Key Aspects:
- With 22.4% of the vote, Star of the Seas won Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 as voted by Cruise Hive readers.
- MSC World America and Star Princess were second and third place, respectively.
- Star of the Seas is following in the wake of Icon of the Seas‘ win for the same category in 2024.
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is indeed a shining star for this year’s Cruise Hive Awards as it has been chosen as Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 with 22.4% of the overall vote.
The competition was fierce, with MSC Cruises’ MSC World America coming in at a close second with 19.8% of the vote and another seagoing star, Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, in third place with 16.4% of the vote.
Cruise Hive readers cast their votes between October 14 and December 19, choosing which ship that first set sail anytime in 2025 would be worthy of the honor. Of course, only brand new ships that welcomed their first guests this calendar year were eligible.
Star of the Seas had an iconic reputation to live up to, as her sister ship Icon of the Seas won Best New Cruise Ship of 2024.
In previous years, Wonder of the Seas (2023), Carnival Celebration (2022), Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Panorama (2019), Carnival Horizon (2018), Norwegian Joy and MSC Seaside (tied in 2017), Harmony of the Seas (2016), and Anthem of the Seas (2015) have been the award recipients during their respective inaugural seasons.
This means that over the years, Royal Caribbean has taken the title 5 times, just edging out Carnival Cruise Line’s four wins. Both cruise lines offer excellent experiences for guests, with their new ships featuring outstanding amenities, attractions, dining, entertainment, and fun for all ages.
Interestingly, while Star of the Seas decisively won as Best New Cruise Ship of 2025, it was MSC Cruises’ MSC World America that was crowned Best Overall Cruise Ship – a category open to ships of any age.
A Star Is Born
As the second of the enormous Icon-class ships, Star of the Seas debuted in mid-August, making her win all the more impressive as she’s only been welcoming guests for four months.
Nevertheless, the 248,663-gross-ton ship has certainly wowed guests in that brief span with her eight world-class neighborhoods, the Thrill Island waterpark, the classic FlowRider surfing simulator, 18 unique bars and lounges, 27 dining options, the adrenaline-inducing Crown’s Edge course, and the eye-catching Pearl promenade showpiece.
Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas was shining bright from the moment she was delivered to Royal Caribbean on July 10, following her outstanding sea trials in June.
With her construction finished ahead of schedule, Royal Caribbean was able to offer a series of four short “showcase” sailings aboard the new ship before she welcomed guests on her official maiden voyage that departed Port Canaveral on August 31, 2025.
The port hosted a wave out “sailabration” for the largest ship to ever homeport from the Space Coast on August 16, the first of those showcase sailings.
Read Also: Star of the Seas Size and Stats – How It Towers Over Other Cruise Ships
Star of the Seas offers 7-night Caribbean sailings with Sunday departures, alternating between Eastern and Western itineraries. Each sailing visits Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
Onboard, the ship can welcome 5,610 guests at double occupancy or up to 7,600 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. The ship is also home to more than 2,300 crew members eager to make each guest the star of their very best cruise vacation.
More Award-Worthy New Ships
While Star of the Seas certainly deserved the title of Best New Cruise Ship of 2025, other vessels had noteworthy showings in the voting as well.
Following MSC World America and Star Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua garnered 13.7% of the votes for fourth place, with Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel coming in fifth at 11.2%. Disney Destiny (5.8%), Brilliant Lady (4.6%), Viking Vesta (2.9%), Allura (2.7%), and Mein Schiff Relax (.4%) rounded out this year’s voting.
Who may take the title in 2026? With Legend of the Seas debuting in July, it could be a three-peat for Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, or the honor may go to MSC World Asia, Disney Adventure, or any other ship set to take the oceans by storm next year.
