Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship has reached an important construction milestone. 

Legend of the Seas, which is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, has touched water for the first time.

Construction began in January 2024 with the celebratory steel-cutting ceremony, meaning it's taken around 18 months to get to this point. 

During her float out, over 90 million gallons of water filled the dock. It's a major step forward in the mega ship's construction process, bringing her closer to sea trials and her anticipated debut. 

Now, the construction will focus more closely on the interior, as most of the exterior work has been completed. For example, the ship's 2,805 cabins will be installed and decorated soon. 

Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship and will join her sisters, Icon and Star of the Seas, in August 2026. 

During her inaugural season, Legend of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, marking the first time an Icon Class ship will offer cruises around the Mediterranean. 

European itineraries range from 3 to 13 nights and call at ports like Naples, Italy; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and more. 

She'll then move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a 13-night transatlantic cruise at the end of October. Her first sailing from Florida is scheduled for November 11, 2026. 

"Legend of the Seas continues the state-of-the-art Icon Class, which allows the Finnish maritime industry to showcase its unique expertise at its best," said Casimir Lindholm, C.E.O. of Meyer Turku. 

"The shipyard, Royal Caribbean, and an extensive network of partners work together to develop the processes and concepts from ship to ship. Alongside its sister ships, Legend of the Seas will also mark an important milestone in increasingly responsible shipbuilding."

As the third Icon Class ship, guests can expect a similar framework to Icon and Star of the Seas. However, there will be a few changes. 

For starters, the supper club will have a Hollywood theme, compared to New York on Icon and Chicago on Star. 

Moreover, it's likely that the entertainment line-up will differ from her sister ships. Onboard Icon of the Seas, for example, the Broadway-style musical is The Wizard of Oz. It was replaced by Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean plans on building a fourth Icon Class ship

According to Meyer Turku's Facebook post, the shipyard is already preparing the dry dock for the fourth Icon Class ship. 

"As Legend starts her outfitting phase, the dry dock awaits the keel laying of the fourth Icon Class ship," the post reads. 

Little is known about the next-gen Icon Class ship. However, it’s expected to build on the innovations introduced with Icon, Star, and Legend of the Seas. 

Celebrity Cruises is getting ready to put its first ever river cruises on sale, but a lot of questions remain.

The company held a webinar for travel agents and revealed that the deposit is $500 per reservation, however, they haven't shared many other details yet. Key information, such as itineraries, ship deck plans, and departure dates, is still under wraps. 

Guests can place a $500 deposit starting at 9:00am EDT on September 3, 2025, for early access to bookings once they officially open. This means that those who take advantage of the refundable deposit option will be among the first to secure a spot on Celebrity’s debut river sailings.

Celebrity said that the reason they're requiring deposits is because of the demand for the new cruise product; it's the first time a mainstream cruise line will offer river cruises. 

"We are excited to offer guests the chance to experience the first-ever Celebrity River Cruises vacations in 2027 with Priority Booking Access," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. 

"Guests will enjoy the warm hospitality Celebrity is known for, on innovative ships, with land experiences unlike any other, as we set sail on Europe’s iconic Danube and Rhine rivers."

However, placing a deposit does not guarantee anyone an actual booking. Starting on September 9, 2025, Celebrity Cruises will be converting the priority deposits into actual ship and sail dates. Conversions will be done based on Captain's Club loyalty status.  

To place a deposit on September 3, you can visit celebritycruises.com/river, call Celebrity River Cruises at 1-833-474-8803, contact a trusted travel advisor, or visit Future Cruise on board.

General sale for Celebrity's river cruises will open to the public "later this summer."

Read more: Celebrity confirms when they will open bookings for river cruises

Here's what we know about Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity River Cruises will have a fleet of 10 ships. However, when the line debuts in 2027, it will start with just two vessels sailing the Danube and Rhine Rivers.

According to executives, each river ship will accommodate around 180 guests and be designed after the cruise line's award-winning Edge Class series, which launched in 2018. 

Edge Class ships, including Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel (in Nov. 2025), focus on connecting guests to the ocean with their outward-facing designs and innovative features like the cantilevered Magic Carpet.

All cabins on Celebrity's river ships will be based on double occupancy, meaning the vessels won't be outfitted with staterooms for three or four guests. 

