We’re lower than a 12 months away from the launch of Royal Caribbean’s latest mega ship, and there are already lots of modifications coming.
Star of the Seas is likely to be the second Icon Class ship, however she’s not going to be precisely the identical as Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean has sprinkled updates right here and there, however you is likely to be curious what precisely the corporate has lined up for the ship.
There might be extra reveals coming main as much as the ship’s launch, however this is a listing of what we positively know might be totally different about Star of the Seas.
A brand new Broadway musical
Maybe the largest reveal thus far has been the announcement that Again to the Future: The Musical might be carried out on Star of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean has a historical past of integrating Broadway present musicals on its ships, however it’s been a number of years for the reason that final one. Actually, the previous few new Royal Caribbean ships didn’t get a Broadway musical.
With Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is trying to make large a splash, and they’re going to provide a success musical on the ship.
There might be slight changes to the operating time of the present, however it will likely be the complete musical and the most effective half is it is included along with your cruise fare. There is not any extra value to see the present onboard.
Royal Caribbean is working alongside the unique creatives from the musical to make the enduring manufacturing come to life.
The primary facial recognition cabins
Star of the Seas would be the first cruise ship to embrace facial recognition as a strategy to make it simpler to get to your cabin.
Earlier than you get too excited, this might be a restricted take a look at. Royal Caribbean likes to embrace new expertise by easing into it first.
A small quantity of cabins will function a pilot program. Past that, no different particulars are identified at the moment.
Primarily based on a patent that Royal Caribbean filed, the thought is you may open your stateroom door along with your face as an alternative of a SeaPass card.
Star will not be greater than Icon
It could come as a shock that Royal Caribbean will not make Star of the Seas the largest cruise ship on the earth.
It has been Royal Caribbean’s sample to at all times construct greater and greater cruise ships, however that will not be the case right here.
Royal Caribbean’s Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider confirmed this again in January 2024, “Star won’t be a foot greater. It will likely be 1198ft lengthy.”
“We do not really feel a necessity to do this proper now. Perhaps we’ll change our thoughts. By no means say by no means. However that is not the design intent.”
The chief canine officer may even be on Star
Of all of the issues Royal Caribbean launched on Icon of the Seas, arguably the addition of a “household canine” was one of many largest hits with company.
There might be one other canine that lives on Star of the Seas. The canine’s title is Sailor, and company will be capable to see and meet Sailor round Star.
Why a canine? The thought is for the reason that Icon Class ships are so household centered, it is sensible to have a canine that makes it really feel like dwelling.
Enhancing the household space of the ship
Icon of the Seas launched the primary household neighborhood, however Star of the Seas will develop it.
The thought is to “double down” on the household element to this ship, and to do this, they need Surfside to enchantment to older youngsters as a lot as youthful youngsters.
Royal Caribbean thinks Surfside was initially meant for ages 0-6, however Star will enhance the age vary enchantment to about 10 years previous.
They will do this by including new options to Splashaway Bay and the Playscape.
Furthermore, the Water’s Edge pool will transition from mother or father and child area to extra of a child pool. Initially the cruise line needed to offer an area for folks and youngsters to get pleasure from collectively, however in apply, youngsters took it over. So it makes extra sense to embrace that pattern.
A brand new theme to the supper membership restaurant
There might be a brand new theme to the supper membership restaurant on Star.
As an alternative of a New York theme that was discovered within the Empire Supper Membership on Icon of the Seas, Star can have a Chicago theme to it.
Generally known as the Lincoln Park Supper Membership, this might be a glitzy further value restaurant with themed menu, music, all paired to the Chicago and Chicagoland space.
Royal Caribbean additionally let slip that on the unnamed third Icon Class ship, this restaurant might be themed to Hollywood.
A brand new scorching tub
One of many main focuses of Icon of the Seas was extra aquatic choices than ever earlier than, and Star of the Seas will up the pool enjoyable with a brand new scorching tub.
It isn’t a significant change, however Royal Caribbean had initially deliberate so as to add this scorching tub on Icon of the Seas however eliminated it for worry the ship was too heavy.
Because it seems based mostly on sea trials, it might have labored.
In consequence, there might be a brand new scorching tub on Star that does not exist on Icon.
The Pearl will look even higher
The signature Pearl on the Royal Promenade might be much more spectacular.
The Pearl might be improved to be extra spectacular visually. As an alternative of a single colour gentle ring behind every of these 3500 plus tiles, this model can have full multicolor rings.
The benefit is the Pearl can have a lot richer colour all through the whole Pearl, and meaning Royal Caribbean can do extra with using it as a present aspect.
A brand new specialty restaurant idea
There’s one restaurant that will not make it from Icon to Star, and that is Pier 7.
There is not any phrase what is going to substitute it, however we do know one thing else might be supplied there on Star of the Seas.
For now, it is a white area reserved for one thing to be revealed later.