Family Friendly Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas

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Earlier this month, I attended one of the first sailings of Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas. If you didn’t already know, this ship holds the title of the largest cruise ship ever—truly massive, with something for everyone of all ages whether you crave food adventures, thrilling activities or Broadway-style shows. I boarded with high expectations and Star of the Seas impressed me from the moment I stepped into the Royal Promenade.

Whether you sail often or are planning your first cruise, here’s what you need to know before embarking on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas.

This trip was hosted, but all opinions are my own.

Pros:

Extensive onboard dining choices for every palate
Entertainment and activities that engage all ages
Friendly crew members who create a welcoming atmosphere
Family-friendly experiences
Varied ports of call across itineraries

Cons:

Entertainment reservations fill quickly
Signature dining options cost extra
Elevators crowd during peak times

SheBuysTravel Tip: Bring a card holder to keep your SeaPass card handy—you’ll need it for drinks, boarding and onboard activities just like for Allure of the Seas.

Accommodations on Star of the Seas

Bed with white comforter and four pillows stacked up against a navy blue headboard next to a wooden closet and a beige sofa. — Bed inside of an Infinite Balcony room onboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas offers 2,805 rooms, including ocean-view staterooms, balconies and suites.

I stayed in an Infinite Balcony room which was spacious and very modern. Despite the name, the room doesn’t include a walk-out balcony, but the comfortable bed and larger-than-usual bathroom more than made up for it.

Other accommodation types include panoramic ocean-view rooms and Surfside family suites.

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Onboard Dining on Star of the Seas

Two waffles with oreos and rainbow sprinkles on a white plate with an orange rim. — DIY waffles for breakfast from Windjammer on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark-

Guests can choose from more than 17 included restaurants and over 40 dining venues in total. Complimentary favorites include Windjammer, Surfside Eatery, Basecamp, El Loco Fresh, Aquadome Market, the Main Dining Room and Pearl Cafe.

Main Dining Room

dining room interior with several upholstered chairs next to tables with small plates and glassware. — Second level of the main dining room on Star of the Seas right before dinner time. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Your SeaPass card lists your dining time and table number for the main dining room. This venue serves breakfast, brunch and dinner depending on the day. I enjoyed the refined atmosphere, but found the food to be underwhelming. I still recommend trying it once for a change of pace.

Windjammer

long table covered with bowls of donut holes, brownies, cakes, fruits and a large chocolate fountain in the middle — Chocolate fountain and dessert spread at Windjammer on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Windjammer quickly became my favorite dining spot. The buffet featured 23+ cuisines—American, Asian, Indian and more including a wide dessert spread. One night they had chocolate fountains for guests to dip cakes, cookies and fruit in melted chocolate.

Specialty Restaurants

Black ice cream holder with red lettering that says Izumi in the Park with chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles in a bubble cone in front of a store sign — Chocolate bubble cone from Izumi in the Park on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Although I didn’t sample specialty dining, six options are available onboard: Lincoln Park Supper Club, Celebration Table, Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi and Hooked Seafood. These places require advanced reservations and are an additional cost.

I grabbed a bubble waffle ice cream cone from Izumi’s walk-up window— it was refreshing on a hot day at sea and perfect for Instagram photos.

Onboard Entertainment on Star of the Seas

three ice skaters in floral skirt sets with their hands in the air gliding across the ice — Skaters on the rink during Sol onboard Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Star of the Seas offers family-friendly nonstop entertainment during the sailing. Fans of musicals, comedy, live music and sports will find shows that impress. With only a three-day sailing, I couldn’t experience everything, but the shows I attended blew me away.

Back to the Future: The Musical

Heart screen with Marty McFly And The Pinheads etched into it with two stage performers one in a yellow jacket and the other in a denim set. — Marty McFly and Dr. Brown on stage during bows at Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Broadway fans can enjoy a 102-minute licensed production of Back to the Future: The Musical, complete with catchy music and jaw-dropping illusions. Reserve seats early, as shows fill fast. If you miss reservations, a standby line opens 10 minutes before curtain—but there’s no guarantee for seating. Trust me, Marty McFly on stage at the Royal Theater is a must-see.

