Live Review, Odyssey of the Seas, Dec 3-11

[perfect match]

Great review, Stealthdog! Love the pictures, and you’ve posted some great tips! We can’t wait until it’s our turn on Odyssey in April!

 

We had some of our door magnets “relocated” on our Harmony cruise this past September. At first they were just moved to different places on our door. Then they were turned upside down. Then moved several doors down the hall. The magnets were Disney ones, Mickey and Minnie. After they ended up down the hall from us, I decided that Mickey and Minnie must have gotten themselves Deluxe beverage packages and been partying too much so for the rest of the cruise they were restricted to staying inside of our room! 😂🤪🙃🤣  
 

If you don’t want to keep your cruising duck you can always re hide it in a public area on the ship. I think they’re supposed to stay out of the stores though. Like you, I’m not on FB, so I’m not sure of all the rules about hiding them.

 

We saw Finis Henderson on Harmony. He wasn’t our favorite entertainer of all the ones we’ve seen, but we definitely did enjoy his show. Would I see him again? Maybe. Depends on how his show would fit into our schedule and how long since the last time we saw him.

[Stealthdog]

22 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

Did you get to hear the dragon?  I saw on a You Tube that it was roped off and you can't go past the point where you took the pic.  That was a highlight of our first trip there: Hope this link works

 

 

The Dragon Sleeps_new.mpg

 

We couldn't hear it.  There was an iron gate that blocks access to the area, with a security officer inside the gate to make sure guests did not access

[Stealthdog]

Pics from the Chef's Table.  If you have the UDP, they take 50% off the cost.  The table is limited to a max number of passengers (It looked like 12-14).  We had one seat empty.  The venue is inside of Chops in a private room in the side.  Just like the rest of the restaurants on Deck 5, if you look out the windows you get a nice view of white and yellow life boats.  🤣

 

The meetup point is the bionic bar on Deck 5.  The Bionic Bar has been out of order for our whole crruise - I guess something broken that is difficult to fix......

 

At the meetup point you get a nice drink in a champagne glass.  The Chef's Table itself is a 5 course meal, each paired with another wine.

 

The courses:  Scallops Carpaccio, Roasted Tomato Soup, Branzino, Lobster, and Filet

The wines:  Pino Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Conundrum (white blend), Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon (Decoy)

 

The desert there was a chocolate globe (like in Wonderland) that they melt down, paired with an espresso martini.

 

It was the best meal on the ship.  The Chef said it was the same filet as Chops, but it was noticeably better - best filet on the ship.  The lobster was probably the 2nd best course - it had a very interesting vanilla seasoning that I have never tasted with lobster before.  If you are looking for something for a special occasion or to splurge on a dinner, it is worth it.  You will spend 2+ hours at dinner, so make sure you don't have any other plans.  

Edited December 8, 2022 by Stealthdog

[Stealthdog]

Some pics of the jogging track - there are a lot of activities to do.  There is soccer pool, several shuffleboard locations, and chess.  They use every inch to make sure there are a variety of activities and not to waste any space.  Very well done on the outdoor decks.

[Ocean Boy]

32 minutes ago, Stealthdog said:

 

We couldn't hear it.  There was an iron gate that blocks access to the area, with a security officer inside the gate to make sure guests did not access

What is it with blocking access these days? Is RCI selling access to the area as an excursion?🙄

[Stealthdog]

Some other random, unrelated thoughts before we get ready to head into Curacao.  We found out yesterday at 7:30PM that our tour was cancelled today because of weather, with instructions to go to Shore Excursions to book another tour with 15% off.....which of course we couldn't do because Shore Excursions was closed.  So, we will just walk around the downtown area - Curacao is one of our favorite stops to just do on our own, so the refunded excursions will just pay off my Casino charges.

