ORLANDO, Fla. -- The next vessel to take the title of world's largest cruise ship is headed to Port Canaveral. Disney is sending a new ship to Port Everglades for the first time. And new ships will debut from Norwegian, MSC Cruises, Princess, Celebrity, and more.
These are some of the cruise highlights for Florida coming in 2025.
The marquee event has to be the arrival of Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas, a sister ship to current titleholder Icon of the Seas. Landing the newest and largest ship is a first for Central Florida with the past titleholders all making their debuts out of South Florida.
Those ports, though, will get plenty of new ship action as well while cruise lines feed demand with new hardware. Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and PortMiami saw record passenger counts of nearly 20 million in 2024, with each forecast to grow further in the coming year.
It has a six-slide water park called Category 6 among nine neighborhoods carved out similarly to the slightly smaller Oasis-class of the cruise line. Unique features on Star of the Seas will be "Back to the Future: The Musical" on top of new productions for its ice rink and signature AquaTheater.
The ship will also have its own high-end version of Icon's Empire Supper Club with the introduction of the Lincoln Park Supper Club themed to 1930s-era Chicago. That's among more than 40 food and beverage options on board.
The ship has the same footprint as its sister ships, but features a signature stage show based on the animated film "Hercules," a dinner theater experience tied to "The Lion King" and a sweets shop themed to "The Incredibles." It will also embrace villainy with a new piano bar themed to the character Cruella de Vil from "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and a pub pulling inspiration from the theme park ride and film franchise for "Pirates of the Caribbean."
This ship will feature what the line says is the first hybrid coaster at sea called the Aqua Slidecoaster, dual slides that are a mix of roller coaster and waterslides that feature a magnetic lift to send riders through two different courses traversing three decks and venturing about the ship's funnel.
Also new to the ship will be a digital sports complex, the line's first dedicated Thai venue, a new wine bar concept and the line's first three-bedroom duplex suites for its exclusive area called The Haven.
The ship will sail seven-night Caribbean itineraries beginning in April from Port Canaveral, then in August migrate to New York before heading back to Florida to sail from Miami from October to April 2026.
The cabins will once again feature the popular Infinite Verandah staterooms in which the balcony is part of the cabin.
One unique thing about this new ship will be its capability to use methanol as a fuel source, the first for any ship in the Royal Caribbean Group family of cruise lines and an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
The ship's debut sailing out of Port Everglades is Nov. 18 before it begins regular seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
The new vessel will have an expanded nonsmoking casino area, more seats in its Irish pub and a larger version of new art-inspired dining venue Love by Britto. The architectural debuts on Sun Princess will be mirrored on the new ship including the spherical atrium called The Piazza that juts out on both sides of the ship's hull, the transforming theater space called The Arena and a top-deck, glass entertainment venue called The Dome.
One thing missing from Sun Princess was a planned hang-glider attraction, so for Star Princess the space will be a dedicated sports court and track along with a splash pad.
That includes The Harbour, an outdoor park with a over-the-side-of-the-ship swinging thrill ride called the Cliffhanger as well as a water park and ropes course. Another major space will be the three-deck World Galleria with shopping, restaurants, and bars. The line's MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship concept for higher-paying customers will feature 152 suites.
The ship will follow its sister ships' offerings with more than 20 dining and lounge options, hammocks on the balconies, and high-end wellness spaces.
The Crêperie will be strategically located adjacent to the coffee bar, taking the space of the ship's library on its sister ship. It will be the 12th dining venue on board not including the line's popular Culinary Arts Kitchen that teaches travelers a variety of themed cooking classes.
Allura will arrive in Miami on Oct. 12 and make a variety of Caribbean and Bahamas sailings through April 2026.
The port of call will open with one dock capable of handling its largest ships, the 6,000-passenger Excel class, including Port Canaveral-based Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration out of Miami.
The largest port construction project in the line's history will be carved into five segments the company calls portals. The site will also have a south-facing mile-long beachfront expanse and massive freshwater inland lagoon the line says is the largest in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Passengers can elect to visit the beach club for the day, which will play up Bahamian culture alongside traditional offerings such as two separate beaches, 40 cabanas, food and drink venues, seven pools with three swim-up bars.