Additionally, the fares will be more inclusive than when sailing on their mainstream ocean cruise ships. All Celebrity River Cruises will include:

• Dining (including a 24-hour option)
• Drinks (select wine, beer, cocktails, coffee, and soft drinks, with the opportunity to upgrade)
• Wi-Fi
• Onboard experiences
• One complimentary shore excursion every day

Cruisers also have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Prague and Budapest when Celebrity's river cruises open for booking.

What Celebrity hasn't revealed about its river cruises yet

Although it's nice to know that the cruises will be more inclusive, one of the biggest questions remains unanswered — the price.

Because of the inclusivity and exclusivity of the river cruises, they'll likely be more expensive than their standard ocean sailings, but we don't know how the fares will compare to other river cruise lines. 

Celebrity also hasn't shared the dates of the first river cruises in 2027, as well as the ships' deck plans or cabin layouts. 

Royal Caribbean is actively fixing the water slide that broke on Icon of the Seas a few weeks ago, and if all goes well, it should be up and running before the end of the current voyage. 

An unidentified male passenger was injured on the Frightening Bolt drop slide aboard one of the world's largest cruise ships in early August. 

Moments after the trap door released him, he struck a section of the acrylic glass panel that broke off. Thankfully, he didn't fall through the gaping hole, but other guests reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands."

Royal Caribbean immediately closed the slide, although other slides within the Category 6 Waterpark remained operational, including the Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers mat slides, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Surge.

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

Because the water was forcefully gushing through the opening and spraying the chairs overlooking the adults-only Hideaway pool, Deck 15 was also closed to prevent further injuries and allow crew members to assess the slide's damage. 

They closed the slide on the brand-new Star of the Seas, too, so that the crew could conduct a thorough inspection to ensure guest safety. One user on Reddit confirmed that it has remained closed through at least Aug. 27. 

Since the incident, news broke that the passenger plans to sue Royal Caribbean for compensation. They hired Alex Perez of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., who confirmed that his client suffered injuries after the acrylic glass on the water slide broke on Aug. 7, 2025.

Read more: Royal Caribbean passenger plans to sue the company after being sliced during water slide accident

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

The malfunctioning water slide didn't impact Icon of the Seas' operations. As such, guests on recent sailings have begun sharing images of the repairs, showing crew members working on the orange and yellow slide.

"I did see someone [post] a photo that the drop slide on the Icon was being fixed. We are also on the sailing this week and spoke with one of the officers overseeing the work," shared one cruiser on Reddit.

"They removed the clear sections while we were docked in St. Maarten and plan to install the new pieces tomorrow while docked in St Thomas. They are replacing the clear sections with two solid colored sections and said it should be up and running again this sailing."

(Credit: @aaron.dv02 [left] and @fireal7 [right])

At 46 feet tall, Frightening Bolt is famous for being the largest drop slide at sea, as well as its suspenseful trapdoor launch that sends riders plummeting straight down. 

Following in initial incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson provided the following statement:

"Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation."

The most recent photos of the slide shared on Reddit were taken during Icon of the Seas' current 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. Icon departed from Miami, Florida, on Aug. 23, 2025, and called at St. Maarten and St. Thomas on Aug. 26 and 27, respectively. The final port is a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Water slides on cruise ships are safe. You shouldn't become overly worried because of this one isolated incident

The number of water slide-related accidents on cruise ships is low considering the hundreds of guests who use them every day. However, incidents do occur from time to time. 

Cruise lines heavily invest in regular maintenance and safety inspections to ensure that they're operating smoothly and efficiently. 

In fact, it's not uncommon to see slides closed for maintenance, even during full sailings. While annoying, it's better to experience a temporary closure than risk a malfunction that could result in serious injuries. 

That said, like with any thrill ride (on land or at sea), there are always inherent risks. As such, it's important to follow the posted safety instructions for any attraction, whether it's a zip line, rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating rink, or water slide. 

And if you don't feel comfortable, there’s no shame in skipping the activity altogether. Royal Caribbean ships definitely cater to adrenaline junkies, but there are so many other activities onboard to keep everyone happy. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship should you choose?

Would you pay over $5,000 for a last-minute cruise on an older ship?

