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Virgin Voyages Adds Athlete Investment Group to Brand

Virgin Voyages News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 12, 2021

Virgin Voyages, the lifestyle travel brand focused on delivering irresistible cruise vacations, has announced an investment by Patricof Co. (P/Co), that brings a superstar roster of more than 40 entrepreneurial athletes as the brand’s latest group of investors and fans.

Following its recent successful launch in the U.S., this new athlete investor line-up will be an active part of shaping the future of Virgin Voyages and the experiences it offers.

Athlete Involvement in Cruises

P/Co will work with Virgin Voyages to establish an Athlete Advisory Council, which will play an active role in designing experiences to ensure the Virgin Voyages sailings are distinct from other cruise vacations.

The new all-star lineup includes Venus Williams, Blake Griffin, Kemba Walker, Travis Kelce, CC Sabathia, Xavien Howard, George Kittle, and Trea Turner, among other amazing athletes.

Virgin Voyages Open Deck — Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, says, “Launching Virgin Voyages has been an incredible journey and it’s exciting to align with superstar athletes who bring undeniable energy and ideas to Virgin Voyages as we expand our fleet globally. It was so much fun welcoming some of them on board Scarlet Lady earlier this year and sharing the wonderful experience on board the ship.”

The athletes will work collaboratively with the brand to develop new on-board experiences in line with Virgin’s unique approach to cruising, as well as on sustainability initiatives given the focus brought by Richard Branson and Virgin globally on this important issue.

Venus Williams, tennis champion and entrepreneur, says, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Virgin Voyages and helping to bring this incredible experience to the US. Traveling and taking in different cultures is so important to me and I’m excited to work with this team to deliver that opportunity to more customers.”

About Virgin Voyages

Designed for the ultimate in wellness and relaxation, Virgin Voyages is an adults-only luxury cruise line for travelers ages 18 and up. Each ship is designed to reflect a yacht’s sleek ambiance, offering the intimate, elevated experience of a boutique hotel and sanctuary at sea.

Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Funnel — Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages

Onboard features include spectacular spa and sauna facilities, a salon, beauty parlor, and barber shop, a tattoo studio, and more. Michelin-starred chefs have curated the line’s astonishing menus to be not just food, but to be unique dining experiences. Wellness experiences are a high priority as well, from sundeck yoga to state-of-the-art fitness equipment to personal training options.

Blake Griffin, forward for the Brooklyn Nets, says, “Virgin and Richard Branson instinctively know how to do things the right way… always leading with uniqueness and innovation. When Patricof Co brought this investment opportunity to me, I jumped at the chance to invest in Virgin Voyages in the early stages and I’ve been really impressed with the brand ever since.”

Virgin Voyages is Finally Sailing

The first ship from Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady, set sail on her maiden voyage on October 6, 2021, from Miami. The ship is currently offering 4- and 5-night Caribbean sailings from PortMiami, with ports of call in Nassau, Bimini, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and the Dominican Republic.

Scarlet Lady in Miami — Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages

The 110,000 gross-ton Scarlet Lady has space for 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew members, with 86 percent of the passenger cabins featuring a balcony and 93 percent having an ocean view. Luxury features are prominent in each cabin, including rainfall showers, ambient mood lighting, and smart controls for ease and convenience when personalizing each cabin for every passenger’s desires.

Virgin Voyages’ second ship, Valiant Lady, will sail seven-night Mediterranean
itineraries out of Barcelona, Spain when she debuts in 2022. The third ship, Resilient Lady, is scheduled to be completed in August 2022, and a fourth ship has also been ordered.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Voted Best Cruise Line Private Island

Royal Caribbean News

Emrys Thakkar

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Jan 2, 2022

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Perfect Day at CocoCay Voted Best Cruise Line Private Island

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas has been voted as Best Cruise Line Private Island and Destination of 2021 in the annual Cruise Ship Awards. CocoCay received more votes than eight other cruise line private destinations, many of which are located nearby in the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean’s Private Island is Best of 2021!

