At 365 meters long and 20 decks high, the scale of the Star of the Seas is more in keeping with a moveable skyscraper than a boat. The mega cruise ship is built in Finland.
The Star of the Seas is a new, large cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International and the second in its Icon Class of ships, having begun service in August 2025. Built in Finland, the boat features the largest waterpark at sea, with six waterslides, the largest ice-skating arena in the fleet (Absolute Zero), and seven pools, including a suspended pool, as well as diverse dining and entertainment options. It is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and sails from Port Canaveral, Florida.
She was built by Meyer Turku in Finland. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Star of the Seas shares the title of the largest cruise ship in the world with her sister ship, Icon of the Seas.
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At its handing-over ceremony at Meyer shipyard in Turku, the owners confirmed it was the largest cruise ship ever built – an honor that it shares with its less-than-humbly-named sister vessel Icon of the Seas.
Steel cutting for the ship began on 15 February 2023. The name was announced on 5 October 2023, the keel was laid on 15 December 2023, and the ship was floated out on 25 September 2024. The sea trials took place in spring 2025and the vessel was delivered in July. Service started on 16 August 2025.
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Shipbuilding is a significant force in Finland. It employs 30,000 people and contributes €12bn to the economy every year. In Turku, that strength is matched by momentum. Four more vessels of the same class are in the works, ensuring that shipbuilding – and, as brands see it, world-building – remains a modern point of pride for Finland’s oldest city.
Mega Cruise Ship Built in Finland, edited by Tor Khjolberg