Watch: World’s Largest Cruise Ship ‘Star of the Seas’ Begins Sea Trials

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, soon to be the largest cruise ship in the world, has officially begun sea trials, marking a major step toward its commercial debut in August 2025.

The massive vessel set sail from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on May 19 for its very first trip out to sea. It’s the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and is slightly bigger than its sister ship, Icon of the Seas.

The ship measures about 250,800 gross tons in volume and stretches nearly 1,200 feet in length. It boasts 20 decks and can carry up to 7,600 people, including 2,350 crew members.

These sea trials are one of the final stages before a ship is delivered. Over the next several days, more than 2,000 specialists in engineering, navigation, design, and naval architecture will be onboard, testing every key system.

According to AIS tracking, the ship is currently in the Baltic Sea and has already reached speeds of up to 25 knots during testing.

The ship’s journey began back in February 2023, when construction started with a steel-cutting ceremony. Ten months later, the keel was laid, with good luck coins placed underneath, a long-standing maritime tradition. It was floated out of dry dock in October 2024, its engines were started in February 2025, and it received its first LNG fuel in April.

Once sea trials are complete, the ship will return to the yard for final outfitting. This stage includes interior finishing, deep cleaning, stocking supplies, and making sure restaurants, bars, and entertainment areas are fully ready.

A handover ceremony will then be held between the shipyard and Royal Caribbean, marking the ship’s official delivery.

Royal Caribbean officials say the vessel was already 96% complete at the start of May. Engineers and crew members had already arrived at the shipyard earlier in the month to gear up for this important testing phase.

Star of the Seas is set to begin commercial service on August 31, 2025, with a 7-night maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida. But before that, the cruise line has planned three preview sailings on August 20, 23, and 27. The first itinerary will include stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Roatan in Honduras.

The ship is designed for family-friendly vacations, offering eight themed “neighborhoods,” seven pools, and what Royal Caribbean says will be the tallest and fastest waterslides at sea. Guests can enjoy 26 restaurants and 18 bars and lounges, making it feel like a floating resort for all ages.

Star of the Seas is also Royal Caribbean’s third LNG-powered ship. It will sail year-round from Port Canaveral, alternating between Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, all including a stop at the company’s private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay.

Reference: royalcaribbeanblog

Source: Maritime Shipping News