Cruise line private islands are fast becoming an important aspect of the cruise experience, with more itineraries than ever now featuring a stop. Now votes as the Best Cruise Line Private Islands and Destination of 2021 is Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, located in the Bahamas. The island received more votes than other rival resorts, including Carnival’s Half Moon Cay and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay.

CocoCay has been a Royal Caribbean private island since the 1980s, but only in the last few years has it really become in demand and is only used by Royal Caribbean cruise ships. After a significant $250 million transformation, the new-look private island reopened in May 2019, offering one-of-kind chills and thrills for all types of Royal Caribbean guests.

Also Read: 8 Cruise Line Private Islands You Must Escape To

Highlights include a helium balloon that goes 450 feet in the air, the tallest waterslide in North America, the Caribbean’s largest wave pool, the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, cabanas, stunning beaches, and more.

There are way too many things to mention on what Royal Caribbean guests can do while spending a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. You can read through this complete guide on Royal Caribbean’s private island.

Cruise Hive readers were only allowed to vote once in each category, including this one. Voting first opened up in mid-September 2021 and closed for new votes just after Christmas. With the cruise industry back in service after the industry-wide suspension, the new category was introduced to find out what Cruise Hive readers thought was the Best Cruise line Private island and Destination of 2021.

Second and Third Place

CocoCay was up against another eight cruise line privates island or destination, and it was a close race between the top three. in Second place came Carnival’s Half Moon Cay, also located in the Bahamas. The island is mainly used by Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line but is essentially available for Carnival’s brands.

With the third-highest number of votes came another popular itinerary stop, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. Amber Cove is not a private island but a private resort destination just for Carnival-owned cruise ships.

Half Moon Cay Bahamas (Photo Credit: KaryBntz / Shutterstock.com)

It offers an area which guests can spend the day with beaches, pools, stores, and dining venues. Amber Cove welcomed its first cruise ship in October 2015 and is on the Dominican Republic’s North Coast, just outside the town of Puerto Plata.

It’s the first time the Best Cruise Line private islands and Destination category has been in the annual Cruise Ship Awards. There were a total of seven categories that readers were allowed to vote in, and all the results so far can be found here, including all the way back to 2014, when the awards first started.

Carnival’s Mardi Gras Voted Best Overall Cruise Ship of 2021

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

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Dec 31, 2021

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Carnival’s Mardi Gras Voted Best Overall Cruise Ship of 2021

Carnival Cruise Line’s first Excel-class cruise ship has come out on top for the third time in the Annual Cruise Ship Awards by also winning Best Cruise Ship of 2021. This includes not just new ships but every cruise ship out there!

Mardi Gras Voted Best Cruise Ship of 2021!

The Carnival flagship, which debuted in July 2021, has officially been voted Best Cruise Ship of 2021 in the annual Cruise Ship Awards from Cruise Hive. Mardi Gras was up against every other vessel, with readers being allowed to vote for any cruise ship they liked. She received more votes than other popular vessels from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Mardi Gras has been the cruise ship in demand in 2021 as she’s a new class vessel for the fleet and features the first roller coaster at sea named BOLT. The vessel has already won Best New Cruise Ship and Best Cruise Ship Feature in this year’s awards. Mard Gras was officially named in October 2021 after debuting on July 31 from Port Canaveral in Florida.

The vessel is 180,800 gross tons and is fully powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), taking Carnival Cruise Line into a new era of environmentally friendly cruise ships. The vessel has six themed zones, offering different experiences and fun, including new dining venues such as Shaquille O’Neals Big Chicken restaurant. Mardi Gras has a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy, along with 1,735 international crew members.

Carnival Mardi Gras Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

The Carnival cruise ship was up against many other vessels across multiple cruise lines worldwide. It’s the first time this category has been a part of the awards and is one of the only fully open awards in the industry.

There were seven categories in total, and readers have only been allowed to vote once in each. Voting opened in mid-September 2021, just months after cruise lines first started to return to service following the industry-wide pause on operations.

