World's LARGEST cruise ship proves to be a navigation nightmare as monstrous boat sets sail
By RAVEN SAUNT,
Royal Caribbean is a veteran in the realm of voyage holidays - and it recently unveiled its new crowning glory.
The Star of the Seas is a 20-deck, 1,196-foot long vessel that accommodates a staggering 5,610 guests at a time - earning it the title of world's largest cruise ship.
'The world's best family vacation turns up the volume on family fun with unbelievable thrills, chill and wows for the whole crew,' the company proudly states.
In addition to 'six record-breaking waterslides and a fear-inducing challenge high,' the ship also boasts 'seven unique pools' and more than '40 ways to dine and drink'.
Daily Mail was invited aboard for an exclusive three-night preview excursion from Orlando, Florida, to the company's own resort in the Bahamas ahead of The Star's official maiden voyage on August 31 - and the new cruise offering was staggering.
The Star of the Seas is a 20-deck, 1,196-foot long vessel that accommodates a staggering 5,610 guests at a time - making it the world's largest cruise ship
Tickets for the seven-night Western Caribbean adventure - beyond its maiden voyage for which prices are inflated - start at $1,272 per person ($2,544 per room) for the most 'budget-friendly option.'
The 'Interior' room is compact with no window of its own and is not suitable for those who get easily claustrophobic.
However, The Star's most popular room option is the 'Balcony' offering - coming in at $1,514 per person ($3,027 per room) - which offers sweeping views of the ocean for a true experience out at sea.
Various other options are available - all the way through to a luxury $11,926 for a Royal Suite - but every offering appears to have the necessities covered.
But is The Star really worth the price tag?
The most striking thing about Royal Caribbean's new vessel is its size.
It dominated Port Canaveral in Orlando even before setting sail, with approaching passengers struck by its overwhelming proportions from the outset.
It protruded high into the skyline and later comfortably dwarfed one of its sister ships - Symphony of the Seas - when docked.
Tickets for the seven-night Western Caribbean adventure - beyond its maiden voyage for which prices are inflated - start at $1,272 per person ($2,544 per room) for the most 'budget-friendly option'
The Star's most popular room option is the 'Balcony' offering - coming in at $1,514 per person ($3,027 per room) - does offer sweeping views of the ocean for a true experience at sea
The Star (left) protruded high into the skyline in the dock and later comfortably dwarfed one of its sister ships - Symphony of the Seas (right)
Corridors were long and slightly too narrow for manoeuvring around each other with ease - leaving some passengers drained
The size - although visually impressive - does have its downsides.
The amount of walking required to navigate from front to back as well as up and down was not lost on passengers.
And the distances, along with the addition of corridors being long and slightly too narrow for maneuvering around each other with ease, left some, including myself, feeling drained.
For example, the walk to the main Dining Hall on Deck 3 from a room on Deck 10 took five minutes (and 19 seconds) from door to door - not exactly grueling but a little impractical.
Casual lift discussions as early as day two heard one passenger joke: 'My feet are sweating' and 'I think I've got blisters already.'
There are two lift lobbies - one at either end of the ship - but wait times often proved to be longer than hoped and may only be further delayed when The Star reaches full capacity.
But it isn't all bad.
The monstrous size does mean there is a lot packed on board to keep almost all passengers busy.
The most striking thing about Royal Caribbean's new vessel is its size. Pictured: The Overlook viewing lounge
The Star is proudly presenting itself as having 'adventures for all ages.' Pictured: The Star's Central Park
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Eateries and bars are also packed on board in abundance with The Star boasting more than 40 across a range of cuisines from American to Thai to Mediterranean. Pictured: Royal Promenade
The Star is proudly presenting itself as having 'adventures for all ages' as it attempts to keep up with the shift in demographic of cruise passengers, which has evolved in recent years.
While it used to be a market for retired customers (65 years and older), the average age of cruisers was 46.7 in 2018.
And, in an updated report about cruise passenger age groups in 2024, shockingly the largest proportion of customers were aged 20 to 39.
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Just 33 percent were over 60 years old, 31 percent were between the ages of 40 and 59, and 36 percent were 39 or under, according to State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025.
Entertainment on The Star is wide ranging and includes a stage show of Back to the Future as well as others featuring magic, comedy, ice skating and aqua stunts.
Despite the latter being plagued with several technical issues before being pulled completely for the evening during the preview voyage, it is clear that Royal Caribbean has spared no expense for all of its on-board performances.
For those who wish to enjoy adventure on their own time, there are several pools, jacuzzis and water slides - as well as a surfing machine, mini golf, games arcade and basketball court to name just a few of the amenities.
One unfortunate realization was the pools are mostly very shallow - or featured sunken bar stools and tables - meaning none were appropriate for anyone hoping to go for a proper swim.
Most were also tightly packed throughout the day and nabbing a sun lounger nearby often took some negotiation - a scene presumably going to get even busier when the ship does reach full capacity.
Finding an appropriate spot to leave valuables or clothes poolside was also tricky and perhaps many would have benefitted from having a bank of lockers near each hotspot rather than the open cubbyholes for shoes and towels.
Eateries and bars are also packed on board in abundance, with The Star boasting more than 40 across a range of cuisines from American to Thai to Mediterranean.
The dining and drinking spots throughout the ship were reasonably priced
'The world's vest family vacation turns up the volume on family fun with unbelievable thrills, chill and wows for the whole crew,' the company site reads upon booking
It is essential for guests to keep up with the opening and closing times - which differ across the establishments - at the risk of trekking across the ship only to realize the preferred restaurant has in fact closed for the evening.
Many are complimentary or 'help-yourself' food bars but others require reservations well in advance.
As an example, Chop Grille, which prides itself on its steak, was a pre-booked restaurant and every table was packed full of guests.
The food came out promptly - and cooked to perfection - but one noticeable quirk about the eatery was that there were no restrooms inside.
Despite it presenting as a fully-functioning independent restaurant in every imaginable way, guests requiring the bathroom had to leave entirely and walk back to the communal toilets located around the elevator lobby.
It was a small (and slightly inconvenient) peculiarity that was echoed around the rest of the ship.
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The dining and drinking spots throughout the ship were reasonably priced but, notably, the Starbucks on board had the most consistent daily queues.
The Star is set to become one of the most popular cruise ships of the future but that does not mean it has not suffered its own setbacks.
Back in June, Diana Ross was named as Godmother for The Star - a role that is steeped in maritime tradition.
In modern day, cruise lines often choose women who embody inspiration, achievement, and global appeal.
Royal Caribbean has previously selected stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
Ross, who recently finished a UK arena tour, told People at the time of being named: 'I've always felt a deep connection to the ocean and the magic it represents - peace, adventure and awe. When Royal Caribbean reached out to invite me to be the godmother of Star of the Seas, I knew it was something truly special.
'The family has been invited and all the grandkids. That's really what this ship is all about joy and family fun.'
But Royal Caribbean suffered a blow just last week when Ross, 81, suddenly stepped down from her role.
The hitmaker's representative stated that she will no longer be able to appear on the showcase cruise due to 'unforeseen circumstances.'
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson has since said it is 'disappointed' but that The Star will announce a new godmother soon.
So, as many are already looking ahead for what's coming next in the industry, Daily Mail wonders if ships should really get any bigger. Perhaps The Star should be allowed to keep its title indefinitely.
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