Royal Caribbean Delays Star of the Seas Debut, Cancels Initial 2025 Voyages

Royal Caribbean has announced a postponement in the launch of its eagerly anticipated new vessel, Star of the Seas, resulting in the cancellation of the ship’s first two voyages initially scheduled for next year. The revised launch date is now set for August 31, 2025, marking a two-week delay from the original plan.

The news of the delay was communicated to passengers via email, with discussions and updates also surfacing on the Cruise Critic Royal Caribbean forum. Consequently, Royal Caribbean’s website has been updated to reflect only one sailing for Star of the Seas in August 2025.

Affected travelers have been offered several options in light of the postponement: a full refund, the opportunity to rebook onto the new inaugural sailing on August 31, or the choice to select an alternative voyage either on Star of the Seas or another ship within Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Passengers facing this decision have been given a deadline of March 12 to make their selection.

Bookings for Star of the Seas opened in early December, with the ship currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. This Icon-class ship, akin to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas—the largest cruise ship in the world—promises to deliver an unparalleled cruising experience with its innovative design and amenities.

The delay in launching Star of the Seas follows a recent trend among cruise lines experiencing setbacks in the debut of new ships. Notably, Princess Cruises also encountered delays with the delivery of its latest vessel, Sun Princess, necessitating a postponement of its inaugural voyage. Similarly, the launch date for Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Allura was pushed back, reflecting broader challenges within the industry in bringing new ships to market on schedule.