Royal Caribbean narrows name options for new ship's Chief Dog Officer

Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley has narrowed down the name options for the fourth ‘Chief Dog Officer’ to join the fleet. The new golden retriever is set to serve aboard the Icon-class vessel Hero of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in summer 2027.

Following a public call for suggestions on social media, the shortlist has been reduced to seven finalists: Hero, Scout, Marina, Pearl, Coco, Coral, and Sandy. Bayley has opened a final round of voting before he makes the ultimate decision.

The naming process has sparked significant engagement among cruise enthusiasts. Some commenters have expressed practical concerns, suggesting that names like ‘Hero’ might cause confusion with the ship’s name, or ‘Coco’ might be too similar to the company’s private island, CocoCay. Other fans have advocated for the name ‘Scout’ to maintain a nautical theme established by previous ship dogs, such as Rover, Sailor, and Skipper.