Second and Third Places

Coming behind Mardi Gras with the second-highest number of votes was Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, currently the world’s largest cruise ship. However, that title will soon be handed over to sister ship Wonder of the Seas in 2022.

Symphony of the Seas is one of the most innovative vessels in the fleet and has tons of onboard features, including the Ultimate Abyss aft slide. She’s 228,081 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,518 at double occupancy.

In third place came Carnival Horizon, despite the vessel currently undergoing an urgent dry dock in Italy, Cruise Hive readers think she is one of the best cruise ships out there. She is the second Vista-class ship, and major highlights include the Seuss at Sea Waterpark, SkyRide, and an IMAX theater. The ship is 133,500 with a passenger capacity of 3,934.

So far in the 2021 Cruise Ship Awards, the results have already been announced for Best new Cruise Ship, Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2022, Best Cruise Homeport in the US, and Best Cruise Ship Feature. Still to come are Best Cruise Line Private Island and Best Cruise Line, so do keep checking Cruise Hive for more results.

Carnival Celebration is Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2022

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

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Dec 30, 2021

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Carnival Celebration is Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2022

As the results continue to be announced in the annual Cruise Ship Awards, it can now be revealed that Carnival Cruise Line’s second Excel-class cruise ship is the Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2022.

Carnival Celebration is Most Anticipated for 2022!

Carnival Cruise Line’s second Excel-class cruise ship, currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, is voted Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2022. Carnival Celebration received more votes than other impressive vessels that will also enter service in 2022, including the new world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas.

Carnival Celebration will continue the new era of ships for the cruise line when she enters service in November 2022 as part of the cruise line’s 50th Birthday festivities. The vessel, which will be fully powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), will take the name of the original Celebration cruise ship, a Holiday-class vessel that sailed for Carnival from 1987 to 2008.

The massive 180,800 gross ton vessel will be almost identical to her sister ship Mardi Gras including a roller coaster at sea, voted Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2021. Carnival Celebration recently had her iconic funnel installed, and in 2022 will be floated out onto the water and undergo sea trials before being delivered from Meyer Turku.

Carnival Celebration will be based from PortMiami, in Florida, out of the newly upgraded Terminal F. The ship will debut with a 14-day Carnival journeys transatlantic voyage on November 6, 2022 from Southampton, UK. Year-round sailing from Miami will begin on November 21, 2022

Second and Third Place Cruise Ships

Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards have been open for voting since mid-September 2021, and readers have only been allowed to cast one vote in each of the seven categories. The Carnival cruise ship was up against eleven other cruise ships that will also debut in 2022.

Also Read: Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras Voted Best New Cruise Ship of 2021

Wonder of the Seas had the second-highest number of votes due to the massive anticipation for the fifth Oasis-class vessel from Royal Caribbean. Wonder of the Seas will debut from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 4, 2022, followed by cruises in Europe from Barcelona and Rome during the summer.

Wonder of the Seas Rendering — Rendering Via: Royal Caribbean

The cruise ship is in the final outfitting stages in South France and has already completed sea trials. Wonder of the Seas is an impressive 236,857 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,734 at double occupancy.

In third place came the much anticipated Norwegian Prima, a new-class for Norwegian Cruise Line, which is in the final construction stages at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The ship will feature the largest racetrack at sea, spanning three levels. The NCL vessel will be 142,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of 3,215.

Now that voting is closed in the annual Cruise Ship Awards, some results have already been announced for categories, including Best New Cruise Ship of 2021, Best Cruise Homeport in the United States, and Best Cruise Ship Feature. More results are still to be announced in the coming days.

Carnival’s Mardi Gras BOLT Roller Coaster is Voted Best Cruise Ship Feature

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

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Dec 29, 2021

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Carnival’s Mardi Gras BOLT Roller Coaster is Voted Best Cruise Ship Feature

We’ve already announced that Mardi Gras won Best New Cruise Ship of 2021, and now the Carnival cruise ship has come out to receive the most votes in Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2021 with the BOLT roller coaster in the Annual Cruise Ship Awards.

