Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship will bring SpongeBob SquarePants to the stage, but some cruisers aren’t convinced Bikini Bottom belongs in the spotlight.
The cruise line announced on October 2, 2026, that The SpongeBob Musical will headline the Royal Theater aboard Hero of the Seas. Debuting from Miami in August 2027, the fourth Icon Class ship will feature the musical’s first production at sea.
The cruise line said the following statement in a press release:
“Royal Caribbean is introducing The SpongeBob Musical, the first-ever at-sea production inspired by the Tony award-winning Broadway show on Hero of the Seas when the fourth Icon Class vacation sets sail from Miami in August 2027. As part of the bold entertainment lineup on the newest family vacation, the adventure-packed show will bring the vibrant world of Bikini Bottom to life in the Royal Theater. The SpongeBob Musical joins Royal Caribbean’s award-winning entertainment portfolio, which continues to push the boundaries for experiences across stage, air, water and ice for vacationers of all ages.”
Unfortunately, the announcement wasn’t met with excitement from everyone. Some commenters initially thought the news was a joke, while others defended the musical’s Broadway reputation.
“Please tell me that’s a joke,” one person wrote in the Facebook group Legend of the Seas – Royal Caribbean Community. “Is it April already?” another asked.
Each Icon Class ship has its own Broadway-style headliner: The Wizard of Oz on Icon of the Seas, Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas, and Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Legend of the Seas
With those productions in mind, I can understand why SpongeBob might seem like an odd choice. But, the family-friendly Broadway show does fit the family-focused nature of Hero of the Seas. Additionally, many millennials are now parents to young children and grew up watching SpongeBob themselves, making the show a potential bridge between generations.
Early reactions suggest Royal Caribbean may have a skeptical audience to convince. Some cruisers are already planning to skip the show, while others see its Broadway pedigree and nostalgic appeal as reasons to give it a chance.
Some cruisers aren’t sold on SpongeBob
While Royal Caribbean is promoting the musical as an experience for all ages, some cruisers were quick to say they weren’t interested.
“You joke!!” one person wrote in the Facebook group Legend of the Seas – Royal Caribbean Community. Another responded with “HARD NO” and a facepalm emoji.
Others were less surprised, but equally uninterested in spending an evening watching SpongeBob and his friends on stage.
“Not a fan, will pass on that musical,” one Facebook commenter wrote.
However, Royal Caribbean is promising a reimagined production exclusive to the cruise line. According to the announcement, the show will combine larger-than-life characters, unexpected twists, and music with a story about friendship and finding heroes in unlikely places.
Royal Caribbean’s family focus isn’t winning everyone over
The announcement also left some cruisers wishing Royal Caribbean had chosen a headline musical with more adult appeal. While they expected plenty of family-friendly attractions aboard Hero of the Seas, some hoped the theater would offer a show geared more toward adults.
“Guess we know who their target population is!” one person wrote on Facebook. On Reddit, another commenter questioned the selection. “This just feels like they are really running out of options for Broadway shows on the ships,” they wrote.
“Not everything needs to be family friendly,” another Reddit commenter wrote, adding that they would skip the show aboard Hero of the Seas. Despite the general criticism, Royal Caribbean’s explanation makes clear that bringing generations together was part of the decision.
“At Royal Caribbean, we’re focused on creating incredible experiences that bring families of all ages together in meaningful, memorable ways,” said Christi Coachman, the cruise line’s vice president of entertainment, in the press release.
Coachman said the musical would pair the cruise line’s capabilities and technology with a story that many families already know. She also emphasized that the entertainment lineup aboard Hero of the Seas is intended to offer something for everyone.
Other cruisers welcomed the nostalgic choice
Despite the criticism, some commenters were excited about the announcement, and not just for their young children.
“My adult children are ready to book!! Their childhood show!!” one person wrote on Facebook. Another predicted the musical would be a success: “It’s going to be fantastic and family friendly. I think it’s going to be a big hit!!”
As mentioned earlier, the show’s nostalgic connection could work in the show’s favor. Parents who grew up watching SpongeBob may enjoy revisiting the characters with their children, while adult fans could be just as interested in seeing Bikini Bottom brought to life.
This is also the cross-generational appeal Royal Caribbean highlighted in its announcement. The cruise line is positioning the production as a shared family experience, with familiar characters providing an easy introduction to the musical.
On Reddit, some commenters defended the Broadway show itself. One person emphasized, “The title is polarizing but the show itself is solid,” one person wrote. “Think more Lion King style of adaptation vs kids theatre.”
Another described the Broadway production as “surprisingly dark, political, and relevant in subtext,” adding that those themes were “Wrapped in kid friendly show silliness.”
What will The SpongeBob Musical be about?
The musical follows SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends as a looming volcanic eruption threatens their undersea home. With their community facing destruction, the characters must come together to find a way to save it. The story puts SpongeBob’s optimism to the test and explores how an unlikely hero can make a difference.
For its shipboard adaptation, Royal Caribbean is promising an adventure built around friendship, humor, and unexpected twists. The production will bring Bikini Bottom into the Royal Theater, giving the familiar underwater setting a new home at sea.
The announcement describes the show as a reimagining of the Broadway musical, so passengers should expect an adaptation created for Royal Caribbean rather than assume every detail will match the original production.
The musical has an impressive Broadway background
For anyone unfamiliar with The SpongeBob Musical, its theatrical credentials might come as a surprise.
Based on the Nickelodeon series created by Stephen Hillenburg, the musical was conceived by Tina Landau and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, a Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning writer.
Its Broadway production received 12 nominations at the 2018 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show won Best Scenic Design of a Musical for David Zinn’s work, along with Outstanding Musical at the Drama Desk Awards.
The score also brings together an unusually wide range of artists. Original song contributors include Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, and The Flaming Lips.
Of course, awards won’t guarantee that every passenger will enjoy the show. However, I think the show’s Broadway background is a good reason to keep an open mind until we see what Royal Caribbean does with the production.
About Hero of the Seas
Hero of the Seas will debut from Miami in August 2027, sailing 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Every sailing will include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
Western Caribbean itineraries will include destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatán, Honduras. Eastern Caribbean sailings will visit ports such as Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Onboard, the ship will feature eight neighborhoods and nine pools. Those include the new Coconut Cove pool and the adults-only Hideaway, which will have two pools and what Royal Caribbean describes as the largest swim-up bar at sea.
The ship will also offer Category 6, billed as the largest waterpark at sea, and Crown’s Edge, a combination skywalk and zip line experience suspended 154 feet above the ocean.
Its 28 dining venues will include the Orleans Parrish Supper Club and Royal Railway – Hero Station, an immersive dining experience set in a train car. Royal Caribbean has also announced hands-on cooking classes in a venue that has yet to be revealed.
For families looking for more elaborate accommodations, the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse will feature a rooftop terrace, whirlpool, and a two-deck space for teens.
