SpongeBob is Getting His Own Musical at Sea on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Royal Caribbean is bringing SpongeBob SquarePants to sea next summer with a musical production onboard its newest ship.

Royal Caribbean said in an October 2 announcement that The SpongeBob Musical will debut on Hero of the Seas when the ship begins sailing from Miami in August 2027. It will be the first production at sea inspired by the Broadway musical.

The show will be performed in the Royal Theater, with SpongeBob and his friends trying to save Bikini Bottom from volcanic destruction. Royal Caribbean said it is reimagining the production for Hero rather than simply moving the Broadway version onboard.

Hero of the Seas is the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class. It will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, and every sailing will include a stop at Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas.

What to expect from The SpongeBob Musical

Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.

The SpongeBob Musical is based on Stephen Hillenburg’s Nickelodeon series and has a book by Kyle Jarrow. Its songs come from artists including Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Sara Bareilles, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Panic! at the Disco, They Might Be Giants and several others.

The Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre in December 2017 after first playing Chicago in 2016. It received 12 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, and David Zinn won the 2018 Tony for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.

Royal Caribbean is already casting the show

Royal Caribbean’s current casting notices include a few more details. The cruise line plans to perform The SpongeBob Musical four to five times per week, and rehearsals are scheduled to begin in March 2027.

The listed roles include SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton, Pearl, Karen, Patchy the Pirate and more. Some performers will need skills such as tap dancing and roller skating, while several roles also include aerial work.

What else is coming to Hero of the Seas

There will be plenty beyond Bikini Bottom onboard. Hero of the Seas will have eight neighborhoods, nine pools, 28 dining venues and Category 6, which Royal Caribbean calls the largest waterpark at sea.

The ship will also have Crown’s Edge, a skywalk and zip line experience suspended 154 feet above the ocean. Royal Caribbean is already taking bookings for Hero’s 2027 sailings from Miami.