Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest and fifth Quantum Ultra class, has reached another major milestone as she set off on her sea trials on March 14. It is another step towards Odyssey of the Seas, being one of the few ships in the world sailing this May as she heads off to Israel for her maiden voyage.
What’s Included and Where is she?
Sea trials are always one of the last items to tick off the list for the shipyard before a vessel is officially handed over to the cruise line. A variety of sea trials will take place under the close watch of both Royal Caribbean and Meyer Werft. Both technical and nautical tests will be performed.
Sea trials give the shipyard an idea of how the vessel will perform and if she performs within limits outlined in the build. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of tests that are performed during a sea trial. For example, these include main engine endurance testing, steering gear tests, and crash stop tests.
The tests can take anywhere between a few days to a few weeks, depending on the vessel’s performance during testing. Currently, Odyssey of the Seas can be tracked on our Cruise Ship Tracker as she sails the North Sea between Denmark, Germany, and Sweden.
Once the tests are complete, the vessel is expected to return to her berth in Bremerhaven, Germany. The work onboard is ongoing as hundreds of people are on board to complete the final interior fittings.
The shipyard has said the work is going well, while the atmosphere onboard is positive. The shipyard expects the vessel to be delivered in the next few weeks:
“The mood on board is good and the teams from the shipyard, suppliers as well as the shipping company and the classification society are working hand in hand to ensure the successful completion of the ship.”
What’s Next for Odyssey of the Seas?
It will only be a few weeks between the completion and the vessel’s handover to Royal Caribbean from Meyer Werft which will happen towards the end of March 2021. This followed major delays due to the pandemic as she was originally scheduled to join the fleet in 2020.
Also Read: 15 Best New Cruise Ships to Begin Sailing in 2021
The cruise line will be pleased to have picked one of the shipyards that haven’t suffered too many delays throughout the pandemic. Something the yard themselves also realize, according to Thomas Weigend, Managing Director of Meyer Werft:
“Odyssey of the Seas will be the third cruise ship we deliver during the pandemic. This is a tremendous achievement that is only possible due to the far-sighted and responsible actions of all people at the shipyard and on board.”
Once Odyssey of the Seas is delivered, she will be sailing an entire season in the Mediterranean, between Israel, the Greek Isles, and Cyprus, starting this May. The cruises will be 2-3, and 4-day cruises for Israeli guests only.
Royal Caribbean will be the first to offer fully vaccinated sailings, where both crew and guests above the age of 16 will be vaccinated against COVID-19. Details on the other health and safety measures implemented by Israel and Royal Caribbean will be announced later.
As it looks, Odyssey of the Seas is off to a great start. She will be one of the few ships worldwide that will sail on regular sailings, together with her sister ship, Quantum of the Seas, sailing in Singapore.
