Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean has narrowed the potential names for Hero of the Seas’ future Chief Dog Officer to seven finalists.
- Cruisers can cast their vote for their favorite name before CEO Michael Bayley makes the final decision.
- The dog will become Royal Caribbean’s fourth Chief Dog Officer, following Rover, Sailor, and Skipper aboard the first three Icon-class ships.
As Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class ship Hero of the Seas makes progress towards her summer 2027 debut, the cruise line’s CEO Michael Bayley has a “ruff” decision to make. On August 6, 2026, he took to Facebook, asking fans to suggest names for the Chief Dog Officer aboard the ship.
The cruise line has now narrowed the most popular suggestions down to seven finalists for the yet-to-be-revealed female pup. Now, cruisers are getting another chance to help choose the winner.
Bayley narrowed down the options to Hero, Scout, Marina, Pearl, Coco, Coral, and Sandy. In another post on August 28, Bayley asked fans to vote on which of the names he should choose.
“We have now narrowed down the names to the list below based on likes of all the names. So voting is open for the final round before it goes to the distinguished panel of judges (me) for the final decision,” Bayley wrote.
Opinions are mixed in the comments. Some fans pointed out that Hero or Coco could be confusing because the dog would share a name with either the ship itself or the cruise line’s private island, CocoCay. Others felt that Scout would fit nicely alongside the other Icon-class Chief Dog Officers: Rover, Sailor, and Skipper.
A significant number of comments suggested throwing the name Dolly into the mix, in honor of the late country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25, 2026. The post received over 1,200 comments within the first 8 hours of posting with votes and opinions. Michael Bayley did not say when voting officially closes, nor when the chosen name would be announced.
Iconic Dogs Have Become An Icon-Class Tradition
Hero of the Seas will be the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, following Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas. 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.
Rover serves aboard Icon of the Seas and Sailor aboard Star of the Seas. In February 2026, Cruise Hive reported when Royal Caribbean confirmed the third Chief Dog Officer for Legend of the Seas. A week later, the cruise line revealed the pup’s name would be Skipper.
Beyond simply being adorable, the dogs also serve an important role providing companionship for guests and crew members. In a June 2025 video showcasing Sailor, Michael Bayley explained that both guests and crew members can miss their pets back home while sailing, contributing to homesickness.
Before introducing the program, Royal Caribbean tested the idea by bringing a team member’s golden retriever aboard one of its ships during a turnaround day. According to Bayley, numerous crew members stopped to hug and interact with the dog.
“When we saw that, we thought, ‘Wow, this is amazing. People miss their own family dogs,’” Bayley recalled.
Bayley said the response from crew members helped convince the cruise line that having a dog onboard could be a welcome addition. The cruise line says it partnered with the American Humane Society to create the program and ensure the dogs are well cared for.
Hero of the Seas Prepares For 2027 Debut
The new Chief Dog Officer will begin spreading joy on Hero of the Seas when the ship debuts in summer 2027. Hero is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
She will debut on August 11, 2027 with an inaugural sailing from Miami, Florida. This 3-night sailing will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. From there, she will begin regular 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
