Florida Welcomes World’s Largest Cruise Ship Just in Time for Caribbean Season
The world’s largest cruise ship has officially made its Florida debut. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas sailed into Port Canaveral for the first time on August 9, 2025, marking the start of a series of preview voyages before her highly anticipated Caribbean season.
Escorted by a water cannon tugboat, the 248,663-gross-ton Icon Class vessel glided past Jetty Park and docked at the port’s recently upgraded Cruise Terminal 1.
Port Canaveral celebrated the arrival with a cheerful “She’s here!” on social media, sharing photos of the massive ship’s grand entrance.
Delivered from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Turku, Finland, on July 10, Star of the Seas began her transatlantic journey later that month. She made a stop in Ponce, Puerto Rico, before hosting a special media and influencer preview sailing from August 6–9 en route to Florida.
The ship’s first guests in Port Canaveral will be travel advisors enjoying a four-day preview cruise from August 9–13, followed by another media voyage from August 13–16. That sailing will culminate in the ship’s naming ceremony, led by legendary singer Diana Ross, before heading to Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Additional showcase sailings include a 3-night cruise on August 20, a 4-night on August 23, and another on August 27. The first official passenger sailing—a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Costa Maya, Cozumel, Roatan, and CocoCay—will depart on August 31.
The ship will then alternate between Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages, with the latter visiting St. Thomas and St. Maarten starting September 7.
The early delivery of Star of the Seas was made possible by Meyer Turku’s streamlined build process, having previously constructed her sister ship, Icon of the Seas.
To celebrate the ship’s debut, Port Canaveral is hosting a free public “sailabration” at Jetty Park during the naming ceremony. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., the event will feature food trucks, live music, themed giveaways, and views of the ship’s sail away. Parking passes are available in advance through the port’s website.
