Star of the Seas Cruise: Carla Williams’ Mother-Daughter Adventure
407&Beyond travel agent Carla Williams and her daughter recently sailed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas. From exciting entertainment and relaxing spa time to exploring three Caribbean destinations, their mother-daughter vacation had a little bit of everything.
Star of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s second Icon Class ship and one of the largest ships in its fleet. Its 20 decks are divided into eight themed neighborhoods: Surfside, Thrill Island, Chill Island, The Hideaway, AquaDome, Central Park, Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighborhood.
Carla and her daughter stayed in a Central Park Infinite Balcony stateroom—a room type they already knew they loved.
“We love the Central Park neighborhood and have booked this room type two other times,” Carla said.
Something for Everyone Onboard
One of the things Carla appreciates most about Royal Caribbean is the wide variety of activities available for travelers of all ages.
“There is always something for everyone,” she said.
During their cruise, Carla and her daughter participated in trivia games and the celebrity game, enjoyed the waterpark slides and attended several shows. Their entertainment lineup included Back to the Future: The Musical, an ice-skating show, comedians and an impressive AquaTheater performance.
They also spent several evenings at the Dueling Pianos bar and made time to treat themselves to a visit to the spa.
With spaces created for family fun, adults-only experiences and quiet relaxation, the ship allowed them to choose a different kind of vacation day whenever they wanted.
Three Caribbean Ports
Their itinerary included Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Kitts. Carla and her daughter booked an excursion at each destination, giving them three very different experiences.
At Perfect Day at CocoCay, they visited Coco Beach Club. This private area provides a quieter beach experience, along with an oceanfront infinity pool featuring in-pool loungers. Their admission also included an upgraded sit-down lunch.
While visiting St. Thomas, they took a 30-minute boat ride to St. John. Once there, they boarded an open-air safari bus for a guided tour of Virgin Islands National Park.
In St. Kitts, they participated in a Dolphin Push, Pull and Swim experience. They interacted with dolphins in the water and even experienced the dolphins pulling them through the ocean.
St. Kitts became their favorite port of the cruise.
“There was plenty of shopping, lots of great places to eat and several spots to grab a drink and relax,” Carla said.
Carla’s Tips for Royal Caribbean Cruisers
Carla recommends planning ahead to save money and secure the experiences you want.
“Always prebook your drink package, Wi-Fi and shore excursions,” she advised. “They are usually discounted in the app before getting on the ship.”
Booking early doesn’t mean travelers should stop watching the prices. Carla recommends continuing to check the Royal Caribbean app after making a purchase. If a better sale becomes available, guests may be able to cancel and rebook at the lower price.
Spa appointments can also offer savings for travelers who act quickly.
“If you are interested in booking the spa, go there as soon as you board the ship,” Carla said. “I have been able to get discounts when booking on the first day.”
These simple steps can help cruisers get more value from their vacation while avoiding the disappointment of popular experiences selling out.
A New Experience Every Time
For Carla and her daughter, one of the best parts of traveling is discovering something new together.
“Our favorite part of vacation is the opportunity to explore new places and experience something different on every ship,” she said.
Star of the Seas offered plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. They could spend one day racing down water slides, another relaxing at the spa and the next exploring a Caribbean island.
“I cannot recommend Royal Caribbean enough,” Carla said. “Their ships are incredibly well thought out. Every space is designed to balance family activities, adult-only areas and relaxation.”
With eight distinct neighborhoods, memorable entertainment, activities for every age and exciting ports to explore, their Star of the Seas cruise delivered the variety they love—and another memorable mother-daughter adventure.
