Star of the Seas Review: My Best Cruise After 31 Sailings
I’ve sailed on 31 cruises with cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Virgin Voyages, Azamara and others.
After all of those cruises, Star of the Seas is the best cruise I’ve ever taken!
That’s a big statement, especially for a ship this large. I usually expect mega-ships to come with some compromises, especially crowds, long waits and a lot of planning. But Star of the Seas surprised me in almost every category.
The food was excellent, the entertainment was some of the best I’ve seen at sea, there was always something to do, and somehow the ship rarely felt overcrowded.
Here’s what stood out most during my Star of the Seas cruise.
After 31 cruises, Star of the Seas became my favorite cruise ship yet.
Does Star of the Seas Feel Crowded?
This was probably my biggest concern before sailing.
Star of the Seas is enormous, but during my cruise it rarely felt as crowded as I expected. Royal Caribbean did an excellent job spreading passengers across different neighborhoods, pools, restaurants and entertainment areas.
I could usually find a lounge chair or somewhere to sit without much effort, and walking around the ship rarely felt overwhelming.
One exception was Dueling Pianos, which did seem to be consistently busy!
The smart elevators also made a big difference. Instead of getting into an elevator and selecting a floor, you choose your destination before entering and the system directs you to a specific elevator.
I was skeptical at first, but they worked incredibly well. For a ship carrying thousands of passengers, elevator waits were much better than I expected.
Crowd flow may actually have been one of the most impressive parts of Star of the Seas.
The Ship Itself: 10/10
Star of the Seas is the largest ship I had ever sailed on, but I found it surprisingly easy to navigate!
If you’ve sailed on one of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, parts of the layout will feel familiar. What stood out to me on Star was how open the ship felt and how many ocean views were incorporated into the design.
The Royal Promenade especially felt brighter and more connected to the sea than on some other Royal Caribbean ships I’ve sailed.
I also loved the design throughout the ship. There are a lot of blues, colorful artwork and small space-themed details hidden around different areas.
Even after several days onboard, I was even still noticing things I hadn’t seen before.
My Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin: 9/10
I stayed in a balcony cabin on Deck 14 toward the mid/aft section of the ship.
The location was excellent because we were just one deck below Windjammer, making it incredibly easy to grab food or drinks.
The cabin itself was comfortable and had plenty of storage.
- Plenty of outlets
- Very comfortable bed
- Spacious shower with a seat
- Good TV programming and ship map
- Full-length mirror with hidden storage behind it
The hidden storage behind the mirror was a small detail that I loved.
My only real complaint was that our cabin occasionally felt warmer than I would have preferred, though that may have been specific to our room.
Royal Caribbean also provides an all-in-one shampoo and body wash rather than separate products. I prefer individual toiletries, but the product itself worked fine.
Star of the Seas Food: 10/10
The food was one of the biggest surprises of the entire cruise.
There are a huge number of included dining options aboard Star of the Seas, and I never felt like I had to pay extra to find something good to eat.
Some of my favorite complimentary options were Windjammer, Pearl Café, AquaDome Market, Surfside Eatery, Park Café and Sorrento’s.
Windjammer Was Actually One of My Favorites
I don’t usually expect the buffet to be one of the highlights of a cruise, but Windjammer was excellent!
The Day One buffet included filet mignon and seafood, and it immediately set the tone for the week.
The variety throughout the cruise was also impressive.
If you normally skip the buffet because you assume the better food is elsewhere, I would still give Windjammer a chance on Star.
Pearl Café and AquaDome Market
Pearl Café became one of my favorite places to stop for coffee, pastries or a quick bite.
The floor-to-ceiling ocean views are a huge part of what makes the space special, and it’s also extremely convenient when you don’t want a full meal.
AquaDome Market was another standout.
The Mediterranean food reminded me a little of CAVA, and the crepes were excellent. Having multiple different food counters in one casual location made it easy to find something without committing to a sit-down meal.
Surfside Eatery was also better than I expected, and the nearby soft-serve station with toppings was a nice touch.
Sorrento’s was reliable for late-night pizza. I wouldn’t call it the best pizza at sea, but it was consistently fresh and good.
Our Main Dining Room dinners were excellent as well, with quick and friendly service every night.
