First Pictures Onboard the Odyssey of the Seas

The North Star ride is a signature feature on the Quantum-class ship. It’s a glass-enclosed pod that rises up over 300 feet over sea level giving amazing views. Like its sister ships, the North Star on the Odyssey of the Seas will hold up to 14 passengers at a time, and a single ride will last 15 – 20 minutes). Unfortunately, this attraction can get pretty long wait times, and we don’t see that changing on this ship.

If you’ve ever been on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the Schooner Bar will look familiar to you as it’s a staple on many of their ships. The piano bar gets hopping at night, and this one will be no exception. The bar on the Odyssey of the Seas keeps with the nautical theme seen on other ships, but this design feels much more light and airy. You’ll see less dark wood and carpets than some of the other ships. It’ll be interesting to see how this affects the room’s atmosphere; usually, you want piano bars to feel more intimate than expansive. 

The rock climbing wall is a standard on every Royal Caribbean ship. This ship’s climbing wall is a vivid red compared to previous ships that are tan or gray. It definitely adds a splash of color and life to the deck. Hopefully the new darker color won’t absorb more heat in the blistering Caribbean sun than the lighting color walls on other ships.

Many of Royal Caribbean’s ships have an ice skating rink, but this ship takes that to the next level. The SeaPlex has enough activities to keep everyone busy. The two story space houses bumper cars, flying trapese, roller skating, laser tag, and more. The Playmakers Sportsbar is right on the upper level on the right hand side, so a nice place to get a snack while the kids are having fun. It’s great to have an option for indoor fun for when weather is not so great. The SeaPlex can be found on all the Quantum class ships.

The Sky Pad is a newer attraction Royal Caribbean is adding to their fleet as part of the “Amplification” program. Now it finds a home on the Sports Deck of the Odyssey of the Seas. In this colorful dome, guests strap into a bungee harness and jump up and down on trampolines while attached to VR Googles for an out-of-this-world experience. 

Another staple of the Quantum-class ships, the Two70 Lounge is a unique venue that offers beautiful sea views through expansive windows. At night, the lights drop down, and you can see amazing shows with aerialists, singers, projection mapping, and moving Roboscreens. It’s technology mashed up with art. In this picture, you can see the familiar setup, with soft glowing LEDs accenting designs and creating ambiance. 

In this image, taken from the North Star pod, you can see that this one is Caribbean themed, unlike the older Quantum-class ships. While it doesn’t make a functional difference, it gives the ship more personality and a more relaxed feeling. It’s very similar to the newly “Amplified” ships in the fleet and helps keep the new brand personality they developed intact.

You can also see the kid’s splash park located behind the pool, which is on the smaller size compared to some other ships by other cruise lines. You’ll also notice, there are no Perfect Storm waterslides on this ship which is disappointing.

At night, the Pool Deck really comes to life with beautiful LED lighting. I love the rich, vibrant colors and the way the light plays off the palm trees. It’s going to a really cool place to hang out at night. You can also see the Lime and Coconut Bar at the end, a great place to stop by for some cocktails. This area really sets the Odyssey of the Seas apart from its sister ships.