Key Aspects:
- Star of the Seas was officially named in an evening ceremony at Port Canaveral on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
- Cruise line executives, Chief Dog Officer Sailor, and godmother Kellie Gerardi were just some of the stars onboard.
- More than 1,300 Royal Caribbean fans tuned in to the livestream to watch the ceremony as it officially “launched” the ship.
It was a night for the stars at Port Canaveral as the world’s newest Icon-class ship was officially christened on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
The star-studded event was also livestreamed on social media so Royal Caribbean fans around the world could be a part of the momentous occasion.
Cruise ship naming ceremonies are filled with tradition, and tonight was no different.
The “godmother procession” began the event at 7:30 p.m. as the City of Mt. Dora Pipe Band brought in the evening’s special guests.
Cruise line stars in attendance included the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Jason Liberty, along with Star of the Seas’ godmother, Kellie Gerardi, and Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley.
Speakers blessed the ship, thanked those responsible for bringing her to life, and brought recognition to everyone who is part of the vessel. More than 27 million man-hours have been necessary to bring Star of the Seas to her naming ceremony.
Bayley and Liberty both thanked those behind the scenes who make the cruise line such a success. This included more than 100 Pinnacle members in the audience for the ship’s official naming.
Pinnacle is the highest level of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. To reach that level, guests must accrue at least 700 points with the cruise line.
Bayley also noted that the crew members onboard the ship are the true “stars of the show.”
A very special crew member was recognized, Melton Baxter, one of the ship’s bread and pastry chefs (thank you for those wonderful cheese rolls!). He has been with the cruise line for more than 38 years, since February 1987.
A new crew member was also highlighted, Chief Dog Officer Sailor, who received her official three officer stripes earlier in the day. She walked by guests, stopping for pets and mugging for the cameras in the front row.
Both a rabbi and a pastor offered traditional blessings, including thoughts for the ship’s safe passage and wondrous journeys guided by the stars above.
“May she shine like a star and sail in peace across the waters of the world,” Rabbi Melissa Stolman said.
Live performances from musicians, divers, and aerialists were also part of the special occasion.
Finally, Gerardi officially “launched” the ship. A star-shaped button triggered the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the bow as star-shaped confetti rained down on attendees to conclude the event.
The livestream included a “ready to launch” intro sequence with fun remarks from key departments onboard, including the popular washy-washy team at the Windjammer Cafe and the headline roles of Dr. Brown and Marty McFly from “Back to the Future: The Musical.”
“Today is the day. Star of the Seas to Port Canaveral, we are ready to launch,” Captain Rob Hempstead announced for the recorded intro.
The ceremony was held in the ship’s AquaDome, a signature neighborhood space on the Icon-class ships.
More than 1,300 Royal Caribbean fans tuned in to the livestream video, spreading the joy of the occasion far beyond just the lucky attendees at Port Canaveral.
Up Next for Star of the Seas
While the past few weeks have been filled with celebratory milestones for Star of the Seas, her rise to the heavens is not yet finished.
The ship has already made headlines with her stellar performance in her sea trials and her early delivery to Royal Caribbean. She still has three more short “showcase” sailings before her official maiden voyage departs on August 31.
Star of the Seas will be offering 7-night cruises with both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean routes. Each voyage will also include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island.
Worth Checking: Check Cruise Prices for Star of the Seas
She will be making inaugural port visits and will undoubtedly be offering “first” experiences to guests for weeks, even months to come.
May Star of the Seas have smooth sailings as she sets forth on what hopefully will be a long and amazing time to shine.