After not traveling together for nearly three years, a father and daughter decided to book a spontaneous cruise to Greece, Turkey, and Italy, spending $5,329.10 (including taxes, port fees, and gratuities) on a balcony stateroom.

Donald and Catherine Wright had been trying to plan something special to celebrate Catherine's master's graduation, but kept delaying the planning process. 

At first, they toyed with a land vacation to Scotland. However, they shifted gears and began browsing available cruises to Greece.

They eventually settled on a weeklong sailing on Voyager of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship that debuted in 1999, to Mykonos and Santorini, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Messina, Sicily; and Naples, Italy.

Catherine's last cruise was a luxury one, having been fortunate enough to sail with her grandmother aboard Regent's Seven Seas Explorer in 2019. Before that, she sailed on Harmony of the Seas in 2018 and Disney Fantasy in 2016.

Donald had also recently sailed on newer ships, including Quantum of the Seas and Allure of the Seas in 2024. As such, stepping onto Voyager of the Seas was different from what they were accustomed to. 

Still, the cruise was less about the ship itself and more about the ports of call. Catherine and Donald roamed the cobblestone streets of Mykonos, explored ancient ruins in Ephesus, and enjoyed lunch in Sorrento. Plus, with just one sea day, sailing on a new ship with endless activities wasn't important. 

They could have saved money by opting for a windowless interior stateroom, but one of Donald's non-negotiables on vacation is having access to a private verandah. 

Their balcony stateroom, cabin #6518, was a comfortable space to retreat to after spending long days ashore and braving Europe's summer heat. 

In fact, they returned to their stateroom most nights around 8:00PM. They preferred to rest instead of staying out late at a bar or watching a show. 

Not only that, but amenities on a newer, more modern ship would have gone to waste. While on Voyager, they didn't use the rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, or Perfect Storm waterslides. 

"The cabin was completely fine," Catherine recalled, "The shower pressure was a little iffy, but that was the only thing."

Donald added that he wished the mini-fridge's temperature had been cooler. He noted that it barely kept a bottle of water cool, even after they had maintenance take a look at it. 

The bathroom itself was a standard Royal Caribbean bathroom. It was compact yet functional with enough storage for two cruisers and a much-appreciated glass shower door instead of a clingy curtain. 

As with other ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, the shower featured the same 2-in-1 shampoo-body wash hybrid, along with a small shelf for personal products.

Read more: I always pack two things for my cruise bathroom that I'll thank myself for later

Being an older ship, the stateroom didn't have an abundance of charging options, just one European and two American outlets by the vanity. 

Catherine mentioned that the large vanity made getting ready easier, as she could spread her makeup and accessories out while her dad used the bathroom to shower and shave.

They were also impressed with the storage space. They were able to comfortably unpack and even had extra hangers!

Unlike newer Royal Caribbean vessels, Voyager of the Seas has a traditional ship design. As such, the balconies are recessed and cut directly into the superstructure, rather than protruding outward.

Consequently, they are more enclosed than balconies on ships like Oasis of the Seas. However, this means that they don't offer the same panoramic views, something Donald didn't love about the cabin. 

According to Catherine, they didn't use the balcony a lot. She used it more than her father, although she mentioned that she saw him stand outside watching the crew tie up the ship one morning in port. 

Although their last-minute cruise was pricey, they don't regret spending over $5,000 for a balcony on Voyager of the Seas, especially since it was the first time they had traveled together since 2022. 

Donald said that he was impressed with the ship's cleanliness and found the crowd to be a pleasant mix of couples and families. 

The biggest complaint from their time onboard was that the food wasn't as good as they had previously had on Royal Caribbean vessels. However, the cabin itself wasn't as bad as they expected for an older cruise ship. 

Grandeur of the Seas will sail from Cartagena, Colombia, and Colón, Panama, in 2026 and 2027.

Originally, Jewel of the Seas was set to offer Southern Caribbean cruises from Latin America. However, Royal Caribbean decided to swap the ship. 

Now, Jewel of the Seas will sail from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while Grandeur of the Seas will depart from Cartagena, Colombia, and Colón, Panama. 

Royal Caribbean let impacted guests know about the deployment change in an email. 

