We have a roundtable discussion of new dining room menus, Crown and Anchor changes, and cruise prices going up. Oh my!
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Royal Caribbean is known for its having some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, such as the Icon Class and Oasis Class ships
Royal Caribbean groups its ships in classes, which are based largely on the ship's general design and structure.
Within each ship class, there can be variations of features, restaurants, or activities that have been added or modified over the years. While there may be three, four, or more ships within a particular class, the exact onboard activities can vary.
You might be wondering what makes Royal Caribbean's ship classes different from each other, and it boils down to the size of the ship, onboard amenities, and signature activities offered.
There are seven Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes. Each ship in the class was built around the same time and from the outside certainly looks similar.
Icon of the Seas entered service in January 2024, offering cruises from Miami and taking the title of the world's largest cruise ship. She is over 6% bigger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, and offers nearly unlimited activities, amenities, and dining options onboard.
What does it mean to be the biggest cruise shop in the world? There could be anywhere between 5,610 to 7,600 passengers on your sailing, plus 2,300 crew members. There could be up to 10,000 people on a given sailing, and that is a lot.
While her size is indeed immense, there's lots to do and experience onboard.
One of the best things about these megaships is they aren't as crowded as you might think. Royal Caribbean went to great lengths to ensure its not overcrowded by implementing clever crowd management strategies. While you won't mistake a cruise on Icon of the Seas for a private yacht, you'll probably be surprised how open the ship feels at times.
Icon of the Seas has several new features not found elsewhere in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, including the cruise line’s first onboard waterpark and indoor AquaDome space.
Icon Class ships, like Oasis Class ships, will be split into neighborhoods:
This is the first new class of ships since the Quantum Class debuted in 2014, and the Icon Class is the first class to be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas).
Icon of the Seas is the only ship in this class at the moment, but Star of the Seas will start cruising in 2025. Her maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025.
There are plans to build at least two more Icon Class ships, with options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship.
The unnamed third Icon Class ship will be ready sometime in 2026, and Icon 4 will be ready in 2027.
Why choose Icon Class: If you want the biggest, boldest, and most exciting cruise ships at sea, an Icon Class ship will provide all of that and more! The ship truly is the destination with the Icon Class, and it’s especially fun for families.
Related: 7 of the most cutting-edge features coming to Icon of the Seas
Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships offer the latest and greatest features found on any ship in the fleet, as well as in the industry. The Oasis Class cruise ships are the second largest cruise ships in the world sailing today.
The Oasis Class ships can handle just about 5,500 passengers and have a gross tonnage of over 225,000 tons.
Related: All about Oasis Class cruise ships
If you are concerned about crowds and navigating a ship of this size, Royal Caribbean has you covered. Royal Caribbean designed the ship to be easy to get around and break up crowds. Seven neighborhoods help distinguish parts of the ship apart to guests, and there are so many activities on Oasis Class ships that everyone will be on their own schedule.
Oasis Class ships are among the newest Royal Caribbean ships, so they are packed with the latest and greatest.
Why choose Oasis Class: You want it all on one ship! The latest features, tons of activities, and great dining.
The innovative Quantum Class cruise ships were designed for users in the 21st century with a blend of high-tech, and tried-and-true family vacation experiences. These stylish new ships offer incredible views and activities onboard.
Quantum Class ships have signature features found just on these ships, and are a big hit with families of varied ages. Quantum Class ships are the sort of cruise ship that has something for everyone to enjoy, whether you are new to cruising or an established veteran.
Royal Caribbean has a subset within the Quantum Class called the Quantum Ultra Class. Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas are technically part of the Quantum Ultra Class. These ships are considered Quantum Ultra because they are slightly larger and have a few differences, including a Skypad, Teppanyaki restaurant, and a new Main Dining Room design.
Related: All about Quantum Class ships
Why choose Quantum Class: Families looking for lots to do onboard, along with some incredible features.
Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships offer a big ship experience, with plenty to see and do onboard. In fact, Royal Caribbean updated two of them with much more to do in just the last few years.
Freedom Class ships represent an excellent value for families that want to cruise on a large ship, have lots of activities, but not break their budget. From a pure value standpoint, the Freedom Class ships are a great choice for a fabulous cruise experience.
