Starship Mario

"Nice spaceship, yeah? More like a faceship! Har har!"

- Lubba

Starship Mario is a Mario-head-shaped planet and spacecraft in Super Mario Galaxy 2 that is used to travel across the universe. Although notably smaller than the previous games' hub areas, it serves as the hub of the game, replacing the Comet Observatory from the first game. Other than its smaller size, another difference from the Comet Observatory is that it also has changing backgrounds, the appearance of which depends on the world that it is currently in. A flock of seagulls can be seen on and around Starship Mario in the first two worlds as well as the final world. Starship Mario is able to access different worlds by traveling through portals between them. In the World 2 background, planets that resemble Saturn can be seen.

Description
While on the ship, Mario is able to explore and interact with various non-playable characters, including Lubba and the Co-Star Luma. Some other characters in the game appear after certain Power Stars are collected or a specific goal is met.

Much like in Delfino Plaza from Super Mario Sunshine, Mario can ride Yoshi here. The egg that contains him is located on the "nose" of the ship, having been obtained after Mario rescues Yoshi in the Yoshi Star Galaxy. A small circular platform floating just above Starship Mario has many fruits, as well as three Boards that advise the player on how to control Yoshi. If the player eats all of the fruits on this small platform, they will get a 1-Up Mushroom. There is also a room under the area with the pressure switch, which can be accessed only by jumping into a large chimney that leads into the room or by going through a secret door in the bill of the ship's "cap." The room contains a large ball of light similar to the beacon in the Comet Observatory, a telescope, and some books. There are also several platforms near the edge of the room, which later become display cases. Various power-ups, such as the Fire Flower and Rock Mushroom, begin to appear on the display after they are used to obtain certain Power Stars over the course of the game. However, the display cases cannot be penetrated, and thus the power-ups inside cannot be used. A usable Cloud Flower does appear in front of the ship's wheel after Mario has completed Climbing the Cloudy Tower in the Starshine Beach Galaxy, however. This is the only power-up that can actually be used onboard Starship Mario. The Toad Brigade's Starshroom also stays close to the ship. Transfer between the two ships is possible via a Warp Pad located in the ship's right ear.

After Mario collects his first Power Star from Peewee Piranha, he finds himself on a rocky meteor-battered planetoid. It is captained by Lubba, who commands a crew of Lumas. After beholding the Power Star, and seeing Baby Luma's trust in Mario, he strikes a deal with Mario and hands the ship over to him, reshaping it to look like Mario's head for as long as he continues to collect Power Stars (though it actually remains this way for the remainder of the game).

However, the ship's main feature is to allow Mario to travel between and select galaxies to visit. To leave the ship and go to the World Map, one must step up to a ship's wheel near the top, in front of which is a small weight-activated button. When pressed, the button sends the player to the World Map, from which they can select galaxies to visit. If the game was turned off, then the player instead will go to the Grand World Map, from which the player can select worlds to visit. If the player wishes to return to Starship Mario without visiting a galaxy, they must position Starship Mario over an empty point on the World Map and then select it, which will bring up the option to return. Mario will also automatically return to the ship if he receives a Game Over at any point during gameplay (unless Peewee Piranha's Temper Tantrum is not cleared, in which case the player returns to the introductory level, just before the Launch Star), as opposed to returning to the title screen as would happen in the first game.

Engine Room
The ship's engine room can be entered either by entering a small door in the middle of the ship's "cap" or by using the small chimney on the head of the starship as a Warp Pipe (standing on top of it). Inside is a single Luma, whose purpose is to convert the energy from each Power Star into fuel for the spaceship. A small ball resembling the beacon can also be found on the ceiling. In addition, as Mario completes certain missions with power-ups, they appear in the Engine Room under small glass domes (all except for the Rainbow Star, which does not appear here for unknown reasons). However, they cannot be used by the player, so their purpose is thought to be more for viewing purposes as souvenirs. Below are listed the seven power-ups that appear here, as well as the conditions that must be met before they will appear here:
 * Cloud Flower – Complete Search for the Toad Brigade Captain in the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy.
 * Rock Mushroom – Complete Rock and Rollodillo in the Boulder Bowl Galaxy.
 * Spring Mushroom – Complete Spring into the Chompworks in the Chompworks Galaxy.
 * Spin Drill – Complete Silver Stars Down Deep in the Spin-Dig Galaxy.
 * Bee Mushroom – Complete The Sweetest Silver Stars in Honeyhop Galaxy.
 * Boo Mushroom – Complete Haunting the Howling Tower in the Boo Moon Galaxy.
 * Fire Flower – Complete Burning Upside Dizzy in Upside Dizzy Galaxy.

Passengers
After certain missions have been completed, different species appear on the ship. All creatures stand on tree stumps on the surface of Starship Mario except for the Toad Brigade, who resides on the Starshroom (accessed via a Warp Pad in Starship Mario's right ear); two Lumalees that sell Chance Cubes for coins and Star Bits (accessed via a Warp Pipe in Starship Mario's left ear); and Luigi, who resides in a small door towards the top back of Starship Mario, and switches places with Mario at any point after he has defeated Bowser for the first time.

