Star of the Seas Adds Early Showcase Cruise Ahead of Maiden Voyage

Star of the Seas Adds Early Showcase Cruise Ahead of Maiden Voyage

Royal Caribbean has officially added an earlier-than-expected sailing for its newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas. Originally set to debut on August 20, 2025, the cruise line has announced a 4-night Star Showcase Cruise departing August 16, 2025, from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida—giving guests the opportunity to be among the first onboard.

Why the Early Sailing?

According to an email sent to booked guests, construction on Star of the Seas is ahead of schedule. Royal Caribbean shared that:

"Our teams have been working diligently to deliver the next icon of vacations, and the ship’s finishing touches are progressing ahead of schedule."

Thanks to this early completion, the cruise line was able to open up a brand-new sailing slot before the previously scheduled launch.

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Updated Itinerary for August 2025

With this new development, here is the updated list of Star of the Seas sailings prior to the official maiden voyage:

• August 16, 2025 – 4-night Star Showcase Cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay

• August 20, 2025 – 3-night sailing

• August 23, 2025 – 4-night sailing

• August 27, 2025 – 4-night sailing

• August 31, 2025 – Official 7-night maiden voyage

  

Originally, Star of the Seas was expected to debut on August 17, 2025, with a full 7-night itinerary. However, construction delays had shifted that to August 31. Now, with work wrapping up ahead of schedule, the ship will actually enter service a day earlier than originally planned.

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Booking Options for Current Guests

Guests who were already booked on the August 20th sailing were the first to be notified and offered priority access to switch to the earlier cruise. Royal Caribbean is offering multiple options:

• Switch to the August 16th sailing and keep the same stateroom category (based on availability)

• Add the new sailing in addition to your current reservation

• Keep your existing August 20th booking

Suite guests have one week of price protection if they choose to move. After that, transfers will be subject to the prevailing rate. For those in Interior, Oceanview, or Balcony staterooms, any transfer will be based on current pricing.

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Inaugural Swag for Early Sailings

Royal Caribbean confirmed that all early guests—regardless of which sailing they choose—will receive exclusive commemorative items in their stateroom. These keepsakes are part of the cruise line's efforts to mark the launch of this groundbreaking new ship.

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Booking Deadline: June 5, 2025

Guests interested in switching to the August 16 cruise must make their decision before June 5, 2025. After this date, your current booking will remain unchanged. The August 16 sailing will remain open for new bookings as long as availability allows.

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Sea Trials Completed in Record Time

The decision to launch earlier may have been influenced by the ship’s highly successful sea trials. According to Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas completed all tests in just eight days, returning to the shipyard on May 27, 2025.

Project Manager Jaakko Leinonen commented:

“These were the best sea trials I have ever participated in. There was a strong sense of team spirit throughout. Now it’s time to focus on completing the remaining work on the ship.”

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Final Thoughts

This unexpected August 16 sailing adds an exciting new layer to the launch of Star of the Seas. As demand continues to grow, guests now have another opportunity to be among the very first to experience what Royal Caribbean promises will be the next icon of vacations.

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