Is Doctor Odyssey's Luxury Cruise Ship Based On Real-Life?

ABC's Doctor Odyssey takes place almost entirely on The Odyssey, a luxury cruise ship that Don Johnson's Captain Robert Massey describes as "heaven," but many want to know if the ship actually exists or is based on a real-life vessel. The medical drama TV show created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken follows Joshua Jackson's Dr. Max Bankman, the new doctor on The Odyssey. Max is accompanied by his two nurses — Avery Morgan (who is technically a nurse practitioner) and Tristan Silva, played by Phillipa Soo and Sean Teale in the Doctor Odyssey cast, respectively.

Max, Avery, and Tristan encounter various medical cases, from relatively mild ones (like wounds from a fight) to extreme (like a cardiac event or Huntington's disease) in Doctor Odyssey. Aside from their jobs, the trio (plus Captain Massey) encounter various problems related to their love lives, families, and health. All the while, The Odyssey is sailing across the seas, taking people on the vacation of a lifetime. However, the TV series' luxury cruise ship technically isn't real.

Doctor Odyssey's Luxury Cruise Ship Real-Life Explanation Explained

The Odyssey Isn't A Real Ship

Although The Odyssey (not to be confused with Royal Caribbean International's Odyssey of the Seas) doesn't exist, the luxury cruise ship in Joshua Jackson's ABC medical drama pulls inspiration from real vessels. Of course, numerous luxury cruise ships have set sail across the world. So, it's relatively easy for the writers and producers of Doctor Odyssey to gather information to craft their fictional vessel.

While creating Doctor Odyssey for ABC, it's unclear whether Ryan Murphy and co. were inspired by specific luxury cruise ships or lines, like Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Oceania Cruises. They likely considered many different vessels when constructing the setting for the premiere of Murphy's Doctor Odyssey and other episodes. Nevertheless, The Odyssey doesn't exist in real life, meaning fans (sadly) can't book a cruise to fake an illness and meet Joshua Jackson.

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How Accurate Is Doctor Odyssey's Cruise Ship Emergencies

The Show's Medical Cases Are (Unsurprisingly) Exaggerated

While The Odyssey is seemingly based on real-life luxury cruise ships, the ABC show's medical cases are not pulled from reality. According to Liz Baugh, the Lead Medical Consultant for Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, most of the diseases and injuries Max, Avery, and Tristan encounter in Doctor Odyssey are unrealistic. Baugh told USA Today:

"I’ve been working at least 25 years and never had a case [of iodine poisoning]. From my own personal experience, it's not something that happens commonly."

Baugh explained how many cases in Ryan Murphy's successful new medical series are exaggerated. Instead of treating appendicitis and penile fractures, doctors and nurses typically deal with bladder, ear, nose, or throat infections. Baugh added, "We get a lot of seasickness, especially if people aren't used to being on the water." However, there is one thing that the ABC show gets right. A cruise ship's medical team is usually minuscule, consisting of one doctor and one nurse. Plus, similar to Doctor Odyssey, a ship's medical facilities are small and limited, and they can't perform surgery unless it's an emergency (which is uncommon).

Dr. Max Bankman, a newly appointed physician on a luxury cruise ship, faces intense medical emergencies while navigating the personal dramas of his tight-knit medical team. Far from shore, the stakes are high as Max and his colleagues must work together to save lives, all while balancing their own complicated relationships.

Cast Joshua Jackson , Don Johnson , Phillipa Soo , Sean Teale

Release Date September 26, 2024

Seasons 1

Source: USA Today