-spanning views and deck shows; and an adults-only Hideaway containing a suspended infinity pool. Additional favourites such as Royal Promenade, Central Park, Lincoln Park Supper Club, and Suite Neighborhood spaces are also ready to welcome guests.
Star of the Seas spans over 1,190 feet and accommodates up to 7,600 passengers with crew numbering over 2,350. It registers among the largest cruise ships in service today.
With Legend of the Seas, the third Icon Class liner, due in 2026, Royal Caribbean continues its ambitious fleet expansion. The naming ceremony for Star of the Seas is expected in August at Port Canaveral, with entertainer Diana Ross confirmed as Godmother.