Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley has chosen Dolly as the name for the Chief Dog Officer on the upcoming Hero of the Seas.
- Dolly was not originally one of the finalist names but was added to the selection following the singer’s passing.
- Hero of the Seas is scheduled to debut in August 2027 and will homeport from Miami with 7-night Caribbean itineraries.
Dolly Parton may be gone, but the country music superstar will never be forgotten aboard one Royal Caribbean ship: Hero of the Seas. Following intense voting on finalist names, the cruise line has confirmed that the next Chief Dog Officer will be named Dolly.
Though Royal Caribbean has not formally confirmed the name is a tribute, Dolly was suggested by many guests following the singer’s death.
Decisions for the dog’s name first began on August 6, 2026 when Royal Caribbean’s President and CEO, Michael Bayley, requested name suggestions, noting that the dog would be female.
“All names will be considered and our professional panel of Dog lovers (me) will evaluate all suggestions,” he said.
On August 28, Cruise Hive reported that the name suggestions had been narrowed to seven finalists: Hero, Scout, Marina, Pearl, Coco, Coral, and Sandy, and guests were invited to vote for their favorite.
Shortly thereafter, Bayley edited his name finalist post to add one more contender to the list.
“News Flash #2 so many have proposed Dolly that we have added Dolly to the finalists,” he said, noting the new addition was certainly a “hot favorite” among guests.
Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. The singer’s work spanned seven decades and she was undoubtedly one of the most famous country singers in history.
This makes the name “Dolly” a clear favorite for the fourth Icon-class ship, as Dolly Parton was certainly iconic, an indisputable star, a legend for many reasons, and absolutely a hero to many through her vibrant personality, popular music, and well known charitable programs.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Bayley announced the results and officially confirmed the dog’s name.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the final results are in ! The esteemed panel ratified the popular vote for the name most voted for!” he confirmed. “The Hero of the Seas new Chief Dog Officer’s name will be ‘Dolly.'”
Bayley did not reveal the final vote totals, but Dolly was an overwhelming favorite for guests commenting on the names and the choice has been enthusiastically received.
“It makes too much sense!!! A fluffy blonde who wants nothing more than to bring happiness and love to people,” one commenter noted, comparing a golden retriever’s friendly, giving personality to the singer. All the cruise line’s Chief Dog Officers have been purebred golden retrievers.
Others note that the new dog deserves rhinestone bling, a characteristic feature of Parton’s performance attire and her sparkling personality.
Royal Caribbean has not yet stated if the new puppy has already been born or when she will arrive for training.
Dolly will join the growing pack of Chief Dog Officers that Royal Caribbean introduced with Rover aboard Icon of the Seas and continued with Sailor (Star of the Seas) and Skipper (Legend of the Seas).
Should Hero of the Seas Have More Dolly Parton Connections?
Many guests are also suggesting that Dolly Parton be named godmother of Hero of the Seas as a posthumous honor, or else the singer’s goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, would be right for the ceremonial position that would still connect to Parton.
Other suggestions include adding a small children’s library to the ship since Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library, or perhaps planning for the signature onboard show to be “9 to 5” in her honor.
The Icon-class ships do not have a specific country music bar or lounge, but that could also make an interesting and appropriate addition to the lineup of entertainment options on the new vessel.
Hero of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Her keel was first laid nearly one year ago, on September 8, 2025, and the hull was completed on July 17, 2026.
The ship is scheduled to debut on August 11, 2027 from Miami, Florida. Before that time, the ship will be floated out and her interior finishing completed, and she will have to pass rigorous sea trials to ensure operational standards and safety.
Once sailing, Hero of the Seas will be offering both Eastern and Western Caribbean 7-night sailings from the Sunshine State, with each cruise visiting Perfect Day CocoCay along with other destinations.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates on Hero of the Seas and Dolly the Chief Dog Officer as both make their way to stardom!
