Royal Caribbean has announced its “Artist Discovery Program” is returning to the Caribbean. The cruise line is looking for brilliant Caribbean-based artists to paint murals on its “next combination of the best of every vacation,” Star of the Seas. Artists throughout the Caribbean can begin submitting applications through February 15, 2025.
The program was introduced on Icon of the Seas, the cruise line’s first Icon-class ship, and gives budding artists a canvas to share their talent. The program looks to showcase the people and places of a Royal Caribbean vacation.
“We are excited for this next edition of The Artist Discovery Program and can’t wait to be awestruck by visionary artists across the Caribbean. Last year, our first-ever call to artists received an overwhelming response with more than 140 artists across 25 Caribbean countries submitting pieces that told a unique story and captured the allure of the region,” said Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer, Royal Caribbean International. “Our goal is to connect our guests to the enduring beauty and creativity of the Caribbean, and this immersive program is a pathway to celebrating and exploring local culture while onboard the next Icon of vacations – Star of the Seas.”
Royal Caribbean will commission the artists to paint murals in four high-traffic areas aboard Star of the Seas–the Royal Promenade neighborhood, the vessel’s embarkation area, the Suite Sundeck lobby and the Suite Sundeck. Each artist will receive a grant from $20,000 to more than $100,000 to complete their mural while the ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Artists who wish to apply to the Artist Discovery Program will need to submit 5 samples of original artwork, a brief artist statement that explains their work, and the inspiration behind the submitted pieces, as well as a resume.
When Star of the Seas debuts on August 31, 2025, she will sail a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary from her homeport of Port Canaveral. She will call on the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Roatan in Honduras. She will then sail alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries will all sailings calling on Perfect Day.