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Royal Caribbean’s fare structure on Star of the Seas follows the brand’s contemporary model: Many everyday experiences are included, while premium add-ons are easy to layer in. Your cruise fare covers your stateroom, most onboard entertainment, the majority of family programming and youth clubs, and a substantial portfolio of complimentary dining venues.
Included dining typically spans the main Dining Room, a large buffet, and multiple casual “grab-and-go” and neighborhood eateries. Coffee, tea, water and select juices are included; alcohol, specialty coffees and many bottled beverages cost extra unless you purchase a beverage package or are sailing in a suite tier with included perks.
Also included are pools, whirlpools and many sports and recreation spaces. Shore excursions, spa treatments, casino play, internet, gratuities and specialty dining are generally extra, though occasional promotions can bundle some of these into a fare.
Dining on Star of the Seas is less about a single main dining room experience and more about building a personal routine. If you like variety, you can treat each day as a different food neighborhood — casual breakfast options, mid-day grab-and-go, snackable afternoon bites and a sit-down dinner when you want the full service ritual.
For complimentary dining, Star offers a broad spread: Surfside Eatery serves family-friendly fare close to the ship’s young-family zone; Basecamp is designed for quick refueling in the heart of Thrill Island; Park Cafe covers the sandwich-and-panini lane; and Sorrento’s is your reliable slice-and-go option. The ship’s food hall concept, AquaDome Market, is an Icon Class signature, with multiple counters spanning noodles, crepes, arepas, Mediterranean bowls and barbecue.
The lineup also typically features the main Dining Room for sit-down service and Windjammer Marketplace as the high-capacity buffet. If you’re in a suite, you may also have access to suite-reserved venues such as Coastal Kitchen and The Grove, which can make dining feel significantly more relaxed during peak times.
Specialty dining is where Star leans into “experience restaurants.” Chops Grille remains the line’s classic steakhouse for a celebratory dinner, while Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar focuses on Italian comfort food with a bigger wine emphasis. Hooked Seafood plays in the New England coastal lane, and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi covers both teppanyaki-style show dining and sushi.
Two venues stand out as ‘‘this ship’’ destinations. Lincoln Park Supper Club pairs gilded jazz-club ambiance with a themed dinner experience, while Celebration Table is built for groups — a private, family-style meal format designed to turn a big gathering into an event rather than a logistics problem.
The practical advice: On a ship with this many dining choices, peak evening times fill up quickly. If there are one or two specialty restaurants you’re set on, reserve early and then keep the rest of your week flexible. The best meals on Star are often the ones you stumble into when the ship’s rhythm matches your appetite.
You won’ t encounter ‘‘what's there to do?’’ syndrome on Star of the Seas. The most visible centerpiece is Thrill Island, where the ship stacks adrenaline attractions into one zone so the energy feels concentrated rather than scattered. Expect a major waterpark with multiple slides, plus signature Royal Caribbean thrills such as Crown’s Edge — an aerial adventure that mixes a skywalk feel with a heart-in-throat moment suspended above the ocean.
Pool culture is a key part of the experience, and the ship deliberately offers different pool personalities. You’ll find family-focused splash and play areas, larger pool decks designed for all-day lounging, and an adults-only retreat (The Hideaway) for travelers who want the pool-bar vibe without cannonballs and kid energy. When the ship is full, having multiple pool environments matters — it reduces the feeling that everyone is chasing the same two deck chairs.
For active guests beyond the waterpark, Star supports the “dabble in everything” vacationer: sports courts, mini golf, surf-style attractions and a steady lineup of hosted games and deck events. The scale also makes it easier to split up — teenagers can drift toward teen spaces while younger kids plug into Adventure Ocean programming, and adults can reclaim time on the pool deck or in a quieter neighborhood.
One of the best ways to approach a mega-ship is to build a “daily circuit.” Start with one big activity (slides, adventure course, sports), then switch to something low-stimulation (a shaded walk, a coffee break, a browse in Central Park), then come back to high energy later. The ship is designed for this kind of pacing, and it’s how you avoid burning out by day three.
Sea days are when Star shines brightest. If you’re sailing to the Caribbean because you want beach time, you may still prefer more port-heavy itineraries. But if you’re sailing because you want an onboard resort week, you’ll want at least one sea day to ride the full menu of thrills, pools and casual dining.
