05/15/2026
I recently checked out the new Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas. And WOW.
Top 3 things I'm obsessed with: infinite balconies, new food options, and chief dog officers.
1️⃣ Infinite balconies push out the square footage of your room to include the balcony space, and then give you a full wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling window that opens halfway to create the balcony. IT IS STUNNING. 🤩
When the window is closed, it creates a beautiful indoor sunroom, where I wanted to just curl up with a beverage + a good book for hours. When the window is open, you get the same balcony feeling, but with a much nicer floor + furniture surrounding you. If you upgrade to a suite, you can also get a split bathroom! (Toilet in one room, shower in another room.) Convenience, comfort, and luxury!
2️⃣ There are SO MANY new food options on the Icon class of ships. At no additional charge, there's a food hall on the Star of the Seas that offers side-by-side "stalls" for Latin street food, Thai/Asian food, Greek/Mediterranean food, BBQ, and creperie. Plus, I love the El Loco Fresh Mexican food on the top deck by the pool.
For specialty dining, we got to be the first ones in the ultra fancy Lincoln Park Supper Club, inspired by the glitz + glamour of 1930s with live jazz. Definitely an elevated experience!
3️⃣ Meet Sailor, Chief Dog Officer for the Star of the Seas. 🐶 I was so excited to spend time playing with Sailor on the first day! Royal Caribbean explains that Sailor, and her sister Rover on the Icon of the Seas, are "more than just mascots; they're bona fide members of the crew, dedicated to spreading joy and wagging tails wherever they go."
While many of you know me as an expert in pet-friendly travel at Walt Disney World, let's not get ahead of ourselves with the introduction of Royal Caribbean's Chief Dog Officers... This doesn't mean you can bring your own pet onboard. For now, Rover (Icon of the Seas), Sailor (Star of the Seas), and Skipper (who will debut on the new Legend of the Seas) are the only animals allowed onboard.
Honorable mentions:
🏊🏻♀️ Pool layout
🎢🌊 Water Park
🌳 "Bubbles" champagne bar in Central Park 🥂
🎠 Churros in the Surfside neighborhood 😂