A Festive Family Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Newest Icon-Class Ship
Written By: Senior Travel Advisor, Lindsay Groves
Sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, and it delivered on every level. This sailing combined festive magic, big-ship excitement, and smooth logistics, making it an excellent choice for families and first-time cruisers alike.
Our Travel Party
This trip included my family—me, my husband James, and our daughter Corinne (9)—along with close friends, The Motels (Josh, Katie, Makenna [9], and Ben [4]). This was their very first cruise, which made the experience even more fun. Seeing the ship through first-timer eyes was enlightening and confirmed just how impressive Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class really is.
Embarkation & Debarkation
We had a 10:30am Port Arrival Time and our friends had 11:00am, but we all arrived at 10:20am. We were immediately let into the terminal and boarded without delay.
✔️ Fast
✔️ Easy
✔️ Zero chaos
Debarkation was just as seamless—Promenade to curbside in 10 minutes!
Stateroom Review
Surfside View Balcony
Bright, modern design
Excellent storage and shelving
USB ports everywhere
Directly under Windjammer, yet no noise at all
No Surfside noise either
We were extremely happy with this location and would absolutely book it again.
Dining Highlights
Because none of the Main Dining Room times aligned well with our show schedule, we only dined there once, but it was excellent. Both families were seated together immediately, service was great, and the food was delicious.
Our go-to dining spots:
AquaDome Market – Our family favorite. Easy, quick, and less hectic than Windjammer.
Sorrento’s – Perfect for post-port pizza or a pre-dinner snack.
Pearl Café – Mostly used for coffee and crudités.
Park Café – Great for light breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
El Loco Fresh – For all the nachos & quesadillas!
Playmakers – Great wings and a fun change of atmosphere for a small upcharge.
We didn’t do specialty dining ourselves, but our friends used their dining credit they received by booking through our agency at Chop’s Steakhouse on and loved it!
Spa Experience
I had a massage—perfect way to unwind!
James booked three services and took advantage of Royal’s multi-service discount. He thoroughly enjoyed his massages and facial.
Katie used her spa credit she received for booking through our agency for a 50-minute Swedish massage and only had to pay gratuity!
Holiday Magic Onboard
The ship was fully decked out for Christmas, and yes, Santa was onboard!
It added a truly special touch to the sailing.
Our Favorite Port
In Cozumel, we had the best day with a Catamaran Excursion:
Catamaran located right at the pier
Snorkeling gear, water, soda, beer & margaritas included
Beach stop with inflatable water park
Drinks included at the beach; food available for purchase
Hair braiding and souvenirs at a very reasonable price
Ready to Sail Star of the Seas?
This ship truly delivers a next-level vacation—especially during the holidays. If you’re considering Royal Caribbean or wondering which ship best fits your travel style, I’d love to help you plan the perfect sailing.