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Interior concepts are often judged first by how they look, but their real value is shaped by how well they support the people using them. In ferry and leisure environments, that can mean helping passengers move with confidence, encouraging dwell time, supporting service teams and creating a strong sense of place within a busy setting.
It was great to see WDC Spaces featured in the latest edition of Cruise & Ferry Interiors, showcasing the interior design concept for the new Royal Daffodil ship on behalf of Mersey Ferries. The project has since moved from concept into delivery, making this an exciting moment to reflect on how early ideas are brought to life in physical environments.
For a ferry passenger, the customer experience is more a sequence of brand touchpoints rather than a single room or view. From boarding to finding somewhere to sit, buying and enjoying refreshments, following directions on wayfinding and using toilet facilities - each aspect plays a role in shaping how people feel and behave.
For the new Royal Daffodil ship, the concept was designed to accommodate different audiences and use cases throughout the day. It needed to feel welcoming for visitors, practical for the crew and flexible enough to accommodate changing needs.
This is where interior design can add real value. By thinking beyond individual spaces, it helps create a clearer, more connected brand experience that supports both the passenger journey and the wider commercial ambition.
Heritage can bring depth, identity and emotional connection to a space, particularly when a brand has strong local resonance. The challenge is to use those references in a way that feels relevant today, rather than relying too heavily on nostalgia.
For the Royal Daffodil, the concept drew from the vessel’s location, the River Mersey between Liverpool to Birkenhead, local stories and the wider cultural character of the Liverpool City Region. These references helped shape an interior direction with a clear sense of place, while still allowing the environment to feel active, current and fit for purpose.
The most effective heritage-led spaces tend to balance recognition with function. They give people something to connect with, while still making the experience easy to navigate and enjoyable to spend time in.
A strong concept sets the direction, but delivery is where that direction comes to life. In leisure and transport environments, design decisions need to work alongside budget, ease of construction, maintenance, safety requirements and day-to-day operations.
Materials need to be robust and safe for use in marine environments. Layouts need to support staff and passengers. Graphics need to guide people clearly. Furniture, finishes and storytelling need to work together at full scale.
As Royal Daffodil progresses from concept into a finished ship, these practical decisions become increasingly important. They are what turn the design from a visual proposal into an environment that can support a wide range of passenger requirements over time.
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Seeing the Royal Daffodil concept shared in Cruise & Ferry Interiors is a proud milestone for the project. It gives visibility to the thinking behind the design and shows the ambition for a much-loved brand as it moves towards its next chapter.
Later in the year we will see passengers experience the finished interiors for the first time. That’s when the concept will move from something people can imagine to something they can use, enjoy and remember.
For any marine brand investing in its physical environment, this is the broader point: the best spaces do more than reflect the brand. They help people understand it, feel part of it and choose to spend more time with it.
Whether you are refreshing an existing environment, planning a new customer experience or preparing for a wider roll-out, the right design decisions can help turn brand intent into commercial value.
Speak to WDC Spaces about creating brand-enhancing environments that perform.
Created on
July 14, 2026
Last updated on
July 15, 2026
