What Luxury Travel Advisors Should Know About Star of the Seas
We sailed on Royal Caribbean’s newest megaship to see what upscale touches it offers—and which travelers will actually appreciate them.
Photos: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas—the second ship in the line’s Icon Class, which debuted from Port Canaveral this month—has been billed as “the ultimate family vacation.” At first glance, that branding alone may seem to place it far from the luxury market.
Yet beneath the megaship scale, thrill rides, and family-forward positioning, Star of the Seas offers a surprising number of touchpoints that high-end travelers will appreciate—if you know where to look, and more importantly, which clients it works best for.
We joined one of the inaugural media sailings for a firsthand look, and while the ship isn’t marketed as a luxury vessel, the experience revealed a number of elevated spaces and moments that advisors can confidently highlight for the right clients.
Where to Find the Upscale Touches
Despite Royal Caribbean’s mass-market profile, Star includes a number of spaces and experiences that cater to a more refined traveler. The Suite Neighborhood, spread across four decks, offers privacy and separation with its own sun deck, a two-level Coastal Kitchen, and concierge support—a self-contained enclave well-suited for those who want exclusivity within a larger ship.
Dining also reaches above expectations. The new Lincoln Park Supper Club recreates 1930s Chicago with a multi-course menu, live jazz, and craft cocktails, while private Celebration Table dinners offer a more intimate option. The ship’s 40-plus venues allow for variety, but the standout additions are the ones that feel curated rather than simply abundant.
Entertainment follows a similar pattern. Alongside the headline thrills, Star introduces Back to the Future: The Musical direct from Broadway, plus five signature shows across stage, ice, air, and water. For clients accustomed to cultural programming, these productions offer a surprising level of polish and spectacle, and many cruise experts feel they’re among the best at sea.
Art, Culture, and a Sense of Place
Royal Caribbean has worked to inject authenticity through its Artist Discovery Program, which commissions large-scale murals from Caribbean artists.
On Star, works from creatives in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic appear in key public spaces, including the Suite Sun Deck. These pieces create a stronger connection to the destinations and help counter the sense that large ships exist in a cultural vacuum.
Who Will Appreciate It
The sweet spot here is affluent families and multigenerational groups. Grandparents can relax in the Suite Neighborhood, parents can enjoy upscale dining and nightlife, and kids have Surfside or Thrill Island at their disposal. Everyone gets what they want without compromise.
There’s also a niche for travelers who enjoy energy and spectacle. While not luxury in the traditional sense, the AquaDome’s robotic divers, the Hideaway’s suspended infinity pool, and the scale of the ship itself can feel like experiences worth bragging about.
Finally, Star is a good match for clients who want variety in destinations without having to charter a yacht. With weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that include Perfect Day at CocoCay and the upcoming Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, it offers easy access to highly controlled, high-quality beach experiences.
Who Should Skip It
For clients who prize intimacy, personalization, and culinary artistry at the level of Silversea or Explora Journeys, this won’t be a suitable fit. The crowds, the sheer size of the vessel, and the focus on spectacle over subtlety are dealbreakers for travelers seeking a quieter definition of luxury.
The Bottom Line
Star of the Seas isn’t luxury cruising as we usually define it. But for certain demographics, particularly high-spending families and groups who want indulgence balanced with action, it delivers more than enough upscale moments to keep everyone happy. The key is framing: Position Star as a hybrid option, where exclusivity exists inside a big-ship environment, and it becomes an unexpected but useful choice in the luxury toolkit.
