(1:20 p.m. EDT) — Royal Caribbean’s much-anticipated newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, has embarked from Fort Lauderdale on a two-night test cruise, in preparation for its first cruise on July 31.
The 4,198-passenger ship, a Quantum Ultra class with new features and restaurants that have yet to be enjoyed by U.S. passengers, left Port Everglades on Monday, July 19. When it starts its revenue cruises, Odyssey will sail on six- and eight-night Caribbean itineraries.
The test cruise is required by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because Royal Caribbean is allowing families onboard, and therefore not committing to require that 95 percent of passengers be vaccinated.
The line is, however, heavily suggesting all guests age 12 and up be vaccinated. Guests who are not vaccinated will find they are restricted from such new experiences as a Virtual Adventure Zone and Teppanyaki restaurant, serving hibachi-style Japanese cuisine.
Exciting New Features
The ship introduces, among new features, the largest SeaPlex at sea – an action wonderland that’s been updated to add more virtual reality- and augmented reality-based games including at the Virtual Adventure Zone.
Featured Videos
Our Celebrity Silhouette Cruise Experience: March 2020 vs. July 2021
Cruise Executives Wish Cruise Critic a Happy 25th Anniversary (VIDEO)
Freedom of the Seas: What’s It Like Onboard a Test Cruise? (Cruise Critic & Royal Caribbean Blog
Q&A with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue (2021)
Back on Celebrity Silhouette: Here’s What It’s Like On One Of Our Favorite Ships 15 Months Later
Cruise Critic | EatSleepCruise: What’s It Like Onboard Celebrity Edge?
Anthem Of The Seas Welcomes Gigi The Giraffe
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — The Magic Carpet
Q&A: Cruisers and Crew Chat About The Joy of Cruising’s Return
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — Eden
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — The Retreat
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — Infinite Veranda Cabins
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — Your Cruise Director
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — Pools
LIVE: Cruise Critic is Onboard Celebrity Apex — Embarkation
Live From Adventure of the Seas: What’s the Same, What’s Different and What’s Better?
Oasis Of The Seas Ship Tour – Ship Exterior
What It Means To Be Loyal To Royal
Here’s What We Packed For Our Royal Caribbean Cruise (June 2021)
7 Can’t-Miss Experiences on Allure Of The Seas
Celebrity to Restart from U.S. Homeport, PLUS Royal Caribbean Given Green Light for Test Cruises! (VIDEO)
LIVE From MSC Virtuosa! Embarkation, the Buffet, COVID Protocols and MORE!
CRUISE NEWS Countdown! This Week’s Top 5 Stories
NEWS: CDC Loosens Mask Restrictions; Norwegian Reveals NEW Ship Class (VIDEO)
VIDEO: What Does the Latest CDC Guidance Mean? We Explain, Cruisers & Cruise Lines React
Alaska 2021: Inside Passage Businesses Talk About A Devastating Season Without Cruise Tourists
CRUISE NEWS: Two Brand-New Cruise Ships From Disney And Celebrity Revealed, See Photos! (VIDEO)
BREAKING NEWS: CDC Says Cruises From the U.S. Could Start by “Mid-July”
CRUISE NEWS: Two States Sue CDC Over Cruise Restart, New MSC Virtuosa Photos & More
CRUISE NEWS: The CDC Battle Over Cruise Continues!
NEWS: Norwegian Makes HUGE Waves with Restart Plans (Bonus! Live From an Alaska Cruise)
CRUISE NEWS: Where Can You Cruise To — And From — In Summer 2021?
Odyssey of the Seas — From Steel Cutting to Delivery 2021
CRUISE NEWS: The CDC’s Silence And Where Vaccinated Passengers Can Sail in 2021 — VIDEO
BONUS NEWS! Royal Caribbean, Celebrity to Resume Cruising in June
BREAKING: A Big Cruise Line Says Guests Need the Jab, Another Announces U.K. Return
NEWS: This Cruise Line is Returning to Cruise SOON! — Video
NEWS: Odyssey of the Seas’ Debut in Israel, and Where Royal Caribbean Might Restart Next — VIDEO
Video Of Odyssey Of The Seas Conveyance March 2021
Cruise Restart, Rising Cruise Prices & The Vaccine’s Impact On Bookings (Video)
Exciting Disney Cruise News, More Vaccine Mandates & MSC Seashore Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
Why Lines Aren’t Canceling Alaska Cruises, Robot News and More (VIDEO)
CDC Mask Mandate, Cruise Vaccine News and Canada’s Cruise Ban Through 2022 (VIDEO)
Cruisers and Cruise Lines Talk Vaccines, Big Azamara News and More — VIDEO
Royal Caribbean Group Sells Popular Cruise Line, Mandatory Vaccines and More (Video)
Exciting Cruise News From Carnival Corp., Pause Extensions & More (Video)
Exciting New Ships In 2021 – This Week In Cruise News (Video)
Rudi Sodamin Makes A Special, Thanksgiving-themed “Food Faces” Video For Cruise Critic
Coin Ceremony For Celebrity Cruises’ New Ship, Celebrity Beyond
Cruising In Maine During COVID-19, On The Only Ship Sailing In The U.S.
Video: Former Cruise Ship Captain Offers “Ghost Tours” Of Empty Cruise Liners In South England
Variety Cruises’ Galileo, The First Eastern Mediterranean Cruise In The COVID Era
Video: Royal Caribbean Group Announces E-muster, Keyless Cabin Check-in And Other App Improvements
Drone Footage Of MSC Grandiosa Docked In Genoa For First Sailing Since The COVID-19 Pandemic
Disney Cruise Line Announces Disney Wish
Cruise Critic’s 2019 Cruisers’ Choice Award Winners!
