Best New Cruise Ship in the World: Why Star of the Seas Stands Out in 2026

Star of the Seas Earned Major Recognition in 2026

If you're searching for the best new cruise ship in the world in 2026, Star of the Seas has a strong case, backed by one of travel media's most recognizable annual lists. Condé Nast’s 2026 Hot List named Star of the Seas among the Best New Cruise Ships in the World, calling it a “floating city built purely for fun.”

That “floating city” label holds up once you look at the numbers. Twenty decks, 2,805 guestrooms and a capacity for more than 7,000 guests. Plus, there are more than enough attractions, dining, entertainment and family appeal to make every itinerary a value-friendly vacation choice. And that’s exactly why it landed on Condé Nast’s Hot List — a trusted compilation of the world’s best new (and newly reborn) hotels, restaurants and cruises creating the must-have travel experiences that should have your attention.

What Makes Star of the Seas  Stand Out: The Ship's Biggest Differentiators

The real win for families vacationing on Star of the Seas doesn’t lie in any single attraction, but rather the multitude of activities effortlessly combined on a single ship. As the second ship in the Icon class, the sheer variety is hard to match on other cruises.

Its record-breaking size is only outdone by the adventures that await sailing guests, with Crown’s Edge℠ as the ship’s signature draw for thrillseekers willing to test their skill for the best sea views. With designated hangout spaces for kids, teens and adults, seven swimming pools, the award-winning Vitality℠ Spa and daily schedules that offer everything from family-friendly silent parties and laser tag to the largest waterpark at sea, Star of the Seas delivers on the opportunity to make family memories while giving kids their own ways to explore and adults time to relax or enjoy the after-dark programming. Couple that with dining options — ranging from complimentary main dining and the fast-casual global eats at Windjammer Café to 10 specialty dining venues — and showstopping Broadway-caliber productions, and you have all the makings of a family vacation that makes room for everyone’s version of fun.

Thrills, Entertainment and Neighborhoods Create a Full-Scale Experience

The best part of this ship experience is the endless number of things to do on Star of the Seas. 

The ship’s design spans eight themed neighborhoods, from Thrill Island’s Category 6 Waterpark (the largest waterpark at sea, including six slides) to the Aquadome’s 55-foot cascading waterfall. Thrill Island’s appeal doesn’t stop at waterslides — Crown’s Edge sends guests out on a skywalk and ropes course suspended more than 150 feet above the open ocean, for anyone chasing an adrenaline spike with a view.

The Royal Promenade, where guests first board the ship, acts as the ship’s social spine. Something is always happening across its two decks of bars, shops and live entertainment, with The Pearl℠ as the architectural centerpiece and one of the top spots for guests to capture photos. Entertainment carries the same festive energy elsewhere on board, from a Broadway production of Back to the Future: The Musical to the diving and acrobatic performances in the AquaTheater. Both are worth planning an evening around, with Marty McFly bringing the nostalgia and AquaTheater shows leaving guests wondering how the entertainment team pulls off jaw-dropping stunts above (and in) the water.

For a change of pace, Central Park brings nature into the mix — a lush, open-air greenspace lined with dining venues and bars, offering a quieter neighborhood that balances the ship’s higher-energy spaces. This is the spot to grab your beverage of choice, people-watch or simply enjoy a calmer evening under the stars.

One day on board can go from thrill attractions to a quiet afternoon in Central Park to a Broadway show that night, proof that this ship doesn’t need a port stop to feel like a vacation.

Dining, Pools and Included Experiences Add to the Value

Star of the Seas treats dining as its own destination. Across more than 20 venues serving 23 cuisines, guests can enjoy memorable meals instead of just the usual fare. Among them, 10 specialty restaurants offer elevated dining options, from the comfort-food menu at Giovanni's℠ Italian Kitchen to the elegant Lincoln Park Supper Club℠. For those sticking with complimentary options, the main dining room spans three decks, with a menu that rotates nightly, so no two evenings taste the same. Guests who’d rather skip a sit-down meal altogether can head to Windjammer, where an impressive spread of global flavors gives guests the flexibility to dine without a set mealtime.

The drink menus across the ship are equally well thought out. More than 15 bars and lounges are featured on Star of the Seas, and 1400℠ Lobby Bar stands out for turning cocktail hour into an unexpected show. Here, drinks are inspired by the history of shipbuilding and poured with a level of mixology that feels more like theater for one than a bar order. 

