Star of the Seas: Final European Stop in Cadiz Before Caribbean Debut

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Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, the Star of the Seas, has arrived in Cadiz, southwestern Spain, for its last port of call in Europe before commencing its upcoming Atlantic crossing. The stay in the Andalusian port city is being used for final outfitting work and for bunkering Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). A special logistical task is also being completed here: the planting of the ship's own Central Park with tropical flora, which could not be accomplished at the shipyard in Finland.

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However, the stay in Cadiz is proceeding differently than originally intended. A scheduled two-week dry-dock period at the Navantia shipyard had to be canceled a few weeks ago. A labor dispute with a local union had jeopardized the timely completion of the planned work. Consequently, Royal Caribbean adjusted the final outfitting schedule. The ship remained longer at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and is now making only a brief stop at a pier in Cadiz instead of entering the dry dock.

Spectacular Departure from the Baltic Sea

The Star of the Seas began her journey from the shipyard to the open sea on the evening of July 17, 2025, when she departed the Meyer Turku facilities for the last time. Her route took her from the Baltic Sea through the North Sea and into the Atlantic. A highlight of the delivery voyage was the impressive passage under the Storebælt (Great Belt) Bridge in Denmark. To safely pass under the bridge, a section of the funnel had to be retracted, as the clearance between the ship's highest point and the bridge was only a few meters. Royal Caribbean captured and released this maneuver in a video.

Heading for the Caribbean and Maiden Voyage

In just a few days, the Star of the Seas will leave Europe and begin its journey across the Atlantic. The first planned port of call in the Caribbean is Ponce, Puerto Rico, on August 4, 2025. After a multi-day stay there, the ship will continue its journey to Port Canaveral, Florida. This port will become the future homeport for the Star of the Seas. From there, she will embark on her first cruise with passengers on August 16, 2025, and will offer year-round, week-long Caribbean itineraries in the coming years.