Today in St. Maarten Cruise Port: Star Of The Seas
A Bright Star On the St. Maarten Horizon
It’s here: today the Star of the Seas will be in the St. Maarten Cruise Port!
In anticipation of the 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 visits to the island.
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 the largest cruise ship in the world, beating “Icon” in gross tonnage (250,800 versus 248,663) as of the ship’s 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 a passenger capacity between 5,600 and 7,600. They share the into 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’ home base 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 the time that 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 meters. 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 allow 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 us 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 as the 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 that makes the difference in the world record, it is situated between the Lime & Coconut bar and the AquaDome Market. In addition, the numbers of restaurants increased 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 onboard 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 the island, as other large cruise ships may dock on the same day. Taxis and buses will help you find your way on the island too. See our events calendar to found out what’s on.
Did you miss Star of the Seas today? Check out the St Maarten cruise ship schedule to see when it returns to the St. Maarten Cruise port.
Watch the Live Boardwalk Webcam at Seaview Beach Hotel
If the Star of the Seas caught your interest, also see for fun facts about its sister ships visiting St. Maarten: Wonder of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
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