First Roller Coaster at Sea Wins Best Cruise Ship Feature!

Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT roller coaster that can be found aboard the Mardi Gras has been voted Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2021. Undoubtedly, the innovative new feature has been much talked about throughout the year, especially as BOLT is the first roller coaster at sea on Carnival’s new Excel-class cruise ship.

BOLT received more votes than any other cruise ship in the category since the Cruise Cruise Ship Awards opened in mid-September 2021. Cruise Hive readers have been allowed to vote once in each category, and any suspicious or repeat votes were not counted.

The roller coaster on Mardi Gras has been one of the most anticipated new cruise ship features in years and thanks to Maurer Rides in Germany, that concept became a reality. The 220-meter track is located towards the ship’s aft 150 meters above sea level. BOLT can reach speeds up to 60 KPH and offers thrilling twists and turns, including around the iconic Carnival funnel.

BOLT Roller Coaster — Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

Also Read: What’s It Like to Ride the First Roller Coaster at Sea?

Since Mardi Gras debuted with guests from Port Canaveral on July 31, the first roller coaster at sea has been a popular feature onboard. The LNG-powered vessel is 180,800 gross tons, and a sister ship named Carnival Celebration will join the fleet in 2022, also featuring a roller coaster. A third ship in the same class named Carnival jubilee will arrive in 2023.

Mardi Gras BOLT Roller Coaster — Photo Credit: Marc Mayntz

Which Feature Came Second and Third?

The BOLT roller coaster was up against dozens of other cruise ship features, with readers being allowed to add their favorite cruise ship feature as a vote.

In second place came the SkyRide feature found on the Vista-class cruise ships, also from Carnival Cruise Line. SkyRide is an elevated 800-foot-long track on the open deck that guests can pedal of speed up to 18 miles per hour at 150 feet above sea level. SkyRide has already won the Best Cruise Ship Feature four times, in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

In third place came Norwegian Cruise Line’s Go-Kart track found on all the Breakaway-Plus class cruise ships except for the Norwegian Escape. The first go-kart track at sea was introduced on the Norwegian Joy in 2017 and has since been featured on Norwegian Bliss and the largest in the fleet so far on Norwegian Encore. The new Norwegian Prima, which joins the fleet in 2022, will go a step further by introducing the first three-level racetrack.

In this year’s Cruise Ship Awards, there were a total of seven categories, and the results have already been announced for Best Cruise Homeport in the US and Best News Cruise Ship. More results will continue to be announced in the coming days.

Port Canaveral in Florida Voted Best US Cruise Homeport of 2021

Port News

Emrys Thakkar

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Dec 28, 2021

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Port Canaveral in Florida Voted Best US Cruise Homeport of 2021

Port Canaveral has been voted the Best Cruise Homeport in the United States of 2021 and comes out over other nearby Florida ports. The port received the most votes in Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards.

Port Canaveral Voted the Best!

The 2021 Cruise Ship Awards results have started to be released, and Port Canaveral has won the Best Cruise Homeport in the United States for the second time. The port had previously won the 2019 awards. In 2020, the awards were very limited due to the industry-wide shutdown.

Port Canaveral received more votes than any other port, including the cruise capital of the world, PortMiami, also in Florida. The Cruise Ship Awards opened up for voting in mid-September 2021, and ever since, Cruise Hive readers have been able to cast a single vote in each of the seven categories. Any repeat votes and suspicious activity have not been included in the final results.

The Florida cruise port is the second busiest in the world, with multi-day embarkations and catering to some of the largest cruise ships from the largest cruise lines in the world. The port has already welcomed the new Terminal 3 to cater to Carnival’s new LNG-powered mega-ships, resulting in increased capacity.

Port Canaveral Entrance — Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock.com

Before the pandemic, Port Canaveral was hosting nearly 5 million revenue cruise passengers annually, which is set to keep growing in the future. The port has a total of seven terminals, with several recently undergoing renovations.

