Cruise & Ferry
Royal Caribbean’s Newest Cruise Ship Arrives in Florida for the First Time
Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, arrived in the U.S. for the first time this morning when the vessel pulled into Port Canaveral at around 7:00 am.
Star of the Seas will sail a couple of shakedown and media cruises before the ship’s maiden voyage on August 16, 2025. Four days later, the vessel will be officially named and christened by legendary music icon Diana Ross.
After a handful of shorter showcase cruises, Star of the Seas will begin seven-night year-round sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral. You can view itineraries and prices here.
The ship has more than 2,800 cabins and offers 40 dining and drink venues. It has the largest waterpark at sea and an entire neighborhood designed just for families.
Star of the Seas is the second Icon class cruise ship from Royal Caribbean, the largest cruise ships in the world at 248,663 gross tons.
Port Canaveral is inviting cruise fans to join them for a wave out event when Star of the Seas departs on her maiden cruise.
This “Star”-Studded Sailabration will take place on Saturday, August 16 at Jetty Park coinciding with the afternoon departure of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral.
Festivities kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will feature food trucks, themed giveaways, a DJ and more. Attendance at the event is free, however parking passes for Jetty Park are required and should be purchased in advance by going here.
Looking for the Best Cruise Deals?
Search Multiple Sites at Once
Instant Real Time Pricing
Search Now
Glass panel breaks off Icon of the Seas cruise water slide
Passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise tried to alert staff members when a glass panel broke off a slide.
Officials on board a Royal Caribbean cruise liner responded after a guest sustained injuries from a water slide on Thursday.
The incident occurred on the Icon of the Seas, the company said in a written statement.
“Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide,” the company said, noting the guest is being treated for his injuries and the water slide is closed for the remainder of the cruise as an investigation takes place.
Video captures frightening moment
Footage captured of the incident shows the busted glass panel with water pouring out of the enclosed slide. In the video, someone asks “Did the person fall out?” Another responds “Yes, they did.”
Bystanders are heard alerting workers to “stop the slide.” Watch the moment in the video above.
Previous incidents on Royal Caribbean cruises
Royal Caribbean offers seven-night vacations on board the 1,198-foot-long vessel. Icon of the Seas features six waterslides, an adults-only retreat and seven pools, according to the company’s website.
Some of the packages include stops in the Bahamas, Honduras and Mexico.
Royal Caribbean officials did not disclose additional information or identify the guest involved. The company is the second-largest cruise liner in the world.
In recent years, the company has faced other injury claims ranging from slip and falls to medical negligence.
Last month, Royal Caribbean International reported a guest fell over the side of an infinity pool on board Icon of the Seas but did not sustain injuries. The guest was attempting to retrieve their sunglasses at the time of the incident.
Also in July, a crew member was pronounced dead after allegedly jumping overboard after stabbing another employee.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
The port of Hamburg is making shore power mandatory for cruise ships visiting its three terminals starting in 2027.
According to local media, all vessels capable of using the technology will be required to do so when calling in Hamburg.
The measure comes three years ahead of similar European Union requirements entering effect, NDR.de reported.
“It’s also important for the acceptance of the cruise business in the city as a whole,” Hamburg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Melanie Leonhard, told the news outlet.
Cruise lines and ships that fail to meet the requirements will be subjected to sanctions, including so-called “compensation payments,” she continued.
Leonhard said that two-thirds of all ships capable of using shore power are currently using shore power when visiting Hamburg.
NDR.de reported that the use of shore power makes operations in Hamburg significantly more expensive for cruise ships sailing to the port.
Jens Meier, head of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), told the website that the port was a European pioneer in offering shore power for cruise vessels.
Shore power is currently available at two of the port’s terminals, including the Hamburg-Altona Cruise Terminal, which was one of the first in the region to offer the technology back in 2017.
In 2024, the Steinwerder Cruise Terminal became the second in Hamburg to offer connections for vessels.
The technology is now coming to the new HafenCity Cruise Terminal, which is scheduled to be completed later this year.
The two new connections being added to the terminals will undergo trials before being available for ships in 2027.
A major homeport in Germany, Hamburg serves as a starting point for cruises from a wide range of brands, including AIDA, Costa, MSC, TUI, Cunard and Hapag-Lloyd.
The town is also a popular port of call for other brands, such as Royal Caribbean, P&O, Norwegian, Princess, Silversea, Regent and more.
Frank M
Frank is a seasoned travel journalist with over a decade of experience covering hospitality, cruise, and air travel.
He has traveled extensively by land, sea, and air, collaborating with industry giants like Marriott, Hyatt, Disney, and Carnival Corp. His work has been featured in major international and industry publications across four continents.
-
Brand Stories3 weeks agoBloom Hotels: A Modern Vision of Hospitality Redefining Travel
-
Brand Stories2 weeks agoCheQin.ai sets a new standard for hotel booking with its AI capabilities: empowering travellers to bargain, choose the best, and book with clarity.
-
Destinations & Things To Do3 weeks agoUntouched Destinations: Stunning Hidden Gems You Must Visit
-
Destinations & Things To Do2 weeks agoThis Hidden Beach in India Glows at Night-But Only in One Secret Season
-
AI in Travel3 weeks agoAI Travel Revolution: Must-Have Guide to the Best Experience
-
Brand Stories1 month agoVoice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Brand Stories4 weeks agoHow Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Brand Stories2 weeks agoContactless Hospitality: Why Remote Management Technology Is Key to Seamless Guest Experiences
-
Asia Travel Pulse1 month agoLooking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
AI in Travel1 month ago‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
You must be logged in to post a comment Login