The Ultimate World Cruise has garnered a viral amount of attention, and it won't be Royal Caribbean's last.

The 9-month cruise around the world is set to visit 65 countries, more than 150 destinations, and 11 Great Wonders of the World.

The sailing started in December of 2023 and will end on September 10th, 2024.

As of July 11th, the cruise is 213 days into sailing, and Royal Caribbean has already announced its intention for another.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO, spoke of the world cruise during a Q&A session on the 2024 President's Cruise.

A cruiser named Mel asked if there would ever be another world cruise: "Is it going to be part of Royal Caribbean's offerings going forward?"

Mr. Bayley applauded the cruise as "a fantastic adventure" and explained what it would take for Royal Caribbean to do another.

Read more: I'm going on Royal Caribbean's first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I'm expecting

The Ultimate World Cruise has been "a great success"

Michael Bayley started his response by praising the line's first World Cruise.

"First of all, I think the World Cruise has been a fantastic, unbelievable product for Royal Caribbean to launch and operate. I think it has been a great success."

While this wasn't the first world cruise, this is the first time that Royal Caribbean has done one, making it one of the only big and well-known cruise lines to do so.

Mr. Bayley believes the spirit of the World Cruise is similar to that of Royal Caribbean International itself.

"It's like the ultimate adventure to me," he said. "I applaud and admire everybody who took the Ultimate World Cruise. What a fantastic adventure, once in a lifetime."

What makes the World Cruise so exciting is that it sails around the world, taking passengers to every continent on the planet.

The sailing represents excitement, adventure, and exploration—concepts similar to the cruise line's brand.

Royal Caribbean prides itself on onboard thrills, exciting itineraries, and thrilling vacations, appealing to adventurous travelers and committed cruisers.

"You sail around the world for nine months, and you've got all these incredible places," Mr. Bayley said.

For guests who seek to explore the world on a cruise ship, the Ultimate World Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see 65 countries.

In addition to the excitement ingrained in such a sailing, this year's World Cruise has garnered a significant amount of attention.

Since its departure, the sailing has gone viral on social media, with cruisers onboard depicting their own "reality series" about life onboard.

Even Mel, the cruiser who asked the question on the President's Cruise, described the sailing as "a massive success in terms of branding and marketing."

Read more: Royal Caribbean's 9-month world cruise is getting attention for "drama", but it's nothing new

Royal Caribbean wants to do another one, despite the challenges involved

Despite the great success of the World Cruise, Royal Caribbean found it a challenging endeavor.

"My team thinks it sucks," Michael Bayley joked, "because it's been extremely complicated and massively expensive."

Read more: A passenger on the 9-month cruise is halfway done and lists what they like and don't like about the trip so far

Mel referenced some of the issues the cruise has faced in her question.

"Some things haven't gone to plan, specifically with the circumnavigation of Africa, and obviously that would come with a massive cost to the organization."

After geopolitical issues in the area of the Red Sea, Royal Caribbean chose to circumvent the area and change "Segment 3" of the voyage.

Passengers voted to sail an "Immersive Africa" experience instead, sailing around the continent of Africa before arriving at the Mediterranean Sea.

The Ultimate World Cruise has also been host to flooding onboard, canceled ports in South America, and the unfortunate death of a passenger onboard.

In addition to changing the cruise itinerary, Royal Caribbean also refunded passengers 25% off their Segment 3 cruise fare. Passengers who didn't want to sail the new itinerary could also receive a full refund for the segment.

Because of these issues, cruising has been an expensive labor for the cruise line.

Mr. Bayley said the management team had to debate the idea of another one. However, despite initial hesitation, Royal Caribbean will do another Ultimate World Cruise.

"The question is when?" Mr. Bayley continued. "We don't know when that is."

Another challenge the World Cruise has presented is that the cruise needs to take place on a different ship, Mr. Bayley says.

"The ship that we picked is a great ship, but we need a ship with more outside staterooms."

The World Cruise is currently taking place on Serenade of the Seas, a Radiance class ship that was launched in 2003 and enhanced in 2012.

Serenade has 1,073 guest staterooms in total, with 61 suites, 517 balconies, 246 oceanview rooms, and 249 inside cabins.

The line's newer ships have a higher percentage of balcony staterooms, so Mr. Bayley believes the cruise line should switch to a newer ship for the World Cruise.

However, it's also not practical to put such a comprehensive itinerary on a big ship, so the cruise would have to take place on a newer, but smaller vessel.

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

The next Ultimate World Cruise could be on a new Class

One solution could be for the cruise line to schedule the World Cruise on a Voyager-Class ship.

The Voyager Class is a small class of vessels that debuted in 1999, and runs slightly larger than the Radiance Class.

Not every port can accommodate bigger ships, so a smaller vessel can bring passengers to even more ports worldwide.

However, another option could be to organize it on a new class of ship.

"We're also still working on a new Class of ship," Michael Bayley hinted on the President's Cruise. "So we're trying to figure it out."

Royal Caribbean has hinted at the possibility of creating a new, smaller class of ship.

Calling the idea "Project Discovery," the cruise line wants to update its smaller cruise ships and allow passengers to travel to more ports.

The Captain of Radiance of the Seas commented that the new class of ship would be around the size of the Radiance Class, which have the capacity for around 2,500-2,700 passengers.

When this new line is launched, these ships could be a great option for the Ultimate World Cruise.

They'll be able to travel to more distant ports while also offering a wider selection of cabin categories.

Read more: Why you shouldn't avoid older and smaller cruise ships

While the Royal Caribbean CEO and President didn't give any more details, he ended his comments by assuring cruisers that the World Cruise is here to stay.

"We're going to do another ultimate world cruise, and when we're ready, we'll announce it," he said. "But we need time and we need to find some solutions to make it work for everybody."

This cruise has been the riskiest and most epic thing I have ever done in my life. Seriously. 10 out of 10, would do it again. Even though we haven’t been able to do everything we wanted to do it has still been 100% worth it. 

Out of all of the things in our itinerary that have changed, missing the World Wonder of Petra hit me the hardest. Still, getting to explore Africa is an amazing opportunity and I am here for it. We will get to Petra another time.

My husband and I both love to travel – especially to historically significant locations. I thought that this trip would cross many things off of our bucket lists. And maybe as a result we could book fewer trips. For me, it has been the opposite. Now I don’t want to stop traveling.

