Two Florida Burrowing Owls Take Unexpected Cruise to Spain

It is unknown if the owls got the drink package.

Most cruise passengers carefully plan their vacations. These two owls, apparently, did not.

A pair of burrowing owls from Florida recently completed one of the strangest wildlife journeys in recent memory after accidentally hitching a ride on a cruise ship sailing from Miami to Spain.

The tiny birds somehow boarded Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, an enormous 18-deck cruise ship, before it left Port Miami in February 2025. By the time anyone noticed them, the ship was already crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

At that point, it was a little late to turn the ship around for two unexpected passengers.

A Pair of Feathered Stowaways

Passengers eventually spotted the owls perched among trees in the ship’s open-air garden area known as Central Park. Instead of panicking about their unusual surroundings, the birds seemed perfectly content watching the steady parade of vacationers.

Photos of the owls quickly spread among passengers and online communities. One amused traveler joked that the ship should temporarily be renamed the “Owllure of the Seas.”

Despite all the attention, the owls appeared surprisingly calm about their situation perhaps unaware they were now thousands of miles away from home.

Cruise Crew Keeps an Eye on the Unexpected Guests

Crew members reportedly kept watch over the birds during the journey and made sure they were safe until the ship reached Cartagena, Spain.

Once the ship docked, wildlife specialists stepped in. The owls were transferred to a rehabilitation center where veterinarians monitored their health while officials worked through the complicated process of returning them to the United States.

Their story eventually reached American authorities after wildlife officials abroad contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through international conservation channels.

Because burrowing owls are considered a threatened species in Florida, their return required careful coordination between wildlife agencies.

Finally Back in Florida

Nearly a year after their accidental overseas trip began, the two owls were flown back to Miami in February. They are currently undergoing quarantine and health checks overseen by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

If they are deemed healthy enough, the birds will eventually be released back into suitable habitat somewhere in Florida.

Not Your Typical Ocean Travelers

Burrowing owls are small, long-legged birds famous for their bright yellow eyes and their unusual habit of living underground. Instead of nesting in trees like most owls, they use burrows in the ground sometimes digging their own, but often borrowing tunnels made by other animals.

They thrive in open landscapes such as grasslands, empty lots, golf courses, and even suburban neighborhoods.

While these owls are capable of flying decent distances, wildlife experts say they usually stay close to their home territory. Which makes their accidental transatlantic adventure especially unusual.

How Did They End Up on a Cruise Ship?

That part remains a mystery.

Researchers suspect the owls may have been exploring the port area before the ship departed and simply settled into a quiet spot onboard without realizing their “perch” was about to sail across an ocean.

For the birds, the moment the engines started may have been the surprise of a lifetime.

Still, their accidental vacation ended safely and they may hold the unofficial record for the most unexpected cruise passengers of the year.

One thing, however, remains unknown.

No one has confirmed whether the owls opted for the ship’s drink package.