My Mom and I Sailed on the World's Biggest Cruise Ship, Star of the Seas—Here's How it Went

The ship is seriously impressive with every single detail fully thought through. From the smart elevators to the decor, each element was designed to make it even easier to enter vacation mode.

Here, a review of my fabulous Star of the Seas sailing (aka the best vacation I've been on with my mom in years).

First of all, our ocean view suite was so big and came complete with a comfy couch, desk area and seating by our large window. Did it have a balcony? No. Do I wish it had a balcony? No again! In a genius design move, the room was larger because instead of wasting valuable square footage on a balcony that we would inevitably not sit on much (due to the high temps), we got bonus space inside the room. Plus, the window opened (electronically of course) so we could still experience the sea air when we wanted. So smart.

Though we separated our bed into two twins, I can imagine that starfishing on the larger combined bed would have been a treat too. But regardless of our bed size, my mom and I both slept extremely well. The beds offered just the right amount of support and the pillows were extremely comfortable. (Actually getting rest on a vacation? Yes, please!)

And not to dwell too much on the bathroom, but I'd be remiss not to mention it. The bathroom was large as well, a surprising room feature that isn't very common on cruise ships (I'm used to feeling claustrophobic while showering–not the case here).

I have to say, my mom and I loved the setup of the pools and lounge areas. Unlike your typical cruise ship which has one large, centrally located pool deck, complete with running children, loud music and long lines at the bar, Star of the Seas has a number of pools and lounge areas spread across its multiple top decks.

Finding a lounger was easy. In fact, my mom and I alternated between tanning on giant cushioned day beds and sitting in lounge chairs that are in the swimming pool. We got the sun we wanted while also staying comfy and cool. And hydrated too...there were plenty of friendly waiters who were more than happy to bring a cold bottle of water or cocktail.

Yes, I am 40-something as I mentioned. And yes, I still went on the waterslides. Though my thrill ride days are behind me, I loved trying out multiple slides. They were fun (and got my heart racing) without being terrifying. Perhaps the "scariest" was one where the floor drops out from beneath you following a dramatic countdown. My favorite was a little more lowkey and involved a mat and a whole lot of me getting wet. Fortunately, my mom (who opted out of the slide portion of the trip) was at the ready with the camera.

The ship itself is a sight to behold. But the entertainment? It's probably the most shocking part of the whole sailing. It's just...really, really good.

Back to the Future: The Musical was just as good as the Broadway production (which I caught back home in NYC several years back). I won't give away any spoilers, but let's just say the special effects are out of this world.

And even more impressive are the other two shows: one an incredible diving/water show and one a figure skating spectacular. Both involved special effects and world-class performances that had my mother and I gasping on more than one occasion. Seriously, do not miss the shows during your sailing.

Shows aside, it's impossible to be bored while on board. (See what I did there?) There are a ton of fun and diverse venues to choose from.

We spent some time in the enormous casino (where my mom cleaned up at roulette—go, Mom!). We caught a trio of comedy sets that were actually funny in the ship's comedy club. We took in the dueling pianos more than once—and came armed with requests for our favorite songs.

And we were able to explore the ship's Central Park area, an unbelievable outdoor promenade that features bars, cafes and specialty restaurants (we particularly loved the steakhouse). The sheer size of the promenade was most impressive of all and made it a great place to take a stroll before dinner or a night out.

As we pulled into CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's spectacular private island), we were fortunate enough to sidle right up next to Star of the Seas' sister ship, Icon of the Seas. The only thing more jaw-dropping than one Icon class ship? Two of them next to each other.

CocoCay provided a great chance to get off the ship to experience a bit of beach time. (There were giant waterslides as well, but we opted for a more relaxing day on land.)

I highly recommend booking a day pass at the Coco Beach Club, and getting a private cabana, if you're able. My mom and I loved our cabana jutting out into the gorgeous blue-green water, sipping drinks, tanning on cushioned loungers and trying out the mini slide that dumped me right into the salt water (I tried it, my mom did not).

Needless to say, my mom and I had a vacation together that we will not soon forget. The Star of the Seas truly is world class.