What is going on now that we are halfway through? We reached day 137 when we arrived in Kuala Lumpur. The half-way point in our 274 day journey with Royal Caribbean on Serenade of the Seas on this Ultimate World Tour. So much has happened in the last four and a half months, I’m not even sure where to start.

Most of the people I’ve talked to that are doing the full nine months are an adventurous sort. We might all be doing this for different reasons, but the element of adventure is there for all of us. Most of us have put our lives on hold to do this. Some of us sold homes and cars. Some are working on the ship. Many of us are crossing multiple items off of our bucket lists. Some of us have had our trips unfortunately cut short.

Steve was forced into retirement due to a heart attack in late 2022, and I didn’t retire until a few months before the trip started. So what “regular life” looks like for us is going to be completely different than it used to. We have some things to take care of when we get back. And I am sure once we return home, more things will come up that we will need to stick around for. But I know that after a few months, I will want to be on the move again.

For me, the Ultimate World Cruise has been life changing. And I expect this will continue over the next four and a half months.

One of the biggest after-the-cruise plans for us, is that I am writing a book. I got a lot of grief on social media for the username “frugal vagabond” for a person on a trip that so many people think is out of their reach. When I looked around at my fellow passengers though and saw how many young – and clearly not independently wealthy people that were here, I had to get their stories. 

So I interviewed several of my cruise mates and I am writing a book that tells all of our tales of how we were able to make this happen. Most of the people are here for the full nine months.

That takes dedication, planning, and a willingness to sacrifice in most cases. Not just from a financial perspective, but also from a time perspective. I want people to know that if they have a real desire – they can do things like this too.

Follow Leah on her TikTok and Instagram

Don’t like: Missing out on several locations due to weather or wars

Before the cruise even started, the itinerary was changing due to world conflicts. That has continued and as most know, required a completely different route for our circumnavigation. 

Also, when we were going around the southern point of South America, weather kept us from stopping at several tender ports. What can you do? No ones fault. Just disappointing. I still want to go to all of the places we have missed.

Do like: Royal Caribbean coming up with alternatives for the original itinerary items we missed

The top thing I like, of course, is getting to explore Africa instead of the Mediterranean locations. It looks to be an incredible opportunity and I can’t wait. 

Missing out on Machu Picchu was a big disappointment. But the cultural locations we were able to explore in Cusco and the shows they set up for us in Lima were amazing last-minute substitutes.

Don’t like: Mean people

If you are following more than one content creator that is on the Ultimate World Cruise, then you know that there have been multiple incidents of mean people. 

You are never in a place surrounded by perfect people. But on the few cruises we did before starting the world cruise, everyone was happy and living the vacation vibe. 

This trip has been different from the start just due to the long duration and expectations of the people on the ship. Jokes were made in the beginning about this being a massive social experiment and sometimes it really feels like it is.

Do like: Lifelong friends and new family

Being so close to lots of new people also has an upside. Really easy to get together, and get to know like minded and adventurous people from completely different backgrounds. I feel like I have made new lifelong friendships with many of the people in the content creator group. 

Also with some of the staff, and with various individuals and couples we have gotten to know on excursions, dinners, at the casino, and while having drinks. Time will tell if they really will be lifelong friendships. 

I do know that I have at least two new “family members” though. My new brother Anthony, and a new sister Renee. From the beginning we have helped and supported each other through our content creators group, but after four and a half months, I can’t imagine not having these two people in my life and not talking to them regularly and following along with wherever life takes them once the cruise is over.

Don’t like: Overly crowded excursions

I get it, this is a popular cruise, and the places we are going are atypical for a Royal Caribbean ship. 

I am not sure if most Royal Caribbean excursions are like this, but picture if you will: 40 people on each bus. Each excursion has at least three of these busses. And there are 2-3 other excursions with similar numbers that are going to at least some of the same location as yours. And since there is a limited time in each port location, there is a lot of overlap. 

So at least 120 or as many as 360 of your best friends from the ship getting dumped for 20 – 40 minutes trying to explore. Limited time to actually “see” anything. Trying to get a few videos, pictures, learn something about the location, and enjoy it. 

I really wish they would rotate the busses a bit better. And on this same idea, spending too much time in busses. Most of the “cool” locations are so far away from the port, this is necessary, but still not fun. Also, not enough time in each of the ports.

Do like: The incredible things we have been able to see

Despite wishing things could be different with regard to how the Royal Caribbean excursions are handled, this itinerary has allowed us the opportunity to see so many incredible things in the world. 

I don’t think I have the words to describe all of the amazing places. Never did I think I would ever go to China. Or if I did, get to actually go to the Great Wall. We did that. 

Christ the Redeemer in Brazil? We did that. Chichen Itza? We did that. Antarctica? Well, we sort-of did that. I didn’t get to put my toes in the water or step on land there, so in my book, it doesn’t count. Most of the other passengers think that it does. 

Too many places to list them all out. Curaçao and Bonaire? I had no idea how beautiful the water there would be. Subic Bay? I was picturing an abandoned and dilapidated naval base. It was nothing like that! Beautiful. And a testament to the locals who volunteered to keep it maintained and operational while they got a plan in place to utilize what was left behind.

Don’t like: Inconsistent communication of vital information

From the beginning, information on the Ultimate World Cruise that was disseminated by Royal Caribbean has been inconsistent and frustrating. That has continued throughout this cruise. 

Shoreside versus ship personnel have different information and they don’t seem to share. Not everyone has access to the same information, further confusing passengers. 

Even though the World Cruise is new for Royal Caribbean, cruising isn’t and most of us feel they should be much better at it than they are.

Do like: Social sharing

Poor communication skills have given me the opportunity to share the information I have access to with the world and providing a service to those both on the ship and off. 

This also helps my follower/subscriber counts and views. People are interested in hearing the details – even if it doesn’t directly affect them. I think I probably have several followers who are related to people on the trip and they find information on my socials about their relatives. It is a service I am happy to provide.

Don’t like: The constant noise on the ship

If you are following any of the content creators on this ship, you have probably heard this complaint. The noise. Everywhere. All the time. 

I do love the layout of the Serenade. I only have one other ship to compare it to – the Adventure of the Seas. But in my opinion, the design of the Serenade is much better. It’s too bad it doesn’t have a Flowrider, but that’s another issue.

The one bad part about the Serenade design is the openness of the Centrum. The noise that reaches this area flows up from Deck 4 to 12. It is annoying and problematic.

Do like: Changes to make the ship livable

Did you know that we have doctors and dentist on board? 

