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 Port Everglades.
On 3 November 2015, Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft for a fifth Quantum-class ship,[1] Originally scheduled to be delivered in Fall 2020, the delivery later was postponed until 2021.[2] [3] It was given the name, Odyssey of the Seas, on 1 February 2019.[4] On 12 September 2019, it was announced that Odyssey of the Seas would homeport at Port Everglades.
Construction began with the steel cutting ceremony on 1 February 2019.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] [8] [9] On 13 March[10] 2021, Meyer Werft announced the start of sea trials in the North Sea, and she finished her trials on 25 March 2021.[11]
See main article: COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced in March 2020 that all operations would be suspended, including Odyssey of the Seas.[12] 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.[13]
Odyssey of the Seas was officially delivered to Royal Caribbean on 31 March 2021 in a virtual ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] [15] The inaugural sailing commenced on 31 July 2021, sailing an eight-day Southern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise.[16] On 13 November 2021, Bahamian Paralympic athlete Erin Brown christened the vessel in a ceremony in Port Everglades.[17]
Odyssey of the Seas measures 1138feet 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.[18]
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.
Odyssey of the Seas was the first ship to include the big text for its logo on the side of the ship, representing the "bigger and bolder" Royal Caribbean.[19]