Key Aspects:
- Star of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, arrived at Port Canaveral for the first time on August 9, 2025.
- The 248,663-gross-ton vessel will host multiple preview sailings for media, travel advisors, and select guests before its public debut.
- Diana Ross will serve as godmother during the ship’s naming ceremony later this month.
The wait is nearly over! The world’s largest cruise ship sailed into the Florida Space Coast’s Port Canaveral for the very first time on August 9, 2025.
The 248,663-gross-ton Icon Class ship sailed past Jetty Park escorted by a water cannon tugboat before docking at the port’s recently renovated Cruise Terminal 1.
“She’s here!” Port Canaveral shared on its social media channels, along with arrival photos of the Royal Caribbean’s newest ship.
Star of the Seas, which was delivered to Royal Caribbean on July 10, 2025, from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Turku, Finland, began her journey across the Atlantic later that month.
Arriving in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on August 4, 2025, Royal Caribbean is now conducting a full-on preview blitz, beginning with a special media and influencers preview sailing that departed Ponce on August 6 to Port Canaveral.
Sailing well below the vessel’s full 7,600-guest capacity, the 3-night cruise staggered venues and experiences to give lucky insiders an unavailable preview.
Travel advisors are the next group to get a taste of the ship from August 9 to 13, followed by one last media preview from August 13 to 16, building the excitement for regular-Joe guests who will finally get to see the ship for themselves for yet another “showcase” cruise.
That special August 16 “Star”-studded celebration will feature Star of the Seas’ official naming ceremony, led by the “Queen of Motown” Diana Ross.
Royal Caribbean will take passengers on a 4-night journey that features the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay: Full Guide
But wait! There’s still more “showcase” cruises!
There will be a 3-night departure on August 20, and 4-day option on August 23 and August 27 before the first “real” cruise: a 7-night Western Caribbean voyage beginning August 31 that will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Coco Cay, a feature of every Star of the Seas’ sailing.
What’s Ahead for Star of the Seas
The reason for so many preview sailings? Thank the shipbuilders, Meyer Turku in Finland, for its speedy early delivery of Star of the Seas on July 10, 2025.
Meyer Turku, which previously completed sister ship Icon of the Seas, learned Icon class’ tricks and breezed through steel cutting in February 2023, keel laying in December 2023, the float out in October 2024, and sea trials in May 2025.
Once Star of the Seas catches up to her original schedule, she will alternate between the Western and Eastern Caribbean, with the latter visiting St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
That first itinerary sailing will take place on September 7, 2025.
Meanwhile, as Star of the Seas’ homeport, Port Canaveral is offering a free “sailabration” event to coincide with the vessel’s onboard naming party.
Locals and visitors are invited to Jetty Park, where food trucks, themed giveaways, music, and more will be offered as the ship sails away.
Festivities for the event at the port begin at 3:30 p.m. and requires parking passes that can be purchased in advance through the port’s website.
