Royal Caribbean Asked Passengers What Their Dream Cruise Ship Would Look Like

What would a cruise ship look like if passengers could design it themselves? Royal Caribbean decided to find out, and the results included everything from an amusement park to a giant rubber duck towering over the ship.

Another proposed joining two enormous cruise ships into one vessel capable of carrying 17,000 passengers.

The unusual ideas emerged during Royal Caribbean’s President’s Cruise in early October, when executives invited guests to share their wildest ideas for future ships.

According to Royal Caribbean Blog, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley and product development executive Jay Schneider hosted the session as the company worked on its upcoming Discovery Class ships.

From Giant Rubber Ducks to Roller Coasters

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Passengers suggested everything from a full-sized roller coaster and bungee jumping to a go-kart track circling the vessel. One guest even proposed a slide passengers could use to disembark at the end of their cruise.

A particularly popular idea was a lazy river wrapping around the entire ship, giving passengers ocean views as they floated along. Another suggestion involved a vertical lazy river connecting different decks.

Then came the giant rubber duck. Every cruise ship needs a giant rubber duck. After a child proposed placing one high above the ship, Bayley and Schneider joked about making it rotate and putting a restaurant inside.

Perhaps the strangest proposal was an onboard cemetery. According to Royal Caribbean Blog, one passenger loved cruising so much that he wanted to be buried on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Could Any of These Ideas Become Reality?

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Footage of the brainstorming session was also shared to YouTube on Oct. 8 by Luxury Properties International, offering a firsthand look at Royal Caribbean executives discussing ideas for future ships with passengers.

Other suggestions included underwater viewing areas, elevators that could move sideways, and detachable sections capable of visiting smaller ports.

One ambitious proposal involved combining two ships into a massive catamaran, which is a watercraft with two parallel hulls. Bayley estimated it could reach approximately 600,000 gross tons, accommodating 17,000 passengers and 7,000 crew members.

The blog writes that Royal Caribbean used artificial intelligence to create an illustration combining the ideas into one extravagant vessel. The design was more of a playful hypothetical rather than anything representing a feasible ship design, although Schneider confirmed the company regularly considers passenger feedback when developing new ships. Indeed, Bayley pointed to Royal Caribbean’s Central Park neighborhood, which features real trees and greenery, as an example of an idea that once seemed far-fetched.

Whether any of these latest suggestions become reality is unknown. Certainly, the company’s architects, engineers, and designers now have plenty of unusual possibilities to consider for the foreseeable future.