This is a long trip, with a majority of passengers in the senior citizen demographic. I really appreciate that Royal Caribbean recognized that having doctors and a dentist on board would mean that people would have access to care and that without it, many people would be forced to leave the ship for on-land care and perhaps miss important destinations, or even the rest of the trip. 

And of course this is an opportunity for Royal Caribbean to make additional money from the services they provide. A win-win for everyone.

Unable to sail to the Red Sea due to the geopolitical issues there, Royal Caribbean's first world cruise is headed to Africa.

Guests onboard Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise were alerted with their new cruise itinerary after it was announced that they'd no longer cruise through the Red Sea due to unrest in the area. 

Earlier this month, the cruise line allowed those onboard to vote on their updated itinerary. They had two options, with the first being "Immersive Africa." Royal Caribbean apparently called this the "scenic route," whereas the second option, "Africa & Greece," was called "the highway." 

"Immersive Africa" is comprised of numerous ports in Africa, effectively nixing Egypt from the schedule. This means that there are far fewer days at sea compared to "Africa & Greece," as this route has more sea days to catch up to the originally scheduled ports in Egypt and Greece. 

According to previous reports, guests will receive 25% off the pro-rated Segment 3 cruise fare in the form of a refundable payment. 

When Royal Caribbean confirmed the itinerary change, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson provided the following statement: "As we’ve continued to monitor what is taking place in and around the Red Sea for the safety of our guests and crew, we have made the decision to adjust plans for Serenade of the Seas’ transit through the Suez Canal this May." 

"In keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests, we are engaging them for their thoughts and preference between two alternative itineraries that will take them on an epic adventure to Africa. They will receive compensation for the adjustment, and guests who prefer to not sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and support for their travel arrangements."

Read more: Why the Internet is obsessed with 9-month world cruise on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

A TikTok posted by @drjennytravels confirmed that the majority of passengers voted for "Immersive Africa"

In the TikTok, Jenny is seen celebrating the news with other passengers. "We just received word that it is option one. 'Immersive Africa' here we come!" she exclaims at the beginning of the video. 

Unfortunately, she was climbing the rock wall during the broadcast, so she was unable to capture it via camera; however, she said that Captain Kjell made an announcement on the PA system, which was then followed up with an email. 

"We are so excited onboard for this opportunity to visit Africa in this way," she says.

Later in the video, the Cruise Director popped onto the speaker to play Africa by Toto. Jenny and others were in the ship's Centrum recording and rejoicing together. 

@DmCredible⚓🛳️🚢commented, "Excited crew member here🤗🥰," revealing that it was a popular choice for both passengers and crew. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean is letting passengers vote on 9-month world cruise itinerary change

Others took to social media to celebrate the news, including @iambrandeelake

In Lake's video, she can be seen cheering and dancing with African crew members, allowing them to teach her dances native to their respective cultures, including Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. 

She was also sporting a festive African outfit to celebrate the announcement. 

What's the new itinerary? 

(Photo by Pat Bell)

The new 42-day route will visit the following ports of call: 

• May 9: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
• May 10-13: Cruising 
• May 14: Mahé (Victoria), Seychelles 
• May 15: La Digue Island, Seychelles 
• May 16: Cruising 
• May 17: Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar 
• May 18: Cruising 
• May 19: Port Louis, Mauritius 
• May 20: Pointe Des Galets, Reunion Island 
• May 21-23: Cruising 
• May 24: Port Elizabeth, South Africa 
• May 25: Mossel Bay, South Africa 
• May 26-27: Cape Town, South Africa
• May 28: Cruising 

• May 29: Luderitz, Namibia 
• May 30: Walvis Bay, Namibia 
• May 31-June 1: Cruising 
• June 2: Luanda, Angola 
• June 3-4: Cruising 
• June 5: Takoradi, Ghana 
• June 6: Abidjan, Ivory Coast 
• June 7-8: Cruising 
• June 9: Dakar, Senegal 
• June 10-11: Cruising 
• June 12: Tenerife, Canary Islands 
• June 13: Cruising 
• June 14: Gibraltar, United Kingdom 
• June 14-16: Cruising 
• June 17: Corfu, Greece 
• June 18: Bari, Italy 
• June 19-20: Ravenna, Italy

It appears as though the latter half of the original itinerary is unchanged, with the voyage concluding in Barcelona, Spain on July 10. 

It hasn't been smooth sailing for the Ultimate World Cruise, which gained viral attention on TikTok as it set sail 274-night voyage in December 2023

In February, a passenger, unfortunately, passed away while on the cruise. Before that, rough seas resulted in onboard flooding, with some ports being canceled in South America. There have also been reports of passengers fighting and visa issues for later destinations. 

Of course, with all cruises, even if it's a short 3-night getaway to The Bahamas, it's important to remain flexible. Throughout the first few months of 2024, for instance, some Royal Caribbean ships haven't been able to dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Recently, Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas had to have passengers return early, as weather conditions were deteriorating. 

All in all, though, it seems like the majority of guests on the ship have had a positive attitude regarding the major itinerary change. While they'll no longer be visiting Petra, Jordan (one of the World Wonders on the list), there are some pretty amazing ports of call that World Cruise passengers get to look forward to! 

Is this the itinerary that you were rooting for? Let us know in the comments! 

Due to the conflict in the Red Sea, Royal Caribbean is opting to change the third segment of the Ultimate World Cruise, and they're letting guests have a say in the new itinerary. 

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Pat Bell shared images showing the options that guests have. The first is an "Immersive Africa" itinerary that will visit numerous ports in Africa and completely nix Egypt from the schedule, whereas the second option, "Africa & Greece," is comprised of more sea days to catch up to the originally scheduled ports in Egypt and Greece. 

According to TikTok user drjennytravels, Royal Caribbean is calling the "Immersive Africa" itinerary the "scenic route," while "Africa & Greece" has been dubbed the "highway." 

(Photo by Pat Bell)

Even though the latter half of the section option is considered port-intensive, the first half would mainly be spent at sea, with five days spent in port between May 9 and June 7. 

Voting is open to those sailing on the full 9-month world cruise, as well as those booked for the segment of the world cruise sailing.

Those onboard the Ultimate World Cruise have until February 20th to submit questions. A webinar with the corporate office will be held on February 21st. After the webinar, passengers have six days to make their decisions and vote on their preferred itinerary before the winner is announced on February 27th. 