"Our original plan for Grandeur of the Seas was to offer a Summer 2026-2027 season with sailings departing from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning May 2, 2026, through April 17, 2027," it reads.

"Instead, Grandeur of the Seas will offer sailings from Cartagena, Colombia, and Colon, Panama, and Jewel of the Seas will offer the sailings from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. As a result, your cruise has been redeployed. The good news is, your sailing and itinerary will remain intact, just on a different ship."

Those impacted have three options:

• Automatically move to the same sailing onboard Jewel or Grandeur of the Seas
• Re-book any other Royal Caribbean International sailing
• Receive a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare

Photo by Bill Raffel

Guests don't have to take any action if they decide to stick with the same sail date and itinerary. Royal Caribbean will automatically move them to a like-for-like stateroom, and the original stateroom category price will be protected.

If the booking was already paid in full, they'll provide a refund of the difference within 14 business days. 

Moving on, Royal Caribbean will waive non-refundable deposit change fees for those who want to re-book another cruise. However, guests are responsible for the difference in cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items (like drink packages, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions). 

Finally, if there's not a suitable replacement, impacted passengers can request a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare, along with non-refundable deposits and pre-paid amenities. Airfare booked through Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program will also be automatically refunded.  

Although they note that they will issue the refund within 14 business days, some international banking and financial institutions may have a processing time of about 30 business days. 

If the cruise aboard Jewel or Grandeur of the Seas was booked using a Future Cruise Credit, Royal Caribbean will refund any new funds paid above the certificate amount and reinstate the original certificate. 

Guests have until September 10, 2025, to let Royal Caribbean know of their decision. That said, those who wish to remain on the same sailing date and itinerary don’t need to take any action; the switch will automatically happen. 

The deployment swap means that Grandeur of the Seas will offer longer cruises in 2026 and 2027

Originally, Grandeur of the Seas was supposed to sail on shorter voyages to The Bahamas and Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa in 2026 and 2027. 

Now, she'll offer weeklong cruises to the Southern Caribbean from Latin America, calling at ports like Oranjestad, Aruba, and Willemstad, Curaçao. 

Similarly, Jewel of the Seas will offer a variety of cruises, ranging from short 3-night getaways to longer 8-night holiday sailings. 

Although both ships are older, Grandeur takes the cake. Launching in 1996, she's not only Royal Caribbean's oldest ship, but she's also the smallest in the fleet. Comparatively, Jewel of the Seas set sail in 2004. 

Grandeur measures around 73,817 gross registered tons (GRT), while Jewel of the Seas comes in at around 90,090 GRT. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Ships by Size - Largest to Smallest

Royal Caribbean has had six cruise ships, including the Liberty of the Seas, impacted by Hurricane Erin as she continues to barrel across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Passengers aboard the August 21 sailing on Liberty of the Seas were originally scheduled to visit Bermuda. However, because of the storm's projected path, the ship's call at the Royal Naval Dockyard has been cancelled and replaced with another sea day. 

"Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we've been closely monitoring Hurricane Erin as she continues moving north. While the storm is not expected to directly impact our location, its projected path will pass near our itinerary, generating significantly larger waves ahead of its track," reads an email sent to guests.

"To ensure safe navigation and to provide a more comfortable experience for everyone on board, we'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead of visiting Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda. To help make up for this unexpected change, we'll now arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten at 10:00 AM instead of 2:00 PM, and depart at 7:00 PM instead of 8:00 PM."

All pre-paid shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be automatically refunded as onboard credit to guests' SeaPass accounts. Any remaining amounts at the end of the cruise will be reimbursed to the card on file within 14 business days.

Liberty of the Seas' August 16 cruise was impacted, too. Like the latter sailing, Liberty's scheduled call to Bermuda was cancelled to avoid cruising through the rough Atlantic waters. Instead, the ship headed north to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Read more: Cruising in hurricane season: What you need to know

Other Royal Caribbean cruisers have also faced disappointment from cancelled ports

Vision of the Seas was the first cruise ship to have its itinerary changed because of the massive storm. At the time, it wasn't clear where then-Tropical Storm Erin would go, but it was fairly certain that it would head north. 

As such, guests on the August 14 sailing from Baltimore, Maryland, were informed that instead of calling at the Royal Naval Dockyard, they'd visit Port Canaveral, Florida. The ship was also able to arrive in Nassau, Bahamas, 6 hours earlier than planned.  