Pools follow the same pattern of quantity paired with imagination. Seven pools and 10 whirlpools across five decks give guests plenty of room to find the perfect spot, while Chill Island’s swim-up Swim & Tonic℠ bar means never having to leave the water to refill a drink. 

Together, the value becomes clear when you consider the wide variety of included dining, drink and pool options. The real luxury doesn’t live in a single venue or dining experience, but rather in how much comes standard before you spend extra on upgrades.

Why Star of the Seas Is A Strong Choice for Families

Family cruises thrive or flop based on one question: Can everyone truly find their own version of fun? On Star of the Seas, the answer starts with Surfside®, a neighborhood built specifically with younger cruisers in mind. Between the pool, two splash zones, a working carousel and kid-friendly buffets at Surfside Eatery℠, kids have a space that feels scaled to them, and staterooms sit just steps away, so parents aren’t trekking across the ship after a long day.

That thinking carries into the rest of the ship’s layout. Rather than trying to serve every age group in any single space, Star of the Seas splits things up: The Hideaway gives adults a chance to unwind, Surfside covers younger kids and Thrill Island leans into high-energy attractions that teens and tweens tend to love. The result is a ship where a toddler, a teenager and a parent can all be a five-minute walk from exactly what they want. 

Sleeping arrangements follow the same logic. Family-sized staterooms and connecting cabins mean larger families or multi-generational groups don’t have to split up across various decks to get the space everyone needs to comfortably enjoy the vacation.

And when kids want structured fun without their parents around, the Adventure Ocean® Youth Program fills that gap, giving cruisers aged 3 to 17 age-appropriate activities while parents enjoy a stretch of worry-free time on the ship.

Caribbean Itineraries Make the Experience Even More Compelling

A new ship stands out even more when the itinerary helps turn it into a fuller vacation, and the 7-night Caribbean sailings on Star of the Seas give guests good reason to book beyond the ship itself, with stops built around Perfect Day CocoCay and the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Port rotations typically include the U.S. Virgin Islands, Roatán, Honduras, Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, depending on the itinerary.

The bonus of its Caribbean itineraries is the consistent stop at Perfect Day CocoCay on most itineraries, the island experience available to Royal Caribbean guests. Like the ship, the island is divided into several neighborhood concepts, from the family-friendly Harbor Beach to the adults-only beachfront paradise of Hideaway Beach℠. Thrill Waterpark® is the perfect spot for families who love action more than lounging, featuring 14 waterslides, including the tallest slide in the Caribbean, Daredevil's Peak®. This stop on the itinerary is a vacation on its own — and packed with enough adventure to leave the kids running on empty by sunset, giving parents a rare shot at some grown-up time to enjoy the ship’s evening scene.

Back at the home port, Port Canaveral’s proximity to Orlando makes it an easy pairing with a broader family vacation. With theme parks, dining and entertainment just an hour away, cruisers can extend their trip into a full Orlando getaway before or after setting sail — turning one vacation into two without much extra effort. 

Planning Tips Before You Book Star of the Seas

Because ships with so much to do reward a little planning, a few simple prep steps can make a big difference. With that in mind, here’s the cruise planning guidance worth knowing as you start building an itinerary that satisfies everyone in your group:

Book Early Planning Through the Royal Caribbean App

Download the Royal App before boarding for everything you need to know about your itinerary, including how to get around and daily schedules once you’re at sea. It’s also the best way to reserve dining, shore excursions and popular onboard activities (like laser tag or ice-skating rink) in advance, since many ship activities fill-up weeks ahead.

Choose Your Stateroom Category With Your Priorities in Mind

Compare balcony, interior and suite options to match your budget with how much time you’ll spend in your cabin versus out in the ship’s public spaces.

Set a Daily Budget for Extras

Specialty dining, drink packages and spa treatments can add up. Decide what’s worth the splurge before you sail.

Pack for Variety

Cruises on Star of the Seas are a mix of waterpark and beach days, formal nights and port excursions, so you’ll want to bring a healthy dose of swimwear and casual clothing to explore, alongside your dressier evening options.

Time Your Port Days Strategically

Book excursions early for especially popular stops, but give your port days a little breathing room for self-guided exploration or an unplanned afternoon on the ship without the shore commitment.

Ready to see whether this award-winning ship is what you’ve been seeking for your next family getaway? Explore future Star of the Seas cruises to discover which neighborhood matches your vacation vibe — Central Park calm, Thrill Island adventure or somewhere happily in between.