Related: All about Freedom Class cruise ships
Freedom Class ships are essentially a slightly larger version of their Voyager Class sisters.
Why choose Freedom Class: Big ship experience, minus the premium price tag that the newer ships in the fleet currently command.
When Royal Caribbean introduced the Voyager Class, it revolutionized the industry with features and activities that we cannot dream of not having on a cruise ship these days. Mini-golf, the Royal Promenade, ice skating, and more all had their start on the Voyager Class.
Related: All about Voyager Class cruise ships
Just like the larger Freedom Class ships, Voyager Class vessels are a terrific value and offer some incredible itineraries. Royal Caribbean is not done investing in these ships, having added new restaurants, surf simulators, aqua parks, entertainment, and more over the last few years.
Why choose Voyager Class: Plenty to do onboard, newly added features, and terrific pricing. It is a great choice for families looking to save.
Radiance Class ships combine lots of glass and open areas to provide guests with a classic cruise experience.
Royal Caribbean's Radiance Class ships are stylish and get into many of the smaller cruise ports around the world that Royal Caribbean's larger ships cannot.
Related: All about Radiance Class cruise ships
Radiance Class ships do not skimp on things to do, offering varied dining experiences, as well as terrific live entertainment. Veteran cruisers enjoy the Radiance Class for the ship's refined offering and easygoing atmosphere.
Why choose Radiance Class: Beautiful ships that offer a time-honored cruise experience, with a connection to the ocean itself.
Royal Caribbean designed its Vision Class ships to fit into almost any port, which means guests can travel to exotic ports of call around the world.
Related: All about Vision Class cruise ships
Like the Radiance Class, Vision Class ships combine a small size with many activities that have been added over the years. Whether you are looking to "do it all" or just relax, Vision Class ships are a good choice.
Why choose Vision Class: Impressive itineraries that other ships in the fleet cannot offer.
Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.
What are Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus like? Our team tried them out and shared their thoughts.
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean began rolling out its new main dining room menu across the fleet. Symphony of the Seas was one of the first ships to get the new menu.
We wanted to see how the new menus compared to my previous dining experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and ranked everything we ate.
The 484th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has a first-hand report on what it's like to cruise with mobility special needs.
Rachel and Rebecca share their experience cruising on Liberty of the Seas after needing special wheelchair accessibility on their cruise.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 9 incredibly easy cruise mistakes to avoid — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
Ever wondered what an inside room on one of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships looks like?
Elizabeth tried out a guaranteed inside cabin while sailing on a recent Symphony of the Seas cruise to see what you can get for that price.
Enjoy an in-depth photo tour of this Symphony of the Seas inside room and what you get with the 149 square foot space.
You'd be surprised how many times we've been asked about trying another kind of Royal Caribbean cruise ship after only sailing Oasis Class ships.
After all, Oasis Class ships have everything you could want on a ship, so will other kinds of ships be disappointing?
Many people are worried that, after they’ve experienced the “best of the best” by Royal Caribbean, a cruise on a different type of ship would not feel as special.
Have you ever tried going on a cruise alone?
Taking a cruise without knowing anyone else onboard might seem frightening to some, but there are a lot of people that actually prefer this form of cruising.
From being able to enjoy your cabin to yourself to trying to find conversations with others, cruising solo has its ups and downs.
Elizabeth shared her experience sailing solo on a 7-night cruise and what stood out from her experience.
We have a detailed look at what will be Royal Caribbean's first private beach club in Nassau, Bahamas.
Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, The Bahamas was originally announced just before the cruise industry shutdown as a new kind of destination experience: not quite as secluded or open a as private island, but still an exclusive option for Royal Caribbean guests.
The project was originally announced in March 2020. Nothing new has been announced, but this our first look at the renderings for the beach option.
While there have not been any major updates announced, the cruise line insists the project is still a go. When asked for comments about the designs, Royal Caribbean had no comment.
We discovered concept art for the new beach club that provides context for what guests can expect.
Royal Caribbean calls the Royal Beach Club the "ultimate beach club experience" for cruise passengers, as well as a place to enjoy for Bahamians.
