Odyssey of the Seas leaves Cape Liberty in Bayonne on Saturday, February 6, 2027, for eight nights, and you board in a New Jersey winter. Picture frozen fingers, a very serious coat and a terminal whose dining scene is vending machines. If the listed route holds, though, you’ll be in the Florida and Bahamas sunshine within days, and home on Valentine’s Day morning. Wear the puffer to the pier, because the swimsuit comes out later. (Yes, it’s a plot twist, and yes, the puffer gets a redemption arc.)
Start Here
- Now: check that every passport is valid past Aug 14, 2027 (six months after the cruise ends), or locate original birth certificates plus photo ID. It’s the unglamorous one, and it’s the one that can stop a trip at the gangway.
- About Nov 8 to Dec 8, 2026: specialty dining booking probably opens (roughly 90 to 60 days out, from an older source). Check the Cruise Planner now.
- Dec 23, 2026 (expected): online check-in should open about 45 days out. The app shows your exact date.
- During check-in: pick your port arrival time in the app. Slots are first-come, first-served, and earlier check-in generally means more choice.
- Soon: sort out parking or airport transport, and confirm the port list in your booking.
The Sailing at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ship | Odyssey of the Seas, Quantum Ultra Class, built 2021 |
| Departs | Saturday, Feb 6, 2027, 3:00 pm, Cape Liberty (Bayonne) |
| Returns | Sunday, Feb 14, 2027, 6:00 am |
| Length | 8 nights |
| Likely route | “8 Night Perfect Day Bahamas”: Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau (unconfirmed, see Ports) |
| Sea days | 4 on most listings (Feb 7, 8, 12, 13) |
| Size | 169,379 GT, 16 decks, 4,198 passengers, 1,550 crew |
| CDC inspection | 97 out of 100, inspected Mar 1, 2026 |
For the full ship profile, see our Odyssey of the Seas page. Other sailings are on the Odyssey itineraries page.
What to Do Now and the Deadlines That Bite
The only hard deadline you can act on today is documents; everything else is a window to watch. Think of the rest as dates to circle in red and then fret about on schedule. Our database has no ports for this sailing, so confirm the route in your booking before you spend money on anything port-specific.
| When | What | How firm |
|---|---|---|
| Now | Passports valid past Aug 14, 2027, or birth certificates plus photo ID | Royal Caribbean rule |
| ~Nov 8 to Dec 8, 2026 | Specialty dining booking window | My arithmetic from a 2017 “90 to 60 days” guideline; check the Cruise Planner |
| ~Dec 23, 2026 | Online check-in opens | Expected (45 days out); the app shows the real date |
| 48 hours before sailing | Website check-in closes | Per Royal Caribbean’s Australian FAQ; US wording may differ |
| Sailing day, 8:00 am | App check-in runs until then | Same FAQ |
| 60 to 90 minutes before sailing | You must be checked in and aboard, or you can’t sail | Royal Caribbean’s Australian FAQ says 60 minutes and its Swedish page says about 90; the US cutoff isn’t confirmed, so go by your boarding pass and the app |
Other sources say check-in closes 3 days or 24 hours out, so don’t cut it fine. Every guest on the reservation must check in.
Before boarding you need the Health Questionnaire, the Safety Briefing (started from the Safety icon in the app) and a scheduled terminal arrival time. The SetSail Pass shows in the app if you check in at the terminal. We found no evidence that higher Crown & Anchor tiers get an earlier check-in date. Priority embarkation does go to suite guests and upper-tier members, so verify your perks on royalcaribbean.com.
What sells out on this ship is unknown. We have no verified sell-out data for shows, excursions or specialty dining, which is annoying for all of us. If there’s something you’d cry about missing, book it first.
Embarkation Logistics: Getting Onto the Ship in Bayonne
Aim to be at the terminal within the port arrival time on your boarding pass, because the 3:00 pm sail-away is not your real deadline. Royal Caribbean’s regional FAQs give different cutoffs: the Australian FAQ says guests must be checked in at least 60 minutes before sailing, and the Swedish page says boarding ends about 90 minutes before departure, with some ports closing earlier. The cutoff for Cape Liberty isn’t confirmed, so your boarding pass and the Royal Caribbean app are the place to check. The 3:00 pm departure is a bit of a tease: the gangway closes before it. The terminal is Cape Liberty Cruise Port, 4 Port Terminal Blvd, Bayonne, NJ 07002, off Route 440.
