Blog

Royal Caribbean’s latest ship Icon of the Seas arrived to her homeport of Miami for the primary time earlier this month. Together with all the fanfare that comes with being the primary ship in a brand new class — to not point out the biggest cruise ship on the earth — is one other sort of pleasure: Royal Caribbean’s first resident canine. That’s proper, a feminine golden retriever named Rover is now residing on board Icon of the Seas.

In a brief video posted on Royal Caribbean’s social media channels, the road launched Rover as “everybody’s favourite new crew member” and “household canine” of Icon of the Seas. To solidify her place among the many workers and crew on the ship, the five-month-old pup even has an official title: Chief Canine Officer — Royal Caribbean’s first and just one. (The road has not introduced plans to have a resident canine on any of its different ships.)

All the things You Need to Know In regards to the Canine on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas

Rover boarded the ship when it docked in Puerto Rico earlier this month alongside together with her Chief of Workers Alison Hubble, an Australian crew member who has been working for Royal Caribbean for over 5 years. “As a crew member on Icon, Rover’s job is to deliver pleasure and happiness to her fellow crew and visitors on board,” the video continues. “All of the whereas, she will get to discover the Caribbean shores and exquisite ports.”

Many Royal Caribbean followers have been questioning whether or not Rover is only a enjoyable addition to Icon of the Seas or whether or not she’s a service canine. We reached out to the cruise line for some extra data and whereas they didn’t reply that query instantly, they did say that “Rover’s Chief of Workers was rigorously handpicked with the help of welfare specialists on the American Humane Society.” This factors towards the notion that Rover is certainly a pet that Royal Caribbean has been planning for Icon of the Seas for a while, and that Alison’s main position on board is to be her handler and greatest pal.

RCI additionally mentioned that “beneath the supervision of Rover’s Chief of Workers, visitors could have the prospect to satisfy and work together with [her].” In social media posts made by invited passengers, Rover has already been out and about assembly new folks onboard — a few of which have been shared in tales on the canine’s official Instagram account.

Are you able to deliver your canine on Icon of the Seas?

The addition of a everlasting resident canine to a ship in its fleet has led many individuals to ask Royal Caribbean whether or not this implies they’ll now have the ability to deliver their very own pets aboard. The reply is not any; visitors’ pets are nonetheless not permitted. Solely service canines might sail with Royal Caribbean (together with most different cruise traces on the earth). Services can be found for no matter a service canine wants throughout a crusing, together with a “aid field” stuffed with mulch in a crew space of the ship.

You might be questioning whether or not any cruise ship permits pets. There is only one main cruise ship that permits canines and cats: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Extra utilitarian than for pleasure, the vessel permits visitors to board their canine or feline member of the family because the ship traverses throughout the ocean on week-long transatlantic crossings. Whereas house owners can go go to their pets throughout designated time frames, they need to keep within the kennel space of the ship on deck 12, which has room for simply 24 pets whole.

Who will take care of Rover?

Again to Rover, we noticed some feedback in relation to veterinary take care of Rover if/when it’s wanted, since she’s now a everlasting cruise ship resident and these vessels will not be designed to incorporate medical take care of canines. In reply to a remark about this on Fb, Royal Caribbean mentioned “Rover’s Chief of Workers has in depth coaching in canine first assist, and we now have a community of veterinary care services within the Caribbean recognized for her care, together with her most important vet in Miami. So, she’s lined from paw to paw irrespective of the place she is!”

To commemorate its first Chief Canine Officer, Icon of the Seas’ indoor promenade has a canine statue — changing the basic automotive set up that’s normally on the Royal Promenade. What is that this canine statue doing? Lifting its leg subsequent to a lightpost, in fact! It’s a humorous little tribute to the ship’s candy four-legged resident.

To maintain up with Rover, you possibly can observe her on Instagram @chiefdogrover.

Extra on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas is the primary ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class, and can set sail on her official maiden voyage on January twenty seventh. The Icon-class is ready to incorporate a second ship Star of the Seas (because of debut in August 2025) in addition to a not-yet-named third vessel set to debut in 2026.

Icon of the Seas is now the biggest cruise ship on the earth at 250,800 gross tons. The earlier largest cruise ship, Surprise of the Seas, is available in at 235,600 gross tons.

Icon of the Seas will sail to the Caribbean year-round from Miami, providing alternating seven-night jap and western Caribbean voyages.

Feedback

What do you consider a canine residing on Icon of the Seas? Are you keen to satisfy this furry, four-legged pal? Drop us an anchor under to share your reactions to Royal Caribbean’s Chief Canine Officer, Rover.