Latest news with #StaroftheSeas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Video: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas clears sea trials
Video: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas clears sea trials originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean created a new standard for megaships. It built a new class completely from scratch. The cruise line started with a blank piece of paper and considered every aspect of the the end, Icon did bring back some features from earlier classes, like the redesigned Central Park and the Royal Promenade, but it was a very unique ship. Now, its sister ship, Star of the Seas, is getting close to its first sailing. "Sailing one step closer to its debut, Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Star of the Seas has taken to the open ocean for the first time. This week, the next combination of the best of every vacation embarked on a series of sea trials, marking a key construction milestone before the new Icon Class ship makes its way to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, for its August 2025 debut," the cruise line shared on its webpage. A sea trial is a very comprehensive test. "Over 11 days, more than 2,000 experts from the naval architecture, engineering, navigation and design spaces are putting Star to the test across a wide range of technical examinations to ensure it's in ship shape," it added. "From testing how the ship moves through the open water to pushing its engine performance to the limits and more, Star's journey will cover hundreds of miles before the ship enters its final phase of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Caribbean's Star of the Seas clears sea trials (0:45) Royal Caribbean has not shared who the godfather will be for Star of the Seas or when it will have its official naming ceremony. Because the ship is actually arriving early, it will sail three pre-inaugural sailings in August with paying passengers before its actual inaugural sailing. The cruise line shared some hype on its upcoming ship. "Doubling the world's best vacation count this summer, Star will deliver more of the revolutionary Icon Class combination introduced by Icon, with new twists and signature favorites. Across eight neighborhoods that are destinations in themselves, there are ways for families and vacationers of all ages to make memories with a lineup of thrills — like the fastest and tallest waterslides, unrivaled chill at seven pools for every vibe and mood, and more than 40+ ways to dine, drink, and be entertained. Plus, adventurers can island-hop on 7-night vacations visiting Eastern or Western Caribbean destinations, including the vacation brand's top-rated destination at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas." Every Star of the Seas trip from Port Canaveral will stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean has made it clear that it will not call Star of the Seas "The World's Largest Cruise Ship," although it's technically the same size as Icon, which has made that claim. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean makes controversial change, again
Royal Caribbean makes controversial change, again originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Many 'loyal to Royal' cruisers have learned over the years that careful planning and early booking are a must if you want to secure the itinerary, stateroom type, and add-on amenities you want for your vacation. These days, most experienced cruisers know that booking early will usually help you secure the lowest price for your cruise, days of scoring a last-minute cruise deal are mostly gone, with only a few exceptions this year like some of this summer's Mediterranean and Alaska cruises. Despite the higher prices that usually come with last-minute cruise bookings, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty revealed during the company's Q1 earnings call that the cruise line has noticed more last-minute booking behavior recently. So rather than discount last-minute cruises, Royal Caribbean has been raising prices on near-departure cruises to drive higher profits. This trend in last-minute bookings could also be a factor in the cruise line's controversial decision to continue to make changes to this summer's launch schedule for its next Icon Class ship. These launch schedule changes have opened up some enticing opportunities for cruisers to add somewhat last-minute summer cruises on board Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Star of the Seas, which will debut in August from Port Canaveral, loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers who are diligent about planning their vacations far in advance were quick to book this summer's inaugural sailing for Star of the Seas when it opened for booking back in December 2023. Most of those cruisers wanted to be the first to sail on the new megaship, which will offer seven-night Caribbean cruises designed to compete with Orlando's theme park vacations. Originally, Star of the Seas' first cruise was scheduled for Aug. 17, 2025, but Royal Caribbean later pushed the inaugural sailing back to Aug. 31, citing a delay in the ship's expected delivery. But early this year, it became clear that Star of the Seas would be ready to sail earlier in August after than change the date of the inaugural voyage again, Royal Caribbean decided to add two shorter 'showcase sailings' before it. For some Royal Caribbean cruisers who didn't plan early enough to secure the ship's inaugural sailing, this was great news. But at the same time, it frustrated some of the careful planners who booked the inaugural cruise to be the first to sail on the new ship on its full seven-night maiden voyage. Some of those cruisers took the opportunity Royal Caribbean offered to switch their booking to the first showcase sailing so they could still be the first on board, but then, a few weeks later, the cruise line changed the launch schedule March, the cruise line announced that Star of the Seas would be ready to sail even earlier, and added another short showcase sailing on the ship departing on Aug. 20, 2025. And now, they've done it again. It turns out Star of the Seas will be delivered according to its original timeline after all, and now it will even debut one day earlier than the previously planned Aug. 17 inaugural voyage.'To officially kick off our inaugural season, we have added in an additional 4-Night Star Showcase Cruise to Perfect Day [at CocoCay] on August 16, 2025, because we simply can't wait to debut the world's best family vacation,' the cruise line wrote in an email to travel partners. So now, while the Aug. 31 Star of the Seas cruise is the first full-length sailing and still considered the inaugural voyage, there are a total of four short showcase sailings happening before it. Although that may be a bit disappointing for some passengers who chose to stay on the original inaugural sailing, it's sure to bring higher revenue for Royal Caribbean as it capitalizes on this year's last-minute cruise booking trend with new sailings on a brand-new ship. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Paramount's blockbuster settlement bid: Millions offered to Trump to quash $20 billion suit and clear Skydance merger
