As the debut of Legend of the Seas gets closer, crew rosters are undoubtedly starting to be filled in. While the captain of the third Icon-class vessel has not yet been announced, the most important crew member has now been named – Chief Dog Officer Skipper.

The announcement of the golden retriever puppy’s name comes just a week after she was born and was shared by Royal Caribbean President and CEO, Michael Bayley.

“ChatGPT A.I. with my true loves! Rover, Sailor and baby Skipper!” he said, sharing an AI-generated snapshot of himself with all three dog officers.

“Thank you to all who suggested some wonderful names for our growing group of Chief Dog Officers. After an exhaustive process, our distinguished panel (me) chose Skipper.”

The image shows Legend of the Seas in the background, further confirmation that Skipper will serve onboard the ship, fulfilling all her best doggie duties to bring cheer and joy to crew members and guests alike.

When the puppy’s birth was announced, Bayley confirmed the dog is female and that she would join Legend of the Seas in Europe rather than waiting until the ship reaches the US.

Legend of the Seas, which is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Turku, Finland, is now scheduled to welcome her first guests on July 4, 2026 with a 7-night Mediterranean sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia). The weeklong cruise will visit Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Florence before returning to Rome on July 11.

The ship is staying in the Mediterranean into October, offering mostly 7-night sailings from Barcelona and Civitavecchia.

On October 25, Legend of the Seas will begin her first transatlantic cruise, a 13-night itinerary that will visit Alicante, Malaga, and Cadiz before turning toward the Sunshine State. On that sailing, Skipper will become the first Chief Dog Officer to complete a transatlantic crossing.

From her Florida homeport of Fort Lauderdale, the new ship will be sailing 6- and 8-night Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries, with visits to destinations such as Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, Cabo Rojo, and of course, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Read Also: What Are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class Ships?

Along the way, the 250,800-gross-ton ship can welcome as many as 7,600 guests, with more than 2,300 crew members (and one four-legged officer!) to provide truly legendary service. Legend of the Seas will return to the Mediterranean in May 2027.

What Does a Chief Dog Officer Do?

While it isn’t clear if Skipper will be onboard for the ship’s July 4 departure, she is sure to bring great smiles aboard when she does officially join the crew.

The experiment of a canine crew member has been a rousing success, with both guests and crew enjoying the fun and photo-worthy moments with Rover, Sailor, and soon, Skipper.

The “Goodest Girls at Sea” also have their own official Instagram account where they share their adventures, including their excitement about their growing pack.

A recent video shows both dogs frolicking and playing at Perfect Day at CocoCay with the caption “They just heard the next member of the Chief Dog Officer family was born.”

Doggie duties include photo ops with crew members and guests, patrolling the public areas of the ship, making friends with guests, checking in on bridge operations, and just generally being adorable.

Royal Caribbean Reveals Name of Legend of the Seas Chief Dog Officer