Ports that Came Second and Third

Within the Best Cruise Homeport in the United States category, there were a total of 17 ports, including five in Florida. The state is the home of cruising, so it comes as no surprise that in second place came PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world.

Like Port Canaveral, the port’s skyline is changing with new shiny cruise terminals, including the modern terminals from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Carnival Cruise Line is also doing some upgrades, and Virgin Voyage’s new complex is well underway.

In third place came Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, another major cruise hub for the industry and caters for major, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line. The port is the third busiest in the world and typically hosts nearly 4 million passengers annually.

The 2021 Cruise Ship Awards has a total of seven categories, and the Best New Cruise Ship of 2021 has already been announced. There are still five further results to go, including Best Cruise Line and Best Cruise Line Private Island and Destination. Keep checking Cruise Hive for all the results.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras Voted Best New Cruise Ship of 2021

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

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Dec 27, 2021

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Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras Voted Best New Cruise Ship of 2021

Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras cruise ship has been voted as Best New Cruise Ship of 2021 in Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards. It’s the first category results to be announced, with more results coming before the end of 2021.

Mardi Gras is the Best New Cruise Ship

Carnival’s flagship has already been one of the hottest new topics since arriving in the US to begin service in the summer, and now, the vessel has come out on top for Best New Cruise Ship of 2021. Mardi Gras was up against 11 other new cruise ships that entered service this year, including Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, and Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess.

The Mardi Gras is the newest ship in the fleet and was originally scheduled to debut at the end of August 2020. Due to the global pandemic and the industry-wide pause, the Carnival cruise ship was eventually delivered in December 2020. It then arrived in the US to begin guest operations in July 2021.

The ship is the first Excel-class for Carnival Cruise Line, and the largest ever ship in the fleet. She is fully powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and brings new features to the cruise line. Mardi Gras features the first roller coaster at sea named BOLT, also in the Best Cruise Ship Feature category in this year’s awards.

Also found on board is the first Big Chicken restaurant at sea brought by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neil. There are six different themed zones on Mardi Gras offering fun-filled vacations from Port Canaveral in Florida. The ship debuted on July 31, 2021, and is currently offering seven-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.

Mardi Gras at Meyer Turku Shipyard (Photo Credit: Jamo Images / Shutterstock)

Mardi Gras is 180,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy and 1,735 international crew members. The vessel was constructed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and the godmother is Kimberly Jimenes, Miss Dominican Republic.

Which New Ships Came Second and Third?

The Cruise Ship Awards have been open since mid-September 2021, and Cruise Hive readers have been able to cast a vote in seven different categories, including Best New Cruise Ship of 2021. Mardi Gras received more votes than any other cruise ship. Readers have only been allowed to vote once, and any repeat or suspicious votes were not counted.

Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, the second Quantum-Ultra class vessel by Royal Caribbean, came in second place. The ship is 167,704 gross tons with a guest capacity of 4,198 at double occupancy and departed on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 31, 2021. Like Mardi Gras, Odyssey of the Seas was also delayed due to the pandemic.

In third place came the new Celebrity Apex, the second Edge-class vessel from Celebrity Cruises. The ship is 129,500 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,910 at double occupancy. Due to the industry suspension, the new ship was also delayed but finally departed on her maiden voyage from Athens, Greece, in June 2021.

Still to be announced in the 2021 Cruise Ship Awards are the results of six more categories, so do keep checking Cruise Hive for those.

What Is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-Ultra Class Cruise Ship?

Royal Caribbean Cruise Advice

Melissa Mayntz

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Dec 14, 2021

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What Is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-Ultra Class Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships come in many different styles and configurations, and recognizing different classes is a way to quickly note a ship’s size and features. One of the most distinctive and popular classes in the world is Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-Ultra class, but what exactly do these ships offer that make them stand out so much?

First Came Quantum Class Cruise Ships

Quantum class is the parent class of the Quantum-Ultra subset of ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The first Quantum class ship set sail in 2014. It is tradition, though not universal, that the first ship of a new class bears the class name, and appropriately, the first Quantum class ship was Quantum of the Seas.

Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com

The new class was developed under code name Project Sunshine, and Quantum of the Seas – along with her sister ships – was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg in northwestern Germany. Since its founding in 1795, Meyer Werft has been known for its innovative ship designs, making it the perfect choice to debut the new Quantum class of vessels.

The second and third Quantum class ships, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, quickly followed in 2015 and 2016, respectively, bringing this new class of ships into the forefront of modern cruise vacations.

The Quantum-Ultra Announcement

In 2017, it was announced that the fourth Quantum class ship, Spectrum of the Seas, would be Quantum-Ultra class, involving significant upgrades from the original class but not so different as to become a completely new class of ships.

Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Via: Royal Caribbean

It is not unusual for ships later in a developed class to be further tweaked and upgraded as the class evolves.

This happens as cruise lines analyze guests’ reactions to new features. Very popular elements of a new class may be further expanded in later sister ships, while less popular features could be discontinued or altered to better appeal to more guests. Later ships may also have completely new features introduced, if those features were not quite ready when the original class debuted.

What Makes Quantum-Ultra Ships Different

Quantum-Ultra ships continue the most successful features of the popular Quantum class ships. These ships are the most technologically advanced ships in the world, and are designed for the ultimate in versatility.

Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

This is particularly true of indoor spaces, which are adaptable to a range of different activities. The SeaPlex, for example, is not only a fun bumper car arena, but can also be converted for soccer shootout tournaments, basketball games, volleyball playoffs, and more.

This adaptation of indoor spaces is particularly important to the Quantum-Ultra ships, as they are designed to operate more northern itineraries and need spaces that can adapt to inclement weather as needed.

Odyssey of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

As the next evolution of the Quantum class, the Quantum-Ultra ships are home to many innovative features, including:

North Star observation pod for outstanding views
Ripcord by iFly skydiving experience
Two70 lounge with panoramic windows and programmable roboscreens
SeaPlex indoor, adaptive complex for athletic activities
Multi-generational suites and suites-only areas
Windjammer that is 20 percent larger

The Quantum-Ultra class ships also continue the most popular innovations of the Quantum class ships, including the Bionic Bar with its robotic bartenders, the innovative main show lounge, and more.

Ships in the Quantum-Ultra Class

Spectrum of the Seas debuted in 2019 as the first Quantum-Ultra class ship, with great excitement and enthusiasm. Her sister ship, Odyssey of the Seas, was to have debuted as the second Quantum-Ultra class ship in November 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down cruise operations worldwide.

Odyssey of the Seas Open Deck — Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Instead, Odyssey of the Seas debuted first in Europe in April 2021, before moving to her official homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July 2021.

No further ships have yet been planned or announced for the Quantum-Ultra class. It is not inconceivable, however, that Royal Caribbean may choose to renovate and update the existing Quantum class ships in the future to bring them into the Quantum-Ultra classification.

The Next Royal Caribbean Class

At the moment, Royal Caribbean is working on its next class of ships, the much-anticipated Icon class. This class was first announced in 2016, but due to pandemic-related delays, the first ship – Icon of the Seas – will not enter service until 2023. The second and third ships are already ordered as well, and planned for delivery in 2025 and 2026.

The Icon class ships will be Royal Caribbean’s first vessels powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). While there have not been many additional details yet announced, they are sure to be as innovative and exciting as all of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, and are expected to be among the largest cruise ships in the world when they set sail.

What Thrilling Features Can You Find on Odyssey of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean Cruise Advice

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 29, 2021

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What Thrilling Features Can You Find on Odyssey of the Seas?

The word “odyssey” means “an adventurous journey” and there are indeed many adventures awaiting guests on every journey of Odyssey of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s newest and most advanced ships. How many of these thrilling features will you attempt on your next cruise?

Adventures on Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum-Ultra class ship, measuring 1,139 feet in length and weighing in at 169,379 gross tons. This provides plenty of room for amazing adventures on board, and Odyssey is packed with thrills for passengers of all ages and interests.