Torque

For intense thrills you should watch Torque at the AquaTheater. Acrobatics, stunts, high dives and synchronized swimming combine into a 45-minute jaw-dropping show that is packed from wall to wall. Be sure to check the Royal Caribbean app for times during your sailing because it gets busy.

Sol

a circular theater with an ice rink in the center with four skaters pressing their hands to their knees next to props of chairs and doors. — Skaters engaging with the crowd during Sol during the late evening show. Photo credit: Casey Clark

The ice-skating show Sol blends music, dance, and skating to pop hits from stars like Beyoncé. The finale features speed skaters who perform daring stunts that keep the crowd clapping in amazement — you won’t find another show like it on a cruise line.

Onboard Activities on Star of the Seas

Vibrant carousel in the middle of a deck with a purple creature, boat, lollipop and other horses. — The animal carousel in the Surfside area for families to enjoy on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

There are tons of family-friendly activities on Star of the Seas for those young kids to teens and young adults looking for a thrill. Regardless of your age, there is fun for everyone onboard but you need to know where to look.

Category 6 Waterpark

Slides at Category 6 waterpark on Star of the Seas at opening while at sea. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Kids and adults can enjoy Category 6 Waterpark onboard Star of the Seas during their cruise. It’s home to numerous slides and water activities that the whole family can enjoy. Some of the most popular slides include the Frightening Bolt (the tallest slide at sea), Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers and Hurricane Hunters.

Crown’s Edge

Man in a neon yellow jumpsuit ziplining over the ships edge. — Crown’s Edge area of Star of the Seas that guests can participate in for an upcharge. Photo credit: Casey Clark

Crown’s Edge isn’t for the faint of heart. This skywalk and zipline combination takes guests over the edge of the ship in a neon yellow jumpsuit. You leave the experience with a video of your reaction going over the edge that you can keep as a souvenir to show your friends and family on social media and IRL.

Crown’s Edge is an upcharge so you’ll want to budget for that ahead of your sailing. The wait for this can be hefty especially on those sea days so you want to allot at least an hour in your schedule to do this activity.

Flow Rider

blue water splash pad with a man on a red boogie board next to two employees. — Guest participating in Flow Rider activity on Star of the Seas. Photo credit: Casey Clark

For those who aren’t afraid to get wet and take a tumble, Flow Rider is definitely a place to check out. At Flow Rider, you can learn how to surf and boogie board right on the ship with guidance from crew members and the encouragement from other passengers waiting for their turn.

Ports of Call on Star of the Seas

The ports of call will vary depending on the itinerary you pick whether it’s a 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailing. Be sure to check on the website to see what stops your sailing will make before booking. Other ports of call included on the different itineraries include Puerto Costa Maya, Roatan, Cozumel, St. Thomas and St. Kitts.

CocoCay

Crystal clear pool area with four people and a bunch of orange and white umbrellas in the sand. — Hideaway Beach’s pool area for adults only at CocoCay. Photo credit: Casey Clark

CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private island that can be found on all itineraries. The island is very relaxing and has spots for both adults and children to enjoy whether you’re looking to zipline, hop in a wave pool or get a drink on the beach. Plus, if you like water slides, there are 14 different ones to explore on the island.

Getting to Port Canaveral

yellow sign that says cruise terminal 1 above sliding doors with images of Royal Caribbean boats. — Guests walking into Terminal 1 at Port Canaveral in Orlando for security. Photo credit: Casey Clark

All of the current itineraries for Star of the Seas sail out of Port Canaveral in Florida. This is a convenient location for travelers flying into Orlando as it’s just a little over an hour away from MCO. There is parking at the port for cars and rental cars and there are also shuttles that can bring you there from the airport. Keep in mind that there’s a lot of traffic heading down to Port Canaveral so it’s important to plan accordingly so you don’t miss your onboarding time.