The former handler of Sailor, Royal Caribbean’s Chief Dog Officer aboard Star of the Seas, is publicly alleging she was “forced out” of her role after disagreements with management over the golden retriever’s care.
In a series of TikTok videos and comments posted over the past week, former handler Victoria Keeley claims she left the position after advocating for Sailor to have more freedom while off duty, including allowing the dog to run and play around the ship.
Royal Caribbean introduced the Chief Dog Officer program in 2024 with Rover, the resident golden retriever on Icon of the Seas. The concept proved so popular that the cruise line expanded it to Star of the Seas with Sailor, who serves as the ship’s official canine ambassador.
Living onboard full-time with a dedicated professional handler, Sailor greets guests, appears at special events, participates in promotional content, and has become one of the ship’s most recognizable personalities. The program has been widely embraced by passengers, with many guests seeking out opportunities to meet Sailor during their cruise and follow her adventures on social media.
Despite the program’s popularity, Sailor’s former handler is now publicly alleging that disagreements over the golden retriever’s off-duty care led to the end of her time with Royal Caribbean. Through a series of TikTok videos and comments, she has shared her account of what she says happened behind the scenes.
Royal Caribbean has not publicly responded to Keeley’s allegations.
TikToks show Keely and Sailor reuniting recently before sudden departure
Keeley’s TikTok account had regularly documented life aboard Star of the Seas, frequently featuring behind-the-scenes moments with Sailor.
On April 12, Keeley posted a video captioned “Best reunion ever,” showing Sailor enthusiastically running across the ship’s deck before greeting her after returning for another contract aboard Star of the Seas.
However, within the last week, Keely has started sharing emotional videos about her sudden departure from Star of the Seas. In multiple TikTok comments, Keeley alleges she repeatedly advocated for allowing Sailor to behave like “a normal dog” when she was not actively working.
One of her most detailed comments states:
“I tried to do the best for her and advocate for her. She should be allowed to run around like a normal dog when she’s not working and play like a normal dog… I was breaking the rules that weren’t written so they pushed me too hard and I left.”
Keeley also alleges the expectations surrounding Sailor’s care changed after she had already begun working with the dog. She states, “The problem is there were no rules to say she couldn’t. They just decided that after the fact.”
In another comment, she claimed:
“I was forced out for fighting for her, letting her play, letting her run around.”
Elsewhere, Keeley wrote that she believed Sailor was “not allowed to be a dog now.”
Final video captures Sailor running through empty theater
Among Keeley’s final posts with Sailor, one TikTok has received particular attention from followers.
Titled “Golden zoomies – Our last day together 💔,” the video shows Sailor enthusiastically sprinting through an empty theater aboard Star of the Seas. Throughout the video, the golden retriever can be seen racing up and down the aisles excitedly.
The caption accompanying the video reads: “We broke the rules oops our last day together and she had no idea…”
In the comment section, Keeley claims that allowing Sailor to run and play while off duty became a point of disagreement with management.
When one viewer commented that Sailor looked especially happy in the video, Keeley replied: “We were doing it every day. This is just our last day together.”
In another exchange, after a commenter suggested Sailor should be allowed to “just be a dog,” Keeley responded: “Nope not on the ship not allowed.”
Keeley has repeatedly alleged that she advocated for Sailor to have opportunities to run and play when she was not working, describing those activities as an important part of the dog’s well-being. Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on those allegations or the circumstances surrounding Keeley’s departure.
Keeley’s emotional posts draw support from cruise fans
Much of Keeley’s recent TikTok content has focused less on the circumstances surrounding her departure and more on the emotional toll of leaving Sailor behind.
In one video, Keeley states, “There is nothing quite like having that heavy feeling in your gut. That feeling when you realize there is nothing you can do about it. You can only sit and accept it.”
In another comment, she wrote, “I miss her so much.”
As her videos gain more traction, Keeley has been receiving comments with messages of support. Several passengers who met Sailor and Keeley aboard Star of the Seas described the pair as inseparable and thanked Keeley for the care she provided.
One commenter wrote, “You were the best mama to Sailor,” while another added, “The bond you two shared was so special.” Others expressed concern about the situation, with one writing, “I just hope Sailor is okay,” and another commenting, “She deserves to run and be a dog.”
Keeley frequently responded to those messages, thanking followers for their support and acknowledging how difficult the separation has been. “I’m trying so hard,” she wrote in one reply. “I just miss her.”
Keeley previously described role as a “dream job”
In interviews published shortly after the ship’s debut, Keeley described to PEOPLE working with Sailor as “a dream job,” explaining that her responsibilities included managing the dog’s daily routine, training, exercise, and guest interactions.
According to Keeley, Sailor’s day typically began with a morning walk on the crew deck, followed by breakfast, playtime, training sessions, and visits around the ship, including Adventure Ocean and the Royal Promenade. She also told PEOPLE that Sailor had “her own bed on the bridge where she enjoys many naps with a beautiful ocean view.”
Keeley said her priority was ensuring Sailor remained comfortable and happy while living at sea, noting that “we always prioritize her needs first and foremost to ensure she enjoys plenty of downtime in between adventures.”
She also described Sailor as a “friendly, playful and curious” dog who quickly became a favorite among both guests and crew, saying vacationers often shared stories about their own pets and that meeting Sailor was “a highlight of their day.”
Editor’s Note: This article reports on statements and allegations made publicly by former Chief Dog Officer handler Victoria Keeley through videos and comments posted to her verified TikTok account. The claims described in this article are Keeley’s own and have not been independently verified by Candid Cruise & Travel. Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on Keeley’s allegations at the time of publication.