Finally, remember that not everything is included. Some activities (such as select interactive attractions or premium experiences) may carry fees or require reservations. The more you treat planning as part of the fun — mapping priorities and being willing to pivot — the more the ship’s scale works in your favor.
Entertainment on Star of the Seas is built for big-room spectacle. Expect multiple headline venues, including a Royal Theater-style main stage for production shows and a high-tech ice arena for stunt-forward skating spectaculars. In the evenings, these large venues provide the “event anchor” that gives your day a natural shape: dinner, show, then late-night wandering.
Royal Caribbean has positioned Star with a Broadway-caliber headliner: "Back to the Future: The Musical" is slated as the signature theater production. In addition to the main show, the ship’s AquaTheater-style venue in the AquaDome hosts high-energy aquatic performances that combine diving, aerial work and special effects.
Between the big shows, live music fills in the spaces — from piano sing-alongs and jazz sets to bar bands that keep the nightlife humming. If your group likes to roam until you find the right vibe, Star’s entertainment design is ideal: You can treat the ship as a circuit of small stages rather than committing to one lounge for the entire night.
With a ship this large, stateroom choice matters because it shapes your daily flow. Families may prioritize proximity to Surfside or other kid-centric zones, while couples often prefer locations that buffer late-night noise. The good news: Star offers a wide range of room types, from value-oriented interiors to balcony rooms designed to bring the ocean into your day-to-day routine.
Royal Caribbean leans heavily into family accommodations on Icon Class ships. Look for family suites with clever layouts, plus the ship’s over-the-top options such as the Ultimate Family Townhouse — a multi-level suite concept aimed at turning the stateroom itself into an attraction. These premium options can be expensive, but for multi-generational groups they can also simplify the ‘where do we meet’ question.
In the suite categories, Star offers multiple Royal Suite Class tiers, including high-end loft-style suites. Top-tier suites come with Royal Genie service — essentially a concierge-plus who can help line up dining reservations, show seating and tailored experiences.
For most travelers, a balcony room remains the sweet spot: it provides a private ‘reset space’ where you can step out for sunrise, take a quiet break mid-day, or decompress after a high-energy evening. On a ship with thousands of guests, that private outdoor square footage can feel like a luxury even when it’s not a suite.
Star of the Seas is generally resort casual by day: swimwear at the pool, cover-ups and sandals in outdoor areas, and comfortable walking clothes for port days. Bring sun protection, and plan for the fact that you’ll move frequently between air-conditioned interiors and warm outdoor decks.
Evenings are typically smart casual in the main dining venues, with a few “dress your best” nights that encourage guests to step it up if they enjoy the ritual. Specialty restaurants often skew slightly dressier, but you’ll see a wide range — from vacation chic to families in neat casual outfits. The key is flexibility: Pack one outfit that makes you feel great, and you’ll be covered for any dining or photo moment.
A ship this large rewards light planning. If you want specific specialty restaurants, high-demand show times, or certain premium experiences, book early and confirm details in the cruise line app once onboard. Flexibility still matters, but a little pre-planning prevents the most common mega-ship frustration: discovering that the one thing you really wanted is sold out for the week.
Crowds are part of the bargain. Royal Caribbean designs Icon Class ships with high-capacity venues and multiple parallel options, but you will still feel peak-time pressure in elevators, popular pool zones and dining chokepoints. The workaround is simple: shift your schedule slightly earlier or later than the herd, and use “quiet connectors” (like Central Park-style outdoor spaces) as decompression zones.
Finally, be realistic about how much you can do. Star of the Seas is intentionally overstuffed with choices, and the best week is rarely the one where you try to do everything. Pick your top five experiences, build your days around them, and treat everything else as a bonus.
As with most contemporary cruise lines, gratuities are generally not included in the base fare and are added daily unless you prepay. Alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, and many bottled beverages cost extra unless you purchase a beverage package or have suite-level inclusions.
Most specialty restaurants carry a cover charge, and shore excursions are extra unless you book a fare that includes them as a promotion. Spa treatments, salon services, casino play, and certain premium activities and interactive experiences may also add to your onboard bill. Internet access typically costs extra, though some suite tiers include it as part of their benefits.
If you're interested in a cruise on Star of the Seas, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.
