Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, sharing the title of largest cruise ship in the world with its sister ship, Icon of the Seas, recently embarked on its inaugural sailing from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and I was one of the lucky few (thousand) to experience this brand-spanking-new floating resort in all its divine glory. Travel along with me virtually and make notes about what you don’t want to miss when you book your trip on the World’s Best Family Vacation.
Surfside
Day 1 — Cape Canaveral
Afternoon: Board ship, grab flute of Champagne on way to stateroom to transform unpacking into the party it should rightly be. Rejoice at how bright, new and spacious stateroom is. Head to Windjammer buffet and stand, amazed, surveying dizzying array of options. Choose lobster tail, shrimp, miscellaneous shellfish and a square of chocolate cake decorated with a candy square arranged at a rakish angle that sets tone for rest of day. Add coffee to counteract Champagne.
Stroll through Surfside neighborhood and fantasize about being 5 again. Play air hockey, eat ice cream, ride the carousel’s flamingo and check out the Sugar Beach candy store, noting how Willy Wonka has nothing on this place. Remember what’s good about being an adult and indulge in a Blue Raspberry Ocean cocktail while people watching at Splashaway Bay and the Playscape. Check out the Royal Loft Suite, nearly twice the size of the average New York City apartment and equipped with a grand piano and 17-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows. Hit Cloud 17 infinity pool before dinner, watch ship pull out of port, wave goodbye to U.S.
Evening: Arrive at dining room and order espresso martini from our helpful server in an effort to remain alert through rest of night. Choose escargot, prime rib and warm apple cobbler from the menu. Leave all plates empty. Stroll through the Royal Promenade, take pics on the stairs of The Pearl, try a spritz of expensive perfume in shops, listen to band and down a fruity cocktail before the 10:30 performance of SOL, the ship’s amazing ice show featuring extreme stunts.
Head to celebration at Royal Promenade with amazing band you may have been lucky enough to see on Oasis of the Seas®. Witness 9,000 pink, blue and purple balloons drop from nets above at midnight as crowd goes wild.
Hideaway Beach, Perfect Day at CocoCay
Day 2 — Perfect Day at CocoCay
Morning: Get continental breakfast delivered. Drink coffee on balcony while anticipating fun at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Disembark, make a beeline for South Beach, deposit bag and towel on a complimentary chair and dash into warm turquoise water. Rationalize drinking in the morning by reminding myself that the famous Coco Loco has healthy ingredients like coconut milk and lime juice. Watch waiters on cargo bikes deliver food to guests in cabanas out on docks.
Afternoon: Grab burgers and mozzarella sticks at Snack Shack, contemplate a hot air balloon ride or a visit to Thrill Water Park with Daredevil’s Peak, one of the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean. Remember mozzarella sticks and nix idea. Head over to all-access Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, vowing to level up next time and attend the party that is Hideaway Beach or sample the chill vibe at Coco Beach Club®. Find seat at swim-up bar and order colorful Watermelon ’Rita.
Evening: Get a Peach Perfect mocktail from the Schooner Bar and settle into comfy chair to enjoy the live music. Peer wistfully into specialty restaurants Izumi, Chops Grille and all-new Lincoln Park Supper Club before returning to the main dining room where the waiter remembered my cocktail from last night. Enjoy French onion soup, roasted Caribbean chicken and Key Lime pie. Rush to Royal Promenade so as not to miss Millennial Mania Dance Party, featuring such classics as Oops! … I Did It Again and Wannabe. Dance like no one’s watching. Stroll through casino and notice how full it’s gotten, head to the Music Hall for late-night DJ sets. Watch the place fill with vacationers who have celebration on their mind.
El Loco Fresh
Day 3 — At Sea
Morning: Grab hearty breakfast at Windjammer and head to adults-only Hideaway. On the way, hear screams emanating from Thrill Island waterpark and stop to pet Sailor, the golden retriever mascot decked out in a red bandana. Take refuge in the shade in between plunges into the pool and hot tub. Score a Castaway Spritz from the Hideaway Bar, stare out at the open sea and feel like a celebrity minus the paparazzi.
Afternoon: Fill a tortilla at El Loco Fresh® with spicy beef, rice, cheese, veggies and more before heading to the 3:30 showing of the cruise line’s adaptation of the musical Back to the Future, a stunningly polished production with a supremely talented cast. Make note to shoot pool, play Skee-Ball or eat out of a helmet at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade later, but ultimately run out of time.
Evening: Try a different caffeinated beverage (carajillo) at Rye & Bean. Eat lentil soup, braised lamb and carrot cake, bid sad farewell to waiter. Enjoy the Latin rhythms pouring out of Bolero’s, head to the Overlook, get a Hibiscus Tea Punch and watch heat lighting dance through the night sky before attending Torque, the high-octane water show at the AquaTheater.
The next morning I was deposited back into the world of emails and schedules, but I still escape reality for a few minutes every day, dreaming about my next voyage on Star of the Seas — or one of its sister ships, Icon of the SeasSM and, coming in 2026, Legend of the SeasSM.
