As anticipation builds for the launch of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, a new arrival has stolen the spotlight – the ship’s official canine crew member, Sailor, has been born.
The news was shared on 14th February 2025, in a heart-warming social media announcement from Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean.
He introduced the world to the golden retriever puppy set to take on the role of Chief Dog Officer aboard the upcoming Icon-class ship.
“What a wonderful day! Look who arrived into the world. Sailor, the family dog for Star of the Seas,”
Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean
Sailor is the second Chief Dog Officer in the fleet, following in the paw prints of Rover, her sister aboard Icon of the Seas.
While Royal Caribbean had previously hinted that Star of the Seas would have its own canine ambassador, details about the puppy’s breed, gender, and origin had been kept under wraps until now.
Training for a life at sea
Being part of the Star of the Seas crew is no small task, and Sailor will undergo a carefully structured training programme before she officially joins the ship.
“She will spend a few months with her Mom, then to her trainer, then she will stay with me a little so I can get and give lots of hugs and love,” Bayley explained. “Then onto Icon to meet her sister Rover for some orientation before joining Star, her home.”
Like Rover, Sailor comes from Eagleridge Goldens, a reputable golden retriever breeder in Polk City, Florida, known for raising champion-line retrievers.
The breed is a natural choice for Royal Caribbean’s at-sea ambassadors – golden retrievers are known for their friendly nature, intelligence, and adaptability, making them ideal for ship life.
Sailor will have to be ready for her role sooner than expected, as Star of the Seas is now scheduled to set sail earlier than originally planned.
The ship will operate two pre-inaugural “showcase” cruises in late August before officially debuting on 31st August 2025.
Ahead of welcoming guests, Sailor will board early to familiarise herself with the ship’s layout and daily operations.
With a capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, Star of the Seas will be a bustling environment, and this early introduction will help her adjust before the ship’s first official sailing.
Once in service, Star of the Seas will be homeported year-round in Port Canaveral, Florida, offering 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Each cruise will include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
Depending on the sailing, passengers will also visit destinations such as Costa Maya, Cozumel, Roatan, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, and San Juan.
For the early showcase voyages, the ship will only call at CocoCay, with two days at sea for guests to explore its world-class features.
Currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas is in the final stages of its build, with upcoming sea trials and final outfitting before its handover to Royal Caribbean.
With its cutting-edge design, state-of-the-art amenities, and now an adorable new crew member, Star of the Seas is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cruise debuts of 2025. Though Sailor’s debut has upstaged it a little, for now at least.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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