Building on the record-breaking success of Icon of the Seas, her sister ship Star of the Seas has arrived—advancing Royal Caribbean’s bold vision for the Icon Class. A sister ship is a vessel built to the same—or very similar—design as another, usually by the same shipyard. While sister ships often share the same hull design, dimensions, and general layout, each one typically incorporates refinements in technology, performance, and guest experience. Royal Caribbean Group develop ships in “classes” or series, replicating proven design successes while introducing fresh innovations based on lessons learned and new ways to enhance the passenger experience. Star of the Seas proudly continues this tradition as the newest member of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class.

What Remains the Same

Several of the most iconic venues introduced on Icon of the Seas remain on Star of the Seas. Absolute Zero and the AquaDome—two of the ship’s most distinctive entertainment spaces—return largely unchanged, with Wilson Butler Architects proud to continue as designers of record.

What’s New on Star of the Seas

Entertainment is where Star makes her boldest statements. We worked closely with Royal’s Entertainment Team to accommodate three spectacular new productions: Sol, Torque, and Back to the Future: The Musical.

• Royal Theater: Star debuts Back to the Future, while Icon featured The Wizard of Oz.
• AquaTheater: Star introduces Mermaids & Pirates and the high-energy new production Torque, replacing Icon’s Aqua Action!.
• Back to the Future Stage: A technically ambitious stage design that gave us the opportunity to push the boundaries of onboard theater.
• In addition , the Pearl sculpture has been reimagined with dynamic multicolor lighting, enriching the visual impact and guest experience.
• Outside of the entertainment program, functional systems like the Destination Control elevators have been upgraded with smarter programming, making it even easier to navigate the ship and achieve seamless connectivity.
• Star of the Seas carries forward the DNA of her sister Icon, while layering in new technology, reimagined venues, and innovative entertainment experiences. She represents both continuity and progress—a true example of how lessons learned from one vessel can shape the success of the next.

Learn more about our cruise ship design work and the ways we’re helping Royal Caribbean set new standards in guest experience.