Odyssey of the Seas 25 Jan 2027: 12-Night Prep Guide

Odyssey of the Seas leaves Cape Liberty in Bayonne on Monday 25 January 2027 for 12 nights. If the third-party timetables are right (our database is shrugging at the port list, so nothing is confirmed yet), the shape of the trip is the personality: three sea days out, five island calls, three sea days back. You also swap a New Jersey winter for Caribbean warmth, a swing of roughly 40°F, so packing is half the sport. It’s 84 days away, which is the “should I panic yet?” zone: not yet, but start now.

Start Here

• Now: confirm the port list in your booking. Our database has no ports for this sailing, so the schedule below comes from third-party timetables and isn’t yet confirmed on royalcaribbean.com.
• Now: check your documents. A US citizen can sail on an original state-certified birth certificate plus photo ID, but a passport is strongly recommended and should be valid past 6 Aug 2027.
• Now to late November: check the Cruise Planner for specialty dining. Older guidance put the booking window at roughly 90 to 60 days before sailing, and Royal Caribbean’s FAQ says you can reserve up to 2 days before.
• About 11 Dec 2026: app check-in reportedly opens 45 days out. That is a third-party claim, not an official date. Check in early and pick your arrival slot.
• 23 Jan 2027: web check-in closes 48 hours before sailing. The app stays open until 8 a.m. on 25 Jan, but be in New Jersey the night of 24 Jan.

The Sailing at a Glance

This is a round trip, and the timetables show a long sea-day bookend at each end with five calls in the middle, all pending confirmation on royalcaribbean.com.

Detail	What we know
Ship	Odyssey of the Seas, Quantum Ultra Class
Departs	Mon 25 Jan 2027, Cape Liberty, Bayonne NJ (listed sailing time 3:00 PM)
Returns	Sat 6 Feb 2027 (listed 6:00 AM)
Length	12 nights, 13 days
Shape (to be confirmed)	6 sea days, 5 port calls, plus embarkation and disembarkation days
Size	169,379 GT, 16 decks, 4,198 passengers, 1,550 crew
Built / refurbished	2021 / 2026
CDC Vessel Sanitation score	97 out of 100, inspected 1 Mar 2026
Temperature swing	About 40–43°F in New Jersey, about 79–82°F in the islands

Don’t confuse this with the separate 11-night Odyssey sailing on 14 Jan 2027. Different dates, different trip.

What to Do Now and the Deadlines That Bite

The only hard stops are the check-in cutoffs; everything before them is about getting better choices. Royal Caribbean’s own FAQ gives the closing times, while the opening date comes from third-party summaries.

When	What happens	How solid
Late Oct to late Nov 2026 (approx.)	Older guidance says specialty dining reservations opened about 90 to 60 days out	Dated guidance; check the Cruise Planner
About 11 Dec 2026	Check-in reportedly opens (45 days out)	Unofficial
23 Jan 2027	Web check-in closes (48 hours before sailing)	Royal Caribbean FAQ
25 Jan, 8 a.m.	App check-in closes	Royal Caribbean FAQ
25 Jan	Anyone not checked in must finish at the pier at least 2 hours before the published sailing time	Royal Caribbean FAQ
25 Jan	Final cutoff: checked in and onboard at least 90 minutes before port operations close	Royal Caribbean FAQ; the Cape Liberty time is in your final documents

Earlier check-in generally means more arrival-slot choices, according to third-party guides. Loyalty tier perks, such as priority embarkation for suite guests and higher Crown & Anchor members, can vary by sailing. We found no evidence that your tier changes when check-in opens.

Embarkation Logistics

Cape Liberty Cruise Port is at 4 Port Terminal Boulevard, Bayonne, NJ 07002-5038, about 9 miles from Newark Airport by car. We couldn’t confirm a terminal or pier number for this sailing, so check your boarding documents.

• Driving: NJ Turnpike Exit 14A, Route 440 South, then left on Port Terminal Boulevard.
• No car: PATH to Jersey City or Hoboken, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to 34th Street Station in Bayonne, then a taxi of about 2 miles.
• Bus option: the 119 or 99S from Port Authority to 33rd St & Kennedy Blvd, then a taxi of about 3 miles.
• Sources disagree on the airport distance (6 to 10 miles). We use Royal Caribbean’s figure.

