Odyssey Of The Seas

The 2021-built Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship is RCI–Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum-Ultra-class vessel, with sister ship Spectrum OTS (2019). Quantum-Ultra is an upgraded (enlarged and enhanced) evolution of the Quantum-class ships Anthem OTS, Quantum OTS, and Ovation OTS. Odyssey OTS was initially scheduled for inauguration in November 2020, but due to COVID-related issues, the ship’s entire itinerary program was canceled through July 2021.

The vessel (IMO number 9795737) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000912) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US passenger shipping company, trademarked travel brand, and a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). Founded in 1968, RCI currently accounts for over one-fifth of the global cruise market. The company also operates RCG’s largest fleet by both vessel count and GT tonnage.

All RCI liners carry names ending with “of the Seas”.

Decks and Cabins

Most Odyssey OTS staterooms (2105 total, in 31 categories) include 125 Suites, 1482 Balcony, 132 Oceanview, 366 Inside (including Virtual Balcony), plus 28 Studio cabins (Balcony and Interior, single-occupancy). Most cabins measure 180-200 ft2 (17-19 m2). Most balconies are approximately 55 ft2 (5 m2). The largest accommodation is the Royal Loft Ultimate Family Suite (1660 ft2 / 152 m2 plus a 620 ft2 / 58 m2 wraparound terrace).

The ship has 16 decks, of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 9 contain cabins.

Compared to Oasis-class ships, Quantum-Ultra vessels feature larger staterooms, more connecting family cabins, new studio staterooms for solo travelers, and a greater number of larger restaurants.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Passengers on Odyssey of the Seas are offered a wide selection of dining options, including numerous venues for casual bites. Reservations for specialty restaurants can be made online before sailing. While not mandatory, reservations are strongly recommended to ensure preferred dining times and venues. Food quality and service across the ship are diverse, offering a broad range of culinary experiences.

Below is the complete list of Odyssey of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• Three-level Main Dining Room (capacity 1844 seats), serving rotating a la carte menus daily.
• Silver Dining (complimentary, suite guests only).
• Golden Dining and Lounge (complimentary and exclusive to suite guests).
• Teppanyaki (Japanese hibachi specialty restaurant).
• Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine (reservations-only specialty restaurant on two levels, overlooking the stern, with its own upper-level bar).
• Windjammer Marketplace buffet restaurant offering Early Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; approximately 20% larger than on Quantum-class ships. Menu highlights include noodles, pizza by the slice, Teppanyaki-style dishes, and Chinese hot pot.
• Chops Grille (specialty steakhouse and seafood restaurant).
• Chef’s Table (14-guest gourmet private dining experience).
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar (specialty restaurant; reservations recommended), known for hand-tossed pizzas and signature dishes such as Holy Cheesus pizza, Muffuletta-style grilled stuffed flank steak, and chocolate ravioli.
• Izumi Japanese Cuisine (specialty restaurant).
• The Cafe at Two70 (casual dining marketplace).
• “Leaf and Bean” Cafe, Patisserie, and Coffee Shop serving beverages, teas, coffee drinks, fresh pastries, and gourmet desserts.
• Solarium Bistro (healthy dining concept, formerly Devinly Decadence).
• Sorrento’s Pizza (complimentary, with daily-changing selections).
• Noodle Bar.
• Splashaway Cafe (indoor poolside food bar).
• Sichuan Red (Asian specialty restaurant).
• Lime and Coconut (two-deck bar overlooking the pools).
• El Loco Fresh (grab-and-go Mexican cuisine including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and fresh salsas).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Odyssey OTS features 16 passenger-accessible decks and a wide range of RCI signature facilities, including the forward top-deck Solarium (adults-only complex), a pool deck with four whirlpools and two swimming pools (covered by a glass dome with retractable roof), Splashaway Bay (kids aqua park with waterslides and interactive water features), FlowRider surf simulator, rock-climbing wall (40 ft / 12 m above deck), a two-deck wellness complex (spa and fitness center), casino, and an outdoor theater with a giant LED screen for nightly movies and live media streaming.

All Quantum-Ultra ships feature the signature attractions “iFly by RipCord” (skydiving simulator), “North Star” (rotating glass observation capsule reaching 300 ft / 92 m above sea level), and SkyPad (bungee trampoline). North Star is fee-based, reservation-only, and can also be privately booked for special events. At iFly by RipCord, guests are provided with goggles, helmet, and jumpsuit for one-minute flight sessions. These vessels also feature the Bionic Bar, where robotic bartenders prepare drinks ordered via tablets.

Below is the complete list of Odyssey of the Seas lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for guests of all ages.