Classic Thrills

Royal Caribbean is well known for offering adventurous thrills on every ship in its fleet, and Odyssey of the Seas continues that tradition with several classic thrills that have come to be expected on many Royal Caribbean ships.

The first thrill Royal Caribbean ever offered is the rock wall, which was introduced in 1999 and then added to every ship in the fleet in 2002. Odyssey’s rock wall is a colorful climbing adventure located on deck 15, on the starboard side of the ship’s funnel.

Rock Climbing on Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Marc Mayntz)

Several skill levels are incorporated into the wall, and climbers of all experience levels – or no experience at all! – can climb to new heights to ring the bell at the top, signifying their success.

The FlowRider is another classic adventure first introduced by Royal Caribbean in 2006 and now widespread throughout the fleet. This 40-foot long surfing simulator lets guests catch perfect waves and show off boogie boarding and surfing skills right on deck.

The Odyssey of the Seas FlowRider is located on deck 16, aft, and offers both free surfing opportunities as well as private lessons (for a fee).

Sky Pad is a newer adventure on Royal Caribbean ships and was just introduced in 2018. This bungee trampoline offers both an open-view as well as a virtual-reality experience, and guests can choose whether to enjoy classic jumping or to engage in a high-tech adventure with the VR headset option.

SkyPad on Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)

Sky Pad has four jump pads to accommodate multiple guests at once, and on Odyssey of the Seas, guests will find the iconic yellow bubble that encases Sky Pad on deck 16.

Outrageous Thrills

Royal Caribbean has amped up the thrills on Odyssey with several next-level adventures that allow guests to take to the skies – literally!

North Star is the ultimate observation deck, available exclusively on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships. Odyssey of the Seas features the world’s tallest North Star pod, with the ability to extend more than 300 feet above sea level – 1.2 degrees higher than the North Star on Spectrum of the Seas, and the tallest of any cruise ship in the world.

North Star on Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)

While the observation pod operates slowly and gently to suit any passenger, the thrilling views it offers cannot be matched. North Star experiences will vary based on the ship’s itinerary and whether it is in port or not, and some experiences require additional fees. Access to North Star is on deck 15.

Guests who want an even more thrilling view can take to the skies on Ripcord by iFly, a skydiving simulator that lifts guests to new heights with the guidance of an experienced skydiving instructor.

Available exclusively on the Quantum-class ships, this flight offers just a minute of airtime in the specially designed vertical wind tunnel, but the thrilling memories last a lifetime. Guests can find the access to Ripcord by iFly on deck 15, aft, and view the wind tunnel on deck 16, just forward of FlowRider.

Flowrider and iFLY on Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)

Guests who prefer to stay grounded in their adventures won’t want to miss the bumper cars in the SeaPlex on deck 15. This multi-use space is transformed into different adventures throughout every cruise, from pickleball tournaments to soccer shootouts, but the biggest thrill is when the electric bumper cars take the floor.

These full-size bumper cars offer full-size thrills that aren’t scaled down just because they’re on a cruise ship. The floor is generously spaced so the dozen or so cars reach top speeds and the collisions can be intense – be sure your seatbelt is fastened and all belongings are tightly secured! Rides last several generous minutes and there is no charge for the adventure.

Bumper Cars at Seaplex on Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)

Finding Your Odyssey of Thrills

With so many adventures on available, everyone can be thrilled at this new ship – and this list doesn’t cover nearly every thrill on board!

Don’t miss the interactive video game arcade, the robot bartenders, Splashaway Bay, the deck games, multi-sensory high-tech shows, and other thrills onboard, not to mention the thrilling destinations Odyssey of the Seas visits, including top ports of call and Perfect Day at CocoCay!

Where will your odyssey of adventures take you with Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas?

Disclaimer – Cruise Hive was invited to participate in a complimentary 2-night trade sailing of Odyssey of the Seas to explore the ship’s thrills firsthand, but that experience in no way influences the impressions made of the ship or the recommendations made in various articles.