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 .
History
Planning
On 3 November 2015, Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft for a fifth Quantum-class ship,[4] Originally scheduled to be delivered in Fall 2020, the delivery later was postponed until 2021.[5][6] It was given the name, Odyssey of the Seas, on 1 February 2019.[7] On 12 September 2019, it was announced that Odyssey of the Seas would homeport at Port Everglades.
Construction
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]
2020 coronavirus pandemic
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]
Delivery and christening
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]
Description and design
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]
Incidents
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]
Migrant rescue
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]
External links
References
- {{DNV|id=36875 |shipname=Odyssey of the Seas|access-date=25 April 2021}}^
- Odyssey of the Seas Meyer Werft, retrieved 6 April 2020^
- Odyssey of the Seas Fact Sheet Royal Caribbean Press Center, Royal Caribbean International, retrieved 25 October 2022^
- Royal Caribbean Orders Fifth Quantum-Class Vessel cruiseindustrynews.com, 3 November 2015, retrieved 16 August 2017^
- Royal Caribbean Orders 5th Quantum-Class Ship worldmaritimenews.com, 3 November 2015^
- Lucas Manfredi. Coronavirus causes Royal Caribbean to push back new ship Odyssey of the Seas until April 2021 FOXBusiness, 30 June 2020, retrieved 2 July 2020^
- Arlene Satchell. New Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to Be Named Odyssey of the Seas, Sail From the U.S. www.cruisecritic.com, 2019-02-01^
- Odyssey of the Seas Steel Cutting at Meyer Werft www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Keel layed for Odyssey of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog, 2019-05-03, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Presse Detail MEYER WERFT, retrieved 2024-04-07^
- Odyssey of the Seas Floating Out www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Press Detail MEYER WERFT, retrieved 2024-04-07^
- Press Detail MEYER WERFT, retrieved 2024-04-07^
- Odyssey of the Seas successfully completes sea trials Royal Caribbean Blog, 2021-03-25, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Royal Caribbean Provides Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic sustainability.rclcorporate.com, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Royal Caribbean delays Odyssey of the Seas inaugural sailing from U.S. due to Covid-19 among crew members Royal Caribbean Blog, 2021-06-15, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Royal Caribbean will take delivery of Odyssey of the Seas March 31 Royal Caribbean Blog, 2021-03-29, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Press Detail MEYER WERFT, retrieved 2024-04-07^
- Royal Caribbean deployment Odyssey of the Seas^
- Lynn Elmhirst. Standing Ovations for Fain as Odyssey of the Seas Christened Open Jaw, 2021-11-15, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Bahamian paratriathlete Erin Brown is Odyssey of the Seas' godmother www.seatrade-cruise.com, retrieved 2024-12-13^
- Odyssey of the Seas Fact Sheet www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas boasts with a large name CruiseMapper, 2020-09-12, retrieved 2022-03-30^
- Jim Walker. Odyssey of the Seas' Arrival in Israel Marred By Crew Death Cruise Law News, 2021-04-22, retrieved 2024-12-13^
- Cyprus halts search for sailor lost at sea knews.com.cy, April 22, 2021, retrieved 2024-12-13^
- Crew commits suicide aboard RCI-Royal Caribbean ship Odyssey of the Seas CruiseMapper, 2021-04-23, retrieved 2024-12-13^
- Video: Odyssey of the Seas Cruise Ship Rescues 77 Migrants off Greece The Maritime Executive, retrieved 2024-12-13^