(Photo by Pat Bell)

If Immersive Africa is chosen, guests will receive 25% off the pro-rated segment 3 cruise fare in the form of a refundable onboard credit. The amount increases to 50% if Africa & Greece is the winner. 

Royal Caribbean confirmed the itinerary change and the voting option.  In a statement provided by the cruise line, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, "As we’ve continued to monitor what is taking place in and around the Red Sea for the safety of our guests and crew, we have made the decision to adjust plans for Serenade of the Seas’ transit through the Suez Canal this May."

"In keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests, we are engaging them for their thoughts and preference between two alternative itineraries that will take them on an epic adventure to Africa. They will receive compensation for the adjustment, and guests who prefer to not sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and support for their travel arrangements."

Immersive Africa

• May 9: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
• May 10-13: Cruising
• May 14: Mahé (Victoria), Seychelles 
• May 15: La Digue Island, Seychelles 
• May 16: Cruising
• May 17: Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar
• May 18: Cruising
• May 19: Port Louis, Mauritius
• May 20: Pointe Des Galets, Reunion Island
• May 21-23: Cruising
• May 24: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
• May 25: Mossel Bay, South Africa
• May 26-27: Cape Town, South Africa

• May 28: Cruising 
• May 29: Luderitz, Namibia
• May 30: Walvis Bay, Namibia
• May 31-June 1: Cruising 
• June 2: Luanda, Angola
• June 3-4: Cruising
• June 5: Takoradi, Ghana
• June 6: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• June 7-8: Cruising
• June 9: Dakar, Senegal
• June 10-11: Cruising 
• June 12: Tenerife, Canary Islands
• June 13: Cruising
• June 14: Gibraltar, United Kingdom
• June 14-16: Cruising
• June 17: Corfu, Greece
• June 18: Bari, Italy
• June 19-20: Ravenna, Italy 

Africa & Greece

• May 9: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
• May 10-13: Cruising
• May 14: Mahé (Victoria), Seychelles 
• May 15-20: Cruising
• May 21-22: Cape Town, South Africa
• May 23-31: Cruising
• June 1: Tenerife, Canary Islands
• June 2-6: Cruising
• June 7: Istanbul, Turkey
• June 8: Cruising
• June 9-10: Alexandria, Egypt

• June 11: Cruising
• June 12: Athens, Greece
• June 13: Mykonos, Greece
• June 14: Santorini, Greece
• June 15: Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece
• June 16: Olympia (Katakolon), Greece
• June 17: Corfu, Greece
• June 18: Bari, Italy 
• June 19-20: Ravenna, Italy

The original itinerary was set to visit Petra, Jordan

Those onboard the Ultimate World Cruise will visit one less World Wonder than they anticipated. Since it's no longer feasible to sail through the Red Sea, ports like Safaga, Egypt and Petra, Jordan will be removed from the itinerary. 

Instead, Serenade of the Seas will sail from Dubai down past the tip of South Africa and through the Western Mediterranean. 

It appears as though the ports of call after Ravenna (Venice), Italy are unchanged, with passengers still being able to visit the Colosseum in Rome in early July. 

What's going on in the Red Sea?

Recent attacks on container vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world's most important trade routes, have been ongoing for weeks. On Friday, February 16, news reports claimed that missile fire targeted yet another ship, with the vessel's captain reporting hearing an explosion off the coast of Mocha, Yemen. 

Starting in late November, Houthi militants began increasing their attacks on ships in response to the ongoing war in Israel that began when Hamas launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip in October. Houthi forces claim that they're acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. 

Consequently, both the United States and the United Kingdom have launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. 

The Ultimate World Cruise hasn't been without its issues

At first, it was rough seas that resulted in flooding onboard. Then, some minor itinerary changes, including the cancellation of a couple ports. Most recently, a passenger, unfortunately, passed away. There have also been reports of guests fighting onboard and visa issues for later destinations. 

Someone online went as far as to craft a bingo card for things that could happen during the voyage. Some scenarios seem rather common/likely, such as a painful sunburn and someone returning home early (a friendly reminder that travel insurance is important, even on shorter sailings!). 

Others, however, are a little more outlandish, including a pirate takeover and mass STDs. 

Suffice to say, the Ultimate World Cruise has had its share of drama, and it's only getting started! The world cruise isn't scheduled to end until Tuesday, September 10 in Miami, Florida. 

Read more: Cruise ship passenger on the 9-month world cruise made 860 Valentine's Day cards for all the crew members

Itinerary changes, while disappointing, aren't as uncommon as you might think

In early November Royal Caribbean announced that they'd be canceling the entire 2024 Israel cruise season due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 

While war and civil unrest are possible reasons for itineraries to be modified, unfavorable weather conditions and mechanical issues can contribute to changes in travel plans, too. 

For example, passengers visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 6 were told to return to their ships around 1:00pm, as a rapidly moving storm was approaching the island. While Freedom of the Seas was able to depart, Oasis of the Seas remained docked late into the evening. 

(Photo by Tim Morrison)

Even if you're cruising outside of hurricane season, flexibility is of utmost importance, as you never know when your ship might miss a port or two. 

Traditionally, Valentine's Day is when you spoil your partner with flowers, chocolate, and a nice meal. One TikTok user, however, took a different approach. Rather than focusing on a loved one, she decided to make a Valentine for every Ultimate World Cruise crew member. 

Little Rat Brain (@little_rat_brain) is currently sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas for the entire duration of the world cruise. To show her appreciation for those who are working to make this voyage both memorable and possible, she crafted Valentine's Day cards for all 860 crew members on the ship. 

"Did you know that there's an incinerator tech onboard? I didn't," she states in her TikTok. 

"I have never seen him, and I am sure that many people have also never seen him. But I wanted to give him a Valentine's Day gift." 

She alluded to the idea in a previous video where she bought a seemingly absurd amount of lollipops 

On February 11, the first segment of the world cruise concluded, with some passengers disembarking in Los Angeles to make way for new guests before beginning the Ultimate Asia Pacific segment. 

While the ship was docked, Little Rat Brain made her way to Target to restock some necessities and art supplies, as well as lots (I mean lots) of lollipops. Whenever she emptied a bag, it seemed as though there couldn't possibly be more DumDums. The pile, however, kept getting larger and larger. 

TikTok users didn't let the copious bags of DumDums go unnoticed. "LRB,,, what are you going to do with many lollipops," wrote Tabby, while LL MCB commented, "You and my grandmother are gonna have to meet and talk about your DumDum addictions."