Paramount is hoping that a hefty financial offer might help resolve one of its biggest roadblocks to a long-anticipated merger with Skydance: US President Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit, as per a report. Trump Lawsuit Demands Sky-High Settlement While there's no deal yet, sources close to the negotiations told Deadline that the Shari Redstone-controlled media company has made an 'eight-figure' offer to the president in an effort to put the case behind them, according to the Deadline report. The lawsuit, filed by Trump late last year, centers on claims that CBS' 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with then-Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the final stretch of the 2024 election, according to the report. A source familiar with the talks between Trump's lawyers and Paramount's attorneys and executives told Deadline, 'It's very early days,' adding that, 'An opening offer has been made, but more negotiations are underway,' quoted Deadline. According to The Wall Street Journal, Paramount has offered $15 million so far, but Trump's legal team is reportedly wanting $25 million and a public apology from CBS News. Live Events ALSO READ: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas to finally sail in August — destination, departure date, and bookings nearly full Merger Pressure Builds Behind the Scenes This lawsuit came at a time when Paramount is in the process of trying to finalise an $8 billion merger with David Ellison's Skydance Media, an effort backed by Ellison's father, tech billionaire Larry Ellison, and RedBird Capital, according to Deadline. The merger, announced in July, still requires federal approval, and the progress has slowed as the FCC, led by Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, reviews the deal, as per the report. Deadline reported that, before Carr started his role as FCC chair, he had mentioned that the 60 Minutes complaint, which also is the subject of Trump's lawsuit, was 'likely to arise' as part of the merger review. However, Carr later said that Trump's lawsuit is on a totally separate track from the merger consideration, reported Deadline. FAQs Why is Trump suing CBS and Paramount? He claims CBS' 60 Minutes misrepresented an interview with Kamala Harris. How much is Paramount offering to pay? Paramount reportedly offered $15 million to settle. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas to finally sail in August — destination, departure date, and bookings nearly full
It takes time to plan the ultimate vacation, particularly for Royal Caribbean enthusiasts who circle their calendars the minute a new ship is available for reservation. But for those willing to wait to be the first to board the Star of the Seas , the cruise company's highly anticipated new Icon Class vessel , things haven't exactly gone according to plan, as per a report. While, Royal Caribbean has continually rescheduled the ship's launch schedule, it now added multiple short showcase sailings before the inaugural cruise , according to The Street. A rocky ride to break in In December 2023, when reservations became available for the Star of the Seas, enthusiasts did not hesitate to reserve places on what was then advertised as the inaugural official sailing, a seven-night voyage that would depart on August 17, 2025, as per the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Riobamba: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo But Royal Caribbean subsequently postponed the maiden voyage for two weeks, attributing it to a delay in the delivery of the ship and moving the inaugural cruise to August 31, according to The Street. ALSO READ: Donald Trump's policies are bad—then good? Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang flip-flops within minutes after Q1 results Live Events Showcase Sailings Stir Mixed Emotions Instead of cancelling the original August 17 departure, Royal Caribbean introduced two shorter "showcase sailings" to precede it, as per The Street. For cruisers who had missed out on the initial booking, the news was a pleasant surprise, but for those who had carefully planned their holidays around being the first on board, it left them scrambling, according to the report. A few of the guests opted to transfer their reservations to the new earlier departures, hoping to still be aboard first, as per The Street. Royal Caribbean even added another short showcase sailing on the ship departing on August 20, according to the report. The cruise line said, 'To officially kick off our inaugural season, we have added in an additional 4-Night Star Showcase Cruise to Perfect Day [at CocoCay] on August 16, 2025, because we simply can't wait to debut the world's best family vacation ,' quoted The Street. August 31 Remains the Official Maiden Voyage According to the report, the August 31 Star of the Seas cruise will still be the first full-length sailing and will be considered the inaugural voyage, there will be a total of four short showcase sailings happening before it. FAQs What are 'showcase sailings'? They're shorter preview cruises added before the main inaugural voyage, giving guests a chance to experience the ship early. How many showcase sailings are there now? There are now four short showcase sailings before the August 31 cruise.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Record-Breaking Cruise Ship Reaches Big Milestone
Star of the Seas has cleared a major milestone on its way to becoming the world's largest cruise ship. The Royal Caribbean megaship completed a critical series of sea trials off the coast of Turku, Finland, a rigorous step that signals the vessel is nearly ready for passenger service. The 11-day evaluation put the 250,800-gross-ton ship through a demanding battery of tests, measuring propulsion, navigation systems, engineering performance, and onboard safety. Over 2,000 specialists in marine design and operations were onboard to monitor how the vessel performed under real-world conditions. Stretching 1,198 feet in length and spanning 20 decks, Star of the Seas is more than just a floating city, it's an all in one adventure platform. Designed to carry up to 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew, the ship features the largest waterpark at sea. Featuring six record-breaking slides, seven distinct pools, and more than 40 bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Among its headline attractions: the high-flying Crown's Edge aerial adventure course, the FlowRider surf simulator, and the Grove Suite Sun Deck, an exclusive retreat for VIP travelers. The vessel is also designed with an eye toward versatility, offering everything from family-friendly thrills to high-end luxury escapes. Now, en route to the Meyer Turku shipyard for a final outfitting, Star of the Seas is on track to debut with a 7-night maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, on August 31, 2025. Before that, Royal Caribbean will run three preview sailings on August 20, 23, and 27. Once in service, the Star will rotate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, each including a stop at the cruise line's private Bahamian destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Record-Breaking Cruise Ship Reaches Big Milestone first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
