Star of the Seas: Our Experience & What to Expect Onboard

I've recently returned from one of the Star of the Seas Preview cruises from Port Canaveral and I�m sharing my experience from onboard Royal Caribbean�s newest ship. \n \nhttps://youtu.be/kXQG-BkC-28 \n Port Arrival/Parking \nPort Canaveral is generally a pretty easy port to get in and out of, with a couple of caveats. If you�re flying in, I absolutely recommend using my friends at Go Port . Their packages will take the stress out of embarkation day arrivals and they even have hotel options if you want to come a day or two before, which I highly suggest. I parked right at Royal Caribbean�s Terminal 1 for my sailing. Arriving early as I always do, I was surprised to see the garage completely full and very limited outside surface spots. I believe that these preview cruises had a huge number of drive in guests and that attributed to the limited parking issues. Once parked, it was a very quick and easy process through security and check-in, then a short wait for boarding to start. One point to note, the gangways as you approach the ship are quite steep, so if you are pushing strollers, wheelchairs or have limited mobility, have someone to assist you if possible. \n \n Star of the Seas - Terminal 1 \n First Impressions \nOne thing I love about Royal Caribbean�s newest ships is boarding directly into the large public spaces. On Icon class ships, this is especially nice since there is direct access from the gangway to the cavernous Royal Promenade. We were greeted by high-energy crew members and lots of visually striking elements like the Pearl, expansive outward facing views and plenty of photo-op moments. While waiting for rooms to open up, I would normally be looking to get all my reservations in order, but I did manage to pre-book everything using Royal Caribbean�s online Cruise Planner in advance (at least that is what I thought) more on that in a bit. Taking the opportunity to explore the ship, for the most part, Star of the Seas is a virtual clone of her sister Icon of the Seas. There are some artistic differences, but generally, the overall experience is the same. \n \n Star of the Seas - The Pearl \n Accommodations \nOn this cruise I stayed in one of the Surfside Family Balcony staterooms. These rooms are naturally located within the Surfside neighborhood, and offer views down to the activities below, however, with my room location, I had great views from the back of the ship out to the ocean as well. Room are nicely configure with comfortable bedding, great large showers and plenty of ports to power up your devices. There are dozens of other room categories available on Icon Class ships, from Interior, Central Park Views, Ocean Views and several suite options to the largest three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse. \n \n Watch Video: Star of the Seas | Best Surfside Family Balcony (Full Tour) \n \n Star of the Seas - Surfside Family Balcony \n \n Star of the Seas - Central Park Accommodations \n Amenities & Services \nStar of the Seas has loads of ways to spend your day enjoying some incredible venues like The Overlook within the AquaDome that provides sweeping panoramic forward views or surrounded by nature within Central Park. There�s also ways to make yourself feel new again like a spa or salon service, a brisk walk on the jogging track or a visit to the fitness center. Crown & Anchor guests in the Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle levels have access to the Crown Lounge with a dedicated concierge to assist with dining reservations, show tickets, shore excursions and more, daily continental breakfast and snacks throughout the day and one of my favorite perks, the self-serve expresso machine. If you�ve got some onboard credit to spend, the shops have plenty to offer from brand name apparel, cosmetics and fragrances to logo items and duty free liquor. You�ll also find a massive casino ready to accept donations just an escalator away from the Royal Promenade. \n \n Star of the Seas - The Overlook \n \n Star of the Seas - Centra