Passengers aboard Allure of the Seas were surprised to discover two unexpected guests on their transatlantic voyage – a pair of burrowing owls that took up residence in the ship’s open-air Central Park.
The Oasis-class ship departed Miami on 10th February 2025, embarking on a 12-night journey to Barcelona, Spain.
It’s believed that the owls boarded while the ship was docked in Florida.
Over the following ten days, they became an attraction among passengers, with many taking to social media to share updates on their unusual stowaways.
The burrowing owls quickly made themselves at home among the trees and plants in the Central Park neighbourhood, though some passengers also spotted them in other areas of the ship, including the Solarium and miniature golf course.
As the journey progressed, the presence of the birds sparked growing concern, as burrowing owls are considered a threatened species in Florida.
Given their status, Royal Caribbean took action to ensure their safe handling.
Efforts to capture the stowaways
Passengers shared that wildlife experts were consulted, and a plan was put in place to capture and care for the birds until a resolution was found.
One of the owls was successfully captured and placed in a temporary enclosure, receiving food and water.
The second owl proved more elusive at first…
“The crew member with a net is standing very patiently in Central Park hoping the owl will come into reach. The owl, currently located about 10 feet from my balcony, is not having it,”
Social media update from a passenger
Eventually the second owl was captured, but then escaped once more, with crew concerned that they wouldn’t be able to recapture it before reaching port.
Thankfully, follow-up reports show that the second owl was caught once more. Royal Caribbean confirmed that the birds were offloaded in Cartagena, Spain, where local wildlife authorities would process the necessary paperwork.
They will then be flown back to Miami for release into their natural habitat.
Remarkably, this isn’t the first time an owl has stowed away on a Royal Caribbean vessel.
Previous reports from passengers detail similar incidents aboard Oasis of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, with owls taking up residence in Central Park.
In March 2023, Florida Fish and Wildlife was called to assist in safely capturing an owl aboard Symphony of the Seas, ensuring it could be released back into the wild.
Given that burrowing owls typically prefer open, sparsely vegetated landscapes such as prairies and grasslands, it is surprising that they continue to be drawn to the lush greenery of Central Park.
However, their presence on multiple voyages suggests that the enclosed but naturally landscaped environment of the ship provides an attractive shelter for them.
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