Parking

Royal Caribbean lists the secure garage next to the terminal at $35 a day including taxes, per vehicle. It takes cash and major cards, needs no reservation, and the rate can change.

Item	Figure
Garage rate	$35 per day
12 days charged	12 × $35 = $420
13 calendar days charged	13 × $35 = $455
Height limit	7’4″ (an open lot takes taller vehicles)
Oversized vehicles	Charged double
Off-site lots (third-party)	About $18–20 per day, plus a taxi or rideshare

We haven’t verified how the garage counts days, so ask the port before you budget. One older guide quotes $30 a day, but its page is undated. A cheaper lot can lose its saving once you add the ride to the pier.

Hotels and arrival day

If you’re flying in, arrive the night before. January weather is a real risk at this homeport, and that is our advice rather than a policy. Hotels right at the port are scarce, so most guests stay near Newark Airport, in Jersey City, or in Manhattan.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Newark Airport Elizabeth is reported at about 20 minutes from the port and as one of the few hotels with a port shuttle.
• Call any hotel to confirm shuttle fees, parking-night caps and pickup times. We couldn’t verify current rates.
• Airport transfers: no current official price. Old figures (about $30 per person one way for a shuttle, $20 in one forum post) are dated. Taxis and rideshares are priced per car.

Arrival slots

You choose an arrival slot in the Royal App during check-in, and it appears on your mobile boarding pass. Early arrivals can’t start boarding, and late arrivals may wait for a later group. Public sources don’t give a Cape Liberty slot range, so don’t trust anyone quoting one. Show your SetSail Pass in the app at the terminal, and complete the Health Questionnaire and Safety Briefing there too.

The Ship and How to Work It

Odyssey is a 169,379-gross-ton Quantum Ultra Class ship carrying up to 4,198 passengers and 1,550 crew over 16 decks, so pick your battles. It was built in 2021 and refurbished in 2026. We haven’t confirmed what the 2026 work covered, so don’t book on promises of a specific new venue. Royal Caribbean’s ship page mentions a “reimagined pool deck” with no date or scope.

The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program score is 97 out of 100, from an inspection on 1 March 2026. The full record is on our Odyssey of the Seas page.

Eating

Royal Caribbean confirms four venues as included in your fare, five more are reported as extra-charge, and the rest are still a question mark. The ship page counts 16 dining options in total, so here is how the ones we can sort stack up.

Included (per Royal Caribbean)	Extra charge (per a third-party guide)
Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Sorrento’s (pizza), El Loco Fresh	Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Teppanyaki, Izumi, Wonderland, Coastal Kitchen (suite guests only, per Royal Caribbean)

Café Promenade, Solarium Bistro, Sprinkles and Café @Two70 are on Royal Caribbean’s venue list, but whether they are free or paid isn’t confirmed, so check the Cruise Planner before you assume. Third-party guides also place Chops Grille on deck 5, but it isn’t on Royal Caribbean’s own venue list, so confirm before you plan around it. Current Odyssey cover charges aren’t confirmed either, so check prices in the Cruise Planner. Drink and specialty dining packages are paid add-ons.

Thrills and water

The attractions list is long and show-offy, but which ones carry a fee isn’t confirmed. Check before you assume anything is free, including RipCord and Sky Pad.

• SeaPlex: bumper cars (all ages), basketball, roller skating and laser tag.
• North Star: a capsule rising about 90 m.
• RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, FlowRider surf simulator, Sky Pad (bungee, trampoline, VR), Adrenaline Peak rock wall.
• Playmakers Bar & Arcade.
• Three pools, cantilevered whirlpools, and Splashaway Bay, the kids’ water area. We found no age or size rules for it.

Quiet, shows and kids

The Solarium is the adults-only retreat, but we couldn’t confirm its minimum age for Odyssey. Royal Caribbean’s age policies vary across ships, so check before you plan around it. The area has a bar, lagoon-style pools, a Sunset Whirlpool and a silent disco. The Solarium Bistro is reportedly open to all ages.

• Entertainment typically includes Two70 shows (Spectras Cabaret and Pixels), the production show Live Long Legs, Attic Comedy Club, Music Hall, karaoke at Spotlight and Casino Royale. Cast and schedule for this sailing aren’t verified.
• Kids: Royal Caribbean’s page names a Teen Space and Splashaway Bay but gives no age bands. Third-party age brackets for Adventure Ocean conflict, so confirm ages and any nursery fees and hours with the line.

