Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Star of the Seas, set to become the largest cruise ship in the world, officially commenced its sea trials on May 19, 2025. This critical phase marks a significant step towards its commercial debut in August 2025, reports Marine Insight.
Highly Anticipated
The highly anticipated second vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, slightly larger than its sister ship, Icon of the Seas, embarked on its maiden sea trials from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on May 19, 2025.
This colossal cruise ship measures approximately 250,800 gross tons in volume and stretches nearly 1,200 feet in length. It features 20 decks and is designed to accommodate up to 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members.
These sea trials represent one of the final crucial stages before the ship’s official delivery. Over an 11-day period, a team of over 2,000 specialists in engineering, navigation, design, and naval architecture is onboard to rigorously test every key system. According to AIS tracking, the vessel is currently in the Baltic Sea and has already achieved speeds of up to 25 knots during these tests.
The construction journey of this massive ship began in February 2023 with a steel-cutting ceremony. Its keel was laid ten months later, incorporating the long-standing maritime tradition of placing good luck coins underneath. The ship was floated out of dry dock in October 2024, its engines were started in February 2025, and it received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel in April. The ship is slated to begin commercial service on August 31, 2025, with its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Nearing Completion
Upon the completion of its sea trials, the ship will return to the shipyard for its final outfitting phase. This stage involves the completion of interior finishes, thorough deep cleaning, stocking of all necessary supplies, and ensuring that all restaurants, bars, and entertainment areas are fully prepared for operation.
Following this, a handover ceremony will occur between the shipyard and Royal Caribbean, officially marking the ship’s delivery to the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean officials indicated that the vessel was already 96% complete at the beginning of May. Engineers and crew members had arrived at the shipyard earlier in the month to prepare for this crucial testing phase.
The Star of the Seas is scheduled to commence commercial service on August 31, 2025, with a 7-night maiden voyage departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Prior to this, Royal Caribbean has arranged three preview sailings on August 20, 23, and 27. The inaugural itinerary will include calls at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Roatan in Honduras.
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Source: Marine Insight