 

Speaking of the Casino....it is not big enough for a ship this size.  We have seen smaller ships with bigger casinos.  If you try to go between the hours of 7-10PM, the place is going to be packed and every slot machine will probably be occupied.  There is only 1 craps table - most ships have 2.  And like the Symphony, the Royal Casino doesn't allow you to fully back up odds in your bets.  If you do want to go to the Casino, mid-day or late night (after 10PM) seem to be the best times.  They do have a wide variety of fun slot machines and the standard poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot tables.  

 

Two70 is our favorite location on the ship.  A secret tip that apparently only Bette and we know about is you can go the Two70 cafe for coffee/breakfast and sit in Two70 to get an awesome panorama of everything outside the aft of the ship, with the floor to ceiling windows covering most of the venue.  Its definitely nicer eating breakfast there than in the MDR or elsewhere.  A few other hidden tips for Two70:

- The library is located on the 2nd floor of Two70 (deck 6).  We couldn't find it on any of the deck maps on the ship and stumbled upon it while exploring.  They have the standard puzzles, card decks, and other activities, and you can get the same stunning views looking out the windows at Two70 while you play.  

- There is an unmarked door at the very end of the aft cabin sections on deck 6.  This door leads into the 2nd floor of Two70.  If your cabin in the aft portion of Deck 6, you don't have to go all the way to the center of the ship to go down the stairs, just to walk all the way to the aft again.  We are very proud of this discovery but be warned you will need a lot of strength to open those doors.  🤣

[Ocean Boy]

The Rockwall looks cool. It is different from older ships.

[Ocean Boy]

Is breakfast in Two70 like O class Solarium, Wipeout, and Park Cafe or more like Cafe Promenade?

[BecciBoo]

Yes we are going to utilize those doors to get to the spot I've picked out to watch the show.  There is one row of seating in front of the Board/Conference Room that I spied, looks like a Crow's Nest view.  And nobody in front or behind you.

[BecciBoo]

1 hour ago, Stealthdog said:

 

We couldn't hear it.  There was an iron gate that blocks access to the area, with a security officer inside the gate to make sure guests did not access

Someone must've gotten hurt trying to get too close....too bad, it was fun and that was the main attraction of this stretch of beach back in the day, everything is named because of it.

[h20skibum]

2 hours ago, Stealthdog said:

Some pics of the jogging track - there are a lot of activities to do.  There is soccer pool, several shuffleboard locations, and chess.  They use every inch to make sure there are a variety of activities and not to waste any space.  Very well done on the outdoor decks.

Do they have their soot problem fixed.  When we were on last year, this area of the track and loungers, as well as us, got coated with black speckles.  
 

It looks pretty clean in your photo. 

[Ocean Boy]

3 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

Yes we are going to utilize those doors to get to the spot I've picked out to watch the show.  There is one row of seating in front of the Board/Conference Room that I spied, looks like a Crow's Nest view.  And nobody in front or behind you.

Care to tell me more about where these seats are? Since we are not on the same sailing I won't be competing with you for the seats.🙂

[Mikew0805]

3 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Is breakfast in Two70 like O class Solarium, Wipeout, and Park Cafe or more like Cafe Promenade?

More like Cafe Promenade. They do have a press back there, with some hot breakfast sandwiches and hot burritos. They also make a nice lunch, with salad made to orders, wraps, and sandwiches.

[Mikew0805]

12 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Care to tell me more about where these seats are? Since we are not on the same sailing I won't be competing with you for the seats.🙂

The seats on the second floor are the best for The Book. We liked sitting at the ones on second floor in the main area right up against the front... perfect view of everything.

 

The ones she is referring to are nice as well on the second floor. There is no one behind you. When you come up the stairs they are right in front of you.

Edited December 8, 2022 by Mikew0805

[Mikew0805]

17 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Care to tell me more about where these seats are? Since we are not on the same sailing I won't be competing with you for the seats.🙂

This is the view from the seats on the second floor, at the front part of the balcony. You can see everything...