The project calls for a $110 Million investment that over the next 10 years is projected to return $1 billion in guest spend, government taxes and other expenditures.
It's located on the western end of Paradise Island, which is the narrow strip of land many cruise ship passengers are accustomed to seeing as they sail in or out of Nassau that features a lighthouse at the very end.
Royal Caribbean's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) provides more details as to what guests can expect. It's important to note that these plans could change without notice. Since it's our only insight into what Royal Caribbean is/has planning/planned, it's better than nothing. Please keep expectations in line as merely a reference point.
"The proposed project will include the development of Paradise Beach and Colonial Beach to create an arrivals area, family zone, water sports centre, food and beverage services, and swimming pool and back of house areas in support of a world class beach experience."
It looks like this will be an extra cost experience, as the EIA mentions an entrance fee:
It is anticipated that with the payment of an entrance fee, the experience will include access to the Royal Beach Club, lunch and the rental of a beach chair. For an additional fee, guests will be able to purchase alcohol and sodas, a cabana, day-bed, clamshell, and participate in watersports and local tours.
There will be an array of activities available to guests, including, but not limited to, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, floating mat rentals, inflatable water slides, parasailing, nature hikes, volleyball, and other sand and water related activities.
The construction of a family attraction will delight visitors of all ages and may include water fountains and splash zones. While the location is inherently beautiful, RCG will also ensure that additional landscaping is planted throughout the site.
Royal Caribbean purchased much of the land on the island, and also has access to additional land from the Bahamian government through a lease.
In looking through some of the proposals, we can see a few concepts for areas of the beach club. It's clear this is more than just a private strip of sand to enjoy.
The Conceptual Master Plan has a very low resolution image, but we can make out these features:
Upon project completion, Royal Caribbean believes its passengers will spend more time in Nassau.
During a call that could last up to nine hours, the Royal Beach Club experience will include four to five hours on Paradise Island plus additional time for shopping and other Nassau attractions.
As Paradise Island is close to the Nassau Port, guests will have direct and quick access to the harbor via water taxis.
Essentially, there will be a transit system that Royal Caribbean will establish where passengers walk off their cruise ship and through the Nassau Port area to reach the water taxi station.
From there, the water taxi can take them to one of two stops at the beach club.
Ever since Royal Caribbean announced the Royal Beach Club, it hasn't said much about it and that lead to speculation that the idea might have been cancelled.
Royal Caribbean executives insist it's simply paused, but still a go once funding for it becomes available.
In December 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about port projects, such as the Royal Beach Club, "We have multiple other port type projects that are still operating. They're still in place. And our ambition is to continue with our strategy. But obviously we have to be mindful of all of the various issues that came from the pandemic."
"My ambition is to as quickly as possible... to get the capital to continue to to create these these products for the business."
The same week, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty echoed the sentiment that nothing is cancelled, "there's nothing that has has been canceled."
"We're going to be able to continue to grow each one of our brands and we're going to be able to invest in Perfect Days and in Royal Beach clubs, etc."
Rachel and Rebecca share their experience cruising on Liberty of the Seas after needing special wheelchair accessibility on their cruise.
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Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.
Is a Royal Caribbean drink package worth the up-front cost?
Allie tried the deluxe beverage package for the first time on her recent Mariner of the Seas sailing and came away thinking it wasn't the right investment for her.
Here's her experience with why she learned the drink package wasn't a good choice for her.
The 483rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt talks with Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist about his job keeping passengers and crew safe from any kind of bad weather.
Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to employ a full-time meteorologist, and we talk with Mr. Van Fleet about his daily work to stay ahead of the weather.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — I stayed in a $13,000 suite on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
The chat feature in Royal Caribbean's app is now free!
So how well does it work and what should you know about the chat feature before you use it?
We have a walkthrough of the chat feature and what you should know about it before you start using chat on your next cruise.
Royal Caribbean has the option to let you book another cruise while onboard, but is it worth it?
By booking a cruise on the ship, you can take advantage of extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. It's incentives that are otherwise not available and stackable with Royal Caribbean's regular offers.
Like anything, there are drawbacks to the program, so it's important to know the pros and cons of NextCruise.
