dpRoyal Caribbean announced its next Broadway musical coming to its newest cruise ship.
A few eagle-eyed cruise fans spotted a show not previously seen at sea on the Royal Caribbean Entertainment website.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical was temporarily listed on the website before being quickly pulled down. However, there are screenshots proving it was there at one point.
Royal Cruise Girl, for example, shared a short video to her Facebook account, showing that “SpongeBob” and “SpongeBob The Musical” appeared as options in the “All Shows” drop-down menu.
(Credit: Royal Cruise Girl / Facebook)
The Royal Caribbean Entertainment website is an online portal that conveys audition information to the public so the cruise line can recruit new singers, dancers, and performers.
Since then, Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society’s Facebook page has confirmed that SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical will debut aboard Hero of the Seas:
“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? 🍍 The SpongeBob Musical debuts on board Hero of the Seas summer 2027. Join SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends in this Tony Award-winning Broadway hit as the most iconic sponge under the sea races to save his town from volcanic destruction.”
A new show for Hero of the Seas
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical is based on the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants and debuted in Chicago, Illinois, in 2016.
The musical follows SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, and Sandy Cheeks as they attempt to prevent Mount Humongous from erupting and wiping out all life in Bikini Bottom.
Its original score features songs written by artists including Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Sara Bareilles, Aerosmith, Plain White T’s, and Panic! At the Disco.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical is a 2018 Tony Award winner for Best Scenic Design and has received 25 other nominations, including Best Costume Design of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, and more.
There are already Broadway shows available to see on cruise ships
Since Royal Caribbean has already established a pattern of bringing elaborate Broadway-style productions to its newest Icon Class vessels, it’s only a matter of time before Hero of the Seas’ main musical production is revealed.
On Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has added recognizable family favorites for its headline entertainment.
The Wizard of Oz serves as the main production on Icon, while Star of the Seas features Back to the Future: The Musical, based on the hit 1985 film and its Broadway adaptation. Finally, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is exclusively on Legend of the Seas.
Beyond Icon Class ships, musicals like Mamma Mia!, CATS, Saturday Night Fever, We Will Rock You, and Hairspray have also made their way onto Royal Caribbean ships.
“Perfect for a ship”
The possibility of a SpongeBob SquarePants musical at sea has already gotten cruise fans talking, with many supporting the idea.
“I’ve seen [the SpongeBob Musical] and thought it was a cute show… perfect for a ship, really,” wrote Actus on a Cruise Critic discussion forum.
SailingTheWorld2025 added, “Very fun show. High-energy dancing and music. You dont have to be a fan of the TV show to enjoy it, as it is quite the spectacle.”
Hero of the Seas construction update
(Credit: Janne-Petteri Kumpulainen)
Loyal to Royal shared photos, captured by Janne-Petteri Kumpulainen, of Hero of the Seas under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
Last month, more than 90 million gallons of water flooded the dry dock overnight, allowing the upcoming Icon Class ship to touch water for the first time during her float-out.
With the ship’s exterior taking shape, construction is now focusing on the many interior spaces onboard. As such, workers will spend the coming months outfitting everything from cabins and restaurants to entertainment venues and public areas as Hero of the Seas moves closer to completion.
