Royal Caribbean has recently celebrated a major milestone with the float-out ceremony for its newest vessel, Star of the Seas. The ship, which is set to join the Royal Caribbean International fleet, took to the water for the first time at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. This marks a significant step towards its debut at Port Canaveral, Florida, in August 2025.
The float-out ceremony is a tradition in the maritime industry to commemorate the first time a ship touches water after being built. In the case of Star of the Seas, the ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard included a shot fired from a cannon, symbolizing the completion of this construction milestone. The vessel was then moved to the outfitting pier for its final stages before completion.
Thousands of workers dedicated 19 months of hard work to bring Star of the Seas to this point. The dry dock was filled with 92 million gallons of water over a nine-hour period, allowing the ship to be floated out with the assistance of four tug boats. The vessel is now at the outfitting pier, where work will continue in preparation for its inaugural launch in August 2025.
As part of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class line-up, Star of the Seas will offer guests a unique experience with eight distinct ‘neighbourhoods’, daring waterslides, and over 40 dining and drinking options. There will also be a special Surfside neighbourhood onboard for young families to enjoy.
The maiden voyage of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida, in August 2025 promises an exciting itinerary of seven nights of island hopping, including a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, Royal Caribbean’s private island. This new addition to the Royal Caribbean International fleet is sure to offer a memorable and luxurious cruising experience for passengers.