The viral nine-month world cruise is over. But was it worth £42,000?
As Royal Caribbean's nine-month epic global cruise comes to an end, we caught up with passengers who completed the trip to ask if it lived up to expectations.
It was billed as the trip of a lifetime - and for the price passengers paid, you’d hope they enjoyed themselves.
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise, a round-the-globe nine-month odyssey on board the 293m Serenade of the Seas, became an unlikely TikTok viral hit at the start of the year, thanks to its unprecedented scale - and potential for drama on board.
Taking in 60 countries in 274 days, the first few weeks of the cruisers’ journey saw the trip blow up on social media thanks to footage of rough seas, wine shortages, sky-high Wi-Fi charges, changes of route due to political unrest, and even the death of a guest. The passengers themselves even became TikTok stars, gaining huge followings online from viewers back on dry land desperate for gossip.
Around 650 passengers spent the entire nine months (and presumably, their entire life savings) completing the full itinerary. With prices for the full trip having started at an eye-watering $53,999 (£42,462), it’s no surprise the epic voyage became one of 2024’s biggest viral sensations.
Now permanently back on terra firma after the cruise ended on 10 September with its final stop in Miami, Yahoo News UK caught up with a handful of travellers who finished the whole trip to ask them some key questions - including if they thought it was worth the money.
How did you prepare for a world cruise which lasted nine months?
Jenny Hunnicutt, 34, from Florida, was one of many passengers who booked the trip with her husband more than two years before it set off. She was also one of a number of minor TikTok celebrities on board, gaining 167,000 followers in the early months of the journey. Hunnicutt, who also holds a doctorate in health and rehab sciences, said planning ahead was key to making the most of a nine-month holiday.
What was it like making friends on a cruise ship for nine months?
While there was the option for guests to only book certain legs of the cruise, meaning hundreds came and went along the global journey, the core group of travellers completing the entire journey would be stuck with each other for 274 days.
'Anthony Antoine' McWilliams, 54, boarded the Serenade of the Seas alone - but said many of the passengers became friends for life thanks to their close proximity... and shared love of documenting the journey on TikTok.
What was the most memorable sight or location on the cruise?
While the Serenade of the Seas checked in at more than 60 locations, a handful of sights were repeatedly mentioned as the most jaw-dropping experiences on the cruise.
Here's where our group of passengers listed as the most spectacular scenery they visited.
What was the hardest part about being on a cruise for nine months?
Leaving your home, family and friends back on dry land for nine months obviously doesn't come without its drawbacks. We asked the group what the most challenging element was about being on the cruise ship for so long.
For Joe Matucci, who embarked on the cruise with wife Audrey - both experienced cruisers - but still said upon completion that 'nothing can prepare you for a nine-month cruise'. Here's what the rest of our interviewees said they missed most.
Was the nine-month cruise worth the money?
Our group of hardy travellers were almost unanimous in stating that the nine-month cruise delivered in its enormous boarding ticket price. Former NASA employee Bobbi Waterman and her partner Tam, from Florida, who gained a substantial following for posting about their experience on board as an LGBTQ+ couple, got a 10% discount for booking early and insisted it was '100% worth it.'
Here's what the rest of the group said when we asked them about the cruise's value for money.
What advice would you give to anyone embarking on a similar cruise?
Passengers who completed the entire cruise will no doubt have learned a significant amount about travelling from their unique experience. Brandee Lake, a 46-year-old podcaster who completed the journey with her sister Shannon and parents, said the best approach before embarking on a similar cruise is to 'pack less'.
See the other words of advice our passengers gave to would-be cruisers below.
The passenger wrote on Reddit that it "felt good to put [the] seat stealer in her place" after complaining about "all the things people try to pull on flights these days"
Featuring vast creeper-clad columns and a series of soaring sky terraces, this Singaporean high-rise has just been named the best new tall building in the world.
The British mountaineer rescued from an unsummited Himalayan mountain has told The Telegraph she feared she would die after being stranded in a -15C snowstorm.
Ditching a lucrative career in finance, Vu Dinh Tu opened a coffee shop without telling his parents and joined a wave of young Vietnamese entrepreneurs using espressos to challenge family expectations around work.His parents "saw the hard work involved in running a business -- handling everything from finances to staffing, and they didn't want me to struggle", explained Tu.
Vietnam was desperately poor until the early 2000s, pulling itself up with a boom in manufacturing, but many parents want t
While 2024 is coming to a close, we're just ramping up for one of the busiest travel times of the year with the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Whether you'll be flying for the holidays...
If you're ready to splurge on a winter getaway, think about planning a special trip with family or friends. It's the perfect opportunity to make some heartwarming memories that will last a...
Formerly known as Saigon, this busy Vietnam city is constantly changing. And yet, beneath it all, there lies a deep love and respect for tradition and the past. You just need to know where to look.
Earlier this summer, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced multiple days during which they screened a record number of travelers. This means that even though prices on many...
Harper Beckham wore a pair of stonewash baggy jeans in her mother Victoria Beckham's latest Instagram post and she teamed it with a knitted jumper and trainers - the perfect, pared-down look.