• Royal Theater (1299-seat venue) hosting 3D movies, aerial acrobatics, Broadway-style productions, and popular game shows (Family Feud, Majority Rules, Blankety Blank). Major productions include “Mamma Mia!”, “Showgirl: Past. Present. Future”, and “The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure”.
• Music Hall (two-deck live entertainment venue with nightly karaoke and HUSH Silent Party).
• Two70 Lounge (three-deck observation lounge with live entertainment and 270-degree glass walls transforming into a video projection surface using Vistarama technology). Odyssey-exclusive productions include “Oceanides” and “The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure”.
• Photo Gallery and Shop; SeaTrek Shop (diving equipment).
• Crown Lounge (formerly Diamond Club Lounge for past guests); Concierge Club and Lounge (suite and loyalty guests only); Golden Room / Card Room.
• Bionic Bar, North Star Bar, Schooner Bar (piano bar), Sky Bar, Vintages Wine Bar.
• Royal Esplanade (shopping and dining area on decks 4 and 5, including The Via with Vintages Wine Bar, Port Merchants, and Jamie’s).
• Casino Royale and Casino VIP.
• Star Moment Karaoke Room.
• Outdoor Movie Screen.
• Cafe Promenade (24-hour venue serving snacks, drinks, and Starbucks specialty coffee).
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center.
• Focus (Photo Gallery and Shop).
• Solarium Lounge with Solarium Cafe, pool bar, adults-only pool, and sundeck; Solarium Bar.
• Video Games Arcade; teen venues (The Living Room and Night Club); Royal Babies and Tots Nursery; Adventure Ocean kids area; Workshop family venue; H2O Zone; Kung Fu Panda-themed activities.
• SeaPlex (largest sports complex at sea with roller skating, bumper cars, circus school, and full-size basketball court); FlowRider; RipCord by iFly; jogging track; rock-climbing wall.
• SkyPad aft-located bungee trampoline with optional virtual reality headsets.
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (part of SeaPlex) with large HDTVs for live sports, serving burgers, wings, sliders, and a wide beer selection; includes a dedicated Owner’s Box VIP area.
• SeaPlex also converts into a laser-tag arena hosting “Clash for the Crystal City”.

On Odyssey OTS, Royal Caribbean introduced fleet-first drone technology for a new Royal Theater show production. The advanced show features 48 drones interacting with a live human performer and was specifically developed for Odyssey while the ship was still under construction in Germany.

Itineraries

Odyssey of the Seas’ itinerary program is primarily based on Caribbean cruises roundtrip from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA). The 6-, 7-, and 8-night itineraries visit ports in the Bahamas (CocoCay), Jamaica (Falmouth), Grand Cayman (George Town), Aruba (Oranjestad), Curacao (Willemstad), St Thomas USVI (Charlotte Amalie), Puerto Rico (San Juan), Haiti (Labadee), and Mexico (Cozumel).

Seasonally, the ship is repositioned via transatlantic crossings from Florida to Europe (homeported in Civitavecchia-Rome) for 6-, 8-, 9-, and 12-night Greek Isles and Holy Land cruises, visiting ports in Greece, Turkey, and Israel.

• Odyssey OTS had her inaugural cruise initially planned for November 5, 2020, from Fort Lauderdale. Due to delayed delivery related to the coronavirus pandemic, start dates were repeatedly rescheduled for April 21, May 9, June 6 (Mediterranean Europe), November 15 (Caribbean), and finally August 8 (Caribbean maiden voyage).
• Following extensive COVID-related cancellations during 2020–2021, Odyssey OTS’ inaugural season was first planned for the Eastern Mediterranean (roundtrips from Civitavecchia-Rome) but was ultimately canceled, with the ship redeployed to the Caribbean.

In early March 2021, RCI rescheduled Odyssey’s inaugural season to begin in June with sailings open exclusively to residents of Israel. The revised program offered 3- to 7-night roundtrips from Haifa (Tel Aviv, Israel), marking RCI’s first homeport in the country. Eastern Mediterranean itineraries were limited to Greek ports including Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Piraeus (Athens), and Limassol, Cyprus. Due to unrest in Israel and the region, this Cyprus and Greece program was officially canceled on May 15.

The Maiden Voyage (also the ship’s first Caribbean cruise) was rescheduled to start on November 15 with a 5-night “Labadee and Perfect Day” itinerary from Fort Lauderdale to CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti. Prices started from USD 730 (EUR 600) per person.

In winter 2024–2025 (November through April), Odyssey OTS is homeported in New York City (sailing from Port Bayonne, New Jersey), taking over the schedule of Anthem OTS. This deployment features 7- to 12-day roundtrips to Florida (Port Canaveral), the Bahamas (Nassau, CocoCay), and the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, including Barbados, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Kitts, St Thomas, Antigua, and Puerto Rico.

On February 1, 2019, the steel-cutting ceremony was held, officially marking the start of the vessel’s construction at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The vessel’s keel-laying ceremony took place on May 3, 2019, attended by RCI representatives. Stephan Schmees (Meyer Werft’s Executive Project Management) placed the traditional lucky coin under the ship’s first block before the keel was lowered into position. This first (keel) block weighs 970 tons. The assembly process comprises a total of 79 blocks (hull and superstructure). All mega-blocks were constructed and pre-assembled at Neptun Werft Shipyard in Rostock, Germany, then hydraulically loaded onto pontoons and transported down the Ems River to the Papenburg shipyard.

The vessel’s powerplant (hull module with engines) was delivered to the shipyard by barge on September 4, 2019. The ship’s engines generate 67.2 MW total power output, plus 41 MW propulsion power.

