The next chapter in cruise innovation has officially begun. Royal Caribbean’s newest megaship, the Star of the Seas, roared to life early Monday morning as it left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland to begin its sea trials.

“Star of the Seas departed our shipyard early Monday morning to begin her sea trials. We wish her and her crew sunny skies and smooth sailing!” announced the shipyard, marking a major milestone in the ship’s journey to service.

The Star of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, following the record-breaking Icon of the Seas, which debuted in late 2023. But Star isn’t just following in Icon’s wake — she’s stepping it up.

With eight themed neighborhoods, 40 dining venues, and a guest capacity of 7,600 (plus 2,350 crew), the Star of the Seas is engineered for unforgettable vacations. It also boasts advanced LNG propulsion, shore power connectivity, and cutting-edge recycling systems—firmly aligning with Royal Caribbean’s commitment to cleaner cruising.

Star of the Seas is on track for official delivery this summer, with its maiden season kicking off from Port Canaveral, Florida, in August.

Meyer Turku has long been a trusted partner of Royal Caribbean, having constructed 21 vessels over the last 28 years. The Finnish yard isn’t slowing down either — it's already building the third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, for 2026 and has a fourth ship, Icon 4, slated for 2027, with options for two more after that.