How to Enjoy Royal Caribbean's Icon Class as a Luxury Traveler

What I learned sailing Star of the Seas as someone who typically prefers smaller ships - and how to help your family thrive on a mega-ship.

As someone who typically gravitates toward smaller luxury ships, sailing aboard Star of the Seas was not my usual style of travel.

But this trip was never really about me.

It was about spending uninterrupted time with my boys before they officially enter their teenage years. We played trivia and Name That Tune, won cornhole tournaments, learned to play the steel drums, rode waterslides, boogie boarded, ate entirely too much ice cream, and made memories I know I will treasure for years.

And while Star of the Seas is very different from the ships I usually sail, I came away with a few thoughts for travelers like me who appreciate a more elevated experience.

Icon Class ships represent a significant investment in family-focused experiences and world-class design.

Understanding Royal Caribbean's Icon Class

Part of the reason I chose Star of the Seas was professional curiosity. While this trip was first and foremost about spending time with my boys, it was also an opportunity to better understand Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and determine who these ships are best suited for.

Star of the Seas joins Icon of the Seas and the newly delivered Legend of the Seas as members of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class. All three ships share many of the same design elements, neighborhoods, entertainment venues, and family-focused experiences, so sailing Star gave me valuable insight into the overall experience clients can expect across the class.

Personally, I tend to prefer smaller ships with a stronger focus on destination immersion and a quieter onboard atmosphere. Many of my clients, however, absolutely love the energy and excitement that come with a larger ship. There is something special about having endless activities, incredible entertainment, and experiences designed to appeal to multiple generations traveling together.

What particularly excites me about Legend of the Seas is not necessarily that it is another large ship, but where it will sail. Spending summers in the Mediterranean with fewer sea days and more opportunities to experience culturally significant ports creates a different type of vacation. Pairing one of these itineraries with a few nights before or after the cruise opens the door to a much more customized European experience.

Experiencing Star helped me better understand the entire Icon Class and gave me an even clearer picture of which travelers will thrive on these ships and how to help them get the most out of the experience.

From cornhole tournaments to ice cream runs to waterslide adventures - there is truly something for every age and interest.

10 Tips for Enjoying a Mega-Ship as a Luxury Traveler

1. Book a Suite

If there is one piece of advice I would give, this is it.

On a ship carrying thousands of guests, having access to more private spaces, quieter pools, and elevated dining options can make all the difference. For travelers accustomed to smaller luxury ships, the suite experience creates breathing room and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Through our preferred partnerships, clients booking suites also receive a complimentary specialty dinner for two and a complimentary spa treatment for one guest.

Suite accommodations provide the space and privacy luxury travelers expect and deserve.

One small moment made me smile as I boarded. As I stepped onto the ship, my hand instinctively reached for a welcome glass of champagne... even though I already knew it would not be there. It is such a familiar part of luxury embarkation for me that it happened almost automatically.

It was a small, funny reminder that I was in a very different cruise environment.

The good news is that the suite experience adds its own version of that welcome, with a bottle waiting in your room and a more private, elevated space to settle in. It is a small detail, but it does shift the feel of the experience in a meaningful way.

Instinctively reaching for my welcome champagne upon boarding… and smiling when a bottle was waiting for me -
an elevated touch to my Royal Caribbean experience.

2. Skip the Buffet When Possible

One of the easiest ways to elevate your experience is to seek out quieter dining venues.

Breakfast in the main dining room is much more relaxed, especially if you request a table near the windows. I also loved grabbing breakfast in Central Park and lingering over coffee before the ship fully came to life.

3. Spend Time in Central Park

Central Park quickly became one of my favorite places onboard.

Surrounded by live plants and open to the sky above, it offers a peaceful escape from the energy found elsewhere on the ship. If you appreciate quiet spaces, spend as much time here as possible.

Central Park transforms throughout the day, offering peaceful escape at any hour.

4. Add Specialty Dining

Specialty restaurants create a more intimate atmosphere and provide a dining experience that feels closer to what many luxury travelers enjoy.

Specialty restaurants create dining experiences that feel intentional and elevated.

5. Embrace the Entertainment

One area where ships like Star of the Seas truly shine is entertainment.

Smaller luxury ships excel at personalized service and destination immersion, but they simply cannot offer the same scale of production found on Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships.

From the AquaTheater performances to the ice skating shows and Broadway-style productions, the entertainment onboard was genuinely impressive. For families and multigenerational groups, this level of entertainment is one of the biggest advantages of sailing a ship like Star of the Seas.

6. Purchase the Beverage Package

For travelers accustomed to more inclusive experiences, the beverage package can help the vacation feel more seamless and relaxed.

7. Reverse the Crowd Pattern

Most guests head to the pools and waterslides during the middle of the day. We found that visiting later in the afternoon often meant shorter waits and fewer crowds.

Strategic timing means fewer crowds and more enjoyment of onboard water activities.

8. Escape to the AquaDome

The glass-enclosed AquaDome became one of my favorite places onboard. Whether enjoying the views during the day or simply finding a quiet corner to sit, it provided a welcome retreat from the activity elsewhere on the ship.

The AquaDome offers a peaceful retreat with stunning views and plenty of quiet seating.

9. Elevate Your Shore Experience

Private excursions can make a tremendous difference and provide a more customized experience ashore.

And if your itinerary includes Perfect Day at CocoCay, consider reserving a cabana for additional privacy, shade, and personalized service.

Cabanas offer the ultimate in privacy and personalized service at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Because this trip was all about the boys, we opted for Thrill Waterpark passes instead, and even there, we found it noticeably less crowded than many areas of the ship.

10. Add a Luxury Resort Stay Before or After Your Cruise

One of my favorite ways to enjoy a high-energy cruise is to pair it with a few days at a luxury resort.

After a week filled with waterslides, entertainment, and nonstop activity, ending your vacation with a slower pace can provide the perfect balance. Whether that means a beachfront resort in the Caribbean, a few nights in Europe before or after a Mediterranean sailing on Legend of the Seas, or simply adding a relaxing resort stay after your cruise, combining different styles of travel creates a much more customized experience.

I often tell clients that a cruise does not have to be the entire vacation. Sometimes the best trips combine different styles of travel, allowing you to enjoy the excitement of a large ship while still carving out time to truly relax.

Final Thoughts

Will Star of the Seas replace my love of smaller luxury ships? Probably not.

But would I sail her again with my boys? Absolutely.

Because sometimes the perfect trip is not about finding your ideal ship. It is about finding the right ship for the season of life you are in.

As for my boys? I am pretty sure they would give Star of the Seas six stars out of five.

And honestly, that may be the review that matters most.