Odyssey of the Seas may not be Royal Caribbean’s newest ship anymore, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.
Royal Caribbean’s bigger and flashier vessels tend to dominate the conversation. Icon of the Seas has generated enormous buzz for its size and groundbreaking design, while Wonder of the Seas arrived not long after Odyssey of Seas entered service.
Because of pandemic-related delays, the two ships debuted unusually close together, giving Odyssey of the Seas only a short window as Royal Caribbean’s newest ship. When it comes to pomp and circumstance, this timing seems to have worked against Odyssey of the Seas.
But make no mistake, Odyssey of the Seas deserves far more attention than it deserves. After a 12-night itinerary across the Mediterranean, it’s easily become my favorite Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
While it lacks some of the headline-grabbing features found on Royal Caribbean’s largest vessels, it offers a good balance for many cruisers. As a newer ship with innovative attractions, you can also find extensive dining options, a variety of entertainment, and more destination-focused itineraries.
For cruisers who want a modern Royal Caribbean experience without committing to one of the cruise line’s largest ships, Odyssey of the Seas is a fantastic option to consider.
The size is sweet spot in Royal Caribbean’s growing fleet
Royal Caribbean is known for building some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, but bigger is not always better for every traveler.
Odyssey of the Seas, which debuted in 2021, is the second Quantum Ultra-class ship in the fleet and the final vessel in the Quantum class. At 167,704 gross tons, it is still a large ship by any standard, but the ship feels more manageable than the line’s Oasis-class and Icon-class vessels.
In my opinion, this balance is one of the ship’s biggest strengths.
Odyssey of the Seas has enough room for signature Royal Caribbean attractions, varied dining venues, and high-tech entertainment. However, the Quantum class vessel still avoids some of the limitations that come with the cruise line’s largest ships. In particular, its more modest size allows it to sail more port-intensive itineraries that would be difficult for bigger vessels to operate.
For travelers who want a ship with plenty to do but without the massive size and intensity of Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships, Odyssey of the Seas is an appealing middle ground.
The itineraries are one of the biggest selling points
One of the strongest reasons to book Odyssey of the Seas is where it sails. During the summer season, the Royal Caribbean ship operates in Europe, where it typically offers Greek Isles and Mediterranean itineraries from Rome.
In the winter, it repositions to Cape Liberty in New Jersey for Caribbean sailings. This flexibility gives Odyssey of the Seas an edge over some of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, which remain heavily focused on the Bahamas and Caribbean.
For my family, the itinerary was the entire reason we booked the cruise. We had wanted to sail a Holy Land itinerary for years, and Odyssey of the Seas offered a 12-night voyage with two overnights in Israel.
This itinerary gave us three full days to explore the country, which is a rare opportunity on any cruise itinerary. Being able to combine a bucket-list itinerary with a modern ship made the experience even more worthwhile.
This is where Odyssey stands out most clearly. If you want a newer Royal Caribbean ship without sacrificing destination-driven travel, it is one of the best choices in the fleet.
Improvements on earlier Quantum-class ships
Odyssey of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Ultra class, a subset of the Quantum class that includes just two ships: Odyssey of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas.
Unless you are planning to sail in Asia on Spectrum of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas is the most accessible way to experience this version of the class.
The differences are not purely cosmetic. Quantum Ultra ships are slightly larger than the original Quantum-class ships, and the design changes improve both crowd flow and functionality. One of the most notable upgrades is the return to a unified main dining room, unlike the split dining room concept found on earlier Quantum ships.
Odyssey of the Seas also features a dedicated Teppanyaki venue in addition to Izumi Sushi, creating more space for one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular specialty dining concepts.
Another distinguishing feature is the SkyPad structure on the sports deck. Although Royal Caribbean has removed the trampoline attraction from the venue, the glass-floored area still extends dramatically over the side of the ship and remains a distinctive part of the ship’s top-deck design.
There is plenty to do without the ship feeling overwhelming
Odyssey of the Seas has Royal Caribbean’s signature family-friendly, attraction-heavy experiences.
One of the ship’s biggest draws is SeaPlex, Royal Caribbean’s large indoor activity complex. On Odyssey of the Seas, the venue is especially versatile, with bumper cars, laser tag, sports courts, pickleball, roller skating, and other activities scheduled throughout the cruise.
The ship also has the next-generation SeaPlex design, including Playmakers Sports Bar integrated into the area. That gives the space a more social, lively feel than on earlier Quantum ships.
It’s also very useful for itineraries with cooler weather where the outdoor climate might keep you indoors. In this way, the SeaPlex works especially well for families, but adults can have just as much fun there too.
Odyssey of the Seas also includes the North Star observation pod, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, and RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator.
I skipped the extra-cost skydiving simulator, but I did try the North Star on embarkation day in Civitavecchia. This was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip! The glass-enclosed pod rises high above the ship and provides sweeping views that you simply will not get on most other cruise ships.
Odyssey of the Seas works especially well for families, but it’s for everyone
Odyssey of the Seas is an easy recommendation for families because the ship is packed with onboard attractions. Kids and teens have no shortage of things to do, from Adventure Ocean youth programming to Social180 for teens, along with splash areas, sports courts, and adrenaline-style attractions.
But the ship is not exclusively geared exclusively toward families.
This is one of the things I appreciated most while sailing with my sister and our parents. We did not have children in our group, yet we never felt like the ship was designed only for families. There was a good mix of activity and relaxation, whether we were spending time at trivia, enjoying a cocktail at Lime and Coconut, or heading to one of the evening shows.
