Star of the Seas: Royal Caribbean's Newest Cruise Giant Commences Sea Trials

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Helsinki, Finland – A new titan of the seas, Royal Caribbean International's "Star of the Seas," has reached a crucial milestone: on the night between Sunday and Monday, the vessel departed the Meyer Turku shipyard under its own power for the first time. The ship is now navigating through the Finnish archipelago towards the open Baltic Sea, where extensive sea trials will take place.

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As the first sister ship to the "Icon of the Seas," the "Star of the Seas" will rank among the two largest cruise ships globally upon its completion. The upcoming days at sea are dedicated to intensive stress tests. Under the vigilant supervision of experts from the shipyard, the cruise line, and the relevant classification society, the ship must demonstrate its compliance with international standards and meet contractually agreed performance characteristics during demanding maneuvers that exceed the everyday operations of a cruise vessel.

In preparation for these sea trials, the ship's main engines and propulsion system were previously tested at an outfitting pier in Turku. This process also included the initial fueling with liquefied natural gas (LNG). Following the successful conclusion of these initial engine and propulsion tests, which have been ongoing since the beginning of the year, the "Star of the Seas" was able to commence its journey into open waters. To ensure safety, the newbuild is being escorted by tugboats during its passage through the narrow Finnish archipelago, ready to provide assistance in the event of unforeseen incidents.

The precise duration of this first phase of sea trials is not currently public knowledge. It is possible that a second series of test voyages will be necessary to successfully complete all at-sea evaluations. The delivery of the "Star of the Seas" to Royal Caribbean International is scheduled for the summer of this year. Subsequently, the cruise line will first transfer the ship to Port Canaveral, Florida, without passengers. The first paying guests are expected to be welcomed aboard from August 20, 2025.

The "Star of the Seas" boasts impressive specifications: a length of 365 meters and a beam of 65 meters. Constructed by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, she offers accommodation for 5,610 guests at double occupancy in 2,805 cabins and suites, but can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers. The crew will consist of 2,350 members.