Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas is the last Quantum-class ship released, and it was primarily assigned to Cape Liberty, New York, to serve guests who want a family-friendly ship with a touch of elegance and maturity that recalls the Radiance class. This ship has some wild features, from an indoor skydiving simulator to bumper cars, and offers spaces that both adults and children will love. Looking for a ship that focuses on long itineraries and sails from the Big Apple? Then this review is for you.

What we like about Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas is the latest Quantum-Ultra Class ship, released in 2022, and it’s known for some very wild and unique activities that set it apart from the big Oasis-Class mega-resorts at sea. 

Instead of massive waterparks and multiple waterslides, Odyssey of the Seas offers bumper cars, an indoor skydiving simulator, the SeaPlex sports center, a small waterpark designed mostly for children, a rock climbing wall, a laser tag arena, and an observation capsule that takes you over 300 feet above sea level… yep, the perfect spot to snap amazing pictures in Europe and the Caribbean. As you can see, you won’t find carousels or huge waterparks like those on the Icon Class, but there’s still plenty to do, and the skydiving simulator is something you’ll only find on a handful of ships.

A lot of people ask about the differences between Odyssey and other ships of the same class, like Anthem of the Seas, and honestly, it can sometimes be hard to point out what sets sister ships apart. That’s not the case with Odyssey of the Seas, which we consider one of the best Quantum-class ships out there. 

Not only is it the newest, but it also features amenities you won’t usually find on other Quantum-class ships. Odyssey has the Playmakers Bar, one of the best spots on board with tasty food, an arcade, and live sports (perfect for football season or keeping up with the Yankees, New Yorkers!), plus more hot tubs, a bionic bar with robots serving your drinks, an El Loco Fresh Mexican restaurant with free tacos and nachos, and the laser tag arena we already mentioned. It’s a more family-friendly ship than most other Quantum-class vessels, which makes it perfect for week-long Caribbean itineraries.

What we don’t like about Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey is awesome and there’s plenty to do, but it’s also a ship that can feel crowded at times. That’s actually pretty interesting, considering most other Quantum-class ships don’t feel that way, and there’s a valid reason for it. 

Since Odyssey sails from New York to the Caribbean, winter weather pushes most guests indoors, leaving the pool deck basically empty. This makes the indoor spaces feel more crowded and tighter than usual, which is a big contrast to sailings from Florida, where guests are still fine hanging outside in the “winter.” What’s also surprising is that Odyssey of the Seas doesn’t have an indoor pool, even though guests would surely appreciate a heated, covered pool as temperatures drop in New York and it gets freezing outside.

Conclusion

Odyssey of the Seas is a modern and very family-friendly Quantum-class ship, and perhaps one of the best for children. It features bars and restaurants that perfectly capture the Caribbean vibe, from El Loco Fresh to Playmakers, and while it can get crowded during winter sailings, that feels like a small issue when you can be skydiving or riding bumper cars near Jamaica.