Curator’s statement
This cruise was a multi-generational cruise—grandparents, and adult children with a two-year old grandson. For Wendie and me, it was a last-minute decision to join them on their vacation on this mega-ship cruise and to check out the ship. Our first day, I looked at Wendie and told her I didn’t think this is going to be the cruise for us, but by day seven we were converts and had a wonderful time. Watching Torque in the Aqua Theater, I was amazed at just how far these production shows at sea have come.
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On our arrival day, we had no problem getting into Port Canaveral, finding the terminal and a parking space. Unlike Port of Tampa, they did not offer prepaid parking. Boarding was a breeze with plenty of people to guide us. As we boarded, we realized just how big the ship was and how many people were everywhere! We grabbed a bite to eat and then set out to explore and enjoy the sail-away party.
We had an aft balcony stateroom so it was easy access to dining and Surfside, where we spent a lot of time entertaining the two-year old. He rode the carousel a hundred times, and played with the other kids at playscape and at the splashpad. Surfside Eatery and the ice cream was readily available.

Surfside

Trying out the water slides, minimal wait time!
During nap times or after bed time, the grandparents hit the adult zones. By the end of the cruise, we were still finding places we hadn’t explored. I made it a point to check out the water slides before we left—they were a hoot! They had both a smoking, and non-smoking casino. The gym was extremely well-equipped, normally I hit the treadmill in the morning, but since we were traveling with others, we walked the track on Deck 5. Eight different neighborhoods, something for everyone.

Central Park
The shows fill up fast, and it is best to get reservations at Spotlight Karaoke after you drop your luggage off in your rooms. In order to honor your reservation, you have to be present at least 15 minutes prior, otherwise they release the reservation and it is first-come, first-served. We were able to get into the comedy club and Back to the Future, which were all booked, by getting there early and waiting for the fifteen-minute window to pass. All the shows we attended were really good, the ice show in Absolute Zero, Torque in the Aqua Theater, the various performers in the clubs, and the shows on the Promenade. The Veteran Tribute that was held in the Aqua Theater was probably the best I have ever seen, also recognizing the veterans from our allies as well as First Responders.

Veteran Tribute! God Bless the USA!

Aqua Theater

Ice Show
I wasn’t sure what to expect at Coco Cay, but we had a very relaxing time. First, the grandson played in the splash zone until nap time. Wendie and I walked the island to see the different beach areas, pools, and food offerings. We eventually found a quiet spot in the shade, plenty of it, to relax until it was time to grab a bite to eat and head back to the ship. Besides Coco Cay, we stopped in St Thomas and St Maarten.

Coco Cay
Although the ship is huge, we sailed in mid-November and never really felt crowded. I didn’t mention everything because it would have been a book. We were able to find chairs around the pool decks when we needed them. We usually showed up early to the shows we wanted to see to ensure we had seats. We ate in the Main Dining every night, which was the typical Royal Caribbean if you have sailed with them before. No specialty dining for us! We prefer the smaller ships when we are sailing alone, but for the family it was a great choice and we would definitely sail again... in shoulder season!

$4 beer before getting back on the boat!!
Need to know
As mentioned earlier, plan your entertainment early and show up early. If you can’t get a reservation, show up early, and at 15 minutes prior you may get in. A lot of people reserve and then change their minds or forget. Star of the Seas is fitted for the Cruise Pass if you don’t need the full internet package. RCCL is going to have a system similar to the Medallion on Princess, but it only works on the newer ships and is a separate purchase. We travel light and self-assist—embarkation and disembarkation was quick and easy. We checked out the interior balcony and the concept is pretty neat, still having outside light available, some with sliding windows, and they have shades, although when the shades are open you could be looking across the way to someone elses cabin!
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.

Travel Advisor
Peter Kuhlman

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