Odyssey of the Seas is the second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship and the last of the class operated by Royal Caribbean International. She primarily operates in the Caribbean out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port New Jersey .
Odyssey of the Seas is the second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship and the last of the class operated by Royal Caribbean International. She primarily operates in the Caribbean out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port New Jersey .
Construction began with the steel cutting ceremony on 1 February 2019.[8] The keel was laid on 3 May 2019. The coin ceremony was announced on the same day, featuring a coin being placed under the first block out of 79 total blocks of the vessel.[9] Odyssey of the Seas floated out of Meyer Werft's shipyard on 28 November 2020.
On 28 February, the ship arrived in Eemshaven for final outfitting.[10][11][12] On 13 March[13] 2021, Meyer Werft announced the start of sea trials in the North Sea, and she finished her trials on 25 March 2021.[14]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced in March 2020 that all operations would be suspended, including Odyssey of the Seas.[15] After numerous delays, the inaugural sailing was pushed back to 3 July 2021. On 15 June 2021, it was announced that eight crew members got affected by coronavirus, leading the inaugural sailing being pushed back to 31 July 2021.[16]
Odyssey of the Seas was officially delivered to Royal Caribbean on 31 March 2021 in a virtual ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17][18]
The inaugural sailing commenced on 31 July 2021, sailing an eight-day Southern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise.[19] On 13 November 2021, Bahamian Paralympic athlete Erin Brown christened the vessel in a ceremony in Port Everglades.[20][21]
Odyssey of the Seas measures 1,138 ft and has a gross tonnage of 167,704, with 16 decks. The ship accommodates 4,198 passengers at double occupancy up to a maximum capacity of 5,510 passengers, as well as a 1,663 crew. There are 14 decks for guest use, 15 restaurants, 2 pools and 2,105 cabins.[22]
Her facilities include a Wave Loch Flowrider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, a skydiving simulator, swimming pools, an observation pod, bumper cars, basketball court, a solarium, a Spa and Fitness Center, a theater and a casino.[22]
Odyssey of the Seas was the first ship to include the large font for its logo on the side of the ship, representing the "bigger and bolder" Royal Caribbean.[23]
In April 2021 prior to the ship's inaugural sailing, a crew member was lost after going overboard near Cyprus.[24] After a search, the recovery mission was called off.[25][26]
On 5 August 2024, the Hellenic Coast Guard flagged local vessels operating in the Mediterranean that a sailboat was in distress. The Odyssey of the Seas, enroute to Santorini, stopped to assist the vessel, later bringing on board 77 migrants who were in danger. The Odyssey of the Seas missed their scheduled stop in Santorini to deliver the migrants to safety.[27]