When it came to the actual construction, Little Rat Brain ended up needing to call in reinforcements

It appears as though she had been thinking of this idea for a while, as she begins the TikTok by opening a Staples box and pulling out sheets of cardstock paper with a custom design printed on them. In fact, the design is the same as the tapestry that's hung in her inside cabin! 

After taking out a sheet of paper, she began to draw hearts on the back of each, stating that she couldn't find a heart stamp. She did, however, find a stamp that says, "You make this world a beautiful place," which she uses overtop the hand-drawn heart. 

"I am continually astonished by how hardworking [and] how incredible [the crew] are," she says, "I really just wanted to give them a small token of my appreciation."

Once each card was individually cut and stamped, she taped a DumDum to every single one, explaining that she went with lollipops because they fit numerous dietary restrictions. 

At one point, she realized that the project was larger than she had thought, so she asked for help from other cruisers. Thankfully, everyone was willing to assist, and the Valentine's Day cards were delivered just in time for their crew party. 

The response has been overwhelmingly positive

While it's not uncommon for guests to leave small gifts or extra cash for their cabin steward, favorite bartender, or Main Dining Room wait staff, it is pretty rare for someone to go the lengths to ensure that everyone onboard gets something. 

With the majority of the crew away from their families on long contracts at sea, this small gesture warmed the hearts of many on social media. 

TikTok user Teriarnott832 wrote, "This is so stinking cute! I'm sure the crew was very thankful to be remembered."

"This is so thoughtful I could cry 😭 I hope someone gets YOU a valentine too !" said Cadyn. 

drjennytravels, who was one of the reinforcements Little Rat Brain recruited, remarked, "It was a pleasure to assist in this endeavor. You are soooo thoughtful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️".

Royal Caribbean International even commented saying, "our crew deserves the world!! thank you for this 🫶". 

The second segment of the Ultimate World Cruise is underway

The Ultimate Asia Pacific segment is the longest of the four segments that comprise the entire world cruise. It will last nearly three months and visit three World Wonders — the Great Wall of China, Great Barrier Reef, and the Taj Mahal — before concluding on May 9 in Dubai. 

Even before departing from Miami, the voyage had taken social media by storm. With months having passed since the ship watched Florida disappear into the horizon, numerous individuals onboard have gained fame by posting "day in the life" videos and giving those at home an insight into what this one-of-a-kind cruise is like. 

Little Rat Brain, for instance, has over 145,000 followers, as well as 1.1 million likes. The first TikTok that was posted regarding the Ultimate World Cruise was on December 10. The slideshow depicts her pre-cruise stay in Miami leading up to embarkation, including the gala. That video alone has over 1.1 million views and 50,000 likes. 

Royal Caribbean has confirmed reports of the passing of a passenger aboard a cruise ship sailing the cruise line's first ever world cruise.

Serenade of the Seas is conducting a world cruise that began in December, and just wrapped up its first leg having sailed around South America and seen Antarctica.

Following rumors of a passenger's death on social media, the cruise line issued a statement confirming the incident.

We reached out to Royal Caribbean for confirmation and the cruise line issued this statement, "A guest sailing on board Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away. We are actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones at this time. Out of the privacy of the guest and their family, we have nothing further to share at this time."

A spokesperson for the cruise line also noted that the passenger that passed away was not part of the full Ultimate World Cruise, and had just booked the individual sailing.

There are around 800 passengers who booked the entire world cruise transit, with many other passengers onboard for shorter legs. It appears the person that passed away was onboard for a shorter segment.

The Ultimate World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

It began on December 10, 2023 and will end on September 10, 2024.

You might be surprised to read that cruise ships have morgues onboard, just in case. Unfortunately, people die every day, even while on vacation. It's unlikely to occur on a cruise, but it does happen once in a while.

The morgue is usually located on a lower deck, far away from where cruise ship passengers would ever visit. Royal Caribbean does not share specific information about the morgue on Serenade of the Seas, but other cruise ships typically have a stainless-steel refrigeration room with individual compartments.

Depending on where the ship is and when the death occurs will determine if the body should be repatriated at the next port the ship visits, or if it can remain onboard in the morgue until the cruise concludes. U.S. regulations require cruise ships to carry body bags onboard a ship.

The average cruise ship morgue can store a body for up to one week.

Given this happened on a world cruise, it's more likely arrangements would be made to have the body taken off the ship at a port and sent home, but that information is not publicly disclosed.

World cruise social media obsession

Someone passing away on a cruise ship might make headlines to begin with, but Royal Caribbean's world cruise has generated buzz for just about everything that has happened on it.

Ever since the world cruise began on December 10, 2023, TikTok has been obsessed with the sailing for some reason.

People on TikTok have been overly intrigued with the notion of going on a cruise ship for almost a year and sailing around the world.

There's been tens of million of views so far on the platform just for the World Cruise hashtag, and wild speculation has fueled the content.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said during a press conference last month on Icon of the Seas that the world cruise has been, "quite an interesting project."

"We had no clue that it would become a [sensation]. I think there's been 290 million views of some of the TikTok stuff that's gone out in the ultimate cruise."

A perfect example of the online sensation is the person that created a bingo card for things that could happen on the world cruise.

The video has over 350,000 views so far and the squares range cover just about every minor and major possibility.

• Getting sunburned
• Norovirus
• Brands sponsors for passengers
• Pirate takeover
• A wedding
• Someone goes home early
• Port errand runs
• Minor mystery to solve

Possible itinerary change in the Red Sea

Royal Caribbean hasn't announced anything yet, but it might have to adjust the ship's itinerary when it arrives to the Red Sea due to the unrest in the area.

During a call with Wall Street investors on February 1, Royal Caribbean Group executives said they are closely watching the situation there, "The safety of our guests and crew is of top priority and we are constantly monitoring the situation," said Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz.

"We only have a handful of repositioning cruises scheduled in the region this year, and have already rerouted one of our Silversea ships, and have contingency plans for a couple of others in the spring."

TikTok and the media have become obsessed with Royal Caribbean's first ever world cruise for all the things that happen on pretty much any cruise.

I'm not sure why this cruise has become so obsessed over. Maybe it's the slow news cycle that occurs around the holidays, but a number of major media outlets have written about how TikTok blew up with so-called drama on the Ultimate World Cruise that will take 9-months and began a few weeks ago.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas kicked off the world cruise on December 10 from Miami, and she will spend 274-nights traversing the world with hundreds of people onboard for the entire transit.

As soon as the ship set sail, it seemed to ignite an overnight sensation on TikTok among people who were intrigued by the notion of spending almost a year on a cruise ship. 

Like so many things on social media, a bigger deal was made out of it than it really is. The problem is the media picked up on it, and is reporting on the sort of things happening so far on the cruise as if it's something new, when it's really not.

I'm all for fun videos about cruises. Heck, our team makes our own silly videos too.  But before you share that article that there's drama on the world cruise, here's a reality check.

Why is the world cruise all over TikTok?

Photo by mamanee117

In the lead up the world cruise, a number of people booked on the cruise started publishing videos about the cruise and used the #RoyalCaribbeanUltimateWorldCruise hashtag.

All sorts of videos started popping up, and when it was time to board the ship, even more videos got posted and there's been 9 million views on the platform.

Nine million views is a lot of views, for sure. But in reading through the comments and looking at the videos, what we're basically seeing is people post about things that happen on any vacation when you have a lot of people together in one place.

The comments are also a hot bed of people that have never cruised and/or Never Cruisers that like to share their opinion on why cruising is silly. But this is just another day on the internet.

The world cruise is not any more dramatic than any other cruise

People on TikTok became as interested in the cruise itself as the personalities of the creators. Given that the vast majority of the public has never been on a cruise before, all sorts of assumptions and predictions were made. Many were just plain crazy.

"Can you imagine the type of drama that is gonna happen on that boat?” user @nchimad on TikTok said in a video

"If something big goes down, I want to hear from different people, different angles, perspectives."

I'm not sure what constitutes "something big", but misbehaving guests, accidents, and strange occurrences happen on pretty much every cruise (and high school, theme park, or Starbucks) around the world.

Read more: Things that can get you kicked off a cruise ship in an instant

While there will certainly be people who get in trouble, annoyances, or other instances of guests behaving badly, this is not unique to a world cruise by any means. 

Photo by whimsysoul

Another person created a bingo card for things that could happen on the world cruise. She isn't actually on the sailing, just following along.

The video has over 300,000 views so far and the squares range from the mundane to the absurd.

• Getting sunburned
• Norovirus
• Brands sponsors for passengers
• Pirate takeover
• A wedding
• Someone goes home early
• Port errand runs
• Minor mystery to solve

If we overlook the laughable squares (pirates?), getting sunburned, married, gaining 15 pounds, or having a mental breakdown are not unique to any single cruise.

Read more: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for

Anyone that's been on a cruise ship would tell you these sort of things happen.

Then there's a video by Little Rat Brain that showed what her cabin looked like, and it has 1.4 million views.

Photo by little_rat_brain

She did a great job at creatively decorating her cabin for the entire voyage so it feels more like home, "I’m creating custom mail from each of the ports. Obviously, as it’s an interior cabin, we had to bring the outside in, so we did that with some help from IKEA – shout out to their plant walls."

Photo by little_rat_brain

"I also created some of these custom murals, to just brighten everything up. This is a sneak peek of what’s to come, it’s not quite done yet."

She has put a lot of effort into her cabin decorating, but plenty of people do this sort of thing on any cruise. Cabin decorating is a popular cruise ship activity.

Many cruise ship passengers will decorate their cabin doors, while others will go as far as to decorate the inside of their room too.

Cabin photos by Don & Judy "Meet me at Vintages" Goldstein

Inside cabins aren't as bad as you think

If you read the comments made to the cabin tour video, there's people who can't believe little_rat_brain would stay in an inside room for 9-months.

“My claustrophobia can’t,” a viewer commented.

"Is it not a fire hazard to have no windows in a room?" another questioned.

Inside cabins are commonplace on cruise ships, and while they aren't spacious, there are advantages to staying in them.

Booking an inside cabin doesn't mean you're in your room all day. Most cruise ship passengers are out and about doing things. Hanging at the pool, grabbing a meal somewhere, on shore exploring, or enjoying music around the ship. 

In most cases, cruise ship cabins are used as a place to sleep, change, and shower.

In addition, booking an inside room means a lot of money saved that can be used towards other aspects of this epic trip.

The price for the full 274-nights was between $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person. Suffice to say, the inside room was closer to the low end of that range.

Bottom line

In short, the people sailing on the world cruise are just like the people on pretty much any other Royal Caribbean cruise.  The only difference is the length of their sailing.

Any cruise you pick is going to have a myriad of personalities and backgrounds. That's what makes travel so compelling, because you're exposed to different cultures and get to meet new people.

The internet may be freaking out about the drama that may or may not occur on Serenade of the Seas. But there's no reason to believe this is really anything out of the ordinary.

It's no secret that Royal Caribbean has had its first world cruise planned for over a year, but social media took notice when the sailing began this week.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas departed Miami to begin a 9-month Ultimate World Cruise on December 10, and TikTok has seen a flurry of interest for this kind of a cruise.

The world cruise will take 274-nights and visit every continent in the world, including Antarctica.

So far, there's been over 54.8 million views on the #UltimateWorldCruise tag on TikTok and it's caught the attention of a lot of people.

The interest began with passengers onboard sharing what it's like to live on a cruise ship for almost an entire year.

There's videos of passengers showing off their cabin, and how they're making it feel more like a home given how long they'll stay there.

People watching on TikTok seem quite intrigued by the idea of spending that long on a cruise ship, and it almost seemed like a reality show to viewers.

What is the world cruise?

The Ultimate World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

Serenade of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023 and through Sept. 10, 2024.

Royal Caribbean first announced the Ultimate World Cruise on Serenade of the Seas in late 2021, and it opened for bookings in early 2022. 

Guests had the option to book the entire 274 night voyage, or hop on for smaller segments.

Because the entire voyage did not sell out, the cruise line opened up smaller segments. This includes seventeen individual itineraries ranging from nine to twenty nine nights.

These itineraries visit everywhere from Antarctica to Australia, Norway, and South Korea.

Why is this world cruise all over TikTok?

World cruises aren't new, but this is the first one that Royal Caribbean has done and being a mainstream cruise line, the attention it's generating may be related to the fact it's more approachable than on smaller lines.

The combination of a new kind of cruise of a well-known cruise line and TikTok's tenacity for generating drama seems to have resonated with viewers.

In viewing all the TikToks posted, creators have seemingly created a real-time view of the cruise and given they'll be on the ship for 9 months, TikTok has become obsessed with what they're calling "a reality show".

