World’s biggest cruise ship sets sail in Florida. Here are 5 takeaways

Royal Caribbean’s new cruise ship, Star of the Seas, has set sail from Port Canaveral. The vessel, identical in size to the Icon of the Seas based at PortMiami, is designed to attract families with extensive amenities and entertainment options.

FULL STORY: New world’s biggest cruise ship makes Florida debut as it sets sail. Take a look

Here are the highlights:

• Star of the Seas is 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide, accommodating up to 5,610 guests. It will call Port Canaveral home until at least April 2027, offering seven-day Caribbean cruises.
• The ship features 17 complimentary dining venues, including Sorrento’s pizza, and numerous entertainment options like water slides, an ice rink, and a surfing simulator. It boasts the largest swim-up bar and pool at sea.
• Royal Caribbean aims to compete with Orlando’s theme parks by marketing the ship as “the ultimate family vacation.” The ship includes new dining options and entertainment like “Back to the Future: the Musical.”
• The cruise industry is experiencing growth, with a record 35 million people setting sail in 2024. But Royal Caribbean has faced recent challenges, including a water slide malfunction and a tragic incident on the Icon of the Seas.
• Built by Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas offers more dining and entertainment options than its sister ship, Icon of the Seas. It features family-friendly amenities, with 80% of cabins accommodating three or more guests.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.