We all love to cruise as much as possible, but there are some downsides to cruising often.
This isn't meant to be any kind of pity party, just a way to share an inside look at the realities of going on cruise ships a lot.
From spending less time at home to gaining a few inches on the waistline, here are the top downsides to cruising a lot.
Could Royal Caribbean be letting the general public pick the name for its next cruise ship?
The selection of a cruise ship name is usually an internal process that executives undertake in order to determine the optimal name based on a variety of criteria, but Royal Caribbean may be opening it up in this case.
The cruise line posted on social media an invitation to choose between four names for its next Icon Class cruise ship.
The choices are:
There's even a voting poll on Twitter, along with an informal reaction poll on Facebook.
We want to hear from you! Which is your favorite for our second Icon Class ship? pic.twitter.com/DcLyDg26sW
— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) January 14, 2023
For what it's worth, the only name that is trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Royal Caribbean is Star of the Seas, which the cruise line registered on June 14, 2022.
In searching the trademark database, there are no entries for the other three names. That may or may not mean anything.
Trademark registrations are not necessarily indicative of what the company may or may not do.
Read more: 8 things Royal Caribbean trademarked but never did anything with
Of course, the polls on social media may not be a binding choice in which name the cruise line will use. If nothing else, exposing possible names for the ship to the public is a rare occurrence.
Icon of the Seas, the first in the class, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Her first sailing is scheduled for January 27, 2024.
The company has orders in place for two more Icon Class ships. The other two Icon Class ships will be in service by 2026.
In speaking with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider in November 2022, he indicated the name for the third Icon Class ship is set, but the second ship was still in the air.
"I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."
Picking a cruise ship name is no simple task, and Royal Caribbean often juggles dozens of names before settling on one.
Royal Caribbean will commonly register many trademarks for new cruise ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
As an example, in December 2021, the company registered 24 new cruise ship names.
Why so many?
Part of the process is not only reserving names they intend to use, but also names they know they will not use. Because trademarks are a matter of public record, from a competitive advantage standpoint, they'll include other names to prevent tipping their hand in which direction they'll go.
Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's innovative cruise ship, is a spectacular experience that combines cutting-edge technology with luxurious amenities and exciting entertainment to create an unforgettable vacation.
The ship has a rock-climbing wall and basketball court. There is also a casino, several restaurants and bars, and a theater that hosts Broadway-style shows.
What makes this ship stand out is the expansive range of activities it provides its guests. Onboard, you can find a variety of high-end restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges, as well as live music and entertainment. Furthermore, Odyssey of the Seas offers plenty of exciting sports and leisure opportunities such as rock climbing walls, surf simulator and even a sky diving simulator!
You can also stay connected with friends and family while onboard through complimentary Wi-Fi access. There are also various retail outlets where you can find souvenirs to take back home or pick up everyday essentials.
If you’re looking for some rest and relaxation then Odyssey of the Seas has plenty to offer here too. Its Vitality Spa encompasses a variety of treatments from massages to facials for those looking for some pampering during their cruise; alternatively you can lounge at one of their tranquil outdoor pools or enjoy time in one of their hot tubs overlooking the sea.
Odyssey of the Seas debuted in 2021, and her arrival was met with a great deal of enthusiasm as the ship brought with it some really exciting new offerings onboard.
Royal Caribbean designed Odyssey of the Seas with different areas of focus, and unlike other Quantum Class ships, she has some noticeable additions. If you have been on Anthem of the Seas or Ovation of the Seas, you may notice changes the cruise line made to the layout of the ship.
Let's focus on the major areas of the ship to get a better sense of what is onboard:
If you are concerned about crowds, Royal Caribbean designed the ship with enough to do so that there will be enough going on to draw guests away from always wanting to be in the same area. Odyssey has many of her best things to do in the front or aft of the ship, which helps with crowd management.
As with any cruise ship, it is a good idea to walk around the ship once you get onboard to get a better sense of where everything is located. By exploring the ship early, you can get your bearings and be able to navigate the ship better later on.
Royal Caribbean differentiated Odyssey of the Seas in a few ways from her sister Quantum Class ships.