The Ports

Five calls are listed, and the windows run from 7.5 to 10 hours. Our database has no port list for this sailing, so treat everything here as timetable gossip until Royal Caribbean says otherwise. Cruise Timetables and Seascanner give the same order and times below, but neither is Royal Caribbean itself, so confirm in your booking. Some older listings show an extra Haiti stop. Royal Caribbean has reportedly paused calls there, and the timetables that match these dates omit it, so treat it as stale.

Date	Port	In port (local)	Window
Fri 29 Jan	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic	7:00 AM–3:00 PM	8 hours
Sat 30 Jan	Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI	11:30 AM–7:00 PM	7.5 hours
Sun 31 Jan	St. John’s, Antigua	8:00 AM–6:00 PM	10 hours
Mon 1 Feb	Castries, St. Lucia	8:00 AM–5:00 PM	9 hours
Tue 2 Feb	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	9:00 AM–6:00 PM	9 hours

The listings show sea days on 26–28 Jan and 3–5 Feb. The times above are in-port windows taken from the listings’ departure times, not all-aboard times, so get the all-aboard time from the ship before you wander off. Times can change. Browse the wider Odyssey itineraries for comparison.

Puerto Plata

With 8 hours in port, the ship excursion or staying at the complex is the low-drama play. The Cruise Timetables listing says Amber Cove, but one port guide also mentions Taino Bay, so confirm which applies.

• Amber Cove is a purpose-built complex, not walkable to town or beaches, and has no beach of its own.
• Sources disagree on the distance to town, so we’re not printing one.
• One blog suggests about $35 one-way per vehicle to the historic centre for 4–5 people. That is a single unverified figure, and fares aren’t metered, so agree the price first.
• Excursions that came up: ziplines, horseback riding, Damajagua waterfalls and city history tours.
• US dollars are widely accepted, and change may come back in pesos.
• The State Department rated the Dominican Republic Level 2, “exercise increased caution”. The latest reissue we could confirm was 12 June 2025, so check the live page.

St. Thomas

Plan one main activity, because you arrive at 11:30 AM. There are two cruise docks, Havensight and Crown Bay, about 4 miles apart, and we don’t know which one the ship will use.

• Taxis wait at both docks, and open-air “safari” taxi buses run fixed routes.
• The taxi to Magens Bay is about $10–15 per person (local news pages, July 2026). That isn’t an official rate card, so confirm with the driver.
• Taxis are described as cash only, with 15–20% tips. Carry small US bills.

Antigua

This is the easiest day for a walk-off wander. Ships dock at Heritage Quay or Redcliffe Quay, both within walking distance of central St. John’s, and fixed taxi fares are posted at the port.

• Headline sights are Nelson’s Dockyard, Dow’s Hill and Shirley Heights. Beaches and sights across the island usually need a taxi, tour or hire car.
• Traffic drives on the left, so look carefully when crossing streets.
• The EC dollar is pegged at 2.7 to US$1, and USD is widely accepted.

St. Lucia

The Pitons are a long day, so the ship excursion is the cleaner choice. The ship mostly uses Pointe Seraphine, a duty-free complex on the north side of the harbour, though smaller ships sometimes use La Place Carenage.

• Downtown is about a 20-minute walk or a short water taxi away.
• The Pitons trip goes via Soufrière, about an hour’s drive south. Marigot Bay is 30–45 minutes from the port.
• With a 5:00 PM departure, a ship excursion removes the clock risk. That is our advice, not a line policy.
• Taxis run on fixed fares, so agree the price first. Avoid isolated areas and beaches alone, especially after dark.

St. Maarten

Taxis here are unmetered with government-set Dutch-side rates, and there is no rideshare. The ship docks at the Great Bay/Philipsburg port, and Philipsburg is reported as walkable.

• A water taxi to the far end of Great Bay Beach costs about $7 round trip.
• One undated official table lists Cupecoy to the cruise port at $12 per person for 3–5 passengers and $10 per person for 6 or more.
• A Maho Beach fare from the ship isn’t confirmed, so ask for the rate card before you get in.

Conditions and Packing for This Season

Hurricanes are unlikely to be your problem; a New Jersey snowstorm is. The Atlantic season runs 1 June to 30 November, so this sailing falls outside it, though the National Hurricane Center notes storms occasionally form out of season. The winter risk sits at both ends in the Northeast.

Precedent: Winter Storm Fern delayed Odyssey’s return from 26 Jan to 27 Jan 2026, and the next 12-night sailing was shortened by a day. Both 25 Jan and 6 Feb sit in that storm window. Travel in the day before and consider travel insurance.

Place	Typical temperatures
Newark, NJ, January	Mean high 40°F, mean low 25.5°F
Newark, NJ, February	Mean high 43°F, mean low 27.2°F
Puerto Plata, February	High about 80°F, low about 70°F
St. Thomas	High about 82°F
Antigua	About 25–28°C (roughly 77–82°F)
St. Lucia	About 79°F, sea about 27°C
St. Maarten	No reliable figure found

Newark figures are 1991–2020 normals for the area. The Caribbean numbers come from aggregators that disagree with each other, so use them loosely. Expect brief tropical showers, not a long wet spell.

• Coat, hat and gloves for the first and last day.
• Swimwear and light clothing for the islands.
• A light rain layer.
• Layers for sea days, since we found nothing on pool-deck or indoor temperatures.
• Motion-sickness remedies. Six of the 13 days are listed as sea days, and nobody can promise you how rough they’ll be. A midship, low-deck cabin is general advice for sensitive stomachs.

Money

Budget about $240.50 per person for gratuities if you’re charged every day, as one guide says, or $222 if only the 12 nights count, before you spend a dollar on anything fun. Prices below come from third parties unless noted, so verify them in the Cruise Planner.

Item	Figure	Notes
Gratuities, standard cabin	$18.50 per person per day	If embarkation and disembarkation days are charged (one guide says they are): 13 × $18.50 = $240.50 per person, $481 for two. Nights only: 12 × $18.50 = $222 per person, $444 for two.
Gratuities, suite	$21.00 per person per day	13 days: $273 per person, $546 for two. Nights only: $252 per person, $504 for two. One 2026 guide says $21.50 ($279.50 per person for 13 days, $258 for 12).
Parking	$35 per day, per vehicle	$420 or $455 depending on day count
Deluxe Beverage Package	Not yet known for this sailing	The Cruise Planner has the real price. An unofficial tracker showed readings from $84.00 down to $71.22 per day before 18% gratuity between July and October 2026, but it doesn’t say which ship, so treat that as a ballpark at best.
Wi-Fi	No Odyssey price found	Reported 2026 prices on other ships: Harmony of the Seas $38.70 per device per day onboard and $29.02 with a March 2026 pre-purchase sale; a February 2026 Star of the Seas sailing $32.99 for one device. Pricing varies by ship, sailing and booking time.
Photos	No price found	Check onboard

Gratuities can be prepaid, and Guest Services can adjust them, so check on your booking whether the extra day counts. Our tipping guide covers who gets what.

The drink package price is the big unknown for now, so don’t budget from the tracker figure. Whether packages are required for every adult in a cabin isn’t confirmed either, so read the Cruise Planner terms before you commit. A package only pays off if you really drink your way through it across all those days, and your liver gets a vote.

Prebooking Wi-Fi and dining in the Cruise Planner is generally cheaper than buying onboard, and the Harmony of the Seas prices above point the same way for internet, though that is a different ship. Specialty dining reportedly adds 18–20% gratuity, though that source is not Royal Caribbean-specific.

Documents and Rules

For US citizens on this closed-loop sailing, Royal Caribbean accepts an original state-certified birth certificate plus a government photo ID, but a passport is strongly recommended. Photocopies aren’t accepted. A passport is required if you fly to or from the ship, and it should be valid at least 6 months after the cruise ends, which means past 6 Aug 2027.

• A passport card works for closed-loop sea travel.
• A naturalization certificate plus photo ID is an alternative.
• A standard REAL ID verifies identity only, not citizenship. An Enhanced Driver’s License does verify citizenship.
• Our advice: a passport makes a missed sailing, medical evacuation or early flight home much easier.

Children and non-US citizens

Royal Caribbean defines a minor as 17 and under. A minor travelling without a parent or guardian needs a notarized form signed by the guardian, and missing it may mean denied boarding. If a child’s surname differs from the parent’s, bring official proof such as a marriage licence, divorce decree or adoption paper. The line doesn’t publish child ID rules by age, so check its Travel Documents Hub. Non-US citizens generally need a valid passport and possibly visas, so check the Hub too.