Virgin Voyages Unveils Beach Club And Entertainment
First Look At Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
Royal Caribbean Odyssey Of The Seas Steel Cutting At Meyer Werft
Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection To Debut In 2020
Silversea Cruises World Cruises 2021
Virgin Voyages Reveals Suite Design New Cruise Ship
Celebrity Edge Sneak Peek: Why You Should Be Excited About Celebrity Cruises’ Ship
Celebrity Edge Shipyard Hyperlapse Tour
Marella Cruises Cast Members Rehearse New Show Debut
Shipyard Tour: Royal Caribbean’s Symphony Of The Seas Gets Its Finishing Touches — Video
Shaquille “Shaq” O’neal Named Chief Fun Officer Of Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line’s “Choose Fun” Commercial
Harmony Of The Seas Video Tour – Inside Look At One Of Royal Caribbean’s Most Popular Cruise Ships
Symphony Of The Seas Video Tour
Live From MSC Seaside: A Cruise Ship Designed For The Outdoors
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum Of The Seas Celebrates Keel Laying
Sea Beyond: An Innovative Cruise Experience By Royal Caribbean
Sneak Peak At Symphony Of The Seas
What’s Your Size? Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class Vs. Majesty Of The Seas – Video
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Of The Seas Highlights
Spectrum Of The Seas Steel Cutting At Meyer Werft
Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment Of The Seas Highlights
Harvest Caye Cruise Port Video Tour
Royal Caribbean’s Allure Of The Seas
Video Tour of Allure Of The Seas’ Bars
Cruise Pier Runners In Cozumel — Carnival Liberty
Harmony Of The Seas Youth Place
Harmony Of The Seas Boardwalk
Harmony Of The Seas Pool And Sports Zone
Harmony Of The Seas Central Park On Royal Caribbean International
Harmony Of The Seas Royal Promenade
Harmony Of The Seas Entertainment Place
Harmony Of The Seas Vitality Spa And Fitness Center
Perfect Storm Water Slides On Harmony Of The Seas
Cruise Critic Tours Harmony Of The Seas
Harmony Of The Seas Cabins – Video Tour – Cruise Critic
Cruise Critic Tours Harmony Of The Seas
Greased Lightnin’ Royal Caribbean Brings Another Broadway Hit
Plunging Into Adventure On The Tallest Slide At Sea: Royal Caribbean Reveals 10-Story Ultimate Abyss
Cruise Critic Flowrider On Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas
Cruise Critic Tours Anthem of the Seas
HRH Prince Phillip Visits Cunard’s Fleet
Royal Rendezvous: 3 Cunard Queens Arrive In Southampton
Carnival Liberty Cruise – Late Passengers In Cozumel
Celebrity Silhouette’s Conveyance
Oasis Of The Seas Flowrider – Cruise Critic Goes Surfing
Oasis Of The Seas Royal Promenade
Oasis Of The Seas Jazz On 4 Performance
Oasis Of The Seas Royal Promenade Parade
Oasis Of The Seas Carousel In Action
Oasis Of The Seas Ship Tour Main Dining Room
The indoor and outdoor SeaPlex also features glow-in-the-dark laser tag, bumper cars and a Sky Pad bungee trampoline.
The ship has a redesigned two-deck pool area, themed on the Caribbean, with two open-air resort-style pools and four whirlpools – surrounded by lounge chairs as well as casitas and hammocks. There’s also The Lime and Coconut Bar, featuring a rum drink of the same name and live music.
Odyssey is Royal Caribbean’s first North American-based ship with a Teppanyaki restaurant, one of 15 onboard eateries (eight, like Teppanyaki, carry an added fee).
Already popular Royal features are onboard too, including FlowRider surf simulator, RipCord by iFly simulated skydiving, a North Star observation capsule ride, a rock-climbing wall and a Splashaway Bay waterpark.
What’s Open For Vaxxed Vs. Non-Vaxxed Guests
Vaccinated guests will have the run of the ship – including indoor areas for vaccinated-guests only, where masks won’t be required (everyone can go mask-free outdoors).
As on other Royal ships that have recently set sail from the U.S., unvaccinated guests will be required to wear masks indoors when not eating and drinking and face a bunch of other restrictions. Vaccinated adults traveling with unvaccinated kids are restricted when they are with the kids.
Closed to unvaccinated guests are both the new Virtual Adventure Zone and laser tag. The rest of the SeaPlex, as well as North Star and RipCord, will be available to unvaccinated guests only during dedicated hours.
Those who have not been vaccinated will not have access to the new Teppanyaki restaurant nor Chef’s Table, and will be restricted to Deck 3 in the main dining room. All other restaurants are open to all guests, with social distancing in place.
If you have not been vaccinated you will not be allowed to visit the Casino Royal, indoor Solarium pool area, art auctions, nor the Vitality Spa (the fitness center will be open at dedicated times).
Open only to those with vaccines are Boleros and The Pub, as well as events such as the 70s party in SeaPlex and the HUSH! Silent Party. In the Musical Hall and the Royal Theater, unvaccinated guests will be restricted to seating on Deck 4.
Shore Excursions Required Only For Unvaxxed Guests
Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamas island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is open to all guests without restrictions. That’s not the case at the Odyssey’s other ports of call – where those who are not vaccinated will only be allowed off the ship on shore excursions. Vaccinated guests are free to explore on their own.
The ports include Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, on the six-night Western Caribbean itineraries; and Aruba and Curacao on the eight-night Southern Caribbean sailings. Rules onshore in Falmouth, Jamaica are to be determined, according to Royal Caribbean’s website.