Cape Canaveral is well-known for its rocket launches, but the town is also the site of the world’s busiest cruise ship port — over four million passenger movements per year happen there, which slightly edges out Miami for the top spot. Soon, Port Canaveral will also be the home port of the world’s largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is set to begin service there in July 2025.
The Icon-class ship is currently under construction in Turku, Finland. When completed, it will be 1,198 feet long, have 20 decks, 2,805 staterooms, and a crew of 2,350 to accommodate roughly 5,600 passengers. The ship will also include:
- A theme park
- A water park
- An indoor “AquaTheatre”
- Mini golf
- Three-story suites
- The first swim-up bar at sea
“Take your pick of seven different pools, plus ten whirlpools — and plunge into an all-you-can-swim buffet of splashes to satisfy every mood. All with next-level ocean views to keep you connected to the sea.” – Royal Caribbean Website
For comparison, the USS Gerald Ford, a new aircraft carrier built for the US Navy, is 1,092 feet long, making the Star of the Seas roughly 100 feet longer than the iconic symbol of America’s naval power.
Royal Caribbean will open bookings on December 6, 2023. The company is currently offering sign-ups for a mailing list for Star of the Seas here.
