06/02/2026
Travel Tip Tuesday! Today’s tip is long and a little different. Last week, three of our agents were traveling! Here is the review from Lauren, one of our agents!!
For anyone wondering here is my review of our week on the largest cruise ship in the world! ❤️🌴🚢
🚢 Star of the Seas Cruise Review 🚢
Food:
All of the included food was amazing! We truly don’t think specialty dining is necessary for our family, although I’m sure it’s wonderful too. Our wait staff was 10/10. Michael and Nitten were outstanding! I found myself genuinely sad when we left them. They treated us like family and always remembered the little details and special requests we had.
Our favorites were the crepes, Greek bowls, Thai food, Sorrento’s Pizza, and Loco Fresh! We also loved the Windjammer buffet and dinner in the Main Dining Room. Not one complaint all week!
Shows:
Wow. Just wow!
Back to the Future was truly Broadway caliber. The acting was incredible, and the DeLorean coming “into the audience” and FLIPPING at the end was such a wow moment!
SOL was the first show we saw, and it was so much fun. Extremely entertaining, and the performers are unbelievably talented. I especially loved the music.
Torque had me sitting there with my jaw dropped most of the time. I was amazed at what those performers can do, especially on a cruise ship!
The Adult Comedy Show was absolutely hysterical. Make sure you use the restroom before it starts so you don’t p*e your pants laughing! (Especially if you’re over 40. 😆) They definitely don’t hold back, so if you’re easily offended, it may not be for you, but we laughed nonstop for an entire hour.
Kids & Teen Activities:
We’ve cruised with Disney before, and I can honestly say the activities on this ship for both kids and teens are just as good. There is absolutely no way for them to be bored! The Surfside Neighborhood is every kid’s dream.
Room:
We stayed in a Surfside Neighborhood balcony room overlooking Surfside, and we could also see the ocean if we looked to our right. We absolutely loved the “inside balcony” concept and loved being on Deck 14 right below the Windjammer. The location was perfect!
It was a little noisy in the mornings being underneath the Windjammer, but not enough to disturb our sleep or vacation. There was plenty of storage, and we were able to fit 2 XL suitcases and a small suitcase under the bed.
I highly recommend bringing magnetic hooks and a hanging shoe organizer to help keep things organized, especially if you have 3-4 people in the room… and especially if some of those people are teenage girls! 😅
I also highly recommend requesting a mattress topper, fan, and extra blankets. It made our room feel much more like home.
Excursions:
Definitely book an excursion, even if it’s a small one. The memories we made with our group were priceless. Both of ours were in the afternoon, which I loved because it gave us time to enjoy slow mornings without feeling rushed.
Ship Layout:
This is currently the largest cruise ship in the world, holding nearly 10,000 people when you combine guests and crew. We were only 159 passengers away from maximum capacity, so this was essentially a full ship.
Even with that many people onboard, I have never experienced a better ship layout. I didn’t spend all week trying to find my way around, I never felt like I’d walked a full day at Disney, and we never struggled to find great pool chairs.
With 7 pools and 10 hot tubs, I could get in one anytime I wanted. There is just something incredibly smart about the way this ship is designed. Whoever laid it out deserves major credit. Other cruise lines should definitely take notes!
Elevators:
The smartest and fastest elevators I’ve ever used anywhere! We never waited long, and the system was incredibly convenient.
Drink Packages:
Most of our group purchased the Refreshment Package, while I went with the Soda Package because I simply can’t live without Diet Coke! 😅
Both were worth every penny. Everywhere we went, crew members were asking if we’d like something to drink and bringing it right to us. The girls loved trying every fruity mocktail and specialty coffee imaginable.
Cleanliness:
I have always been impressed with Disney Cruise Line’s cleanliness, but I can honestly say Royal Caribbean is right there with them, if not better.
“Mr. Washy Washy” greets you before entering the Windjammer, there are handwashing stations everywhere, hand sanitizer is readily available, and even many restroom doors are hands-free. As a bit of a germaphobe, I felt clean and comfortable the entire week.
Embarkation & Debarkation:
The earlier, the better for both! The parking garage was already full by 10:30 a.m. on embarkation day.
That said, getting on and off the ship took only minutes. Both processes were incredibly easy and efficient. Passports are definitely helpful, but not required.
Final Thoughts:
This was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever been on. I actually teared up while leaving the ship. 🥲
It quickly felt like home, and the service throughout the entire ship was truly 10/10. It’s the perfect vacation for families or large groups because everyone can do exactly what they want during the day, then come together for dinner and shows.
I already miss it and am already planning the next one!
And if y’all know how much I love Disney vacations, then you’ll understand how big of a compliment this is: Star of the Seas is right up there with my favorite Disney resorts and vacations.
And y’all… that says A LOT coming from me. ❤️🚢
For size comparison…see pic below..a regular size cruise ship (The Celebrity Beyond) on the right, The Star of the Seas on the left.
