Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship will debut in November 2020. Credit: Royal Caribbean International.
The cruise ship will feature Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. Credit: Royal Caribbean International.
The ship will include Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade within SeaPlex. Credit: Royal Caribbean International.
Odyssey of the Seas will cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the eastern, southern and western Carribean during its inaugural season. Credit: Royal Caribbean International.

Odyssey of the Seas is the fifth Quantum-class luxury cruise ship under development for Royal Caribbean International.

It will become Royal Caribbean International’s second Quantum Ultra-class ship and will join its sister ship Spectrum of the Seas, the first Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship that entered service in April 2019.

The first steel of the cruise ship was cut at Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in February 2019. The vessel is expected to be delivered by mid-2020.

Odyssey of the Seas will embark on her maiden voyage in November 2020, sailing from its seasonal homeport of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, to the Caribbean. It will become the first cruise ship in the Quantum Ultra-class to sail in the US and Europe.

The bookings for Odyssey’s Mediterranean cruises for mid-2021 opened in December 2019.

Odyssey of the Seas design and features

The ship design will feature a striking stern architecture with large glazed areas offering 270° views.

Vessels in the Quantum Ultra-class are designed to be smart ships equipped with dedicated satellite communications to enable round-the-clock connectivity.

In addition, Odyssey of the Seas will feature air lubrication systems to reduce friction between the hull and seawater, and decrease fuel consumption.

The cruise ship will measure 347.1m long and 41.1m wide and have a gross registered tonnage of 169,300t. It is expected to accommodate 4,284 passengers and 1,551 crew members.

Staterooms aboard Odyssey of the Seas

The ship will include 18 decks and 2,137 passenger cabins. It will feature four different types of staterooms, namely Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Virtual Balcony.

The Interior staterooms will provide guests with various amenities, while the Ocean View staterooms will offer views of the sea and nearby landscapes. The plan for the third deck will include Ocean View staterooms that cover an area of 119ft² and can accommodate up to four guests.

The Balcony staterooms will provide guests with ocean views from their balconies. Meanwhile, travellers opting for the technology-equipped Virtual Balcony staterooms will experience views with real-time floor-to-ceiling displays.

Dining venues

Odyssey of the Seas will offer a range of dining options, providing guests with different culinary experiences. Teppanyaki will serve oriental dishes cooked in traditional Japanese style. The ship will feature Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, which will serve rustic Italian dishes. The menu will include options such as hand-tossed pizzas, charcuterie products, wines and limoncellos.

Passengers can also choose to have a luxury five-course meal at Chef’s Table and steakhouse classics at Chop’s Grille. Other options aboard the ship include Wonderland, Sorrento’s, El Loco FreshSM, Windjammer, and Izumi.

Entertainment on Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas will feature SeaPlex, an indoor space for recreational activities with an interactive arcade in the upper level. The arcade will feature virtual reality (VR) games and augmented reality walls and floors.

“The cruise ship will measure 347.1m long and 41.1m wide and have a gross registered tonnage of 169,300t.”

The Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade within SeaPlex will offer laser tag and other competitions held in the lower level, while allowing guests to watch sports on television or play arcade games. Guests will be able to access a two-level pool deck that will include two open-air, resort-style pools and four whirlpools.

The cruise ship will also feature the FlowRider surf simulator, VR headset-equipped SkyPad bungee trampoline, and RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator. Meanwhile, the North Star glass capsule is designed to provide panoramic views from 300ft above sea level.

The Music Hall includes a dance floor and an area for music lovers to enjoy live band performances. Two70 will act as an open area living room with 270° panoramic ocean views during the day and will transform into a multimedia theatre at night.

The Splashaway Bay is an aqua park aboard the ship, with attractions such as waterslides, water cannons and fountains. The ship will also have the Bionic Bar and the Solarium, an exclusive space on the top deck with swimming pools, whirlpools, daybeds, and a full-service bar. The bar will employ robot bartenders to serve its guests.

Propulsion details

The vessel will be powered by six main engines, including two Wärtsilä 12V46F, two Wärtsilä 16V46F and two Cat 3516C HD. Propulsion power will be provided by two ABB Azipod XO thrusters and four Brunvoll FU115 bow thrusters.

With 67,200kW of total engine power and 41MW of propulsion power, the vessel can attain a speed of 22kt.

Itineraries of Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship

The Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship’s inaugural season will start with six and eight-night itineraries, from Fort Lauderdale to Aruba, Mexico, Curacao and Grand Cayman.

Beginning from May 2021, the ship will offer cruises from Rome to the Greek Isles and the Mediterranean. The cruise will also include seven, nine and twelve-night itineraries to destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini, Athens and Rhodes, Ephesus, Crete, Jerusalem, Naples, and Haifa.

The ship will then return to Fort Lauderdale in November 2021 to undertake cruises for the next winter season.