Royal Caribbean has you pick a port arrival time during online check-in, and it shows on your boarding pass. Slots are typically half-hour blocks starting around 10:30 am. Arrive early and you may wait outside, and arrive late and you risk missing boarding. Facilities inside are sparse (vending machines, slow Wi-Fi), so eat first and thank me later.
Parking
The on-site lot is about $30 a day, so roughly $240 for this trip if you’re charged for 8 days. That’s a lot of money for a car that isn’t even going on vacation. We couldn’t establish how the port counts embarkation and return days. Rates come from a July 2025 guide, so check the port’s current rate.
- No reservations: first-come, first-served, major credit cards accepted.
- The lot holds just over 900 spaces. If it’s full, staff send you to overflow lots with a free shuttle.
- Vehicles taller than 7’4″ go to overflow.
| Option | From, per day | 8 days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Liberty on-site | $30 | $240 | RVs/minibuses $60/day |
| Park & Sail NJ | $17 | $136 | About a 6-minute drive |
| Value Parking | $13.95 | $111.60 | No shuttle |
| Newark Long Term Parking | $18.99 | $151.92 | Shuttle details not confirmed |
| Park2Go (Elizabeth) | $19.99 outdoor | $159.92 | Sources conflict on a port shuttle |
Flying in to Newark
Newark (EWR) is the easy airport, but nobody agrees on the distance. Estimates run from about 6 to about 10 miles, and roughly 20 minutes without traffic. Whether Royal Caribbean runs an EWR transfer is unresolved, so check the Cruise Planner.
Older price points: taxi about $40 one-way (2024), Uber or Lyft about $26 to $28 (2023, and surge is possible), and an NJ Transit bus with a pier stop at $2.60 one-way (2024). These are 2023 to 2024 figures, so treat them as ballparks. A snowstorm will wreck all of them, so I’d fly in the day before and let the weather be someone else’s drama. We found no reliable current hotel rate for the night of Feb 5, so price that yourself.
The Ship and How to Work It
Odyssey is a big-ship playground with a surf simulator, a skydiving simulator and bumper cars, plenty to fill four sea days. Apparently regular sky and regular waves weren’t enough. Royal Caribbean’s ship page lists these as confirmed:
- North Star, a viewing capsule with 360-degree views.
- RipCord by iFLY, a skydiving simulator.
- FlowRider, a 40-foot surf simulator, plus a rock climbing wall.
- SeaPlex, billed as the largest indoor activity space at sea: bumper cars, basketball, pickleball, roller skating and laser tag.
- Two70, the multimedia show venue. Show names differ between pages, so don’t plan around a particular production.
Our records list a 2026 refurbishment. We found no list of new Odyssey features from it, so don’t expect any shiny surprises. The spring 2026 dry dock was described as routine maintenance.
Eating
The line advertises 16 dining options and 10+ bars. Third-party counts range from 14 to 18 (restaurant counting is clearly a contact sport), so use the line’s own number.
- Listed as complimentary by third parties: Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Sorrento’s pizza, Café Promenade, The Café @Two70, El Loco Fresh (Mexican) and Solarium Bistro.
- Specialty: Chef’s Table, Chops Grille, Izumi, Teppanyaki, Wonderland and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar.
- Suites only: Coastal Kitchen.
- Unconfirmed: whether Sprinkles ice cream is fully free, and whether the main dining room is set-time or My Time Dining.
One review says Giovanni’s, Teppanyaki and Chops offer discounted sea-day lunches, and Izumi doesn’t. With four sea days, that’s worth a look.
Pools, spa and kids
There are 3 pools plus hot tubs, but we couldn’t confirm which are heated or covered. That’s a real question for a ship leaving New Jersey in February, so ask guest services before you pack your optimism.
