No More Cruises, Spongebob

After a six-year partnership, Norwegian Cruise Lines is ending its branding relationship with Nickelodeon.

The agreement concludes at the end of this year. Norwegian’s cruisers Epic, Gem, Jewel, Breakaway, and Getaway are scheduled to be stripped of Spongebobs and Doras by January 3, 2016. Among the interactive Nick-themed experiences that will be eliminated are Slime Time Live and Nick Live Poolside, Dora sing-alongs, and breakfast meet-and-greets.

Norwegian did not disclose why it wasn’t renewing its relationship with Nick, although a spokesman told the Miami Herald that it was “a simple wrapping up of the contract.” The end of the partnership, however, could also have something to do with Viacom’s plan to open a Dominican Republic-located themed-hotel and resort in 2016. The entertainment conglomerate hopes to open five Nickelodeon resorts over the next decade in partnership with Karisma Hotels & Resorts.

Other cruise lines that continue to include cartoon characters in their cruises are Royal Caribbean which offers the DreamWorks Experience, Carnival’s Seuss at Sea, and, of course, Disney Cruise Lines which is filled with Disney-branded entertainment.