Everyone is talking about Royal Caribbean’s new ship that just launched – but what they’re not talking too much about is how expensive cruises on this new ship are!
For an almost-identical cruise, Royal Caribbean is charging more than double what MSC Cruises is charging for its newest ship.
But here’s the big question: is Star of the Seas actually twice as good… or are you just paying for the hype?
I’ve compared the prices, what’s included, the onboard facilities and the overall experience to help you decide which cruise gives you the best value for your money.
I totally get why people are excited to cruise on the newest and biggest ship in the world. After all, that’s exactly what I did when I booked my very first cruise!
I chose Allure of the Seas for my honeymoon in 2013. Why? Well all I did was search Google for ‘best cruise ship’ and as that was the newest and biggest at the time, that’s what came up!
But savvy cruisers will know to do a bit more research than I did when I booked the new Royal Caribbean ship without looking any further.
Would you be better off having TWO cruises on MSC’s newest ship, and have money left over for souvenirs?
Let’s find out in this head-to-head between Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas and MSC World America.
Star of the Seas Vs MSC World America
First, let’s start by taking a look at some key stats…
| Star of the Seas | MSC World America | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch date | August 2025 | April 2025 |
| Size (gross tons) | 250,800 | 215,863 |
| Decks | 19 | 22 |
| Guests (max) | 7,600 | 6,774 |
| Crew | 2,350 | 2,138 |
There’s no denying that Star of the Seas is huge. But World America is pretty big too.
Sure, booking a cruise on Star will give you the bragging rights to say you’ve been on the biggest ship in the world. But aside from that, you won’t actually notice the size difference once you’re on board, as they’re both so gigantic that it will take you a week to find your way around.
Key Features Of These Ships
Both Star of the Seas and MSC World America have a lot of fun activities on board. These aren’t cruises for people who’s idea of relaxation is sitting on a sunlounger all day!
Waterparks
Star of the Seas features the largest waterpark at sea with six record-breaking slides, seven swimming pools and ten whirlpools.
World America also has an elaborate waterpark with four slides. Guests can also enjoy six pools and 14 whirlpools.
Thrills
Thrill seekers on Star of the Seas can get their adrenaline fix on Crown’s Edge – a skywalk meets obstacle course adventure int the ship’s Thrill Island neighbourhood. There’s also a FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf, laser tag and rock climbing walls.
There are also plenty of thrills to be had onboard MSC World America, which features the only over-water swing ride at sea, Cliffhanger. There’s also a dry slide called Jaw Drop, which will take you down 11 decks, as well as bumper cars and a sports arena.
Entertainment
Star of the Seas features the awe-inspiring AquaTheatre where daring divers leap from 60 feet above, Absolute Zero which has shows on ice as well as the AquaDome with incredible aerial performances. In the theatre you can see Broadway-style shows like Back To The Future The Musical and there’s also a dedicated comedy club as well as endless live music venues.
Oh, and did I mention that Star of the Seas has a dog that lives onboard? Sailor is a Golden Retriever who’s role is to bring joy to the guests!
The entertainment doesn’t seem to be quite as extensive on MSC Cruises’ new ship. But there is, of course, a theatre, a 4D cinema and live music throughout the ship.
Food and Drink
Star of the Seas features more than 20 different restaurants and 25 bars – which is way more than you could visit in a single cruise! There’s a huge range of complimentary dining options, as well as speciality restaurants that are available for an extra charge.
MSC World America has 13 dining venues and 18 bars, which is still plenty! There are enough complimentary options, but for something other than the main dining room, buffet or snacks, you’ll need to pay extra.
What Costs Extra?
Both Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises charge extra for certain things, so most cruisers pay more than the ticket price.
The standard inclusions are the same with both cruise lines – accommodation, meals, entertainment, port fees and taxes. But it’s worth considering how much you can expect to pay for things like gratuities, drinks and wifi once onboard.
