Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, celebrated her maiden call to St. Kitts and Nevis on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
- The ship was originally scheduled to call at St. Kitts during a cruise that departed Port Canaveral on September 28, 2025, but Tropical Storm Imelda prompted the cruise line to revise that itinerary away from the Eastern Caribbean.
- Star of the Seas is sailing alternate Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from the Central Florida port on a year-round basis.
Better late than never. That was the case when Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas called at St. Kitts on October 23, 2025, after having to cancel an earlier scheduled call due to Tropical Storm Imelda, which later reached hurricane status.
The twin-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis welcomed the ship, which is second in the line’s Icon class after Icon of the Seas. The special ceremony included a plaque exchange, a maritime tradition to mark a vessel’s first call at a destination.
The event was held as the 5,600-guest ship visited St. Kitts’ Port Zante Cruise Terminal during her 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day voyage roundtrip from Port Canaveral.
The ship departed the Central Florida homeport on October 19, 2025. Basseterre, St. Kitts was the final stop on the itinerary, which also included St. Thomas, USVI, and the Perfect Day at CocoCay private island destination.
Cruise line and port officials attended the ceremony along with the country’s prime minister and cabinet ministers, local media reported.
“The arrival of this remarkable vessel represents more than tourism. It signals a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible growth,” said Terrance Drew, prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We recognize that the future of travel and tourism must align with the urgent need to protect our environment, and today, we celebrate a partner who shares this vision.”
Star of the Seas St. Kitts Plaque Exchange Ceremony (Photo Credit: St. Christopher Air & Sea Ports Authority)
Like her sister ship Icon of the Seas, the 248,663-gross-ton Star of the Seas, which was christened in her Florida homeport on August 20, 2025, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a marine fuel that helps reduce emissions harmful to the environment.
Royal Caribbean’s third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, is under construction and due to launch in 2026. A fourth, unnamed Icon-class ship is also under construction.
The Icon-class ships represent the largest in the cruise industry, with a total guest capacity of 7,600 with all berths occupied. They also accommodate 2,350 crew members.
While Star of the Seas operates alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, St. Kitts is not a regular call on the Eastern Caribbean itineraries.
In fact, the ship’s next visit to the destination will be in May 2026. The port call is included on one itinerary per month in May, June, August, and September 2026, and two calls per month in July and October 2026.
Tropical Storm Prompted a Major Itinerary Shift
Known for its rainforests and pristine beaches, plus its Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, St. Kitts and Nevis is situated in the Lesser Antilles.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks: Is It Worth Upgrading?
When Tropical Storm Imelda emerged on September 27, 2025, it became the ninth named storm of the season, and hurricane watches and warnings were issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Eventually becoming a hurricane, Imelda battered the Eastern Caribbean before ultimately veering northeast toward Bermuda.
Star of the Seas departed Port Canaveral on September 28, 2025, on what was to have been an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Out of an abundance of caution, Royal Caribbean altered the routing and sent the ship to the Western Caribbean instead.
Besides St. Kitts, the ship had planned to call at St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Her revised itinerary enabled guests to enjoy the destinations of Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