Odyssey is the second Quantum-Ultra-class ship and the 27th liner in RCI’s fleet. Unlike her sister ship Spectrum OTS (built in 2019 and deployed in Asia), Odyssey OTS is homeported in the USA (Florida), with seasonal deployment in Europe (Mediterranean).

On September 11, 2020, the shipbuilder revealed the vessel’s name on the bow, featuring a new enlarged livery design in which the first letter (“O”) measures 11.2 m (36 ft) in height, while the full name spans 87.4 m (286 ft) in length. Compared to other RCI ships, Odyssey OTS has her name positioned much lower on the light-blue hull, with the bottom of the “O” even extending below the waterline.

The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on November 28, 2020. Once docked outside the shipyard’s building hall (indoor dock), outfitting works began, including installation of the North Star facility (the top-deck-mounted glass-walled observation pod). Interior works were also completed at Meyer Werft’s outfitting pier.

The vessel’s conveyance along the Ems River (from Papenburg to Eemshaven, Holland, approx. 20 mi / 30 km) was conducted between February 27 and 28, 2021. The Ems River was dammed between February 26 and 28 to raise the water level between Papenburg and the Ems Barrier (Gandersum-Nendorp). The approximately 10-hour operation was assisted by two tugboats, which moved Odyssey OTS stern-first downriver toward the North Sea. The conveyance started from Papenburg on February 27 at 4:00 am. The ship passed Friesenbrücke (railway bridge in Weener, Germany) at 8:45 am, Jann-Berghaus-Brücke (bascule bridge in Leer, Germany) at 12:00 pm, and arrived at Emssperrwerk (Ems Barrage at Gandersum-Nendorp) at 12:30 am on February 28. North Sea trials began from Eemshaven on March 14 and were conducted to test the vessel’s engines, propulsion, navigation, and other systems.

The vessel’s official delivery from Meyer Werft to RCG took place on March 31, 2021. The virtual ceremony was conducted by Richard Fain (RCG Chairman and CEO), Michael Bayley (RCI President and CEO), Per Kristoffersen (ship’s Captain), Bernard Meyer (Meyer Werft Managing Director), and Jan Meyer (Meyer Werft Executive Director).

On November 10, 2021, the name of the ship’s Bahamian godmother was announced as Erin Brown (born 1980, a Grand Bahama Island native and single mother of two).

• She has been an amputee since 2004, following an above-the-knee amputation of her left leg due to osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
• Erin Brown competed in the 2020 Summer Paralympics (Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games), the 16th edition organized by the IPC (International Paralympic Committee).
• Due to the global health crisis, the event was postponed by one year and held in Tokyo, Japan, from August 24 through September 5, 2021.

Odyssey OTS’ christening ceremony was held on November 13, 2021, at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA). The event, hosted on the Pool Deck, was attended by Richard Fain and Michael Bayley.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2021

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the vessel’s delivery was delayed, resulting in the cancellation of a total of 25 Caribbean and 6 Mediterranean voyages.

The following tables show the ship’s maiden voyages with indicative lowest prices (per person, in USD) based on double occupancy.

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2020 / canceled) 4-day “The Inaugural” – from $620 pp

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/canceled) 3-day "Weekend Getaway Cruise" ($460 pp)

(repositioning 2021/canceled) 5-day from Southampton to Barcelona ($1660 pp)

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/canceled) 5-day "Spain France and Italy Cruise" ($580 pp)

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/canceled) 12-day "Greece, Turkey and Israel Cruise With Overnight In Athens" (from $2170 pp)

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/canceled) 7-day "Greece and Italy Cruise with Late Stays In Santorini and Mykonos" ($2550 pp)

(Transatlantic crossing 2021/canceled) 14-day from Europe to the USA ($1100 pp)

(2021/CHANGED ITINERARY) 9-day inaugural "Southern Caribbean and Bahamas" itinerary ($1190 pp). However, in mid-April, due to "planned events", the ship's inaugural Caribbean voyage was altered (departure date changed to Nov 15, the itinerary shortened to 5-day). All bookings were automatically moved to November 15, 2021.

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/first cruise) 5-day "Labadee and Perfect Day" itinerary (US$ 680 pp)

(2021) 8-day inaugural "Southern Caribbean" itinerary ($1730 pp)

(2021) 6-day inaugural "Western Caribbean and Perfect Day" itinerary ($1220 pp)

(2021) 7-day inaugural "Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day Holiday"/New Year cruise (US$ 2600 pp)

(inaugural Transatlantic crossing 2022) 14-day from Fort Lauderdale to Rome (US$ 1570 pp)

Godspeed!

Inaugural Mediterranean itineraries (2022)

Next tables show the scheduled for 2022 Eastern Mediterranean itineraries as call ports and times. All are roundtrips from homeport Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy).

9-day "Greek Isles" itinerary

11-day "Holy Land" itinerary

7-day "Greek Isles Cruise" itinerary ($1730 pp)

8-day "Greek Isles Cruise" itinerary ($1770 pp)

6-day "Greek Isles Cruise" itinerary ($2500 pp)

12-day "Holy Land Cruise" itinerary ($5080 pp)