“I made an Ultimate World Cruise Bingo card for anyone else who is buckling in for this nine months TikTok reality show,” user @whimsysoul posted right at the start of the cruise.

As is the case with so many things on social media, the spectacle for viewers is more interesting than the subject matter and a lot of comments have speculated on what might happen during the voyage.

So far we've seen a couple videos with people being unaware of the benefits top tier Royal Caribbean cruisers get on any sailing, but nothing substantial.

The buzz generated by the world cruise at its launch points to a lot of excitement surrounding the cruise, as well as a lot of people naive about how cruise ships operate wrapping their minds around going on a cruise for quite that long.  Even as a seasoned cruiser, taking a cruise quite that long is hard to fathom.

Who are the TikTokers on the world cruise ship?

We've found a number of TikTokers posting videos so far, and it varies depending on how often you want updates.

Here's a few of the more regular posters since the world cruise began:

• @aa.kenney
• @iambrandeelake
• @angielinderman
• @brooklynschwetje
• @frugalvagabond
• @madisonschwetje
• @amike_oosthuizen
• @little_rat_brain
• @drjennytravels 
•  @spendingourkidsmoney

How much does the world cruise cost?

At the time Royal Caribbean put the world cruise on sale, the price varied depending on which sailing you chose.

If you wanted the full 274-night trip, prices were between $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person.

Some itineraries were as low as $931 per person and others around $1,881 per person before taxes and fees in an interior room.

The majority of the smaller segment itineraries are priced around $1,200 per person. With taxes and fees added, this brings the average cost to around $3,173 total for two guests in an interior room. With many itineraries between 11-16 nights, the price per day makes the segments a great value.

Where does the world cruise go?

Here's a look at the four main segments of the cruise and where it visits.

Ultimate Americas Cruise 

• 64 nights from Dec. 10, 2023, to Feb. 11, 2024
• 36 destinations, including Cozumel, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Los Angeles, California
• 4 Wonders, including Iguazú Falls and Machu Picchu

Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise 

• 87 nights from Feb. 11, 2024, to May 9, 2024
• 40 destinations, including Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Manila, Philippines; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• 3 Wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Taj Mahal

Ultimate Middle East and Med Pacific Cruise 

• 63 nights from May 9, 2024, to July 10, 2024
• 44 destinations, including Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Alexandria, Egypt; Rhodes, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; and Provence, France
• 4 Wonders, including the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Temple of Artemis

Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise 

• 63 nights from July 10, 2024, to Sept. 10, 2024
• 40 destinations, including Casablanca, Morocco; Paris, France; Bruges, Belgium; and Nuuk, Greenland
• No Wonders

Royal Caribbean will launch its own streaming service for a subset of its cruise passengers going on the world cruise.

The Ultimate World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

Passengers could book either the entire 274-night cruise or one of four 2-3 month segments.

It will be Royal Caribbean's first cruise that goes around the world, and a voyage that long is bound to have some down time.

The service, called Royal Flix, will stream movies for guests to watch that are sailing on the world cruise.

There's no cost to use the streaming service as long as you've purchased a Royal Caribbean WiFi package.

Read more: Royal Caribbean WiFi: Guide to Internet at sea

One guest on the cruise posted a screenshot of the service that has a bare bones interface serving up films.

The service is not available off the ship. Guests simply connect to Serenade of the Seas' internet and access the service.

There's no indication if Royal Flix will make it to other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, or even if it will remain available once the world cruise is complete.

Offering a movie streaming service is one of many pluses Royal Caribbean has added for this length of a cruise.

All guests participating in the Ultimate World Cruise, or one of the segments, will receive the an unlimited drink package for each guest, wash and fold laundry service for up to three bags per state room per week, Gratuities and Voom surf and stream for two devices per stateroom.

The cruise begins in Miami on December 10, 2023 and through September 10, 2024.

Royal Caribbean's first world cruise ever

Up until now, Royal Caribbean never offered a world cruise. In fact, it rarely offered long voyages. Most of its cruises tend to be less than two weeks.

Royal Caribbean is best known for weekend and week-long cruises in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

Even among the cruise lines that offer world cruises regularly, Royal Caribbean's is longer than most.

Most world cruises visits 20 or 30 countries and takes three or four months.

Royal Caribbean's will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

"How many more times would I have this opportunity?"

Pat Bell lives in Anchorage, Alaska and jumped at the opportunity to book this world cruise for the entire duration.

He'll be sailing with his wife Carmela, and they've been married for 25 years.

Up until this cruise, the longest cruise they had taken was a 10-night cruise for their honeymoon.

"I can always find a thousand reasons why I can't do a cruise this long, but I will always kick myself in the pants for not grabbing the opportunity," he said when I asked him why he booked this cruise.

"Plus, how many more times would I have this opportunity to do something like this?"

When I asked him what he is most excited for on this cruise, he replied, "the stories, meeting new friends, and the adventure of seeing the world."

There are certainly challenges with being away for this long.

He is a small business owner, who also has up to 36 apartments to manage, "We are blessed to have our oldest son take care of our house, the apartments, and do the accounting work for our business."

I asked what sort of concerns does he have with such a cruise this long, and he mentioned things like cell phone coverage, medical emergencies, rough seas, not packing enough, and having access to money.

"I'm sure there will be more changes as we travel on this adventure. Just need to go with the flow and enjoy the stories that will come from this adventure. Good and bad."

I also asked about medications and managing his health on the cruise, "We are lucky we don't have to take any medications, but Royal Caribbean says to make sure to bring medications and prescriptions, which can be filled in other countries.

"We did buy a small medical kit to take with us and a blister kit for all the walking we will be doing. We also purchased Geo-Blue medical insurance in addition to our travel insurance."

He mentioned there will be a dentist onboard the ship.

"What attracted me to cruising the world with Royal Caribbean was all the places they plan to go, where I don't have to unpack and repack each time we move to another city.

"Plus, Royal Caribbean is packing a lot of port stops in this 274-day cruise. I believe our longest days at sea is only 5 days in between ports. Also, I get to try the local food while still having the cruise ship meals as my comfort food."

I asked what his plans are for the cruise on shore, and he said there are seven complimentary world wonders tour: Chichen Itza Ruins (Cozumel, Mexico), Seal Bay (Falkland Islands), Machu Picchu (Peru), The Great Wall of China, Taj Majal (India), Petra (Jordan), and The Roman Colosseum (Italy).

