- Maiden Voyage: Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, departed from Port Canaveral on its inaugural sailing on August 16, 2025.
- Community Celebration: Hundreds of local residents and cruise fans gathered at Jetty Park for a “Star-Studded Sailabration,” a free party organized by the port to celebrate the ship’s debut.
- Traditional Maritime Send-Off: The ship was honored with a traditional water cannon salute from fireboats and tugboats as it led a parade of cruise ships out to sea.
- Future Plans: After its inaugural voyage, the ship will be officially christened at Port Canaveral before beginning its regular schedule of week-long Caribbean cruises.
The Port Canaveral community came together in a wonderful display of excitement to celebrate the maiden voyage of the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas. Hundreds of cruise fans, local families, and visitors gathered at the shoreline of Jetty Park for a festive send-off as the magnificent new ship embarked on her inaugural sailing this past Saturday.
The Canaveral Port Authority hosted a fantastic “Star-Studded Sailabration,” a free “Party in the Park” for the community to enjoy. The atmosphere was joyful, with a DJ, food trucks, and family-friendly fun. Attendees waved custom banners and signs, bidding a heartfelt bon voyage to the guests and crew. A special treat was a DeLorean car, inspired by the ship’s new “Back to the Future: The Musical,” which was available for photos.
Adding to the spectacle, the Star of the Seas received a traditional maritime water cannon salute from local fireboats and tugboats as it led an impressive parade of departing cruise ships. This grand send-off marks a beautiful beginning for the Port’s newest homeported vessel. Following this short inaugural cruise, the ship will be officially christened at the port before beginning its regular schedule of week-long voyages to The Bahamas and the Caribbean.