Royal Caribbean’s newest Chief Dog Officer finally has a name, and it’s Dolly. CEO Michael Bayley confirmed the pick this week. It closes out a monthlong naming saga that took an unexpectedly emotional turn. The name belongs to the puppy who will greet guests aboard Hero of the Seas. That ship debuts out of Miami in 2027. For a role usually decided with cute nautical wordplay, this year’s choice came from somewhere else entirely.

The search for a name started simply enough. Bayley asked fans on social media to help pick something fitting back in early August. Royal Caribbean narrowed the submissions down to seven official finalists. Those were Hero, Scout, Pearl, Coco, Sandy, Marina, and Coral. Every one of those options fit the pattern set by the line’s previous Chief Dog Officers. Rover greets guests on Icon of the Seas. Sailor holds the job on Star of the Seas. Skipper does the honors on Legend of the Seas. Fans expected another breezy, ocean-themed name to follow.

Then everything shifted. Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, just as voting was picking up steam. Almost immediately, fans started writing in “Dolly” as a tribute. The name wasn’t even on the official ballot at first. Royal Caribbean noticed the groundswell and added Dolly to the list of options anyway. From there, it wasn’t much of a contest. Dolly quickly became what Royal Caribbean itself called a “hot favorite” among guests weighing in online.

It’s a genuinely unusual outcome for this tradition. Every previous Chief Dog Officer name leaned into life at sea. Dolly breaks that pattern completely. It clearly means something different to the people who voted for it. Dolly Parton spent decades building a reputation for warmth and generosity. Her likability crossed generations and musical tastes almost universally. Naming a beloved company mascot after her says something real. It shows how deeply that reputation resonated with cruisers, even through something as small as a puppy-naming contest.

For anyone unfamiliar with the program, Chief Dog Officers are a real perk of sailing certain Royal Caribbean ships. They’re not just a marketing gimmick. These dogs live aboard and greet guests during embarkation. They make appearances throughout each sailing too. Rover and Sailor have both built loyal followings among repeat cruisers. Fans track their appearances and share photos across social media constantly. Dolly is set to join that same lineup once Hero of the Seas starts sailing.

Hero of the Seas itself is shaping up to be one of Royal Caribbean’s biggest launches yet. The ship is the fourth vessel in the Icon class. It will debut with nine pools and a record 28 dining venues. Dolly won’t be competing with waterslides or specialty restaurants for attention, though. If Rover and Sailor are any indication, she’ll likely become one of the most photographed parts of the ship. That’s true no matter how much else is on board.

There’s also something fitting about the timing itself. Dolly Parton was known for turning up in unexpected places. She brought genuine joy wherever she went, whether through music, philanthropy, or her theme park back home in Tennessee. A cruise ship mascot named in her honor fits that legacy in its own small way. Thousands of fans chose the name, not a marketing committee. Guests sailing Hero of the Seas after its 2027 debut will get to meet Dolly in person. Royal Caribbean has plenty of time to plan a proper introduction before then.

For now, the name is locked in. Royal Caribbean’s naming tradition has its most unconventional chapter yet. Rover, Sailor, Skipper, and now Dolly: four very different names for four dogs doing the exact same job. One hug and photo op at a time.