Moving on, Symphony of the Seas' August 17 cruise from Cape Bayonne, New Jersey, had its scheduled stop in Nassau on August 20 cancelled. According to Cruise Mapper, the ship is spending another day at sea and closely hugging the Florida coastline. 

(Credit: Cruise Mapper)

Utopia of the Seas faced a similar fate. Utopia was unable to visit Nassau on August 19. And, like Symphony of the Seas, she had an extra day at sea. 

Likewise, Harmony of the Seas could not call at Royal Caribbean's private island on her current 8-night cruise from Texas. Rather than visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on August 19, the ship spent an extra day at sea. Her next scheduled port is Costa Maya, Mexico, on August 21. 

Finally, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas returned to Miami, Florida, roughly 12 hours earlier than planned on Friday, August 17. The following cruise that departed on the 18th set sail directly for Nassau, rather than spending the day at sea. 

Read more: Here's What Happens If There's A Hurricane During Your Cruise

Hurricane Erin is the first major cruise disruption of the season

Up until mid-August, the Atlantic hurricane season had been pretty slow. One day, out of curiosity, I asked my boss if he thought the quiet streak would last, to which he replied that August 15 is like a "magic switch." 

As Hurricane Erin continued to gain strength, the storm forced cruise lines to make last-minute adjustments, starting with Vision of the Seas. 

Although Hurricane Erin has moved out of the Caribbean (after days of 130mph winds, torrential rainfall, and tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans without power), her impacts on the East Coast are still being felt.

Read more: With an ‘above normal’ hurricane season forecast, check these 5 things in your travel insurance policy

North Carolina, for example, is bracing for up to 4 feet of life-threatening storm surge along parts of the Outer Banks. 

Moreover, New York City's beaches are closed to swimming on Wednesday and Thursday due to powerful rip currents.

As of 2:00pm EDT on Wednesday, August 20, Hurricane Erin was moving north at 13mph with maximum sustained winds of 110mph, making it a Category 2 storm. 

Celebrity Cruises announced that its highly anticipated European river cruises will open for deposits on September 3, 2025. Sailings start in 2027 on the Danube and Rhine Rivers. 

Guests who place a $500 deposit will get early access to Celebrity's river cruises ahead of the general public. The deposits can be booked starting at 9:00am EDT on September 3, 2025. They're fully refundable. 

The reason that those with deposits will earn special access is due to the demand for the new cruise product. It's the first time a mainstream cruise line will launch river cruises. 

"There's an avalanche of demand," Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told Seatrade Cruise News. 

The cruise fares will be all-inclusive, so guests won't have to worry about paying extra for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, and other onboard experiences. This differs from their traditional ocean cruises but is similar to their sailings aboard Celebrity Flora in the Galapagos. 

Additionally, cruisers have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Prague and Budapest when Celebrity's river cruises open for booking. 

"We are excited to offer guests the chance to experience the first-ever Celebrity River Cruises vacations in 2027 with Priority Booking Access," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises.

"Guests will enjoy the warm hospitality Celebrity is known for, on innovative ships, with land experiences unlike any other, as we set sail on Europe’s iconic Danube and Rhine rivers."

There are a few ways to place a deposit, such as by visiting celebritycruises.com/river or calling Celebrity River Cruises at 1-833-474-8803. You can also visit Future Cruise on board or contact a trusted travel advisor. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Group had such a good year that Celebrity Cruises will start offering river cruises in 2027

Celebrity ordered 10 river ships

According to Celebrity, each ship will hold about 180 passengers and will be designed to look like the cruise line's award-winning Edge Class vessels. 

Celebrity Edge was revolutionary for the cruise industry when she launched in 2019. Since then, each of the Edge Class ships has continued to focus on connecting guests to the ocean with their outward-facing designs and innovative features like the cantilevered Magic Carpet.

Celebrity's newest Edge Class ship, Celebrity Xcel, is launching this November. 

Read more: 10 New river cruise ships ordered for Celebrity Cruises – what we know so far

Half of Celebrity's guests have already sailed or plan on sailing on a river cruise

Although Celebrity already focuses on offering world cruises to places like the South Pacific, Asia, and Europe, there are only so many ports of call that can accommodate Celebrity's smallest Millennium Class ships. 

