Odyssey of the Seas Review
Beautiful ship but food was disappointing
Rating by category
Additional details
This was a last minute idea and we booked just a few days before sailing. The price was good and we were happy to be sailing again as our last cruise was pre-COVID-19.
The booking process was easy and smooth, although we were a bit confused by the invitation to "Royal Up". We gave "Royal Up" a try but did not know we would not be notified that our offer wasn't accepted until after the cruise started.
Check-in was not perfect as there were long lines at the terminal and confusion around when we should arrive. We received an email the day before our sailing stating that we should delay arrival at the terminal by an hour because the ship was undergoing deep cleaning after a number of cases of Noro Virus on the previous cruise. We continued to see the previous boarding time in the Royal Caribbean app and were confused so showed up at the time identified by the app. After a half hour wait outside, we were able to enter the terminal and advanced by a check of our negative COVID test and security. We then were grouped with other travelers into a number of short lines where agents checked boarding passes and directed passengers to go directly to the ship. Unlike previous cruises there was no clear signage, or helpful agents to guide us through things.
Cabin Review
Ocean View Balcony
We booked a balcony guarantee and received cabin Aft on the 13th floor. We were a bit concerned that the assigned cabin was directly under the Windjammer buffet but did not experience any significant noise. The room was in great condition and was quite spacious and comfortable. The only annoyance was minor - the divider between our balcony and the next cabin's balcony had been left open from the previous cruise and it took a few hours after we asked for it to be closed.
Port Reviews
Aruba
This was our second visit to Aruba. On the previous trip we did a whirlwind tour of all of the major sites and were not that impressed. This time, we took a taxi to Eagle Beach and walked on beautiful beaches for most of the day. Perfect weather and very, very enjoyable.