Royal Caribbeans nine-month Ultimate World Cruise has taken over TikTok

Table Of Content

• The nine-month cruise that took over TikTok
• Royal Caribbean's New Cruise Will Visit 65 Countries in 9 Months
• To prepare for the world cruise, Linderman took a 'test cruise' on the same ship
• Set a course for the north
• Why is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?
• This Cruise Line Started Its Own Traveler Book Club, and You Can Join for Free
• Royal Caribbean offers 9-month-long 'World Cruise' visiting 150 destinations

Besides Royal Caribbean, operators like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Azamara also operate world cruises, albeit more expensive and much shorter. TikToks about the Ultimate World Cruise have since received millions of views. And it seems like everyone on TravelTok has been keeping a close eye on these seafarers, eagerly awaiting updates about the potential drama at sea. As it turns out, you don’t need to be a millionaire with a ton of savings in the bank and absolutely zero responsibilities back home. This is the age of remote work, and the era of taking some time off the 9-5 grind to find yourself.

The nine-month cruise that took over TikTok

“I made an Ultimate World Cruise Bingo card for anyone else who is buckling in for this nine months TikTok reality show,” user @whimsysoul shared in a video posted shortly after the ship’s voyage began. Lake, who had already visited 77 countries and lived abroad, decided to set sail and see even more of the world, and her parents gifted the cruise to her and her sister. Lake, who previously lived in Los Angeles, gave up her apartment and left a job in advertising and marketing to travel full time, embarking on a 274-night sailing to more than 60 countries alongside her sister and parents.

Royal Caribbean's New Cruise Will Visit 65 Countries in 9 Months

“There’s definitely this fascination that’s baked into TikTok that we see exacerbated in things like Bama Rush and the world cruise of ‘I could never live this life, so I’m now going to live vicariously through these people,’” Maddox said. Brandee Lake, 46, said the staff and passengers have been “so friendly, so kind, so much energy,” quashing some of the online chatter that there’s tension among different travelers. The passengers on the Serenade of the Seas so far seem to be enjoying the cruise, according to several who spoke to "TODAY."

To prepare for the world cruise, Linderman took a 'test cruise' on the same ship

The final leg of the Ultimate World Cruise is an immersive cultural exploration starting in the Med heading north. Discover Barcelona’s brilliant architecture, including Gaudi’s Sagrada Família. Savor flavors across continents — like a dinner of tagine and mint tea in Morocco.

Passengers can choose to board for the full nine months, or simply join for one of the various legs. Obviously, the full nine months will set passengers back a hefty sum, ranging from $54,000 to $117,000 per person. I've been on three cruises and each one couldn't be more different from the other. The very first cruise I dipped my toes into lasted a full two weeks and took us to Spain, Greece, Italy, and Egypt. The excursions off the ship were the stars of the show but for my money, the all-you-can-eat nearly 24-hour buffet was where the real fun began and ended.

Why is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?

Ball said travelers who book Silversea’s 2026 world cruise get $1,000 in onboard credit per person (up to $2,000 per suite), a spa treatment and other amenities. The fare for the entire Ultimate World Cruise – which started at around $54,000 for the full nine months – included gratuities, business class flights, Wi-Fi, wash-and-fold laundry service and more, according to Royal Caribbean’s website. 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".

This Cruise Line Started Its Own Traveler Book Club, and You Can Join for Free

Some said they cannot fathom what being on the cruise, traveling to that many locations while eating and drinking the days away, would do to a person physically. Finally, the last leg sees passengers touring Europe, with stops in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway over the final 63 nights. The first traverses North America and South America over 67 nights and includes stops in Brazil, the Caribbean and Antarctica. Rumors also quickly began to circulate on TikTok, with some people alleging that the ship wasn’t at capacity and how some travelers with better membership status were being treated differently than the others on board.

My Personas

The itineraries last between three and five months on average but can be longer, according to Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants. If you wanted the full 274-night trip, prices were between $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person. 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'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. Join us for the entire Ultimate World Cruise, you’ll enjoy exclusive perks and amenities — all included in your adventure. So you can complement back-to-back discoveries onshore with all your favorite comforts onboard, plus thoughtful touches to elevate every moment.