First, it has Playmakers Sports Bar and placed it in the SeaPlex. This is the first ship to combine both venues.
Second, Odyssey does not have an indoor pool like other Quantum Class ships. Instead, Royal Caribbean went with a resort style pool approach, meaning there's two outdoor pools in addition to the enclosed Solarium.
In addition, Odyssey has the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen specialty restaurant concept.
There are 17 different restaurants on Odyssey of the Seas, along with multiple bars and lounges. Royal Caribbean was certain to include many options so guests had plenty of choice and no single venue became too overcrowded.
The variety of dining venues (paid and complimentary) gives passengers a choice of cuisines, cooking styles, and price.
The complimentary dining venues are included with your cruise fare, and you will be able to find plenty of food at no additional cost for every meal and snacks inbetween. In fact, the complimentary dining is quite good, and should not be overlooked because the food included with your cruise fare is cooked fresh every day and covers a great deal of tastes.
Specialty dining has an additional cost to it, and allows guests to opt into dining at these venues if they prefer. Most venues have a cover charge, where each guest pays a flat fee and all the food is included. A couple of venues have an a la carte menu, where you pay for each item individually.
The reason to go to a specialty restaurant is for a cooking style or cuisine not otherwise available on the ship. Specialty dining is a splurge, and is akin to choosing to go to a restaurant at home instead of having something in your house: there's nothing wrong with the food you have at home, but sometimes it is nice to pay for a meal out.
Specialty dining is not cheap, but there are dining packages you can purchase before the cruise to get a discount on multiple restaurants.
Here is a list of complimentary and specialty dining options on Odyssey of the Seas:
Should you eat at the included restaurants or try a specialty restaurant? It depends on your budget and tastes, but it is nice to mix in a specialty restaurant or two.
Most passengers focus primarily on the complimentary restaurants, such as the Main dining room and Windjammer. The ample snacks and between meal bites at El Loco Fresh and Sorrento's. In short, there is a good variety of food between these venues that will leave you satisfied.
If you are staying in a suite, you should also consider going to Coastal Kitchen, which is only for suite guests and offers a completely different menu from the main dining room. Royal Caribbean fans that cruise a lot in suites swear by how good Coastal Kitchen is, and since it is included with the cost of your suite, you should plan to dine there if you can.
If you would like to dip your toe into specialty dining, consider purchasing a 3-night dining package as a way to get a good deal on a few restaurants. Some of my favorites include Teppanyaki, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, and Playmakers.
Royal Caribbean offers passengers as much to do on Odyssey of the Seas as any cruise ship, and you will quickly find there are lots of really fun things to try.
In fact, it can feel like a floating city with all the activities to consider. Your best bet to keep track of what is offered and when is to read the daily Cruise Compass. Think of the Cruise Compass as a TV Guide for everything planned that day, including hours for all the activities, dining, shows, and live performances.
A copy of the Cruise Compass will be delivered to your stateroom each evening by your stateroom attendant, and you can also view it on the Royal Caribbean app.
Odyssey of the Seas stands out from other cruise ship with a few notable attractions onboard that are sure to get anyone's attention.
While there are traditional cruise ship activities onboard, such as bingo, trivia, and demonstrations, there are also lots of whiz-bang things to do as well:
Most of these activities are completely free to do on Odyssey of the Seas, although Royal Caribbean does charge for some.
You can book certain signature activities ahead of time, either before your cruise on the Royal Caribbean cruise planner website, or via the Royal Caribbean app once you are onboard the ship.
Hours for all activities will be published daily in the Cruise Compass.
Something completely different you should try is Zone Zero, which is an immersive virtual reality experience. At a cost of $18.00 per person, you put on a full VR suit and literally walk around a VR world. That is not to say you sit and explore like a video game; Rather, you physically walk in the real world while seeing a virtual one, where you battle pirates. Incredible stuff.
The North Star is another really fun thing to try out, where the observational pod will take you over 300 feet above sea level to see your ship and whatever is around you. Currently, North Star costs extra if you are on a sea day, but it is complimentary for port day. Schedule it on port days right when they open in the morning or late afternoon before the ship departs to get a free ride at a convenient time.
