Royal Caribbean expands DreamWorks partnership to sixth ship

You'll find more lions, ogres and dragons aboard Royal Caribbean International ships next year – and we're not talking about the passengers.

The cruise line continues to expand its partnership with DreamWorks Animation, adding special shows and character appearances to a sixth ship, Mariner of the Seas, when it arrives in Asia in May.

The DreamWorks Experience partnership began in 2010 on Allure of the Seas with Princess Fiona of Shrek fame inaugurating the ship as its godmother. The entertainment has since been expanded to Oasis of the Seas, sailing from Port Everglades; Freedom of the Seas from Port Canaveral; Liberty of the Seas, which splits its year between Port Everglades and Barcelona; and recently, Voyager of the Seas in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

While not as extensively themed as Disney cruise, guests will have plenty of chances to see the characters on board. Each ship with the DreamWorks Experience features parades, shows, themed activities and events based on its film characters, including Po of Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of Shrek; and Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, and the Penguins from Madagascar. Each ship also is equipped with a 3-D movie theater playing the latest DreamWorks Animation films.

There are also character breakfasts and DreamWorks programming on a dedicated television channel in every stateroom.

Cruise Loggers, have you experienced the DreamWorks Experience on board? Share your impressions below.

This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former Travel Editor of The Dallas Morning News and Coastal Living magazine. Bleiberg is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.