Royal Caribbean offers 9-month-long 'World Cruise' visiting 150 destinations

Get ready to see the world in a whole new light — introducing the Ultimate World Cruise onboard Serenade of the Seas®. You can spend 274 nights bonding with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents. Or pick a corner of the globe and explore every inch of it on one of four Ultimate World Cruise℠ segments — each an immersive voyage of 60+ nights. Connect with countless distinct cultures, soak up the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, and marvel at World Wonders that showcase mankind’s boundless imagination. The cruise is currently in the honeymoon phase, in which a Belgian waffle for breakfast every morning still sounds like a good idea and the crossing of the Drake Passage is yet to come.

But if even the very idea of a 274-night cruise has you reaching for Dramamine, you can always just stay on land and scroll TikTok. "I think that it is surprising out there to people that there's so many on the younger side who are on the cruise," she explained. "I think that's really resonating with people or gathering their attention, maybe." "I think (TikTok users who watched the post) were tagging Royal Caribbean like 'you need to fix this,'" Brandee Lake explains. "They did at least take the time to come to me and you know, ask how everything's going now." Soon after the post began to circulate, she says the cruise’s hotel director made a point to greet her at dinner.

Unfortunately, the woman just “liked pineapples.” For what it’s worth, there are definitely swingers on the ship who just aren’t posting TikToks. My personal favorite is @yourdatingtipbestie, who has been doing weekly recaps of what’s happening on the cruise. Each week we’ll send you the very best from the Vox Culture team, plus a special internet culture edition by Rebecca Jennings on Wednesdays. We’ve had such an enriching time so far — and we’re not even halfway through the entire experience. I am majoring in health sciences, and I plan on starting nursing school in the fall; I would like to become a travel nurse. I enjoy being in school, and doing it while seeing the world has been one of the most incredible experiences.

Everyone Worth Following on the 9-Month Cruise - The Cut

Everyone Worth Following on the 9-Month Cruise.

Posted: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

A 2018 study from the Cruise Lines International Association stated that 50 percent of cruise ship passengers on average were over the age of 50 and almost a third of that group were older than 70. According to the Maritime Injury Guide, which noted that cruise ships tend to carry between 3,000 and 5,000 passengers, it's estimated that around 200 people die on a cruise every year. Ticket rates are based on a range of 1,073 staterooms and the full 274-night trip ran from $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person. Luxury lines, which already bundle more costs with their base fares, may throw in extras too.

"We definitely are the youngest Black people on the boat," Brandee Lake explains. The Kenneys told TODAY Dec. 27 that when they first came on board, they had 200 followers, and that today, they now have 90K followers. "I would say the majority, like the overwhelming majority of passengers, are retirees (or seniors)," she explains, summarizing that number as being at least 90% of the passengers. Speaking to TODAY.com, 29-year-old Alé Kenney says that the cruise isn’t just a massive voyage made up of TikTokers and Generation Z. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. World cruises from lines like Cunard Line have long been popular, Kuther noted, but in recent years, more brands have leaned.

A fan favorite among the Ultimate World Cruise guests is Madison Schwetje (@madisonworldtravler), who is cruising with her entire family, including her sister Brooklyn. Not only is she seeing the world while sailing the seas, but Madison is also studying online as a full-time student at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Beyond that, those documenting their time on the ship have yet to report any reality TV-worthy drama for TikTok to consume. The posts from those on land have mostly consisted of documenting who is aboard the ship, creating “bingo cards” for events on the ship, and cheering on drama. Shortly after its departure, many aboard the Serenade of the Seas began documenting their time on the ship. Some showed off cabins in the style of the MTV show “Cribs” while others opted to give tours of the entire ship.

"But then on the flip side, when they get to Europe in the last segment of the cruise, like the last part of the itinerary, it's almost too intense," she continues. "I think I counted at some points, they're going 18 days in port with no sea days, and the last segment means that you're probably six months into this cruise, you're probably going to be really tired? I don't know, I'd be tired." Considering all that’s included in your 274-night Ultimate World Cruise fare, you’ll enjoy an incredible value. "This is the world cruise of world cruises," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. Some users following the events of the cruise ship appear to be ogling the voyage with a sense of suspicion and a sobering dose of reality. After all, the voyage's 9-month set up brings back memories of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.