For more than a year, Icon of the Seas has made headlines, even though it has yet to sail with passengers. Now the cruise line is already looking ahead as it revealed the name for the second ship in the class that will be a sister to Icon of the Seas.
Debuting in summer of 2025 — just under two years from now — Star of the Seas will welcome passengers to a new way of cruising. The Icon class is already making a name for offering not just the biggest cruise ships at sea, but also the most things to do, with something for everyone whether they want to relax or go wild.
“The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International.
Few Details Released Yet About Star of the Seas
While we now have the name, what we don’t have are many details of what exactly the second ship will feature. Historically, Royal Caribbean has a history of never duplicating a ship — even in the same class — but making tweaks and improvements to previous versions. So don’t expect a carbon copy of Icon.
We do know that it will be the third ship in the fleet powered by liquified natural gas. We can also assume that many of the big features that will debut on Icon of the Seas will make their way to Star of the Seas.
This could include highlights like the Category 6 waterpark, multiple pools (including one with a swim-up bar and another suspended across the back of the ship), the new Aquadome, and more.
There is also no word yet either on where Star of the Seas will homeport. Icon of the Seas will debut in early 2024, sailing from Miami.
One thing that you should expect is for the ship to carry a hefty price tag to sail. Newer ships always carry a premium to older vessels in the fleet, and Royal Caribbean has pushed that premium even higher with Icon of the Seas.
A quick price check of February 2024 sailings from Miami show a 7-day cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas starting at just $836 per person for an interior cabin. A 7-day cruise aboard Icon of the Seas during the same month starts at $2,585 per person. Still, the cruise line says it has seen strong demand.
With the naming of Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean now officially has three highly anticipated ships coming in the months ahead. The previously mentioned Icon of the Seas will sail with passengers in early 2024. Star of the Seas will debut in summer 2025. In between, Utopia of the Seas — the sixth ship in the cruise line’s Oasis class — will make its debut.
For those that love the newest and biggest ships, it means there will be plenty to like well into the future.
More About the Icon Class:
- 7 (BIG) Reasons Everyone Is Talking About Royal Caribbean’s New Ship, Icon of the Seas
- Photos: See the New World’s Largest Cruise Ship (Icon of the Seas) Sail for the First Time
- Guide to Thrill Island & Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas
