Odyssey III: Refurbishment On The Potomac

There are many fine and elegant places to dine in Washington D.C., but few offer the comfort and opulence to match the mv. Odyssey III.

Its sleek, low-profile superstructure, designed to pass under the Potomac River bridges, contains enough space to provide all the essentials of a grand evening. Passengers can experience cocktails, dinner, dancing and perhaps most important, the beauty of city lights from the deck of a boat.

At 240- by 63-feet, the Odyssey III’s deck provides ample space for a large group of people and a range of activities on its single deck configuration. Built in 1995, the steel-hulled vessel has entertained thousands of people while serving Washingtonians and their guests well. For 2019, its owners decided to give the vessel a spectacular $2.2 million renovation.

The renovation included upgraded amenities such as a remodeled dance floor and bar space, new carpets, new fixtures and finishes. These are the all-important public face of a dinner cruise boat.

But the owners went beyond the cosmetic. A pair of tired 540 hp. diesels  were pulled out and replaced with a pair of electronic-controlled Tier 3 compliant Cummins QSK19 mains, delivering 600 hp. at 1,800 rpm. into Twin Disc MGX-5170DC gears with 4.5:1 reduction.

At the same time, the original two generator sets, one 537 kw. and one 350 kw., were replaced with two Cummins QSK19-powered 530 kw. generators. With generator power equal to main propulsion power, this is clearly a luxurious dinner cruise boat. It has ample power for moving on the river and ample power for entertaining the guests whether they are dining, dancing or relaxing.

The repower of the Odyssey III was carried out at Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk, Va.

The Odyssey III is operated by Entertainment Cruises, which bills itself as North America’s largest dining and sightseeing cruise company.