Star Of The Seas Fun Facts
A Bright Star On the St. Maarten Horizon
It’s finally here: today the Star of the Seas will make its debut in the St. Maarten Cruise Port!
In anticipation of the first visit of this behemoth, here are some fun facts for both cruise visitors and stayover visitors looking forward to the spectacle of this ship docking during its first visits on island on September 11th and 18th.
1. Its Sheer Size
In many ways, the Star of the Seas will surpass its sister ship Icon of the Seas. It will take over the distinction of largest Cruise ship in the world, beating “Icon” in gross tonnage (250,800 versus 248,663) as of the ships launch on May 18th, 2025. As is the case with Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas holds a crew of 2,350 and passenger capacity between 5,600 and 7,600. They share the division of the ship in eight themed neighborhoods, with some features added on Star of the Seas. Though both ships have Caribbean itineraries, Star of the Seas’ homebase will be Port Canaveral instead of Port Miami.
2. A New Legend Already Waiting To Take Over
The status of largest cruise vessel in the world can only be enjoyed by Star of the Seas for a year. “Legend Of The Seas” will take over the laurels in summer 2026. That is 5 months less than was in between of the launches of Icon of the Seas and its successor. A fourth ship in the “Icon Class” is projected to start embarkations in 2027.
Though the gross tonnage is larger, all 4 Icon class ships will have the same length of 364.75. Legend Of The Seas is projected to have a gross tonnage of 250, 800 like Star of the Seas, so it will be interesting to see what feature will make the ship take over the status of largest cruise ship in 2026.
3. A Holy Reference
Either intended or unintended, one could consider the name of the new ship a reference to the Holy Virgin. “Star of the Sea” is a traditional Catholic title for the Virgin Mary. She symbolizes guidance and protection for seafarers and travelers. Rooted in ancient Christian tradition, it expresses how Mary is a guiding light for those navigating life’s challenges. In this context, it also reminds of the “Santa Maria”, one of the three ships Columbus set sail with on his first voyage. Ironically, the Star of the Seas is likely to follow many parts of his itineraries in the Caribbean.
4. Ay Sailor! A Chief Dog Officer
Whereas Icon of the Seas had “Chief Dog Officer (CDO) Rover, golden retriever Sailor has been appointed canine commander of Star of the Seas. Make sure to salute accordingly when passing by.
5. More Tubs & Restaurants, More Weight
So if Star of the Seas is not longer or higher than Icon, why does it weigh more? For starters, an additional hot tub is added that was intended for Icon of the Seas but not built because of weight considerations. For those wanting to visit this tub making the difference in a world record, it is situated between the Lime & Coconut bar and the AquaDome Market. In addition, the restaurant count went up from 40 to 68. This makes the ship a foodie paradise compared to its smaller sister.
6. Back To The Future: The Musical
The large Icon class theaters allow for impressive on-board entertainment shows. Whereas Icon of the Seas featured “The Wizard of Oz”, Star of the Seas will feature Back to the Future: The Musical as its headline show. It will bring the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown to a whole new generation – on a ship even they might not have envisioned in 1985!
St Maarten Visits if Star is in Port
Though St Maarten has a long standing experience of receiving the largest cruise ships in the world, it remains a compact island. It is always recommended to plan your port of call and excursions and book timely to ensure your preferred way of spending a day on island, as other large cruise ships may dock on the same day. Taxis and buses will help you find your way on island too. See our events calendar what is on.
Did you miss Star of the Seas today? Check out the St Maarten cruise ship schedule when it is back in the St Maarten cruise port again!
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