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AN EPIC ODYSSEY CONTINUES – ROYAL CARIBBEAN WELCOMES BRAND-NEW SHIP

The Game-changing Cruise Line Takes Delivery of Odyssey of the Seas

MIAMI, March 31, 2021* – Setting course for a lifetime of adventure, Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas completed the final chapter in its construction odyssey today. The highly anticipated marvel officially became the 25th ship in the cruise line’s award-winning fleet, following a virtual rendition of the time-honored maritime tradition known as a delivery ceremony. Odyssey will now set the stage for a bold, new way to vacation when it debuts from first-time homeport Haifa, Israel in May 2021 and Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley, and Master of Odyssey of the Seas Captain Per Kristoffersen received the new ship from Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer and Managing Director Jan Meyer in the customary handover ceremony with a virtual twist.

"Receiving Odyssey of the Seas into the Royal Caribbean family is a welcomed breath of fresh air. The ingenuity, passion and hard work our dedicated crew, teams on land and partners at Meyer Werft put into building a new ship always deliver, and to pull it off so well during a time unlike any other is incredible,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We are looking forward to delivering the memorable vacations we’re known for today on a ship that will mark several firsts for us, from making Israel a first-time homeport to introducing Quantum Ultra Class to North America. Every new ship is a blank slate to go bolder and be different, and Odyssey is bringing the very best of the new and guest-favorites across two continents for the years to come.”       

Later today, fans will have front-row seats to the ceremony celebration during an untraditional Facebook premiere event – a first in the cruise line’s 52-year history. In store is a truly global lineup that includes the ship’s blessing led by Seafarers’ House at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, a show-stopping performance from signature venue Two70 on board Quantum of the Seas sailing in Singapore, and executives of Royal Caribbean in Florida and Meyer Werft Yard in Papenburg, Germany. The celebration exclusively takes place on Royal Caribbean International’s Facebook page at 5 p.m. EDT.

Odyssey is the second Quantum Ultra Class ship, and just in time for summer, it will welcome Royal Caribbean’s first guests to cruise from Israel on sailings where travelers above the age of 18 and crew members are fully vaccinated. Israeli residents can embark on 3- to 7-night getaways through October to visit sun-soaked destinations in the Mediterranean, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece and Limassol, Cyprus. Following its inaugural summer season, Odyssey will embark on a transatlantic crossing for its North American debut this November, where it’s slated to offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale to idyllic ports of call like Aruba, Curacao and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s game-changing private island destination in The Bahamas.

            Weighing 169,000 gross tons and measuring 1,138 feet (347 meters) long and 135 feet (41 meters) wide, Odyssey will be the newest and largest ship to homeport in Israel and the first of its kind to call Florida its home later this year. Vacationers of all ages are in for a combination of 12 all-new and first-to-brand experiences as well as the signature adventures guests know and love, including:

  • Caribbean-inspired pool deck– Sporting a whole new look across two decks, Odyssey’s two open-air pools, four whirlpools and Splashaway Bay, anchored by a Quantum Ultra Class first – The Lime & Coconut bar – are designed for all travelers to enjoy the sun and stars in style.  
  • SeaPlex – The next-generation of a longtime Quantum Class favorite, this SeaPlex is the largest indoor and outdoor activity center at sea, and debuts this venue’s first Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
  • Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and Teppanyaki – Two Royal Caribbean restaurants new to North America join the varied lineup of dining options on board. The fresh take on the cruise line’s signature trattoria is the first to introduce its new wine bar concept while the other serves up East Asian flavors in the traditional Japanese style for which its named.
  • Action-packed top deck – Returning guest-favorites include the gravity-defying SkyPad virtual reality bungee trampoline adventure, FlowRidersurf simulator, skydiving with RipCord by iFly, and the iconic North Star all-glass observation capsule that boasts 360-degree views from 300 feet above sea level.
  • One-of-a-kind entertainment – In typical Royal Caribbean fashion, Odyssey’s full-scale productions take top billing in teched-out venues such as the Royal Theater and Two70, where immersive technology, unparalleled special effects and world-leading performers and aerialists take the stage alongside six agile Roboscreens for a multidimensional live show.

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 18 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites.

*June 2021 Update Odyssey of the Seas will now debut in July when it sets sail as the first Quantum Ultra Class ship to cruise from the U.S. The brand-new ship will cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a series of 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries. For more details, visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates.

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Related Images

March 2021* – Odyssey of the Seas out sailing the North Sea during sea trials. The sea trials are one of the final milestones in the construction of a new ship; it’s when the 169,000-gross-ton ship and its innerworkings are put to the test, from the azipods – propulsion systems that help with maneuvering – to the navigation system and engines. Odyssey makes its highly anticipated debut when it sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in July 2021. *Updated June 2021
March 2021* – Odyssey of the Seas out sailing the North Sea during sea trials. The sea trials are one of the final milestones in the construction of a new ship; it’s when the 169,000-gross-ton ship and its innerworkings are put to the test, from the azipods – propulsion systems that help with maneuvering – to the navigation system and engines. Odyssey makes its highly anticipated debut when it sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in July 2021.

*Updated June 2021

March 2021 – The highly anticipated Odyssey of the Seas reaches its next construction milestone – a 10-plus-hour conveyance. Escorted by two tugboats, the ship slowly traveled backward 20 miles (32 kilometers) down the Ems River to reach the North Sea.
March 2021 – The highly anticipated Odyssey of the Seas reaches its next construction milestone – a 10-plus-hour conveyance. Escorted by two tugboats, the ship slowly traveled backward 20 miles (32 kilometers) down the Ems River to reach the North Sea.

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Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice.