Launched in August 2025, Star of the Seas furthered Royal Caribbean’s reputation for building some of the biggest and best ships in the biz. An Icon-class vessel, Star of the Seas ties with its sister ships as the largest in the world.
But how big is she? Here’s everything I think you’d need to know, in order to even start to grasp just how big this ship really is, before an upcoming vacation.
In This Article:
- Just How Big is Star of the Seas ?
- How Does Star of the Seas Measure Up to Other Major Cruise Ships?
- Is Star of the Seas Really That Much Bigger Than Other Cruise Ships?
- Star of the Seas Capacity – Passengers and Crew
- What About Accommodations on the Star of the Seas ?
- Breakdown of the Accommodations on Star of the Seas
- How is the Interior of the Ship Divided?
- Star of the Seas Neighborhood Breakdown
- Final Words
Just How Big is Star of the Seas?
Nearly identical to Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas weighs in at 258,663 gross tons. The vessel can hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy, alongside more than 2,300 crew members.
Star of the Seas Length
Star of the Seas is 1,196 feet, or 364 meters, long. While this measurement may not mean much to you just in terms of numbers, it’s pretty impressive. It adds up to about three and a half football fields, or nearly a quarter of a mile long!
Star of the Seas Width
The ship is 219 feet wide, or 66 meters, at its widest point.
Star of the Seas Height
Star of the Seas sits at about 196 feet above the water line (however, keep in mind that there’s a lot of ship below the water line that you can’t see). This all adds up to 20 decks, 18 of which are accessible to cruisers.
Star of the Seas Weight
Star of the Seas weighs 248,663 GT, or 248,663 gross tons. What exactly is gross tonnage, though?
A way of measuring cruise ships, gross tonnage refers to a ship’s internal volume. One gross ton is equal to an internal volume of 100 cubic feet.
How Does Star of the Seas Measure Up to Other Major Cruise Ships?
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because Star of the Seas ties for the largest cruise ship in the industry, the next-largest cruise ships must not be all that far behind.
You’ll actually see that the other ships currently sitting in the industry’s top 5 aren’t quite as close to Star of the Seas in size as you might expect.
| Stats | Star of the Seas | Utopia of the Seas | Wonder of the Seas | Symphony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Tonnage | 248,663 | 236,473 | 236,857 | 228,081 |
| Length | 1,196 | 1,188 | 1,188 | 1,188 |
| Passenger Decks | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Total Decks | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Maximum Guest Capacity | 7,600 | 6,988 | 6,988 | 6,680 |
| Total Cabins | 2,805 | 2,834 | 2,874 | 2,759 |
| Crew Capacity | 2,350 | 2,290 | 2,300 | 2,200 |
And, yes, you probably realized that all of these “largest” ships are Royal Caribbean vessels. The next-largest cruise ship that’s not owned by Royal Caribbean is MSC World America, which just sneaks into the top 10. Its gross tonnage is a mere 215,863.
Is Star of the Seas Really That Much Bigger Than Other Cruise Ships?
It can be hard to fathom just how large Star of the Seas really is, but one good thing to keep in mind is that this ship has two extra passenger decks that the other, next-largest ships do not.
This is equivalent to two more stories of space, nearly a quarter-mile long each — so that’s like half a mile of more space to fill with fun things to do and amazing staterooms and suites!
Star of the Seas Capacity – Passengers and Crew
Star of the Seas can fit 7,600 guests at maximum occupancy and 5,610 guests at double occupancy. What exactly is the difference, though, and should you expect the ship to be closer to maximum or double occupancy on any given sailing?
The double occupancy of a cruise ship is the number of staterooms multiplied by two. This is because the cruise line assumes that, on average, each stateroom will have two passengers.
However, a lot of cabins can fit more than just two people. So, the maximum capacity is the total number of cruisers that the ship can sleep, if every single bed is filled.
Generally, you’ll find that, on most sailings, the actual number of people on the ship is closer to the maximum capacity than the double occupancy.
Worried that sailing on a ship at full capacity is going to be too crowded? Don’t be! I’ve found that even the biggest ships in the world don’t feel super-crowded, if they’re designed and managed correctly.
When discussing the topic over on Reddit, frequent cruisers agreed, saying that it’s really not all that bad, especially on ships like those in the Icon class that were created to handle such crowds. Sure, you may notice lines or crowds at peak times of day or at widely popular events or venues, but otherwise, you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed.
As for the crew on Star of the Seas, there are 2,350 crew members on board. When you add those individuals to the maximum number of passengers that can fit on the ship, you have nearly 10,000 people all in one floating city!
What About Accommodations on the Star of the Seas?
Star of the Seas offers 2,805 passenger cabins, but they’re hardly all the same. Cruisers enjoy a wealth of options on this ship. The cabins are spread out across nearly 30 room categories (though four main categories), and some of these cabin types are exclusive to the Icon class.
Just like everything about this ship is big, big, big, you’ll also find some extra-large, super-sized cabins on this ship, too. The largest of them all is three stories and 1,772 square feet: the Ultimate Family Townhouse.
