Inside Royal Caribbean's Newest Ships: Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas

When Royal Caribbean unveiled the first of its Icon Class ships—Icon of the Seas—in January 2024, you could almost hear the cruise industry’s collective jaw drop upon seeing the world’s biggest ship—stretching the length of nearly three-and-a-half football fields and soaring 18 decks tall. Now, Royal Caribbean is turning the cruise industry on its bow once againwith the addition of not one but two spotlight-worthy ships to its Icon Class lineup: Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas.

Star marked its maiden voyage last August from Port Canaveral, Florida, where guests can embark on seven-night cruises in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Currently under construction in Finland, Legend is set to ply the Western Mediterranean with seven-night itineraries departing from Barcelona for the summer 2026 cruise season—calling on ports in France, Italy and Spain—before moving in November to its homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to offer six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean adventures.

There’s no such thing as being bored on either vessel, says Debby Calvert, managing director of Travel Products & Partnerships for AAA. “These ships truly have something for everyone: a massive waterpark, spectacular water theater and ice-skating shows, adults-only spaces and entertainment, rock-climbing fun, fantastic food and more,” says Calvert, who enjoyed a preview cruise on Star before its official public launch. “It’s a wonderful vacation for everyone no matter their age.”

Both Star and Legend continue the go-big-or-go-home ethos of their Icon sister ship, nearly identical in size and capacity, with each ship carrying up to 5,610 guests (double occupancy) with 2,350 crew members to serve them. But such superlatives aren’t the only draws of these brand-new ships—and not even the most compelling ones. Here are seven more reasons to love Star and Legend.

1. Neighborly design

It’d be easy to think that these ships might feel jam-packed—even overwhelming—but that’s not the case. “I was pleasantly surprised that even with so many restaurants, bars and activities, it never felt crowded. And there was never a long wait—even for an elevator,” says Calvert of her August sailing on Star.

That spacious feeling is thanks to Royal Caribbean’s “neighborhood” concept.

Like their Icon sibling, Star and Legend are home to eight neighborhoods, each with a distinctive vibe. Family favorites, Thrill Island and Chill Island offer a boatload of water attraction fun. Surfside is tailor-made for families with younger children and even features a carousel. The Hideaway provides a secluded adults-only retreat. And the luxe Suite Neighborhood presents exclusive spaces and dining options just for suite guests. You also can take in the main street-style Royal Promenade, punctuated by a three-story kinetic artwork; the five-deck-high Central Park green space with gardens and walking paths; and the glass-enclosed AquaDome, which hosts an aquatic theater and rewards with 220-degree ocean views.

2. Wow-worthy water attractions

Some ships make a splash; Star and Legend deliver a tidal wave of excitement with Category 6, the largest water park at sea with six waterslides. Beyond the park, water diversions aplenty continue with an aquapark geared toward little ones, a FlowRider surf simulator and seven pools. Among those pools are three marvels: the biggest pool at sea, a suspended infinity pool and a pool with the largest swim-up bar at sea. And if you prefer your water attractions in the frozen form, head to the onboard ice-skating arena for open-skate sessions and immersive shows.

3. Next-level thrills

Onboard adventures soar to new heights with Crown’s Edge, an aerial ropes and skywalk attraction with the added thrill of the floor beneath you dropping away, delivering the feeling of freefall as you hang securely by harness over the side of the ship—154 feet above the ocean. You can also test your mettle on a rock-climbing wall outfitted with racing lanes and, for climbers who reach the summit, affording some of the best bird’s-eye views aboard the ship.

4. Elevated Entertainment

Entertainment takes center stage in dramatic spaces throughout the ships. They range from singalong piano bars and comedy acts to multimedia ice-skating productions and Broadway-style musicals. (Back to the Future: The Musical, now playing aboard Star, features the largest orchestra at sea, and Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will make its at-sea debut aboard Legend.) But perhaps the real showstopper is the iconic AquaTheater shows in which aerialists, acrobats and high-divers perform gravity-defying feats against a cinematic backdrop adorned with a 55-foot-tall waterfall.

5. Around-the-World Dining

Dining aboard Star and Legend is all about great food with great selection to match.

Star boasts more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges showcasing chef-driven dishes and a diversity of international cuisine. An impressive 17 restaurants are complimentary, and 14 others are specialty venues—a must-try among them: a supper club experience that serves up a multicourse dining journey to the tune of live jazz. Gourmet global fare is available in the sit-down Main Dining Room, while casual bites are found throughout cozy cafés, a food hall, and grab-and-go walk-up
windows where you can go high (sparkling wine and sushi) or low (milkshakes and mac and cheese). Legend will present 28 dining options, including a railway-themed experience that takes guests along the ancient Silk Routes and a classic Hollywood-inspired supper club complete with live jazz and silver-screen pizzazz.

6. Inviting Staterooms

Choice is also a hallmark of Royal Caribbean’s stateroom offerings, with more than two dozen categories—most of which feature balconies and can accommodate three or more guests. Kids especially will love the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony rooms, where they have their own separate bunk space, and everyone will love the Panoramic Ocean View rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the ocean to your sliding doorstep.

Looking to splurge? The uber-luxe three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse accommodates up to eight guests and is replete with two balconies, an in-suite slide, a cinema room, a wraparound terrace with a hot tub, stairs that double as working piano keys and direct access to the Surfside neighborhood. It’ll set you back in the five- to six-figure-dollar range for the week—that is, if you can even get a reservation as it sells out fast.

7. Dreamy Ports of Call

Sun-soaked beaches and rich culture go hand in hand on Star’s and Legend’s bucket-list itineraries, whether you’re island-hopping throughout the Caribbean to spots like
San Juan, St. Maarten, Cozumel and beyond—or Euro-hopping in the Mediterranean to centuries-old cities such as Seville, Rome, Marseille and more. And most Caribbean itineraries include a stop in Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s 125-acre private island in The Bahamas, where you can enjoy white-sand beaches, a water park, hot-air balloon rides, zip lines, water sports, and restaurants and bars with live music.

The aptly named Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are indeed A-listers of the oceans. “They are not only grand in size but grand in amenities, activities, itineraries, entertainment, accommodations, dining—you name it,” says Calvert. “When it comes to cruising, you could say they are headliners of the sea.”