We have returned from our first cruise in Europe and our first sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. In short, it was fantastic! In this post, I’ll share with you the many things we loved about this beautiful ship including Two70, the high-tech entertainment, loads of activities including the SeaPlex, and the fresh clean look. If you have an upcoming sailing on Odyssey of the Seas, you are in for a treat!
The Quantum-Ultra Class
Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum-Ultra Class ship that sailed its maiden voyage on July 31, 2021. The Odyssey carries around 4200 passengers at double occupancy and an international crew of over 1600. As you can imagine, it’s still quite new and shiny and we were excited to check out all that she has to offer – and there is a lot. This ship has so much to offer that I simply cannot cover everything, but I’ll share with you some of our favorites and highlights
Outdoor Activities and Highlights
A few notable things that really define the Quantum Class ships is The North Star(R) observation capsule. We affectionately referred to it as the hampster ball in the sky. The North Star rises to 300 feet above sea level giving guests a 360 view all around the ship. Weather permitting, you can currently enjoy a North Star experience while in port for free (with reservation) or on sea days for a fee.
Other unique and noticeable stand-outs are:
- Ripcord by Ifly – skydiving simulation
- Sky pad – trampoline experience
Classic to most Royal Caribbean ships, there were also Flowrider surf simulators, a classic rock climbing wall, 2 pools, a splash zone, water slides, and the adults-only Solarium.
The Sea Plex
One area that families may really enjoy is the Sea Plex. Typically on cruise ships, there is an outdoor sports area. The outdoor area is a multi-purpose space where guests can play basketball, pickleball, etc. at scheduled times throughout the cruise. Sea Plex is a completely re-imagined area!
First, it’s huge! Secondly, it’s indoors. There is no longer the need for large drop nets and worry about rain or wind. Dodge-ball must go on! OK, me playing dodge-ball would not end well for me but our son apparently “dominated!”
This area is also home to bumper cars at sea. We thought this might be a hit with kids but most of the time it was middle-aged kids at heart having the time of their lives bumping into their new cruise friends!
If watching sports rather than participating is more your style, there is a lot of room for observation. You can even hang out at Playmakers Sports Bar where you can play shuffleboard, pool or watch a game on TV.
Tip: The food at Playmakers is quite good. It is an extra charge but it’s very reasonable. Our younger adult children grabbed snack’s here throughout the cruise. I think french fries were under $5.
Dining on Odyssey of the Seas
One of the things that I really appreciate about the newer/larger cruise ships is the available options and crowd maintenance. This is especially evident when reviewing the dining choices. When sailing on the Oasis or Quantum-class ships you aren’t limited to breakfast and lunch at the Wind Jammer. I have nothing against the WJ but it’s nice to be able to grab coffee at Cafe270, breakfast at the Solarium Bistro, and lunch at El Loco Fresh – all included in your cruise fare. More options can spread out the crowd and adds to the overall experience.
Odyssey of the Seas will not disappoint you if you love the specialty dining experience.
On this sailing, we experienced Teppanyaki for the first time. Our family really enjoyed the experience and the food was excellent. You will not leave hungry! We also popped into Izumi one evening for sushi and it was very good and the service was fantastic.
One downside of Izumi is that it is located in an area that people pass through a lot to get to the Schooner Bar and the photo gallery. The location of Izumi is like this on several ships but I find it a little odd. Regardless, it did not stop me from enjoying a second helping of edamame and my yummy spicy shrimp roll. 🙂
For all of you foodies out there that love a unique dining experience, be sure to check out Wonderland. I’ve heard great things about it. However, our tastebuds tend to lean toward “basic” and our itinerary was jam-packed on this sailing so we did not make it happen. I guess we will have to book another cruise on Odyssey.
Let’s Chat about the Decor on Odyssey
While I do love the classic cruise ship experience with the dark wood and beautiful ocean views a new ship makes me a little giddy. Everything about Odyssey of the Seas was light and bright and had that clean and fresh feeling. The overall decor feel was lively and fun.
Related posts: 5 Reasons to love Jewel of the Seas
Our balcony stateroom had plenty of storage – more than enough for two. It featured light wood trim and a fresh modern look. I also appreciate the curved shower door and night light! One thing that I always look for is a USB by the bed. NOPE! When will cruise lines learn that we like to have our phones plugged in by our bed? It’s 2022! 😉
Related Post: Is a Junior Suite worth the splurge?
High-Tech Entertainment
A favorite while cruising is all of the onboard entertainment. I personally love big show productions like Mamma Mia! on Allure of the Seas and the guitar players featured at the pub. I am amazed by the talent onboard.
Related Posts: 12 Reasons to Love Allure of the Seas and CATS! on a Cruise
The best way I can describe the production entertainment on Odyssey of the Seas is to say it was high-tech. One of the shows, The Book: 7 Chapters, One Adventure, is performed in Two70. While the show doesn’t flow like a traditional story it has a lot of entertainment value. The lights, the effects, the dancers…you won’t know where to look!
Tip: Go early and try and sit in the center on either level. This will give you the best overall view of the performers and the screens.
Another notable performance includes, The Effectors, which is a mash-up of comic book Marvel-type superheroes, villains, and high-tech special effects. There are even drones flying around!
Special Venues onboard Odyssey of the Seas
There are many special venues onboard Odyssey of the Seas and I’ll highlight a couple that I feel are unique to this ship class that we really enjoyed.
The Music Hall
While there is a Music Hall on the Oasis of the Seas, the venue on Odyssey is much larger. This lounge housed occasional trivia, orchestra concerts, and a great band at night. Oh, and there was also Karaoke which is always a hit! The Music Hall was a popular venue at night so stay tuned to the app for the list of events and arrive early.
Two70
Wow, what a unique and multi-purpose space. First of all, it’s at the back of the ship and features floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a variety of seating from high-top tables to bench/lounge seating. This is where we chose to sip our morning coffee and check in with work. Responding to emails isn’t too bad with an ocean view. Upstairs in Two70, there is a library, and conference/work tables. There are also restrooms inside the venue which is convenient. At night, the venue is transformed into a key performance venue.
Crown and Anchor Loyalty
For those of you in Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, you’re in luck. If you have earned your way to the Diamond level you must check out the Diamond Lounge. The Diamond lounge certainly varies by ship but on Odyssey of the Seas, it’s a nice area. It’s tucked behind the Music Hall and has a decent amount of space and seating but the best part is the ocean views. Large picture windows really elevate this space and made it a destination for our evening happy hour.
Would we Recommend Odyssey of the Seas?
Overall we enjoyed our experience on Odyssey of the Seas and highly recommend it to fellow cruisers! While I did miss the Aqua Theatre and the neighborhood areas available on the Oasis Class, I think the Quantum class offers a great experience. It’s so new and has really fresh and exciting options that are not available on the Freedom Class yet isn’t as large, and possibly overwhelming, as the Oasis Class.
Have you sailed on Odyssey of the Seas or another Quantum or Quantum Ultra Class ship? I’d love to hear from you!
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