Star of the Seas starts on the Baltic Sea: First Seatrials successful!

Star of the Seas starts on the Baltic Sea: First Seatrials successful!

The new cruise yacht Star of the Seas left the Meyer shipyard in Turku today and is sailing on the Baltic Sea for test trips for the first time. These first seatrials are an important step for the ship, which must undergo a series of tests before the planned delivery to the shipping company Royal Caribbean International in summer 2025. There are experts from the shipyard, the shipping company and the classification society on board to carry out the stress tests that analyze damage resistance.

Star of the Seas is able to comply with international standards and achieve the agreed performance data required for modern cruise ships. Prior to the Seatrials, the ship's engines and propulsion were tested at a shipyard pier in Turku, with the ship refueling with liquefied natural gas (LNG) on April 10, 2025. This bunkering was carried out by the Norwegian bunkering ship Coralius and lasted about 12 hours. This operation enables testing of the dual propulsion systems that utilize LNG as greener alternatives to traditional marine decking materials.

Technical details of the Star of the Seas

The ship has a length of 365 meters and a width of 65 meters, with a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT. The Star of the Seas is equipped with six Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines, which are ready for maritime testing. With a capacity of 2,805 guest cabins and suites, the ship can accommodate up to 5,610 guests at double occupancy and up to 7,600 guests at maximum occupancy. In addition, the ship is supported by 2,350 crew members.

The Seatrials were accompanied by tugboats and are scheduled to last until May 29, 2025. Whether a second test drive is necessary will be decided after the current sea trials have been completed. Preparations for the machine and drive tests had previously taken place since the beginning of the year.

Outlook for future trips

After the successful completion of the Seatrials, the Star of the Seas will initially be transferred to Port Canaveral in Florida without guests. The first paying guests are expected on board from August 20, 2025. This ship is a sister ship to Icon of the Seas from the already established Icon Class and plays a central role in Royal Caribbean's initiative to convert the fleet to LNG operations to improve sustainability and reduce emissions in the cruise industry.

The Star of the Seas therefore represents not only a technological advance, but also a step towards environmentally friendly cruises that meet both the needs of guests and the requirements of the environment.

For further information see Cruise news and Cruise ship.