Ripcord by iFly is another popular activity, where you put on a special suit and enter a wind tunnel to get a sense of what it is like to sky dive.
North Star, Ripcord, and Zone Zero are all bookable via the Royal Caribbean app, but book them as soon as you can because space is very limited.
The SeaPlex is a hub of activity, where you will find lots of different things to do throughout the day and cruise. Bumper cars, pickleball, soccer, basketball, dancing and more will be available. Check your Cruise Compass for times.
Something else different about the SeaPlex is the fact Playmakers sports bar is located inside. Not only can you have a drink or meal while watching the action in the SeaPlex, there are 56 televisions around the bar to catch your favorite team. It is easily the best Playmakers location on any Royal Caribbean ship.
There are two main shows on Odyssey of the Seas, with plenty of other performances to check out.
All shows are under an hour in duration, which means the performances are all at a good length to not leave you overwhelmed.
"Showgirl: Past. Present. Future." is a tribute to the dance style Las Vegas showgirls have made famous for decades. It looks at the style of dance from different eras and presents it in a fast-paced original production that has a lot of energy behind it.
You can find Showgirl performed in the Royal Theater.
"The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure" is another original production that loosely tells a story of a librarian who explores the chapters of a book through song, dance, and music. It is difficult to describe this show in writing, but it is certainly a visually impressive production with lots of different elements and performing styles intertwined to create an act you have never seen before.
You can find The Book performed in Two70.
You should absolutely book reservations for Showgirl or The Book to ensure you have a spot for it, as seating is very limited (especially in Two70). There is no cost to make show reservations, and you can book it via the Royal Caribbean app once onboard the ship.
Be sure to also allocate time to see the live music on Odyssey of the Seas. Music Hall has a live band most nights, and it is as close as you can get to a rock concert on a cruise ship.
You will also find live music in other lounges onboard, including Boleros, Schooner Bar, and the Pub. Royal Caribbean puts a lot of pride in their live music onboard, so check out as much as you can.
Odyssey of the Seas has resort-style pool deck that is not otherwise available on other Quantum Class ships, and it is a great layout.
There are two main pools for all guests on Odyssey of the Seas, along with the adults-only Solarium.
The two pools are separated by a structure in the middle, but it helps break up crowding. You will find in-pool loungers, and lots of seating all around the pool deck.
Royal Caribbean integrated the entire pool deck with the Lime and Coconut, which is a multilevel bar venue that evokes a certain level of fun with your pool day.
On the second pool deck, you will find casitas that you can rent for an additional fee, along with hot tubs that overlook the lower pool deck. There are hot tubs on the lower pool deck too.
Pools will be closed occasionally when they need to be cleaned as well if weather or sea conditions make the pools unsafe for swimming. Otherwise, there is usually a pool and hot tub open for use.
The adults-only (age 16 and over) Solarium is a beautiful space, and it is enclosed which means the temperature is far more manageable on hot summer days.
Kids will find Splashaway Bay a fun place to get as wet as possible without actually jumping in a pool. There are water slides, drench buckets, geysers, and just about every other possible way to get soaked.
If you have children under the age of 18, there is an entire area of the ship reserved just for them at Adventure Ocean.
Odyssey of the Seas features the revamped Adventure Ocean that brings a new focus on activities for kids to do together, along with an infusion of some fun technology.
If you are unfamiliar with Adventure Ocean, programming is divided up into age-appropriate groups:
Adventure Ocean is complimentary during the day and evening, up until 10pm. After 10pm, there is an hourly cost per child.
Adventure Ocean is open most of the day, but their hours vary depending on if it is a port day or sea day. On sea days, Adventure Ocean typically opens at 9:00am. It then closes at noon and re-opens at 2pm and remains open until 5pm. The evening session then runs from 7pm to 10pm.
In addition, there is a Nursery for toddlers ages 6 to 36 months. The Nursery always has an hourly charge, but is designed for babies and toddlers.
The teen club is known as Social180, and it is like a clubhouse where teens meet before they participate in an activity there or elsewhere on the ship. Often there are teens-only events, such as bumper cars or FlowRider time.
