26 WDC Spaces develops interior concepts for Royal Daffodil WDC Spaces has worked with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, APCL Cammell Laird and MPE Interiors to develop interior design concepts for Mersey Ferries’ new Royal Daffodil. Set to operate on the River Mersey in Liverpool, UK, Royal Daffodil is the first newbuild to join the Mersey Ferries fleet in 60 years and is designed to accommodate up to 500 passengers. It will be a fully accessible vessel featuring modern, flexible event spaces, bars and bike storage. “WDC Spaces applied a fresh look to the vessel’s layout, refining the arrangement of spaces to create a more open, comfortable and memorable experience – with the passenger at the centre of every decision,” said Jason West, director of WDC Creative. “Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to celebrate Mersey Ferries’ heritage while delivering a modern experience. The design balances high-quality finish with a contemporary flair, ensuring that the interior feels fresh and relevant without losing sight of what makes Mersey Ferries so distinctive.” WDC Spaces is also designing wayfinding signage and a series of storytelling installations that will depict the history of Mersey Ferries. “Seating and circulation areas onboard Royal Daffodil are open and approachable, and every aspect – from furniture to lighting – has been selected to make these spaces feel welcoming and consistent with the ferry’s overall character,” said West. Royal Daffodil completed sea trials in April and is set to debut in 2026. Look out for more about Royal Daffodil in the next issue of Cruise & Ferry Review, which will be released in August 2026. A visualisation of the lower deck on Royal Daffodil Photo: WDC Spaces Suspended in the soaring atrium of Royal Caribbean International’s Star of the Seas, ‘Celestial Turtles’ by Studio Roso is the vessel’s defining centrepiece. Two sea turtles glide through a cascading school of shimmering forms, assembled from hundreds of iridescent hand-worked metal fragments. Light shifts across their surfaces – moving between deep ocean blues, violets and warm copper – mirroring the play of sunlight on water. CFI CURATED
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