As such, Celebrity's smaller river ships will invite guests to experience some of Europe's culturally and historically significant cities that can't be accessed by ocean vessels. 

River cruises also tend to be more immersive than traditional cruises, which means that guests can look forward to more cultural enrichment, trying local cuisine, and venturing on unique excursions. 

The world's second Icon Class ship is ready to make her grand debut in Florida.

Following in the footsteps of Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean's fleet as one of the largest cruise ships in the world. 

Onboard, guests will find everything from a record-breaking water park to one-of-a-kind entertainment options, unique dining options, and well-appointed staterooms. 

Whether you're counting down the days until your Caribbean cruise on Star of the Seas or are in awe at how cruise ships continue to push the boundaries of innovation at sea, there's no denying that Star's debut is a major milestone. 

Star of the Seas size

Star of the Seas is a massive cruise ship, measuring 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. At 248,663 gross registered tons with a maximum passenger capacity of 7,600, she's about 5% larger than Utopia of the Seas. 

It will be a long time until the Icon Class sisters are dethroned as the world's largest cruise ships. To put that into perspective, Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class debuted in 2008, and Oasis vessels held the record for over 15 years until 2024. 

Royal Caribbean loved making each Oasis Class ship slightly larger than the last. However, they've stepped back from that practice with Icon and Star of the Seas. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest

Now, they're more focused on creating the best family vacations. "[The size has] never been a focus for us. The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, in 2024. 

As such, there are some noticeable differences between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. After Icon's launch, Royal Caribbean took guest feedback and made a few tweaks to Star. 

What's new and different onboard Star of the Seas

Generally speaking, the structural bones of Star of the Seas are nearly identical to Icon. The layout and separate neighborhoods remain, but there are new dining and entertainment options, as well as refreshed public spaces to better appeal to the line's target audience. 

Starting with entertainment, you can expect at least 3 new shows, including the highly anticipated Back to the Future: The Musical. There will also be a new high-diving spectacle in the Aquatheater (Torque) and an ice skating show in Absolute Zero (Sol). 

Like with all theater shows aboard Royal Caribbean ships, Back to the Future: The Musical, Torque, and Sol are included in the cost of the cruise fare for all guests.

Read more: What's new and different on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas

Moving on to one of the most important aspects of a great cruise vacation (the food), Royal Caribbean has redesigned the specialty supper club, as well as changed a few of the food stalls in the AquaDome Market. 

Instead of the Empire Supper Club (themed after none other than The Big Apple!), the Lincoln Park Supper Club will feature a Chicago-inspired theme. As such, the cocktails, menu, and music at the $200-per-person specialty restaurant reflect the spirit of Chicago. 

There are new complimentary options in the AquaDome food hall, too. Three stalls were swapped to bring new flavors and dishes to the high seas — Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita replaced GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden.

Throughout the ship, guests may also notice new bar menus. Aside from the fleetwide menu going to all vessels, the pub has a new menu, along with new non-alcoholic frozen drink machines at The Lime and Coconut and a new Painchiller dispenser. 

Outside, not much has changed. Unless, that is, you venture down to Surfside, the play-all-day neighborhood designed for families. 

Compared to Icon, the Splashaway Bay aqua park and Playscape received new features and more interactive play elements. The Water's Edge pool is more kid-friendly, too. 

There's also one extra hot tub near the entrance to the AquaDome Market. The hot tub was initally supposed to be on Icon of the Seas, but it was removed over weight concerns. 

When Royal Caribbean reevaluated the design, they discovered it wasn't necessary to remove it. As such, it was added to Star of the Seas' design plans early on. 

Finally, while there are no new innovations (such as an extra water slide), Star of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to feature robotic vacuum cleaners. 

28 different stateroom categories 

Royal Caribbean built Star of the Seas to cater to families. As such, over 80% of the cabins onboard can accommodate three or more guests. Not only that, but 70% of all rooms will feature a private balcony. 