As with any Royal Caribbean ship, planning ahead of time is very important to ensure you get to do everything you want.
At some point in the future, you will be able to book entertainment and shows ahead of time via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website.
For now, you can only book these activities once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. So be sure to have the app downloaded and ready to go before you get onboard. You can download the Royal Caribbean app from either the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store.
The app is capable of providing a digital SetSail pass once you complete online check-in. Just like a boarding pass for an airline, you can show the pier agents your SetSail Pass via the app and get onboard.
Make sure you complete the online check-in for your cruise as early as possible to get an early check-in time. Royal Caribbean enforces their check-in times (they didn't use to care about arrival times), so getting an early time is important.
If you're wondering of Odyssey of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet or the biggest cruise ship in the world, the answer to both questions is "no".
Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra class ship, and she comes in at 347.1m long and 41.1m wide and has a gross registered tonnage of 169,300t. While that is no small ship by any means, she is still smaller than any of the Oasis Class ships.
The biggest cruise ship in the world is Symphony of the Seas (soon to be eclipsed by Wonder of the Seas).
Symphony of the Seas measures 228,081 gross tons and is 1,188 feet 1 inch in length (362.12m).
When you read about Odyssey of the Seas, you may hear she is a Quantum Ultra class ship and wonder what makes that different from Quantum Class ships.
In practice, the difference between a Quantum and Quantum Ultra Class ship is less noticeable than the difference between other classes of ships. Think of it more like a sub class of the Quantum Class, rather than a completely different categorization of Royal Caribbean vessel.
Odyssey has the same basic layout and signature activities of a Quantum Class ship, such as the North Star, SeaPlex, Ripcord by iFly, a Royal Esplanade and more.
The real difference is when you look at the layout and additions Royal Caribbean has made compared to her older siblings. Odyssey has been reworked a bit, with a unified main dining room, a SeaPlex that features Playmakers sports bar, and a new resort-style pool deck.
Some other changes you will find on a Quantum Ultra class ship include a SkyPad, the indoor pool is now outdoor, a Teppanyaki restaurant, and a slightly larger size.
Read more: All about Royal Caribbean's ship classes
No, the Central Park area is only found on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.
There are two main pools on Odyssey of the Seas, and an adults-only Solarium pool.
The main pools have a resort-style theme to it that have in-pool loungers. Something else different is there are hot tubs on the upper pool deck with a see-through side.
There is a smaller version of Splashaway Bay for kids to enjoy. While it is not a pool, there are drench buckets, a kids slide, geysers and plenty of ways to cool off.
No, laser tag is not offered on Odyssey of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean offers laser tag on ships that have a Studio B ice skating rink, so that space can easily be converted over to laser tag when necessary.
Yes, there are robot bartenders on Odyssey of the Seas that can serve you drinks.
The Bionic Bar is located on deck 5 next to the shore excursions desk.
Anyone can order a drink from the Bionic Bar, as it can make alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Just go to the one of the nearby tablets and place an order. You have the choice of selecting from pre-defined drink recipes, or creating your own concoctions.
After submitting your drink order, the robots assemble and serve the drink in the order they came in.
While there is not a dedicated escape room on Odyssey of the Seas, they still offer an escape room game you can play.
Known as "A Royal Mystery" puzzle challenge, it is a game developed by the same company that creates the escape rooms for Royal Caribbean on other ships.
Held in Two70, this is a complimentary escape room game where teams try to solve a series of puzzles based on clues hidden throughout the room to help solve a whodunit murder case.
Guests participating have a set amount of time to comb over the details provided, as well as clues and puzzles they will discover until they can solve the case.
Check the Cruise Compass for when A Royal Mystery will be offered.
Odyssey of the Seas is offering roundtrip cruises from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for winter 2022-2023. There are 6- and 8-night sailings to choose from while the ship sails from Florida.
In summer 2023, Odyssey will transition to offer Mediterranean cruises.
Royal Caribbean provides a number of restaurants that will cost you nothing extra onboard.
In addition, there are specialty restaurants you can dine at that cost extra, but offer cuisines and/or cooking styles not otherwise available onboard.