Below is a full list of every character that makes an appearance on Starship Mario, as well as the conditions that must be met before the characters will appear. All non-playable characters make an appearance on Starship Mario, with the exception of Coach, Penguru, Piantas, Princess Peach, and The Chimp.
 * Lubba – at the start of the game
 * Five yellow Lumas, two blue Lumas, and one red Luma – at the start of the game
 * Co-Star Luma – at the start of the game (it is slightly larger than the playable one)
 * Hungry Luma – Call to Starship Mario in Worlds 1–S.
 * Yoshi – Complete Saddle Up with Yoshi in the Yoshi Star Galaxy.
 * Luigi – Collect three Power Stars in World 3. Finish the game by collecting 70 Power Stars and defeating Bowser in Bowser's Galaxy Generator.
 * Boards – some at the start of the game, others after Yoshi appears
 * Toad Brigade – Complete Digga-Leg's Planet in Spin-Dig Galaxy.
 * Banktoad – Collect seven Power Stars.
 * Mailtoad – Collect thirteen Power Stars.
 * Lumalee (one Chance Cube) – Collect any normal or hidden Power Star in World 3.
 * Lumalee (five Chance Cubes) – Complete The Magnificent Magma Sea in the Melty Monster Galaxy.
 * Green Luma 1 – Complete Throwback Throwdown in the Boss Blitz Galaxy.
 * Green Luma 2 – Collect 120 Power Stars.
 * Honeybee – Complete The Secret Wall Jump in the Honeybloom Galaxy.
 * Star Bunny – Complete Think Before You Shake in the Flip-Swap Galaxy.
 * Orange Jibberjay – Complete Jungle Fluzzard Race in the Wild Glide Galaxy.
 * Penguin – Complete Exploring the Cosmic Cavern in the Cosmic Cove Galaxy.
 * Whittle – Complete Tall Trunk's Big Slide in Tall Trunk Galaxy.
 * Gold Gearmo – Complete C'mere, Goomba in the Boulder Bowl Galaxy.
 * Silver Gearmo – Complete C'mere, Topman in the Space Storm Galaxy.
 * Bob-omb Buddy – Complete Return of the Whomp King in the Throwback Galaxy.
 * Rosalina – Complete The Perfect Run in the Grandmaster Galaxy.

Totals Sign
"Well now...you've found quite a few of those Power Stars, huh? We'll keep track of how many ya got. That's it, the sign next to the helm right there."

- Lubba

After Mario has collected sixteen Power Stars, a glowing light-blue signpost appears directly to the left of Starship Mario's wheel. This sign lists all of the Power Stars and Comet Medals that Mario has currently collected, as well as the galaxies that have been unlocked thus far (and whether the galaxies have been completed or not). This sign is used to help the player keep track of how many Stars they have at any various point in the game. The same information can also be accessed by clicking the "Star List" button on the pause menu at any time during gameplay.

Fortune Street
Starship Mario reappears as a default board in Fortune Street.

Super Smash Bros. series
On the stage Mario Galaxy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Starship Mario can be seen above the main stage in the background. Lubba can also be seen onboard, as well as several other Lumas. It also appears as a trophy. However, it is removed from the stage in 8-Player Smash, alongside Bowser's Airship and the Starshroom.

Starship Mario also appears as an Advanced-class support spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, using its artwork from Super Mario Galaxy 2. When equipped, it increases the fighter's jump height. In World of Light, the Starship Mario spirit is encountered in the outer space region, northeast on the Light Realm map, on the path leading to Falco's battle. To earn the spirit, the player has to beat a Giant Mario on the stage Mario Galaxy.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

 * North American website bio: "This grass-sprouted ship sure looks familiar... helmed by Mario himself, the hero and his friends will travel the universe in this majestic spaceship! New friends, secret rooms, and much more will appear as you progress."

Trivia

 * Yoshiaki Koizumi wanted to include "a platform that was a planet shaped like a head" in the first game, but it did not make the cut. Additionally, in early screenshots for Super Mario Galaxy 2, a much different planet shaped like Mario's head is shown, looking more similar to the actual Mario than the final one but being smaller.
 * Whenever the player selects a galaxy to fly to from the World Map, Starship Mario will turn to look at Mario as he flies to the galaxy.
 * The teacups on the ship look empty, but upon the player zooming in, they are filled to the brim with water. They also have the same ripple as other bodies of water in the game.
 * On the cover of Super Mario Galaxy 2, a ? Block and a Goomba both appear on Starship Mario, even though neither of these things ever appears on Starship Mario in the actual game. Also, the Warp Pipe has been repositioned, as it now appears higher up on Starship Mario's cap, as opposed to in Starship Mario's left ear.
 * Much like the music of the Comet Observatory, Starship Mario's music adds more instruments as Mario progresses through the various worlds.
 * Starship Mario always looks like Mario, even when the player is Luigi. This is referenced in Fortune Street, when Luigi says, "Hey! You know what would look good? A spaceship with MY face on it!"
 * Also in Fortune Street, Wario references Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins by saying, "If I flip the "M" on that ship upside down, it'll all be mine!"