Breakdown of the Accommodations on Star of the Seas
At the highest level, accommodations on Star of the Seas, just like the accommodations on Icon of the Seas, can be broken down into four main categories: interior, ocean-view, balcony and suite staterooms. Each category breaks down further.
There are five different types of interior cabins, with the largest being the Surfside family view interior cabins and the Central Park view interior cabins, at 187 square feet each.
There are two types of ocean view cabins, a standard and a panoramic, with the panoramic ocean view cabins measuring in at 258 square feet.
There are quite a few balcony cabins on this ship, with seven types of balcony cabins total, and the largest is the family infinite ocean view balcony cabin, at 285 square feet.
As for suites, there are 179 total suites on the ship, spread across 12 categories, from Surfside family suites to accessible junior suites.
As mentioned, the largest of them all is the Ultimate Family Townhouse. The Ultimate Family Townhouse is nearly 1,800 square feet. It offers an in-suite slide, theater, multiple balconies and space for eight people.
Don’t need quite that much room? Don’t worry, the Royal Loft, with its wet bar, piano and balcony hot tub is also an option, measuring at 1,482 square feet.
How is the Interior of the Ship Divided?
Royal Caribbean ships have long been broken down into neighborhoods — areas themed or centered around a certain activity.
However, the Icon class revamped the neighborhood concept, offering eight neighborhoods in total, five of which were completely brand new for Royal Caribbean.
Star of the Seas Neighborhood Breakdown
The Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade is a staple space throughout the entire Royal Caribbean fleet.
On Star of the Seas, The Royal Promenade is, just as it is on all ships that feature it, the heart of so much activity. However, on this vessel, it’s really bigger and grander than all the rest.
The space features one of the most unique elements of the Icon class: The Pearl. This is a walk-through art installation that features 3,600 kinetic tiles that change throughout the day. Structurally, The Pearl supports three decks, and it’s the largest kinetic art sculpture in the world.
Worth Reading: Oasis of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats
The Royal Promenade spans across two decks and encompasses all sorts of dining, bars and entertainment, as well as shops. You’ll also find the theater and live music here.
Surfside Neighborhood
The Surfside Neighborhood debuted on Icon of the Seas and is a family-focused space with its own splash area and pool. It’s bright, bold and tons of fun.
It’s also where you’ll find staterooms and suites with amenities geared toward families’ needs (like the Ultimate Family Townhouse).
There’s additionally a secondary, family-friendly buffet here, as well as a handful of other eateries.
Central Park
Like The Royal Promenade, Central Park is no stranger to Royal Caribbean ships. This open-air, park-reminiscent space offers lots of greenery and sunlight.
The neighborhood stretches five decks high and features a handful of bars and restaurants. Inward-facing cabins overlook the park.
The AquaDome Neighborhood
The AquaDome centers around a giant glass dome that is literally the largest glass and steel structure that you’ll find on any cruise ship to date. From there, you can enjoy 220-degree ocean views.
The AquaDome neighborhood is also home to the AquaTheater amphitheater and multiple bars and restaurants, my favorite of which is the AquaDome Market.
For Star of the Seas, the market includes new options beyond those originally featured on Icon of the Seas: stalls offering barbecue, Thai and South American food. There’s also a 55-foot waterfall.
Chill Island
Chill Island offers 62% more water space than is on any other cruise ship, save for other Icon-class vessels.
Chill Island features four pools, the first swim-up bar on a Royal Caribbean ship (it’s also the largest swim-up bar at sea) and hot tubs. The largest pool in the neighborhood is an impressive 5,813 square feet. There’s an infinity edge pool, too.
Read Also: Last Giant Oasis-Class Ship Floats Out at Shipyard
Don’t want to get your hair wet, but craving cocktails? Don’t worry. Beyond that massive swim-up bar, there are other places to grab a drink in this neighborhood.
The Hideaway Neighborhood
The Hideaway is an adults-only space. Its most impressive feature is the first suspended infinity pool in the cruise industry. The pool juts out over the open water, eight stories into the air.
Thrill Island
Thrill Island boasts the largest waterpark at sea, with multiple groundbreaking, record-setting waterslides.
In addition to the multiple waterslides, the neighborhood is also home to the ship’s sports courts, surf simulator, rock climbing wall and mini golf.
The Suite Neighborhood
Lastly, there’s a separate neighborhood just for suite guests. In addition to the suites themselves, this neighborhood features a sun deck with its own pool and bar, and a restaurant.
Final Words
As you can see, there’s a lot packed onto this ship. So is a cruise on Star of the Seas right for you?
If you want plenty of options, near-endless ways to play no matter your mood, and an experience that really feels like you’re on a massive resort on the water, then yes. Pick an itinerary and book that cruise.
However, keep your eyes peeled for more to come, especially from Royal Caribbean. For years, the cruise line has pushed boundaries and redefined what it means to cruise, and I’d expect that they’ll just continue doing so in the future.