I’ve broken down the extra costs into a table for you…
| Star of the Seas | MSC World America | |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $18.50 per person, per day | $16 per person, per day |
| Drink Package | $56 to $115 per person, per day | $85 per person, per day |
| Wi-Fi | Around $25 per device, per day | Around $112 per device, per week |
| Attractions | $90 for Crown’s Edge | $5 for Cliffhanger |
| Speciality Dining | $25 to $200 per meal | $25 to $55 per meal |
An extra $2.50 for gratuities might not sound like a lot – but for a family of four over a week, that works out at an extra $70 you’ll be expected to pay out to subsidise the crew members’ wages.
Suggested read: Can You Refuse To Pay Gratuities On A Cruise?
When it comes to the drink package, Royal Caribbean is notoriously secretive about their prices. The package prices are fluid and vary depending on your sailing date and when you book it.
At the highest price point, it’s virtually impossible to break even versus buying your drinks individually, but if you can bag a deal after booking (look out for 30% off discounts in the Royal Caribbean app) then the pricing may be comparable to, or even cheaper than, MSC Cruises’s drink packages.
Wifi is another added extra that has fluid pricing with Royal Caribbean. If you want wifi on your cruise, you can expect to pay similar prices with each cruise line.
However, I would also definitely recommend that you look into getting an e-SIM as an alternative. I like to use GigSky which usually saves me a lot of money and the wifi is just as good, if not better, than the official ship wifi.
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When it comes to activities, MSC Cruises charges extra for several of the attractions onboard World America. The prices are pretty reasonable though, and honestly, I would rather pay a nominal fee than have to queue for hours.
You can see the prices in the flyer below…
On Star of the Seas, the only attraction that has an extra fee is the Crown’s Edge. That’s the hight ropes course that goes over the side of the ship. This costs a whopping $90, which honestly, would put me off doing it.
You can sometimes get discounts that make it only $50, but still, it’s pretty pricey for a few minutes of fun when there’s so much that you can do on the ship for free.
Speciality dining is priced pretty similarly across the two ships, with lunches starting at $25. However, Star of the Seas does have some more premium options, with Chef’s Table, which costs $110 per person and the Lincoln Park Supper Club, which costs an eye-watering $200.
You can also arrange a meal the Celebration Table private dining experience for up to 14 guests at a cost of $1,000.
The speciality dining is pretty reasonable onboard MSC World America, with the price capped at $55 per meal. You can also get packages for 2 meals for $99, 3 meals for $139 or 4 meals for $179.
However, I do think that Star has some better free options. For example, El Loco Fresh is a Mexican restaurant that’s included in your fare, whereas the Mexican option, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina costs extra on MSC Cruises.
Itineraries
Star of the Seas sails out of Port Canaveral. This is a great option as it means you can combine your cruise with a visit to Florida’s theme parks. British cruisers will find plenty of flights to here from London and Manchester.
MSC World America, meanwhile, departs from Miami. If you’re in the UK, that will mean paying more for your flights, or making the journey down from Orlando, which isn’t ideal.
Now, let’s take a look at the ports of call for these two cruises…
Both cruises call at San Juan and have a couple of sea days. They each both have a stop at private resorts that are owned by the cruise line.
For Royal Caribbean, that’s Labadee in Haiti, whereas for MSC Cruises that’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. You can read my guide to the best cruise line private resorts to see how the two compare. I’m not saying that one is ‘better’ than the other, but Labadee has more to do, with a zipline and roller coaster, whereas Ocean Cay is made for chilling.
And finally, Star of the Seas will visit St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, while World America will visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Both of these are great options – St Thomas is fantastic for shopping, while Puerto Plata has a historic charm and great beaches.
Value For Money Verdict
If you want the full experience of a floating theme park, Star of the Seas delivers in dramatic fashion. The multiple ‘neighborhood’ zones are cleverly planned, the entertainment is off the scale and the food is incredible, no matter your taste.
While Royal Caribbean’s newest ships are undeniably expensive, when you compare it to the likes of Disney Cruise Line, it suddenly looks much more mid-range.
MSC World America, on the other hand, leans into value. The finish is a little less polished, the food isn’t quite as tasty, and the service may be a little slower and less friendly. you’d prefer to cruise twice (or save half your cash), it’s a solid option.
When choosing between these two mega ships, your budget is sure to play a part. If you want the best, then you can’t deny that Royal Caribbean is better. But is it twice as good? Honestly, I’m not sure it is.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