Cabins exclusive to Icon Class ships include:

• Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony
• Infinite Ocean View Balcony
• Infinite Central Park View Balcony
• Surfside Family View Balcony
• Surfside Family View Interior
• Interior Plus
• Sunset Junior Suite
• Surfside Family Suite
• Infinite Grand Suite
• Sunset Suite
• Sunset Corner Suite
• Icon Loft
• Ultimate Family Townhouse

Countless dining options

It's impossible to go hungry on Star of the Seas. Between the complimentary and specialty venues, there's something to satisfy all cravings. 

That said, you must be aware of which restaurants will cost you extra while on the ship. You can go the entire week without splurging on a specialty meal, but it's easy to be tempted by the restaurants' unique menus and atmosphere. 

Complimentary restaurants

You'll find 14 complimentary dining venues on Star of the Seas, including Sprinkles and the two suite-only restaurants: 

• Surfside Bites
• Surfside Eatery
• AquaDome Market
• Main Dining Room
• Coastal Kitchen (for those staying in suites)
• The Grove (for those staying in suites)
• Basecamp
• Sorrento's
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe (with a few exceptions)
• Sprinkles
• Pearl Café (with a few exceptions)
• Park Cafe
• Windjammer Marketplace

Specialty restaurants

14 venues onboard Star of the Seas come with an additional charge:

• Hooked Seafood
• Lincoln Park Supper Club
• Celebration Table
• Chops Grille
• Chef's Table
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Sugar Beach
• Desserted
• Playmaker's
• Pier 7
• Starbucks
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar
• Trellis Bar (bar bites)

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, through at least April 2027

Star of the Seas will offer 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Nearly every sailing will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. The one (current) exception is the May 3, 2026, cruise, which lists St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Haiti as its three ports of call. 

Before arriving in Port Canaveral on Aug. 9, Royal Caribbean invited media and influencers on board for a quick 3-night preview sailing from Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

Star of the Seas' official inaugural cruise will depart on Aug. 31 and sail to CocoCay, Roatán, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. 

However, the ship will embark on a series of short preview cruises beforehand, as the vessel's construction finished ahead of schedule. The first will depart on Aug. 16, 2025. 

The newest Icon Class ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean in July 2025

Construction of the brand-new vessel took over 730 days. The delivery was met with a celebration attended by cruise line executives, crew members, and shipyard employees in Finland.

Even though Meyer Turku's time with Star has come to an end, they're hard at work building Legend of the Seas. Legend of the Seas will sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following her inaugural debut in Europe in 2026. 

The passenger who was injured riding one of the water slides on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas plans to sue the cruise line for compensation. 

(Credit: @nowimtraveling [right])

The unidentified guest hired Alex Perez of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., according to Local 10. Perez confirmed that his client suffered injuries after the acrylic glass on the Frightening Bolt slide broke on Aug. 7, 2025. 

The Frightening Bolt is the largest drop slide at sea. Its height of 46 feet and trapdoor launch make it one of the more extreme attractions on a cruise ship. 

Although the cruiser didn't fall through the gaping hole, other passengers reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands."

(Credit: @aaron.dv02 [left] / @fireal7 [right])

Videos and pictures began circulating on social media after the incident, showing the gushing water soaking the lounge chairs on Deck 15. 

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the guest received medical assistance and that the slide will remain closed until the company completes its investigation and makes repairs.

"Our firm has decades of experience handling cruise passenger injury cases, and unfortunately, incidents involving material or design failures aboard cruise ships are something we see far too often," stated Perez. 

(Credit: @maddietspmo [left] / @natalya.ash [right])

"Cruise ships have a responsibility to ensure that the attractions they open and encourage passengers to use are safe. We are thankful for the trust this family has placed in us to represent them."

Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is a leading maritime and cruise passenger injury law firm. They have a proven success record, according to their website. They have recovered over $500 million for their clients and won more than 3,000 cases. Combined, their team has over 200 years of experience. 

Read more: Cruise ship water slide breaks on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, passenger injured

Royal Caribbean isn't sure when the Frightening Bolt slide will reopen

"The company has not provided a timeline for reopening and is investigating whether the failure was due to a manufacturing defect, installation issue, or an unexpected impact," Royal Caribbean told UNILAD. 

However, the other slides at the Category 6 Waterpark remain operational, including the Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Surge.