He said they were recently informed that Crown & Anchor Society is giving them four additional free excursions to Montevideo (Uruguay), Taiwan (China), Ephesus (Turkey), and Cork (Ireland).

Royal Caribbean's first ever cruise around the world begins in December 2023, and it will be a cruise ship filled with passengers who are ready to globe trot in a new way.

While the concept of a world cruise is nothing new to the cruise industry, this is Royal Caribbean's first foray into this type of cruise.

The Ultimate World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

Serenade of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023 and through Sept. 10, 2024.

When Royal Caribbean first announced it would offer this cruise, many cruisers jumped at the chance to try it.

I wanted to know why a cruise around the world and a sailing that long was appealing, and what compelled them to book.

Leah and Steve are bloggers that booked the entire transit, and they shared why they booked and how they're planning a cruise of this length.

Why we started to consider a world cruise

A while back when I was in my 20s, I heard about a month long cruise that went to all of the religious centers of the world. Not much compared to the Ultimate World Cruise, but I really wanted to do it. At the time, it was beyond my financial resources.

Since then, it has been in the back of my mind to do a really long, epic adventure like that. So when I first saw the Ultimate World Cruise, I knew I was in. I would find some way to pay for it, because it was that important to me. 

My husband Steve thought it would be a great trip, but wasn’t sure that we could afford it. You see, he started saving for retirement late in life and has been trying to make up for lost time over the past decade. I pestered him by sending him a meme – I’m sure you have all seen it. The older couple in a Gondola in Venice, both sprawled out in the boat and sleeping.

The thousand words that this picture explains are all the reasons you shouldn’t wait until you are too old, and too tired to enjoy traveling and seeing the world. He laughed, but still thought retirement accounts would be a better use of our funds. 

Why we decided to book a world cruise

At the beginning of 2022, we were working in different locations. Steve was in Nebraska, and I was in Guam.

Communication between us on this was mostly texts and video chats. He came to visit me in May, and we had plans for him to join me in Guam permanently in a few months. Which he did in August. And less than 24 hours later, he had a heart attack. That minor event changed every plan we had.

Over the next couple of months we just concentrated on getting him the treatment he needed, and getting our heads wrapped around how are lives were going to change.

It took about three months for the dust to settle, and then that meme came up in my feed again. I showed it to him again, and this time he was more receptive to the idea. 

We did some research online. Called Royal Caribbean and they had a separate line set up for the Ultimate World Cruise, which was a good sign. But the folks answering the phone didn’t sound like they really knew the answers to the questions we were asking.

So we researched travel agents, and started working with one from MEI Travel. With her help, we got a better idea of pricing, were able to establish the date for final payment in order to get a 10% discount and spent some more time talking it over. We contacted our travel agent and made arrangements to make the necessary deposits.

Read more: Why first-time cruisers should use a Royal Caribbean travel agent

Then we started working on transfers for the final payments. Neither of us had a single credit card that would accommodate the entire remaining balance, so we had to get creative. And once the decision was made, we haven’t regretted it a bit. The hard part has been the waiting.

What we've done so far to plan for the world cruise

From our earlier research, we knew that to get all of the benefit of doing the full length cruise, we would need to have Platinum status with Crown and Anchor 180 days before the Ultimate Cruise began. Royal Caribbean was including seven excursions to new Wonders of the World as complimentary for everyone with this status.

Neither one of us had sailed with Royal Caribbean before, so we booked Junior Suites for three, five-day cruises out of Galveston in April 2023. The same itinerary for all three sailings.

We paid attention and learned a lot about cruising. We also had a blast, met some great people, and just enjoyed a relaxing vacation. Steve was already retired. His heart attack made it impossible for him to continue doing the kind of work we had done over the past decade or so. I was still working part-time from home, so I had to wait until my project was mostly finished before I could call myself officially retired. 

That was in September, and since then, we are planning, waiting, making plans, changing plans, and getting ready to be gone for most of a year. 

How we are planning for the Ultimate World Cruise voyage

Now that we have a few weeks to go, and I can taste the excitement. 

Since our embarkation day is now right around the corner, pretty much everything we do revolves around getting ready for the Ultimate World Cruise embarkation day. We are treating it like a deployment or overseas job.

We have to make sure we are healthy enough to be without major medical for 9 months. This means passing basic physical requirements. Eye exams – with two pairs of glasses each, in case one breaks. Teeth exams and cleanings. The works.

We’ve already talked to our insurance provider about getting a “vacation” 90 day supply of our medications, so we will be working on that next week. 

We are arranging shipping of some of our bags with Luggage Forward (This is an affiliate link which costs you nothing extra to use, but we make a small commission).

When people ask how you pack for a vacation like this, there are two options as I see it.

1. Pack for a typical 2 week vacation and buy things as you go.
2. Or overpack.

I – am over-packing.

Read more: Ultimate cruise packing list

We are also getting our home set up with a house-sitter. Forwarding our mail. Checking the online requirements for voting. Getting all of our travel documents together, including our vaccination records.

I am pretty pale even on good days, so I have been attempting to get a base tan before we leave. And my dermatologist has provided some additional items to help. There is nothing worse than starting a vacation with a horrible sunburn when you have all sorts of intense activity excursions planned. 

We don’t have any expectations for things to be much different than any other cruise. Other than the length and that some of our fellow passengers will come and go throughout the trip. There is already some level of disappointment due to current events and how those have changed our original itinerary, but it is perfectly understandable given the circumstances. 

Steve and I have often lived in cramped quarters, and already spend a lot of time together, so no concerns there!

What we are expecting of the Ultimate World Cruise

Since this is a first-of-its-kind sailing for Royal Caribbean, I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect, but we are making some assumptions.

Given the cost and length of the Ultimate World Cruise, we think we will be among the youngest of the crowd. I’m 52, and Steve is 59. A bit younger than the standard retired age.  

There probably won’t be a lot of families with young kids. 

We are guessing the number of people doing the full 274 days will be less than half.  There will definitely be a lot of interesting people to meet.

Steve and I will probably have the lowest Crown and Anchor society status when we first board.

One thing we are hoping for is a less busy gym than on our previous sailings. Steve and I both work out at least 6 days per week and on our last three cruises the gym was so crowded it was difficult to get a decent workout in. If we are correct about the general demographics of the Ultimate World Cruise, I think we will have a good shot at it. But I will have to keep you posted once we set sail!