Owls Stow Away on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas for Two Weeks

Two burrowing owls took an unexpected cruise across the Atlantic Ocean aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. The feathered stowaways became instant celebrities among passengers during the ship’s recent repositioning voyage.

Owls Made Themselves at Home in Central Park

Passengers on Allure of the Seas spotted a pair of burrowing owls living in the ship’s Central Park neighborhood. The open-air space with real trees became an unlikely home for these birds during the 12-night crossing from Miami to Barcelona.

The ship left Florida on February 10, 2025. Experts believe the owls snuck aboard while the ship was docked in Miami. They then spent 10 days crossing the Atlantic before the ship reached its first port in Cartagena, Spain on February 20.

After the cruise ends in Barcelona on February 22, Allure of the Seas will undergo a $100 million renovation. The ship will stay in Spain through the spring before resuming sailings on April 11, 2025.

Passengers Shared Photos and Updates on Social Media

The owls quickly became cruise celebrities. Passengers posted photos and stories about them on Reddit and other platforms. The updates drew tons of attention online.

One Reddit user shared, “My parents are currently cruising on Allure [of the Seas] on the transoceanic voyage. Two burrowing owls have stowed away on the cruise to Spain and have caused quite a ruckus.”

The poster added, “Unfortunately, the owls have drawn so much attention that they now need to be caught and won’t be allowed into Spain until [they’re] quarantined and then… Deported?”

The Owls Explored Different Areas of the Ship

While Central Park was their main hangout, the owls explored other spaces too. The trees in Central Park made perfect perches for the birds.

“One of the owls has also explored the Solarium and miniature golf course. It’s been exciting!” explained one user.

Another passenger shared on Reddit, “[These fellas] got quite the fanbase on Allure [of the Seas] at the moment. Folks taking pictures while staying at as much of a distance as one can in Central Park. It definitely doesn’t seem to mind the masses of people around.”

You can check out photos of the two stowaways on Reddit.

Wildlife Experts Created a Plan to Safely Capture the Owls

The Reddit threads about the owls received nearly 100 comments and 1,000 upvotes. Passengers kept sharing updates throughout the voyage.

One user reported: “As of midday today, the famed owl of Central Park has been captured and is being fed steak and water. The exact plan is to be determined at the discretion of Spain. Burrowing owls are endangered, which will likely guide his safe future.”

The endangered status of these birds made their situation more serious. Burrowing owls are considered endangered in Canada and threatened in Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists them as birds of conservation concern nationwide. In Florida specifically, they’re a threatened species.

Royal Caribbean Consulted with Owl Specialists

Royal Caribbean worked with wildlife experts to handle the situation properly. One passenger shared an update from the ship’s hotel director.

“After consultations with an owl specialist, a game plan has been crafted. The 2 owls have been collected. As of this afternoon, one of the 2 captured ones escaped and flew back to [Central Park] and is still evading staff.”

The captured owl was placed in a temporary cage for safety. “It was stressful for them and less safe to be in Central Park as much as we enjoyed looking at them. They are now being fed and watered and cared for according to the animal experts’ guidelines,” shared the passenger.

The Owls Will Return to Florida

The crew planned to offload the owls in Spain. However, burrowing owls aren’t native to Europe. Releasing them there wouldn’t be safe.

Instead, the plan was different. “[The owls] will be offloaded in Cartagena where management and the local authorities will process the paperwork. They will then be flown back to Miami where they can safely be released in their native habitat. Owls well that ends well.”

But catching the second owl proved tricky. One passenger reported: “Your update of this moment is that a crew member with a net is standing very patiently in Central Park hoping the park owl will come into reach. The owl, currently located about 10 feet from my balcony, is not having it.”

This Isn’t the First Time Owls Have Stowed Away on Oasis Class Ships

Surprisingly, owl stowaways aren’t that unusual on these ships. Several passengers shared similar stories from past cruises.

Central Park’s open-air design with real plants naturally attracts wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes that “Burrowing owls are small, unusual owls that nest in underground burrows instead of trees. They live in wide-open, sparsely vegetated areas like prairies, deserts, grasslands and agricultural fields.”

Other Cruise Ships Have Hosted Owl Guests

One passenger recalled an owl on Oasis of the Seas in 2022. “We had an owl stowaway on our Oasis cruise back in 2022. Here he is hanging out on a light in Central Park. The crew apparently looked after him. They called him Owly and made sure he had food.”

They continued, “He was just traveling the Caribbean so never really attracted that level of attention, but had apparently been on the ship for some time by our cruise. Looks like he could be the same breed at that. Wonder if something about Central Park attracts them?”

Symphony of the Seas has hosted owls too. Passengers reported sightings in September 2021 and January 2023. One cruiser remembered, “We had an owl on Symphony too! I’m sure it’s a great life for the owls. He did throw up on a lady as she walked underneath him, which led to a lot of shrieking, but it was still cool to see him.”

Wildlife Officials Have Helped Before

In March 2023, Royal Caribbean brought a wildlife biologist aboard Symphony of the Seas in Florida. The expert worked with crew members to safely capture an owl living in Central Park.

Florida Fish and Wildlife posted on Facebook about the rescue. “With some of the crew’s help, [the biologist] placed mist nets around the owl’s perch of choice, the exit signs by the door. Two unsuccessful attempts later, the owl was now sitting on the balcony of a 10th story cabin.”

The post continued: “The crew stood below making noise to distract the owl as [our biologist] snuck up and safely netted the owl from the railing! After the amazing rescue, the cute little stowaway was safely assisted with the disembarkation process. He had nothing to claim in customs. Although seemingly in good health even after two weeks at sea, the bird was transported to South Florida Wildlife Center as a precautionary measure.”

The unique design of Oasis class ships seems to make them attractive to these small owls. While it’s unusual, these feathered passengers have become beloved members of several cruise communities.