Read more: Odyssey of the Seas restaurants
Splashaway Bay does offer kids a water slide, but Odyssey of the Seas does not have the Perfect Storm water slides found on other ships for guests of all ages.
Located on deck 14, there are two slides for kids to enjoy in Splashaway Bay, a small traditional slide and a tube slide.
If the winter cold weather has you thinking it might be time to book a cruise, Royal Caribbean has some deals you ought to consider.
Royal Caribbean's Wave season deals began this month, in which the cruise line is offering sales on cruises going through early 2025. Since our readers likely want to get away sooner than 2025, there's also a great array of choices you can find low prices for that depart in the first half of this year as well.
The current promotion offers 30% off every guest and Kids Sail Free deals when booking a cruise between January 3 to January 31, 2023.
In searching for cruises that depart between January and May 2023, I found super low rates on cruises that visit the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mexican Riviera.
Like any last minute cruise, the "catch" with these deals is you're going to have to act fast to not only book them, but ensure prices for airfare are reasonable as well.
Since now is one of the best times of the year to book a new Royal Caribbean cruise, here's a look at some of the best deals you can book for a winter or spring getaway.
In looking through the cruise deals for sailings in the first half of 2023, here are some of the top picks:
Alaska
It's never too early to start thinking of a cruise to Alaska, and there are some really low rates for the beginning of the Alaska cruise season.
Caribbean
If a warm-weather escape is what you want, there are lots of deals on cruises around the Caribbean.
Mexican Riviera
For our west coast friends, Navigator of the Seas has a lot of great rates left for cruises in January and February 2023.
Sailing from Los Angeles, there are 7-night sailings that visit Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, beginning at $471 per person for the April 28, 2023 sailing.
More deals beyond
These are just some of the cheapest prices I could find for a 7-night cruise that leaves in the next few months.
Royal Caribbean uses this time of year to boost its sales for the rest of the year, so you can find great prices for sailings later in the year, especially the fall.
In general, cruise pricing tends to favor those that book early and there are great rates to be had for cruises not just this year, but over the next few years.
Royal Caribbean is also advising that more deals will be coming this month, including flash deals of $550 instant savings and discounts on beverage and dining packages, shore excursions, internet and more throughout the month.
It's not your imagination, a lot of people are looking at a cruise vacation.
According to a AAA survey, 52% of adults in the United States this year are likely to consider a cruise vacation. That's up from 45% a year ago.
Why are so many people looking to cruise? In short, many travel experts see 2023 as a big bounce back year for travel after the events of the past three years.
Royal Caribbean already saw a record-breaking Black Friday sales event, and AAA believes new cruise ships are enticing a lot of folks to try a cruise.
Ready to book a cruise for this year? There's plenty of options, so here's my advice for sifting through all the options.
It's tempting to sort cruise prices from lowest to highest and harp on the cheapest price you can find, but you'll want to look at the big picture first.
First, look at the choice in cabin because that super low price is almost certainly for an inside cabin. There's nothing wrong with staying in an inside cabin, but some people want more space and a view with their cruise.
You'll also want to see if the price is for a guarantee cabin or not.
A guarantee cabin is when Royal Caribbean assigns your stateroom location, meaning you are unable to select exactly where on the ship your cabin will be. If you aren’t picky about your cabin location, booking a guarantee rate can be a nice way to save money.
If you’d prefer picking your own cabin location, though, expect to pay slightly more per person on the cruise fare.
Read more: What you need to know before booking a cheap cruise
Royal Caribbean has some great cruise fares you can book, but the airlines might not.
Before you book a cruise, you'll want to quickly check airfare prices to ensure you can afford the price to get you to that cheap cruise deal.
If you're looking at a cruise more than 3 months from now, you'll probably be fine in terms of flights. But if you're looking to getaway sooner, last minute flight prices could be a challenge.
Read more: Why booking a last-minute cruise isn't always a great idea
If you see a great price listed for a cruise, your next step should be to ask your travel agent to price it out.
Travel agents can see a host of discounts you might not think of, as well as agency rates and special offers.
Plus, a travel agent may be aware of other deals available based on pricing they've been tracking.
Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet is one of a kind, and this week, we have an exclusive interview talking about how is services benefit the company and passengers alike.
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