I Tried Every Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas—These Were the Best

My cruise ship journey has really gone into overdrive because who knew that just a handful of years after taking my first cruise, my second cruise would be on the world’s biggest cruise ship? Well, believe it because earlier this month, I had the chance to attend a four-day/three-night preview cruise for Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas.

Star of the Seas is being touted as “The World’s Best Family Vacation,” but don’t let that fool you. There’s still plenty of fun to be had for us grown folks, including a beach club-inspired pool just for adults (more on that later!). Now, I wouldn’t be LUSHWORTHY if I didn’t try (mostly) all of the boozy offerings available on Star. Well, grab your coupe glass and your favorite mezcal because we’re about to dive right into my favorite bars/lounges on Star of the Seas.

Rye & Bean

Forget about saving the best for last. I want to get straight into my favorite bar. I just have so much to say about Rye and Bean. It really checks all the marks. Great cocktails that are also really inventive. Friendly staff (the sweetest!). And last, but certainly not least, a stunning location. It’s located inside the AquaDome, a large glass and steel dome that offers stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean.

What I loved about Rye & Bean was that it felt like a bar that I would regularly visit even if it wasn’t on the world’s biggest cruise ship. It’s the kind of place you’d take your friends for drinks before dinner, or grab a mocktail from if you want a little midweek me-time.

At Rye & Bean, you’ll find a menu that’s divided into three sections: Coffee Cocktails, Tea Cocktails and Zero Proof. The cocktail menu was impressive to say the least. There was a Coffee Mai Tai made with rum, coffee liqueur, Cointreau, orgeat and fresh lime. You’ll even find an Old Fashioned that’s crafted using chai tea. As memorable as those sips were, my fave was the Ketel One Espresso Martini. Such a balanced drink, and the cold foam on top was a deliciously frothy touch.

I kid you not, but being nestled in one of the cozy nooks in the AquaDome with my Espresso Martini in hand as the sun set nearly brought me to tears. Just the best feeling.

Bubbles

Grab-and-go champagne? Umm, yes please. Honestly though, with Bubbles being located in the middle of Central Park, Star’s lush, open-air neighborhood, the last thing you want to do is grab your drink and leave.

Bubbles is a walk-up bar that serves champagne, sparkling wine and bubbles-inspired cocktails. You’ll only find a handful of tables outside of the Bubbles counter, but there’s additional seating scattered throughout Central Park. Personally, I really enjoyed the convenience of being able to grab a glass of champagne from Bubbles and then exploring the rest of Central Park. (It’s home to over 34,000 live plants, by the way!)

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Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues

Lou’s is yet another Central Park gem. Despite our room being on the same floor as Lou’s, it was on the last night that I got to experience the lounge. Definitely wish I had discovered it earlier because it was so lovely. Adding to the magic, on the night we visited, the musicians at Lou’s were playing a variety of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald songs. It was such a cozy, classy vibe. Lou’s is also pretty spacious, with seating both inside and outside, so you likely won’t have to hunt for a table. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to explore the cocktail menu since I opted for sparkling wine.

The Hideaway

Let’s just call this South Beach at Sea because that‘s absolutely what The Hideaway felt like. A swanky beach club with cocktails made from the finest spirits and champagne. I’m not an Aperol girly, so when I saw that the aperitif was the first ingredient in the Castaway Spritz, I nearly passed on the cocktail. Soooo glad I didn’t! The Castaway Spritz ended up being a Top 3 cocktail for me. With ingredients like Aperol, coconut milk, pineapple juice, mango, vanilla syrup and prosecco, it was truly unlike any cocktail I’ve had before. It was just as tasty as your favorite tropics-inspired cocktail, but more grown up.

I wanted to avoid any crowds, so I visited The Hideaway while the ship was docked at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. Smart move. It was far less crowded and really easy to get a drink. The infinity pool also had an insanely gorgeous view of CocoCay. It was so vivid and colorful, it almost looked fake.

Trellis Bar

Well, I guess it’s safe to say that I’ve formed a sort of Central Park bias because my next favorite bar is also located in Star’s Central Park neighborhood. But listen, after writing this recap, I think I know why. It’s open-air, so you’re still outside, but since you’re not at the top of the ship, the sun isn’t beating on you. There’s also less of a crowd compared to other outdoor areas. And what’s not to love about being surrounded by thousands of live plants?

And did I also mention that Central Park’s Trellis Bar has a Lemon Drop that’s made using Ole Smoky moonshine? Mhmmm…At Trellis Bar, you’ll find the Blackberry Lemon Drop, a cocktail made using Ole Smoky Blackberry moonshine, lemon juice and simple syrup. And yes, it’s just as good as it sounds.

Whatever bars you find yourself at during your Star of the Seas voyage, I hope you have the best time!