Royal Caribbean seeks name for new ship dog

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley is asking cruisers to vote on a name for the new Chief Dog Officer. The female pup will serve aboard the upcoming Icon-class ship Hero of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in summer 2027.

On August 6, 2026, Bayley took to Facebook to ask fans for name suggestions. The cruise line has since narrowed the popular suggestions down to seven finalists. In a follow-up post on August 28, Bayley opened a final round of voting before he makes the ultimate decision.

"We have now narrowed down the names to the list below based on likes of all the names." Bayley wrote. The post received over 1,200 comments within the first eight hours.

The Seven Finalists

The seven name finalists for the dog are Hero, Scout, Marina, Pearl, Coco, Coral, and Sandy. Fan opinions in the comments were mixed. Some noted that Hero or Coco could be confusing, as the dog would share a name with either the ship itself or the cruise line's private island, CocoCay. Others felt Scout would fit nicely with the names of the other Icon-class dogs.

A significant number of comments suggested adding the name Dolly to the mix. This suggestion was made in honor of the late country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25, 2026. Bayley did not specify when the voting would close or when the chosen name would be announced.

An Icon-Class Tradition

Hero of the Seas will be the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean's Icon class. Each of the previous three Icon-class vessels has received a golden retriever to serve as Chief Dog Officer onboard. The breed of the newest dog has not yet been revealed.

The first three dogs are named Rover, Sailor, and Skipper. Rover serves aboard Icon of the Seas. Sailor is on Star of the Seas. Skipper was confirmed in February 2026 as the officer for Legend of the Seas.

Beyond being mascots, the dogs provide companionship. In a June 2025 video showcasing Sailor, Bayley explained that both guests and crew members can miss their pets while sailing, which can contribute to homesickness. The cruise line tested the concept by bringing a team member's golden retriever aboard during a turnaround day. According to Bayley, numerous crew members stopped to hug the dog.

"When we saw that, we thought, 'Wow, this is amazing. People miss their own family dogs,'" Bayley recalled. The cruise line says it partnered with the American Humane Society to create the program and ensure the dogs' welfare.

Hero of the Seas' Debut Plans

The new Chief Dog Officer will begin her duties when Hero of the Seas debuts. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Her inaugural sailing is set for August 11, 2027, from Miami, Florida.

That first voyage will be a 3-night sailing visiting Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Following the inaugural cruise, the ship will begin regular 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.