She’s arrived.
The world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, landed at Port Canaveral for the first time this past August, sailing past Jetty Park with a water cannon tugboat escort before docking at the recently renovated Cruise Terminal 1.
Port Canaveral’s “Star-Studded Sailabration” for Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas kicked off last month with a traditional maritime plaque exchange to welcome the world’s largest cruise ship to her new homeport. The 248,663-ton ship sailed its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral on August 16th, followed by an official naming ceremony and christening on August 20th.
The new Icon Class ship launched seven-day eastern and western Caribbean sailings from the Port. The arrival of Icon-class Star of the Seas to Port Canaveral represents the latest chapter in a partnership between Royal Caribbean and the Port dating back nearly 30 years.
Star of the Seas offers a wide range of amenities, such as 40 bars, restaurants and lounges, and child-friendly features including the largest water park at sea, an ice-skating rink, laser tag, an escape room experience, and expansive play areas for guests of all ages. Among the ship’s more than 2,800 staterooms are several suite options accommodating up to nine guests.
Port Canaveral cruise fans, visitors and the Port community at large were invited to a wave-out event, a “Star”-Studded Sailabration, on Saturday, August 16th at Jetty Park coinciding with the afternoon departure of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral. Festivities featured food trucks, themed giveaways, and a DJ.
Canaveral Port Authority CEO and Port Director Captain John Murray, Canaveral Port Authority Board Chairman Admiral Wayne Justice, Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner Kevin Markey and Port leadership joined Star of the Seas Captain Rob Hempstead and his team of officers to commemorate the ship’s homecoming at the world’s second busiest cruise port.
“We are enormously proud of our longtime partnership with Royal Caribbean and very excited to have this magnificent new ship join their fleet of vessels homeported here,” stated Murray. “Star of the Seas is a substantial addition and underscores the growing demand for cruising from our Port. After months of planning, preparation and facilities improvements we’ve made, our team is ready to provide the high-quality guest experience that has become our hallmark.”
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas joins other Royal Caribbean vessels Utopia of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Harmony the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas offering a variety of cruise vacations sailing from Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral hosts 7.6 million revenue cruise passengers through its state-of-the-art terminals and 6.6 million tons of cargo annually, including bulk, break-bulk, project, and containerized. In addition to cruise and cargo operations, Port Canaveral offers recreational opportunities than all other Florida deep-water Seaports combined. For more information, visit www.PortCanaveral.com.
Sarah Wyatt is a travel writer and cruise consultant. She has been a freelance writer for 12 years, with work appearing in Costco Connection, Cruise Critic, Fodor’s, Outdoors and LowFares.com. Reach out to Sarah.
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