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Royal Caribbean's new Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship sets sail next fall

Sept. 15, 2019
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4 min read
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Royal Caribbean's new Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship sets sail next fall
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Royal Caribbean's first Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship, the Odyssey of the Seas, will set sail next fall. Starting in November 2020, the Odyssey of the Seas will operate four- to eight-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale, with ports of call throughout the Caribbean. The ship will be the cruise line's 27th ship overall and the first Quantum Ultra-class ship in North America.

"As part of the Quantum Ultra Class, Odyssey of the Seas will represent the next evolution of Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking and high-tech Quantum Class," the cruise line noted in a press release.

North Star observation deck aboard the Odyssey of The Sea which will make its maiden voyage in November 2020. (Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

Odyssey of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. When the ship makes its maiden voyage in November 2020, passengers aboard the ship will have access to a plethora of onboard activities.

The Odyssey of the Seas will feature a sky-diving simulator, Royal Caribbean's North Star observation capsule, multiple entertainment venues, and SeaPlex, which will feature a roller-skating rink, basketball court, trapeze school and bumper cars.

Bumper cars aboard the first 'Quantum Ultra' class ship, the Spectrum of The Seas. (Image by Bryan van der Beek/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Guest accommodations range from standard interior rooms to a 1,604-square-foot suite with a 553-square-foot balcony. Standard interior rooms feature two twin beds that convert to a king bed, one bathroom, and a sitting area with a convertible sofa. Ocean-view and balcony rooms feature similar floor plans and amenities.

Suites, which start at $1,571 for the four-night inaugural cruise, feature larger floor plans from 301 square feet, priority services including dedicated check-in and priority boarding, and access to exclusive onboard amenities including entertainment seating.

Passengers looking for an all-out luxury experience can select the Royal Loft Suite, which starts at $13,293 per person for the four-night inaugural cruise. The Royal Loft Suite aboard the Odyssey of the Seas encompasses two levels and features three beds, two bathrooms, a dining room, media room and a 553-square-foot balcony.

A suite aboard the Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's first Quantum Ultra-class ship. (Image by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Royal Caribbean has opened reservations for the Odyssey of the Sea. According to the cruise line's reservation system, the inaugural cruise will depart from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on November 5, returning from its 4-day journey throughout the Bahamas on Nov. 9. A standard interior stateroom starts at $613 per person for the inaugural voyage.

In addition to 4-night cruises throughout the Bahamas, the Odyssey of the Seawill initially offer cruises to the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean. Port of calls include: CocoCay in the Bahamas; Labadee, Haiti; Cozumel, Mexico; Falmouth, Jamaica; Georgetown Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico; St. Thomas USVI; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Willemstad, Curacao.

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Following the winter cruise season in the Caribbean, the Odyssey of the Seas will be repositioned to Europe for the summer cruise season. Reservations for the Odyssey of the Seas' European cruises will open in November.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.