Royal Caribbean made headlines last week when it announced the Florida arrival of its newest ship, Icon of the Seas. But, perhaps the biggest news (at least according to dog lovers), was the introduction of a new four-legged employee.
Rover the Golden Retriever has landed the coveted “pawsition” of Chief Dog Officer on the world’s largest cruise ship. The Icon of the Seas’ new family dog and her human companion Alison will be working together to bring happiness to passengers and other crew members on week-long tropical sailings.
Rover will join more than 2,350 human crew members on board the ship, which departs on its maiden voyage on January 27, 2024. Unlike other staff, she will be the ship’s only year-round permanent resident.
Rover will have plenty of activities to enjoy before each voyage in the cruise liner’s home port, pet-friendly Miami. If she’s lucky, she may even get to enjoy an occasional dog-friendly excursion in the Bahamas. On sea days, she’ll never get bored on board. She’ll spend her days roaming the enormous ship’s 18 guest decks, which feature the tree-lined Central Park, Chill Island, Suite Neighborhood, seven pools and much more.
Pet parents may be wondering whether Rover will pave the way for other furry friends to join their family members aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation in the future. For the time being, the cruise operator has no plans to welcome your family pet. Only service dogs are permitted on board. If you want to sail the seven seas with your pooch, check out BringFido’s list of pet-friendly cruises around the world.