The Solarium is described as having an “adults-only atmosphere.” We couldn’t confirm its minimum age. Splashaway Bay is the kids’ aqua park, and Vitality Spa is on board. Adventure Ocean and teen spaces are free. Generic age bands are 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12, with teens 13 to 17, but those aren’t confirmed for Odyssey. We also couldn’t confirm that Odyssey has the paid Royal Babies & Tots nursery, so ask before counting on it.
The Ports
The most likely route is Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, but our database doesn’t list ports for this sailing, so treat it as unconfirmed. Royal Caribbean’s itinerary page for this product (code OY8BH089) lists the order: 2 sea days, Port Canaveral, CocoCay, Nassau, 2 sea days. It says ports are subject to change. The dates and times below come from booking sites such as Cruise Web and Jetsetter Guide, not from Royal Caribbean’s own page. They are arrival and departure times, not all-aboard. All-aboard is usually earlier than the listed departure, and we don’t have it for this sailing, so leave a firm buffer and re-check the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Planner closer to sailing.
| Day | Date | Where | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat Feb 6 | Cape Liberty | Departs 3:00 pm |
| 2-3 | Sun-Mon Feb 7-8 | At sea | |
| 4 | Tue Feb 9 | Port Canaveral, FL | 7:00 am to 7:00 pm |
| 5 | Wed Feb 10 | Perfect Day at CocoCay | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| 6 | Thu Feb 11 | Nassau, Bahamas | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Jetsetter Guide) or 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (Cruise Web, Cruisebound); not confirmed |
| 7-8 | Fri-Sat Feb 12-13 | At sea | |
| 9 | Sun Feb 14 | Cape Liberty | Arrives 6:00 am |
Nassau is the day the booking sites can’t agree on, so neither set of hours is gospel. One booking site (Cruisebound) also lists only Feb 12 as a sea day, so that count isn’t fully settled either. Check your Cruise Planner for the final times.
Port Canaveral
Kennedy Space Center is the standout, and Orlando theme parks are a bad fit. Orlando is about an hour away each way, which is rough on a 12-hour call, unless you enjoy spending your Florida day in a car. Royal Caribbean’s page advises bringing cash for the Beachline Expressway tolls.
- Nothing of interest is walkable from the pier. Kennedy Space Center is roughly 10 to 20 miles and 20 to 30 minutes by road, and sources disagree.
- The center is open 9 am to 5 pm. Check ticketing before you go, as its site noted online sales were down and gate purchase was possible.
- A forum post says the ship excursion costs about $50 more than admission alone and sells out. The upside is the ship waits for you.
- Independent transport-only options exist, one listed at $68 without admission, but we couldn’t confirm the operator or date.
- Cocoa Beach is the cheaper, lower-effort option.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Admission is free, but plenty of the best stuff isn’t. Classic private-island move. Included: Splashaway Bay, the Oasis Lagoon pool, Chill Island and South Beach, and Skipper’s Grill, Chill Grill and Snack Shack. Extra cost: Thrill Waterpark, Zip Line, the Up, Up and Away balloon, Coco Beach Club, Hideaway Beach (18+), cabanas and rentals.
Royal Caribbean publishes no dollar amounts. Prices vary by season and show in My Royal Cruise once you’ve booked. Third-party quotes conflict, so I won’t print any. I found nothing sourced on how February weather affects the water park or the water.
Nassau
The ship docks downtown, and the Straw Market, Bay Street and Junkanoo Beach are a 10 to 15 minute walk. Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle are about 12 to 13 minutes. Bargaining at the market is normal, and vendors prefer cash.
- Atlantis: a ferry leaves the cruise port every 30 minutes from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Day-pass prices conflict, with adults at about $195 to $255, so check before you commit.
- Royal Beach Club Paradise Island: Royal Caribbean’s FAQ says it’s open only to Royal Caribbean Group guests and Bahamian residents, and Nassau-call guests need a day pass. Kids 3 and under are free. Check Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club page for the current opening status and day-pass price before you plan around it.
- Cheaper options: Cabbage Beach is free, and Bahama Bay Pool Club is about $35 to $50 per person.
- Money: the Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. Agree taxi fares before you get in, and carry small bills for tipping.