For couples, multigenerational groups, and older travelers, Odyssey of the Seas offers enough variety to feel lively without being chaotic.
The staterooms are modern, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed
One of the most surprising aspects of my Odyssey of the Seas cruise was how much I liked the stateroom design.
Before sailing on Odyssey of the Seas, I had been spending more time on older Royal Caribbean ships, including Radiance-class and Voyager-class vessels. The difference was immediately noticeable. Odyssey of the Seas cabins are more modern, better organized, and more functional overall.
My sister and I originally booked an interior cabin, but we placed a RoyalUp bid of $300 each for a junior suite and were pleasantly surprised when it was accepted.
The suite ended up being one of the highlights of the cruise!
In addition to the extra space, the room had many thoughtful design details that made a big difference on our longer sailing.
For instance, the bathroom had a split layout, which separated the tub and shower from the toilet and sink area, which made getting ready much easier. We also appreciated the generous storage, extra outlets, USB ports, and upgraded finishes throughout the cabin.
For travelers considering a suite, Odyssey of the Seas also offers Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class accommodations, including Sea, Sky, and Star Class.
We loved all the dining options on Odyssey of the Seas
Dining is another area where Odyssey of the Seas really shines, especially compared to Royal Caribbean’s older vessels.
The ship has 17 dining venues, with a mix of included options and specialty restaurants. That variety is particularly appreciated on longer itineraries, when having multiple places to eat can make the cruise feel more varied.
One of my favorite complimentary spots was El Loco Fresh on the pool deck. This is casual, convenient, and consistently tasty, especially for a quick lunch after returning from a day ashore. I kept going back for the quesadillas!
We also liked Café@Two70, which is easy to overlook, but makes a great quick breakfast or lunch stop. The made-to-order options and lighter fare are a nice change of pace from the busy buffet.
Among the specialty venues, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen stood out most. This is Royal Caribbean’s reimagined Italian concept, and it feels more contemporary than the older Giovanni’s Table. The menu features hand-tossed pizzas and fresh pasta dishes, making it one of the most memorable meals of our cruise. We also enjoyed a delicious meal at Chops Grille – Royal Caribbean’s steakhouse.
I would also argue that Odyssey has some of the better main dining room food and service I have experienced in the fleet. That matters on a ship where many passengers may not want to pay extra for specialty dining every night.
The pool deck and Solarium offer different ways to unwind
Odyssey of the Seas takes a different approach to the pool deck than some earlier Quantum-class ships.
Rather than including an indoor pool, the ship features two outdoor pools on a redesigned open-air deck, along with the adults-only Solarium at the front of the ship. This creates a resort-style setup that’s colorful, open, and better suited to warm-weather sailings.
I liked the layout of the pool deck because it helped disperse crowds. The multilevel design, hot tubs, and Lime and Coconut bar gave the area a fun atmosphere. But, it really never felt overly crowded or hectic.
However, the lack of an indoor pool is worth keeping in mind for cooler-weather sailings from the East Coast. On my Mediterranean itinerary, this was not an issue, but it could be more noticeable on shoulder-season or winter departures.
On sea days, I spent most of my time in the Solarium, which became my go-to place to relax. The enclosed space is quiet, comfortable, and ideal for lounging with a classic Royal Caribbean drink while watching the ocean pass by.
Entertainment is varied and high-tech
Entertainment is another area where Odyssey of the Seas feels like a newer-generation Royal Caribbean ship.
The most distinctive venue is Two70, the aft-facing lounge and performance space that transforms at night into one of the most technologically advanced theaters in the fleet. During my cruise, we saw The Book there, a high-production show that combined aerialists, dancers, singers, and enormous digital screens.
It was visually impressive and unlike anything on most cruise ships, even if I found the storyline a little hard to follow.
The main theater productions are also very entertaining. “Showgirl” brings a flashy, high-energy Las Vegas vibe, while live music around the ship helps keep the evenings lively. I also enjoyed the Music Hall, which has more of a concert-style atmosphere than the smaller lounges found on some other ships.
If there is one tradeoff, it is that Odyssey of the Seas does not offer some of the signature entertainment venues found on Oasis-class and Icon-class ships, such as the Aqua Theater or ice skating rink. But, what it does offer feels well executed that I never felt shortchanged.
Why Odyssey of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s most underrated ships
Odyssey of the Seas may not have the name recognition of Icon of the Seas or the sheer scale of Utopia of the Seas, but it delivers in ways that matter.
The ship offers many of Royal Caribbean’s classic amenities with innovative attractions, varied dining, high-tech entertainment, and family-friendly activities. At the same time, anyone will appreciate the ship’s variety and destination-focused itineraries than some of the line’s biggest ships.
For me, Odyssey of the Seas proves that you do not need to sail on the biggest ship in the world to have one of the best Royal Caribbean vacations. In fact, its size may be one of its greatest strengths.
Odyssey of the Seas offers plenty to do onboard, but its size still feels manageable and well suited for the kinds of destination-focused itineraries many cruisers actually want to sail.
After spending 12 nights onboard, I would not hesitate to book Odyssey of the Seas again. If you’re looking for a newer Royal Caribbean ship that still offers great itineraries without the chaos of the biggest ships, Odyssey of the Seas remains one of the most underrated ships in the fleet.