Overall, dining was an easy 10/10 for me!
Entertainment on Star of the Seas: 10/10
Royal Caribbean has always been strong when it comes to entertainment, but Star of the Seas takes it to another level.
The three shows that stood out most to me were Back to the Future: The Musical, SOL and TORQUE.
Back to the Future: The Musical
Back to the Future was phenomenal!
It’s a long show, but I never felt bored. The sets, performances and special effects were far beyond what I expect from a typical cruise ship production.
And definitely stay until the very end.
SOL and TORQUE
SOL was one of the best ice shows I’ve seen on a cruise. It combines skating with acrobatics and felt much more ambitious than a traditional ice production.
TORQUE was my favorite AquaTheater show I’ve seen so far.
It was fast, high-energy and visually impressive. If you enjoy Royal Caribbean’s AquaTheater productions, this is one I wouldn’t miss.
Activities: There Is Almost Too Much to Do
Star of the Seas has far more activities than you could realistically do in one sailing.
There are waterslides, pools, FlowRider, mini golf, laser tag, games and activities happening throughout the day.
The blue mat racing waterslide was one of my favorites because it was surprisingly fast.
We also played mini golf at night when the course was glowing in the dark, which made something as simple as mini golf much more fun.
My favorite activity might have been laser tag.
It takes place inside the ice rink and lasted around 10 minutes during our sailing. It was complimentary, although reservations were required onboard.
It was one of those activities I didn’t expect to care much about and ended up absolutely loving.
The Hideaway Was My Favorite Pool Area
Star of the Seas has plenty of pools and hot tubs spread around the ship, which also helps prevent one pool deck from feeling overwhelmingly crowded.
My favorite area was The Hideaway, the adults-only space at the back of the ship.
The infinity pool overlooking the wake is easily one of the best pool settings I’ve experienced on a cruise ship.
One of my favorite moments of the entire trip was sitting in that pool while Star backed into St. Thomas.
What I Didn’t Love
There honestly weren’t many negatives for me, but there were a few small things worth mentioning.
- Our cabin occasionally felt a little warm.
- Dueling Pianos was consistently busy.
- I would prefer separate shampoo and body wash.
- Popular shows and activities are easier if you make reservations.
None of these things significantly affected the cruise, but I think they’re worth knowing before you sail.
Is Star of the Seas Worth It?
For me, absolutely!!
I think Star of the Seas is especially good for travelers who want the ship itself to be a major part of their vacation.
There is so much dining, entertainment and activity onboard that even sea days feel like part of the destination.
Families will obviously find plenty to do, but I also think adults traveling without children can have an excellent experience thanks to spaces like The Hideaway, Central Park, the AquaDome and the huge amount of nightlife and entertainment.
My Final Star of the Seas Review
Star of the Seas is a mega-ship done right.
After 31 cruises, I don’t casually call a ship my favorite. I’ve sailed enough different ships and cruise lines to know that bigger does not automatically mean better.
Star of the Seas simply got more things right than any ship I had sailed before it.
The food was excellent. The entertainment was phenomenal. The ship looked incredible. There was always something to do, but I could also find places to relax.
Most importantly, a ship this large rarely felt overwhelmingly crowded.
For me, Star of the Seas was an easy 10/10.
I would sail her again without hesitation.
Star of the Seas Review: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Star of the Seas feel crowded?
Not nearly as much as I expected. Certain venues can become busy, but overall crowd flow was excellent during my cruise. I was usually able to find seating, lounge chairs and elevators without a major wait.
Is the food good on Star of the Seas?
Yes. Food was one of the biggest highlights of my cruise. Windjammer, AquaDome Market, Pearl Café and the Main Dining Room were all particularly impressive.
What is the best show on Star of the Seas?
My favorites were Back to the Future: The Musical and TORQUE. SOL was also one of the best ice shows I’ve seen at sea.
Is Star of the Seas good for adults?
Yes. Despite having a lot of family attractions, there are plenty of spaces and activities for adults, including The Hideaway, bars, live entertainment, pools, restaurants and nightlife.
Would I sail Star of the Seas again?
Absolutely. After 31 cruises, Star of the Seas became my favorite cruise experience so far.