The US State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. Violent crime occurs mostly in Nassau and Freeport, so stay alert in the “Over the Hill” area south of Shirley Street. US government employees are barred from independent jet ski operators on New Providence and Paradise Island, so skip those. Firearms and ammunition, even small amounts in luggage, are illegal. Read the current advisory on travel.state.gov before you go.
Conditions and Packing
Expect roughly a 30°F swing or more between Bayonne and the Bahamas. Newark averages about 43°F for highs and 27°F for lows in February (Bayonne has no figure of its own). Port Canaveral averages about 74°F and 57°F, per a secondary source. Nassau is about 77°F and 63°F, with sea around 75°F. Your wardrobe is about to have an identity crisis.
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so this sailing falls outside it. The weather risk is winter storms, and Bayonne has form. On Feb 22, 2026, Odyssey was held at the pier overnight before a 7-night Bahamas sailing because of a blizzard warning with 12 to 18 inches of snow and gusts to about 50 mph. Royal Caribbean said it would try to keep as much of the itinerary as possible. Expect that a late departure or changed ports is possible, and we can’t give odds.
The first day or two out of New York can be rough in winter, and the open Atlantic on Feb 7 and 8 isn’t a pond. Midship cabins on lower decks feel the least motion. Pack remedies in your carry-on.
- Packable down jacket, waterproof shell, hat, gloves, scarf, and closed-toe shoes for embarkation.
- Swimsuit and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Luggage tags that survive rain and sleet.
- Medications and seasickness remedies in your carry-on.
- A light layer for sea days. This one is my suggestion, since temperatures at sea aren’t documented.
- Skip the heavy boots and extra formal wear.
Money
The fare doesn’t cover alcohol, sodas, specialty dining, Wi-Fi or gratuities, and gratuities are the one you can calculate now. The standard rate is $18.50 per person per day. For 8 nights that’s $148 per person, or $296 for a two-adult cabin. Suites run about $21 to $21.50 per person per day, since sources conflict. That’s $168 to $172 per person over 8 nights. These figures come from secondary sources, so confirm the rate on your booking. For who gets what, see our cruise tipping guide.
| Item | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities, non-suite | $18.50 per person per day ($148 for 8) | Secondary, Feb 2026 |
| Beer | about $8.25 | 2026 average |
| Cocktail | about $14 | 2026 average |
| Wine by the glass | about $8 to $16+ | 2026 average |
| Soda | $3.50 | 2026 average |
| Bar gratuity | 18% automatic (some guides say 18 to 20%) | Secondary |
Drink package prices run from about $56 to $120 per person per day across sources, too wide to quote. One July 2026 piece cites $98 to $119 pre-cruise for US and Caribbean sailings. Check the Cruise Planner for this sailing. Internet isn’t priced for Odyssey. On other ships in 2026 it ran roughly $27 to $39 per device per day, and buying before you sail is generally cheaper. At $29 a day, 8 days is $232 per device (my arithmetic).
Bringing your own wine is a small, easy saving, not a jackpot. Each guest of drinking age may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on boarding day. A bottle holds roughly five glasses, so at $8 to $16 a glass that could offset about $40 to $80 of bar spend, before any corkage. Royal Caribbean’s policy page mentions corkage but doesn’t publish a fee. One third-party guide puts it at $15 per bottle in public venues and nothing in the stateroom, which is unconfirmed, so check before you uncork. Our guide to bringing alcohol on a cruise has the full rules.
We have no reliable 2026 prices for specialty restaurants, photos, the arcade, bumper cars, RipCord, North Star, spa or shore excursions. Check the Cruise Planner before budgeting.
Documents and Rules
On a round trip from a US port, US citizens need either a passport or an original birth certificate plus government photo ID. Royal Caribbean strongly recommends a passport. Birth certificates must be originals or official government-issued copies, and a REAL ID doesn’t replace one. A passport is also needed if you ever have to fly home from a port.
- Children: Royal Caribbean’s Travel Documents page says those 15 and under need only a birth certificate. Teens 16 to 17 need the adult options. The line’s regional pages are inconsistent on the cutoff, so confirm with Royal Caribbean.
