Cruise Spotlight
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Odyssey of the Seas vs MSC Poesia
The Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas was built in 2021. It was renovated in 2026. It's 13 years newer than the Poesia, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2025.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Odyssey of the Seas is considered a large ship. Coming in at 1,138 feet long and 135 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.2 football fields, as wide as 2.5 tractor-trailers, and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the MSC Poesia, the Odyssey of the Seas is 82% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas holds 64% more passengers than the Poesia based on double occupancy (two people per room). At full capacity, Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas holds 53% more passengers than the Poesia.
When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Odyssey of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Poesia. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas | MSC Poesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Quantum-Ultra | Musica |
| Gross Tonnage | 169,000 | 92,627 |
| Length | 1,138 | 964 |
| Beam/Width | 135 | 106 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 4,180 | 2,550 |
| Passengers (maximum occupancy) | 5,498 | 3,605 |
| Crew | 1,550 | 1,027 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 31 | 26 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Odyssey of the Seas has fifteen different dining options like Chef's Table, Izumi, and Two70 Cafe. Of those options, twelve are complimentary, or included with your cruise fare. The other ten options have an additional fee.
The Poesia has eight fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Butcher's Cut, Kaito Sushi Bar, Seven of these restaurants are complimentary and the other five have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Odyssey of the Seas might be a better choice. It has more than twice as many dining options as the Poesia.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Odyssey of the Seas might be a better choice than the Poesia. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas | MSC Poesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 15 | 7 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 12 | 7 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 10 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 33% | 29% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-Cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barq's Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out the recent bar menus for the Odyssey of the Seas and the Poesia below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas has a total of 4 pools and 5 hot tubs. 1 of the pools are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
MSC Poesia has fewer pools than the Odyssey of the Seas and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Poesia. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Odyssey of the Seas.
| Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas | MSC Poesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 4 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 3 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 5 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 3 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Odyssey of the Seas, 75% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Poesia, only 43% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas | MSC Poesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bionic Bar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bumper Cars | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✓ | ✗ |
| Indoor Sky Diving | ✓ | ✗ |
| Laser Tag | ✓ | ✗ |
| North Star | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Theater | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Royal Caribbean and MSC are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically, newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on MSC Poesia.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests may also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically, guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas | MSC Poesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.50 | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $7.49 See drink menus | $9.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 - $118 Learn more | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.
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