Owl Onboard?

[Cruising Caribbean]

Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas just had a "hoot" of an experience as it cruised for two weeks with a burrowing owl onboard! The photos were "wild." This is the first time I have heard of an owl onboard, but I have seen birds here and there. Have you encountered an owl at sea before?

[FJB]

Now that right there is funny!  And amazing. 

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@FJB It's pretty hilarious that the owl stuck around for that long! I guess it had nowhere to go. "Whoooo" would have thought? I know this type of owl eats insects, but maybe it was able to try a more vegetarian meal, like french fries, on its inaugural voyage!

[Cruiser99girl]

Burrowing owls are occasional visitors to RC ships, especially to central park on the Oasis Class ships. On one sailing in January 2022 I noticed an owl in central park perched above the Tiffany's sign. One of the ship's horticulturalists explained the owl had been on board for a while, that the horticulturalists were monitoring the owl. On a sailing in January 2023-- on the same ship, I asked the same horticulturalists how long the owl was in Central Park. He said it Was on for several months before it left. The horticulturalist did say that there was an Eagle in Central Park for a week.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@Cruiser99girl I didn't know this was a common occurrence! I also had no idea that Royal Caribbean ships have horticulturalists onboard. I find that to be so interesting. It seems like ships aren't particularly keen on removing owls from the premise unless it's a potential risk to the animal or guests. I'm even more surprised that an eagle was living on board in Central Park for a week! Since I haven't been on an Oasis Class ship, I was researching the Central Park design onboard. It seems like the Harmony of the Seas Central Park area takes some serious maintenance. https://www.cruisehive.com/harmony-of-the-seas-central-park-maintained/13788

[PaulB]

Usually it's a bad sign if an albatross is on board, so maybe an owl will change the perspective and have good luck on board. But then again seeing as it snuck on board, he needs to be punished, maybe send him to Owlcatraz.

[3Sisters]

@Cruiser99girl That's pretty awesome you were able to meet a horticulturalist onboard a Royal Caribbean Line ship! I wonder if the owl was provided with specialty foods onboard to sustain its existence. 

"Owlcatraz" was the best thing I have heard all day. I don't know if the owl deserves that sort of punishment but "owl" never really know.

[Cruising Caribbean]

@FJB "Owl" bet guests were pretty shocked to see this! 

[LukeJ]

Maybe he didn't want to be owl by himself

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@LukeJ I love the theme for this "whooo"llarious thread. It's a hoot! I think birds find their way onboard more than we think. A bird got trapped onboard a cruise ship for 2 days in 2016, but it seems this owl wanted to stay put on the ship. Maybe this owl could earn some loyalty credit for cruising with Royal Caribbean.