Diana Ross Announced as Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas
Diana Ross, the “queen of Motown Records” whose talent as lead vocalist for The Supremes catapulted her to stardom in the 1960s, will serve as godmother to Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the second ship in the line’s pioneering Icon class.
Royal Caribbean announced the selection of Ross to the honorary post on June 5, 2025, but still has not revealed the exact date of Star of the Seas’ christening, confirming only that it will be held in August 2025.
The 5,600-guest Star of the Seas will be named at Port Canaveral, her scheduled homeport until at least spring of 2027. The ship will host four preview cruises starting on August 16, 2025 — one 3-night and three 4-night sailings, followed by her official inaugural voyage, a 7-night cruise departing on August 31, 2025.
Typically, naming ceremonies are held immediately before a ship’s inaugural cruise or on departure day of that cruise, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed the date.
Ross, who will preside over a traditional naming ceremony to be held in the ship’s AquaTheater, the centerpiece of the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood, said she was honored to join the Royal Caribbean family.
“Having spent years of creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey as godmother of Star of the Seas,” said Diana Ross.
Royal Caribbean’s announcement noted that Ross, as a global musical icon, is a perfect fit for the second Icon-class ship. Star of the Seas is a sister ship to Icon of the Seas, the first in the class that debuted in January 2024.
“We are thrilled to have Diana Ross join us for the debut of Star of the Seas, the next bold vacation in our revolutionary Icon Class designed to encompass the best a vacation experience can offer,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean.
“We can’t wait to welcome Ms. Ross, our guests and crew to celebrate the arrival of Star this August.”
Star of the Seas recently completed her sea trials and is now in the final stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Sea trials, which test key onboard systems such as navigation, propulsion, and safety, are the last major step in the building process before a ship is delivered to the cruise line.
New-Build’s 8 Neighborhoods Offer Thrills and Chills
From Port Canaveral, the ship will sail Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, all of which will feature a port call to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Star of the Seas’ 7-night inaugural voyage is a Western Caribbean itinerary with port calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras.
Like Icon of the Seas, the new-build was designed with eight themed neighborhoods. Among them are Royal Promenade, which offers a wide variety of eateries and bars, and Central Park, a leafy, open-air oasis modeled after New York’s Central Park and featuring 33,000-plus trees and plants.
The AquaDome neighborhood houses the AquaTheater, where Star of the Seas’ naming ceremony will be held, and is an open-air entertainment space.
Read Also: Icon of the Seas Amenities and Everything You’ll Love Onboard
A massive waterpark, called Category 6, will be the largest offered at sea, with six water slides, two raft slides, and other activities. Chill Island will feature several pools and an adults-only retreat area.
Other themed neighborhoods include Surfside, a water-focused area for families with young children; the Hideaway, inspired by a landslide beach resort and featuring an infinity pool; and Thrill Island, a theme park area designed to look like a shipwrecked island.
Diana Ross Announced as Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas