Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum Ultra class cruise ship, Odyssey of the Seas, completed an important construction milestone earlier today.
Odyssey of the Seas received its first block as the keel was officially lowered and put into place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The cruise ship is scheduled to go into service in 2020.
Odyssey of the Seas’ deployment schedule and itineraries will be revealed later this year. The cruise line announced earlier this year that the ship will sail from the U.S. when she debuts next year.
The keel laying marks an important milestone in the development of Odyssey of the Seas, as it signifies the beginning of the ship’s physical construction. During the ceremony, a 79-ton block was lifted into the building dock with an 800-ton crane. Newly minted coins were placed under the keel, which then stays in place until the end of construction.
Once the cruise ship is nearing completion, the coins are retrieved and presented to the ship’s Captain and crew, to be placed on board the ship. According to maritime tradition, the coins are said to bring luck to the ship during its construction and then to its Captain and crew when she is at sea.