Entry, medication and what not to pack

Cruise passengers don’t need to fill out the Dominican Republic E-TICKET; the paper customs and embarkation forms are accepted. We couldn’t confirm any entry fee or levy for cruise guests at the other ports, so check the Hub.

• Illegal drugs, including marijuana, are banned even with medical authorization. CBD sources conflict, so treat it as risky.
• Royal Caribbean’s prohibited-items page doesn’t address prescriptions. Keeping them in original containers is common advice, not policy.
• Banned outright: weapons and replicas, fireworks, flammables, mace and pepper spray, motorcycles, mopeds, ATVs, and clothing irons and garment steamers.
• Electrical: extension cords, power strips and baby monitors are out. Curling and flat irons are allowed, and hair dryers may be prohibited depending on specifications.
• Walkie-talkies must be 10-mile range, 5-watt output, no external antenna.
• Baby items like bottle warmers are reviewed case by case via [email protected].

The beverage policy lets each guest of drinking age bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on boarding day. Boxed wine is prohibited, extra bottles are held and returned on the last day, and non-alcoholic drinks are capped at 12 standard (17 oz) containers per stateroom. See our alcohol guide for more. Unlisted items can still be refused, and security has the final say.

FAQ: Odyssey of the Seas, 25 January 2027

Do I need a passport for a Royal Caribbean cruise from Cape Liberty?

Not strictly, if you’re a US citizen. Because the sailing starts and ends at Cape Liberty, Royal Caribbean generally accepts an original state-certified birth certificate plus a government photo ID. Photocopies don’t count. A passport is strongly recommended and required if you fly to or from the ship. Non-US citizens need a valid passport and possibly visas.

What ports does Odyssey of the Seas visit on the 25 January 2027 sailing?

Timetables list Puerto Plata, Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, St. John’s in Antigua, Castries in St. Lucia and Philipsburg in St. Maarten, with three sea days at each end. Our database has no port list for this sailing, so confirm it in your booking or on royalcaribbean.com before you pay for excursions.

When does online check-in open for Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean’s own FAQ details the closing times, not the opening. Third-party summaries put the opening at about 45 days before sailing, which for 25 January 2027 is roughly 11 December 2026. Web check-in closes 48 hours before sailing, on 23 January, and the app stays open until 8 a.m. on sailing day. Treat the opening date as unofficial.

How much does parking cost at Cape Liberty cruise port?

Royal Caribbean’s driving-directions page lists the adjoining secure garage at $35 a day per vehicle, including taxes, with rates subject to change. For this sailing that’s $420 if 12 days are charged or $455 for 13 calendar days. We haven’t verified the day-count rule, so ask the port. Oversized vehicles pay double.

How cold is it in Bayonne in late January and early February?

Newark’s 1991–2020 normals show a January mean high of 40°F and low of 25.5°F, with February at 43°F and 27.2°F. Storms matter more than averages: Winter Storm Fern delayed Odyssey’s return from 26 to 27 January 2026. Arrive the day before, pack a proper coat, and consider travel insurance.

Can I bring wine on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Yes, within limits. Each guest of drinking age may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on boarding day. Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited, and extra bottles are held by the ship and returned on the last day. Older articles describing a two-bottle-per-cabin rule are outdated.

How much are gratuities on a 12-night Royal Caribbean cruise?

Standard cabins are charged $18.50 per person per day. One guide says embarkation and disembarkation days are charged too, which would make 13 days: $240.50 per person, or $481 for two. If only the 12 nights count, it’s $222 per person, or $444 for two. Suites are $21.00 per person per day ($273 per person for 13 days, $252 for 12), though one 2026 guide says $21.50 ($279.50 for 13 days, $258 for 12). Check your booking to see which day count applies.

The Bottom Line

On the listed schedule, this is a sea-day-heavy winter run with a short, sunny middle, so plan for the bookends as carefully as the beaches. Confirm the ports, get your documents sorted, check in early, and arrive in New Jersey the day before, because nothing says “vacation” like a blizzard and a missed boat. Then pack for both a parka and a swimsuit. The itinerary and prices here come from third-party listings, so let your booking and the Cruise Planner have the last word.

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