 

 

[BecciBoo]

Go deck plans deck 6, back in 270 to the starboard right in front of THE BOARDROOM

 

 

IDP-DECK06.svg

Edited December 8, 2022 by BecciBoo

[Ocean Boy]

39 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

This is the view from the seats on the second floor, at the front part of the balcony. You can see everything...

 

 

I've always been a fan of balcony seating on the R/V/F/O class ships. Do they have any D+ reserved seating up there?

[BecciBoo]

second floor to the left upper of this pic you can see the row of seats...looks like there may be a spotlight behind them.

Edited December 8, 2022 by BecciBoo

[Stealthdog]

Looks like there was a medical emergency on board now at Curaco. Local ambulance and first responders in hazmat picked up a passenger. Looked like it is COVID, but that is speculation. Havent heard any announcements - just happened to be looking over the side of the boat to find a spot to watch for pier runners.

 

Im not going to post pictures of the passenger to protect her privacy. Her and her companion looked like a couple we saw in Chops last night - she was coughing alot. 

 

Thoughts and prayers to her.

 

Edited December 8, 2022 by Stealthdog

[Mikew0805]

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I've always been a fan of balcony seating on the R/V/F/O class ships. Do they have any D+ reserved seating up there?

No, not up there, it is on a first come basis. IMO it is far better than the reserved seating, or any other seat on the 1st floor for that matter. There are obstacles that can block part of your view on the 1st floor, depending on which part of the stage the action is on.

 

Edited to add: Also, the actual seats up there are soft and comfortable. If you sit up at the front of the balcony, there is also a ledge you can sit your drink on.

 

Yep, I prefer balcony seating on the other classes as well. 

Edited December 8, 2022 by Mikew0805
Add seat info.

[Bette And Bill]

22 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Is breakfast in Two70 like O class Solarium, Wipeout, and Park Cafe or more like Cafe Promenade?

More like Park Cafe. They have the standard continental breakfast things. Plus, burritos and breakfast sandwiches which they put in a microwave and then press. Normally pretty hot when you get it. Also on the Odyssey, it is where you would get your roast beef sandwich for lunch. They also have Cubans and a 3-cheese sandwich, all of which are heated after you order.

[Stealthdog]

On 12/7/2022 at 10:31 AM, RobinKS said:

Have you been to El Loco Fresh? Is it complementary or a la carte pricing?

 

BecciBoo already answered.  We went yesterday for lunch.  I'll take a few pictures and post for you so you can see whats there.

[Stealthdog]

19 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I've always been a fan of balcony seating on the R/V/F/O class ships. Do they have any D+ reserved seating up there?

 

The answer is yes/maybe.  There is a large block of reserved seating in the middle section of the upper balcony (great location for the book btw).  You can access from Deck 6, or from Deck 5 and go up the stairs.  A staff member stood guard over the area until the show started.  It didn't fill up until about 5-10 minutes before the show started.  There was a sign that had a list of categories that could sit there - I saw Pinnacle and Key.  There were a few others listed, but I didn't notice what they were.  If it is anything like the reserved seating in the theater then D+ is probably one of them.  

 

So, I think the answer is probably yes, but I can't say with 100% certainty because I didn't see D+ specifically.

[Ocean Boy]

On 12/7/2022 at 10:38 AM, BecciBoo said:

Complementary

 

Is the food good there?

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, Stealthdog said:

 

The answer is yes/maybe.  There is a large block of reserved seating in the middle section of the upper balcony (great location for the book btw).  You can access from Deck 6, or from Deck 5 and go up the stairs.  A staff member stood guard over the area until the show started.  It didn't fill up until about 5-10 minutes before the show started.  There was a sign that had a list of categories that could sit there - I saw Pinnacle and Key.  There were a few others listed, but I didn't notice what they were.  If it is anything like the reserved seating in the theater then D+ is probably one of them.  

 

So, I think the answer is probably yes, but I can't say with 100% certainty because I didn't see D+ specifically.

That was sort of like on Allure. They did not have D+ on the sign but when I asked the "guard" the answer was... absolutely.