- Minors without a legal guardian: the accompanying adult needs a notarized guardian consent form at check-in, or boarding may be denied.
- Non-US citizens: a passport valid at least 6 months after the cruise ends, plus any visa or travel authorisation your nationality requires. Green card holders need the physical card.
- Bahamas entry: official Bahamas entry rules aren’t confirmed here. Secondary sources say US citizens need no visa for short stays, but check the Bahamas government’s official guidance for any current restrictions that apply to your nationality.
Banned items include illegal drugs (medical marijuana too), weapons and ammunition, fireworks, flammables, clothing irons and steamers, and power strips and extension cords. Hair dryers may be restricted by spec, and one is provided in the stateroom. Non-alcoholic drinks are limited to 12 standard 17 oz containers per stateroom on boarding day. We found no official medication policy, so keep prescriptions in original labelled containers in your carry-on. Check for a drone rule with the line.
FAQ: Odyssey of the Seas From Bayonne, February 2027
When does online check-in open for the Feb 6, 2027 Odyssey of the Seas sailing?
Check-in is expected to open about 45 days before sailing, which works out to around December 23, 2026. That’s an unverified figure, and Royal Caribbean’s app and website show the exact date for your booking. Website check-in closes 48 hours before sailing, and app check-in runs until 8 am on sailing day, per the line’s Australian FAQ. US wording may differ.
What ports does Odyssey of the Seas visit on the Feb 6, 2027 cruise?
Our database doesn’t list ports for this sailing. The route listed for this 8-night product is Port Canaveral on Feb 9, Perfect Day at CocoCay on Feb 10 and Nassau on Feb 11, with sea days around them. Royal Caribbean says ports are subject to change, so confirm in your Cruise Planner or app before booking port-specific plans.
How much is parking at Cape Liberty cruise port?
The most current figure we have is $30 a day for standard vehicles, which would be $240 for 8 days. We couldn’t confirm how the port counts embarkation and return days. There are no reservations, and the lot has just over 900 spaces. Off-site lots start from about $13.95 a day, so compare before you go.
Can I bring wine on board Odyssey of the Seas?
Yes. Each guest of drinking age may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on boarding day. Boxed wine and other containers aren’t allowed. Extra bottles are held by the ship and returned on the last day. Beer, seltzer and spirits are seized at boarding, and returned only if sealed in original packaging. Royal Caribbean’s policy mentions corkage but doesn’t list a fee, so check before you uncork.
Do I need a passport for a Bahamas cruise from Bayonne?
Not necessarily. US citizens on a round trip may use an original birth certificate plus a valid government photo ID instead, though Royal Caribbean strongly recommends a passport. Non-US citizens need a passport valid at least 6 months after the cruise ends. Visa rules depend on nationality, and guests without the right documents may be denied boarding.
How much are Royal Caribbean gratuities for an 8-night cruise?
Standard cabins are $18.50 per person per day, which is $148 per person over 8 nights, or $296 for two adults. Suites are about $21 to $21.50 per person per day, since sources disagree. Gratuities apply to children too, and can be prepaid in the Cruise Planner. Those figures come from secondary sources, so verify at booking.
What happens if a snowstorm hits on departure day?
It has happened before. On Feb 22, 2026, Odyssey was held at the pier overnight before a 7-night Bahamas sailing because of a blizzard warning. Royal Caribbean said it would try to keep as much of the itinerary as possible, and some ports may be skipped. Watch the app, and consider flying in the day before.
The Bottom Line
This is a winter escape worth planning for if you treat the itinerary as likely rather than guaranteed. We don’t have a confirmed fare for this sailing, so check current pricing on Royal Caribbean’s booking page before you decide whether it’s good value for your cabin. Confirm your ports, get your documents and check-in sorted early, and bring a bottle of wine for the sunny part (just check the corkage rules before you get clever with it). The one thing no checklist fixes is a Bayonne snowstorm, so build in slack on both ends. Wear the puffer to the pier and pack the flip-flops where you can reach them.
Ships in This Story
- Odyssey of the Seas Royal Caribbean · Latest CDC score 97
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