Star of the Seas - a cruise ship so big that you forget you're sailing

The world’s biggest and newest cruise ship has set sail on her debut passenger voyage - and already she’s a legend in her own launch-time.

Star of the Seas, a 250,000 gross tonnage floating metropolis built at a cost of £1.6billion, has all you need for the ultimate family holiday crammed on 20 fun-filled decks.

This giant, ocean-going resort simply blows all rival cruise ships out of the water. The Royal Caribbean ship is so huge and packed with so many attractions that at one stage I actually forgot that I was at sea.

In fact, after four days on board I had hardly begun to experience all this supership has to offer.

There are 40 restaurants and bars to suit all tastes, seven swimming pools, shops, theatres, a casino, ice rink, live bands and nightclubs. There’s even a ship’s dog - Sailor – to comfort any of the 5,600 passengers who are missing their own pets while at sea.

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Jewel in the crown is Thrill Island, a theme park on the top deck which boasts six record-breaking waterslides.

The biggest is not for the faint-hearted but a must for the adventurous.

It’s part skywalk and part ride 154ft above the ocean.

Adrenaline-seekers have to navigate a suspended walkway and experience a controlled freefall before gliding down a zipline to the deck below. It is meant to test the bravery of the thrill-seeker - and it certainly does that. There’s no need to leave the ship if you fancy a bit of surfing, either. Flow-rider is a wave machine which allows you to go “boogie boarding” and simulate real Surfing USA. Incredibly, 30,000 gallons of water a minute rush under the rider at 30mph creating a 5ft foot wave. Watch out for the height restrictions of 4ft 10in for stand-up surfing or 4ft 4in for boogie boarding.

If you’d rather chill than thrill, head to the adults-only area at the rear of the ship – or the aft as we rookie seafarers call it. There you can relax in the suspended infinity pool and enjoy vast ocean views with a cocktail in hand while grooving to the beat of an Ibiza-style DJ. There’s also a shady bar nearby and a terrace with whirlpools.

Don’t worry about dashing to the bar for a refill. The efficient waiters attend to your needs and keep glasses well topped up.

There’s also a three-deck area for holidaymakers to kick back at four pools, including the Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea.

Guests can enjoy live bands while they sip tropical cocktails from the swim-up bar called The Swim and Tonic. If you’re travelling with a young family, head for Surfside. It’s THE place to stay and play all day, however old the children are.

Younger kids and toddlers will have great fun at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. There are plenty of lifeguards, constantly on full alert, so no reason to worry about their safety.

There’s a multi-level playground called Playscape, which includes a rock climbing wall, with safety harnesses provided. Just like Star of the Seas they can take cruising to another level.

There’s bags of entertainment for the kids and sporty types, including a spectacular mini golf course and a sports court offering five-a-side football and basketball on the top deck.

You don’t need to worry about the ball going overboard, either, as it’s entirely covered by netting.

There’s so much to do on board that you will forget you’re at sea. This was a surprise to me, as someone who suffers travel sickness on a park boating lake.

After one day at sea, I actually had to pinch myself to remember I was not on land. There wasn’t even a gentle movement. I sat through a performance of Back to the Future, the Musical, performed with a full cast and 16-piece band in a 1,400-seat theatre and left thinking I was actually in the West End. But it’s not the only show in this ocean-going town. Torque, a spectacular featuring champion swimmers and divers packed them in at the AquaTheater to see the aquabatics involving a 55ft waterfall and two 60ft diving platforms.

There are thrills and spills on ice with a huge skating cast, including Olympians, in the show Sol. Stars of this show were extreme skaters, former roller skaters who switched to the ice. There’s even a version of the TV Show The Price is Right where you can win a car.

The ultimate family room was an incredible sight with a kiddie slide, video games, personal access to decks
and Jacuzzi and stairs which look like and play like piano keys!

Fitness, yoga, sunrise moments, balloon rides and pickleball – you name it – are part of the entertainment. There’s music for almost every taste, including a resident DJ, karaoke, jazz club, duelling pianos, and a harpist, plus a stand-up comedy theatre. You can shop till you drop with lots of high end boutiques - but don’t go overboard.

Even arriving for breakfast is fun as a pair of dancers greet you, reminding you in song to wash your hands at the row of basins at the restaurant entrance.

Star, sister ship to Icon of the Seas, hit the ocean waves this month to deliver seven-night Caribbean adventures with stops at its top-rated private island in the Bahamas.

Sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida, we stopped at Perfect Day at CocoCay, bought by Royal Caribbean in 1988 and turned into a dream resort. My first glimpse of the tropical paradise was when I drew back the cabin curtains at 7am to see the island glistening like a jewel in the ocean. It contains miles of white, sandy beaches and attractions you’ll find in the world’s top resorts. After breakfast on board, we headed down the gangway and were greeted by staff ready to whisk us about by mini electric train.

Most of it is free – including food, drink and sun loungers
– for passengers who pull up for the day. There’s water slides, balloon rides and lots of nature to discover.

But it was pure magic simply to relax on the silver sands of Hideaway Bay, sip a complimentary cocktail and take in the view. We visited Coco Beach Club which boasts a magnificent swimming pool, bars and wooden cabanas which were available for private hire. While bathing in clear, shallow water we came across a 4ft lemon shark. No need to panic, as the lifeguard assured us, as they are not considered dangerous to humans.

Still, it set the heart pounding to see such a magnificent creature swimming so close in barely three feet of water. The great thing about visiting this island is that it’s a home from home for cruisers.

Just flash your passenger identity card and you get complimentary food, drinks, towels and sunbeds, so you can leave your cash and credit cards in the safe in the cabin. Even the free wi-fi you get on board works on the island and is part of your package.

I sampled a Bahama Mama cocktail, enjoyed a refreshing dip in the sparking, turquoise water and felt relaxed with a capital R.

At 4.30, we made our way back aboard the ship to take a shower and freshen up for dinner and the evening of lavish entertainment.

As I finished getting ready, I glanced out of the cabin window to see we were setting sail again and waved goodbye to the magic island.

It truly had been a Perfect Day. But with so much still to see and do on board Star, the adventure was only just beginning…

GET ON BOARD

Royal Caribbean offers a seven-night round trip on Star of the Seas, sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, on November 2 and calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St Maarten. From £1,321pp, flights extra. royalcaribbean.com/gbr

MORE INFO

bahamas.com visitusvi.com vacationstmaarten.com