That said, Royal Caribbean shut down the Frightening Bolt on Star of the Seas following the accident on Icon out of an abundance of caution. One of the crew members said that it will remain closed until they can conduct a thorough inspection. 

Star of the Seas is set to embark on a series of short preview cruises beginning on Aug. 16. Her official maiden voyage is scheduled for Aug. 31. The 7-night cruise will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Cozumel. 

Read more: Spotted: Water slide closed on new Royal Caribbean ship after accident involving passenger on Icon of the Seas

It's hard to believe that a beloved film that was once rejected by Disney has made its way to the high seas. 

Royal Caribbean is bringing the musical version of the 1985 Back to the Future film to its cruise ship. Today, it's a cultural phenomenon, but it almost never happened.

Speaking onboard Star of the Seas, co-writer Bob Gale shared the story of the movie was pitched to movie executives.

The pitch was turned down over 40 times, with studios claiming that the story was too lighthearted for such a serious sci-fi premise. 

Even after the seemingly constant rejection, Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale decided to take the pitch to Disney, where they received perhaps the harshest criticism of all. 

"Think they would make a movie about incest? You've got the kid and his mom in a car. Get out of here!" Gale recalled during a panel aboard Star of the Seas, the first-ever cruise ship to bring Back to the Future: The Musical to life at sea. 

It wasn't until Zemeckis worked on the 1984 hit movie Romancing the Stone that revisiting Back to the Future became possible. 

"Everybody in town did want to be in business with [Zemeckis]," Gale said, "And they said, 'Bob, what movie do you want to make?'... And all this time, there was one guy who always liked the script. His name was Steven Spielberg." 

Spielberg was already a powerhouse in Hollywood and had previously worked with Gale three times on the films I Want to Hold Your Hand (1978), 1941 (1979), and Used Cars (1980).  

Initially, Gale was worried that if Back to the Future tanked, he'd never be able to work with Spielberg again. But with the success of Zemeckis's Romancing the Stone, everything changed.

"Steven had just set up Amblin Entertainment on the Universal lot, and we became the first movie to be produced out of Amblin Entertainment. We got set up in 1984. And the rest, as they say, is history," Gale explained. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will add Back to the Future musical to its next new cruise ship

That history wasn’t made without a few bumps along the road

Even after the film was greenlit, Gale and Zemeckis faced a series of challenges, starting with casting for the lead role of Marty McFly. 

"The president of the studio insisted that we cast Eric Stoltz to play Marty McFly. We could not get Michael J. Fox out of his TV series Family Ties. And so you know, when the president of the corporation tells you [that] you got to do something, you do it."

Still, they realized Stoltz wasn’t the right fit for the role, and they eventually let him go to cast Fox. 

Origins of Back to the Future: The Musical

According to Gale, Zemeckis and his wife saw The Producers on Broadway, which inspired his wife to suggest creating a stage adaptation of Back to the Future.

They had already finished Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III and were adamant about not creating a prequel or spinoffs. As such, Zemeckis and Gale leaned into the idea of a musical adaptation. 

"We thought if we did a theatrical musical that would be a way of giving the public more Back to the Future, but in a way that didn't disturb...the canon of the trilogy," he said. 

First, they called Alan Silvestri, who composed the music for the movies. Then, they reached out to Glen Ballard, a Grammy-winning songwriter who had previously worked with Silvestri on songs for The Polar Express. 

After a few weeks, Silvestri and Ballard came back with some songs, and the team knew they had something great in the works. 

"Now, it took us...four years from when we thought of the idea of doing Back to the Future to when we finally got it made, and ten years after that, all three movies were made," stated Gale. 

Read more: 8 changes coming to Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship (and 1 returning favorite)

Comparatively, ten years after thinking about the musical adaptation, they still didn't have a director. Colin Ingram was the only producer they had met who thought it was a smart idea. 

However, once they got John Rando onboard, everything fell into place, including figuring out how to bring the DeLorean to the stage. 

"So here we are, now on a cruise ship. If the Me of today could travel back in time to August, September 1980, when Bob Zemeckis and I were struggling to write this script and said, 'Do you know guys know where this story is going to go? Do you know where you're going to be in the year 2025? You're going to be on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.' Bob and I would have called security and said, 'We've got a lunatic in our office. Get him the heck out of here,'" he joked.