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Maddox, who has taught some of the women who became stars of the Bama Rush phenomenon, said she’s seen first-hand how real people being treated like figures on reality TV can be damaging and stressful. After the past couple of years stuck at home, most people are more than ready to jump back into travel—ideally visiting as many places as possible, as soon as possible. The company just unveiled its Ultimate World Cruise, an epic 274-night sailing that visits all seven continents, including over 150 destinations in 65 countries. It sounds like the perfect way to cross off half your bucket list in one fell swoop.
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Along the way, discover World Wonders in South America, including man-made marvels and extraordinary natural phenomena. 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.
Road Trips
Out of the privacy of the guest and their family, we have nothing further to share at this time,” the statement concluded. Considering all that’s included in your Ultimate Cruise segment fare, you’ll enjoy an incredible value. No matter which stateroom you choose, your fare includes Ultimate Cruise segment complimentary amenities like Deluxe Beverage Package, gratuities, VOOM internet package, and wash and fold laundry service. Though she knew people would be interested in a trip as intriguing as a 274-day-long world cruise, Linderman "never anticipated this level of interest."
What is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?
She appeared to have one issue, according to a TikTok that she posted, saying she has been repeatedly asked if she is a member of the ship’s staff rather than a traveler. 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." One person began tracking all the content creators on board so that others could easily follow along. "This is the world cruise of world cruises," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Join us for the entire Ultimate World Cruise, you’ll enjoy exclusive perks and amenities — all included in your adventure.
Royal Caribbean's New Cruise Will Visit 65 Countries in 9 Months
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. Sisters Brandee and Shannon Lake, who are Black, said they’re sharing a cabin and said that quarantining together during the pandemic prepared them to live in close quarters on the ship for nine months. Sisters Brandee and Shannon Lake, who are Black, said they’re sharing a cabin and said that quarantining together during the pandemic prepared them to live in close quarters on the ship for nine months. Finally, the last leg sees passengers touring Europe, with stops in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway over the final 63 nights. The all-encompassing itinerary is the main draw here, but guests should expect to have a pretty great time on the actual ship itself, Serenade of the Seas.
While Linderman's sister-in-law, brother, and their children weighed the pros and cons of going, Linderman was also intrigued, even though she had never vacationed on a cruise before, she told Business Insider. Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. To prepare for the 9-month voyage, she arranged for a friend to stay at her home with her dog and reduced the hours of her job in marketing. For the next several months, she'll work remotely and will be taking advantage of the various stops and sights the voyage will have to offer. "That is something that has kind of helped to impact my desire to travel," she explains.
Watch: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer
That doesn’t mean there haven’t been the kind of hiccups you’d expect on a nine-month cruise. One cruiser was temporarily banned from reboarding the boat for 12 days after he took an unauthorized trip to Brazil. Some guests were upset at the difference in treatment for Royal Caribbean loyalty program members versus regular passengers (which is … the point of joining a loyalty program).
Why the 9-month Ultimate World Cruise is social media's latest obsession - NBC News
Why the 9-month Ultimate World Cruise is social media's latest obsession.
Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Not only was it the same ship, but she was also able to choose to stay in the same exact room she had reserved for the Ultimate World Cruise. Unlike many of the other passengers on board the world cruise, Linderman had zero experience on massive vacation ships. She had, however, spent two years volunteering in West Africa with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit that operates floating hospitals. Linderman booked a solo room on the ship, and her brother's family reserved a cabin, too.
Why is this world cruise all over TikTok?
"So friendly, so kind so much energy," Brandee Lake says, quashing any drama that users have attempted to stir up so far. "Our people at dinner are like family already, you know, we have people who we don't even interact with normally (who) are like family already. And of course, the staff itself is quite diverse." “A guest sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson shared in a statement to NBC News Feb. 13. The viral nine-month Royal Caribbean cruise has experienced a death on the high seas. Still, Linderman doesn't want to burn out on such a long trip and still anticipates those "low" days that happen in regular life on land. One passenger, Angie Linderman, has been chronicling her journey on the world cruise on TikTok as @angielinderman – and viewers are loving it.
And, according to content creator Marc Sebastien, who spent 18 nights aboard during the first leg of the journey, the ship's godmother—"Did you guys know that ships have godmothers?"—is Whoopi Goldberg. Well, free with the entry-level $53,999 price for passage aboard the Symphony of the Seas, which will reportedly carry 27,000 guests in total over the four legs of the trip, while more than 600 were booked for the entire itinerary. Guests had the option to book the entire 274 night voyage, or hop on for smaller segments.
Designed with acres of glass offering panoramic vistas of sea, sky and land, Serenade of the Seas® is the perfect ship for scenery-scoping. Take in captivating views of Norway’s majestic fjords, gaze at glaciers in Antarctica, and soak up the sun and the sights while cruising through French Polynesia. In between adventures onshore, you can unwind poolside or tee off on the mini golf green.
One person claimed that American and non-American guests were being treated differently on board the ship. Some have homed in on the fact that “pinnacle members,” Royal Caribbean’s highest tier of membership, have access to different excursions and have allegedly had town hall meetings. And so (there is) an emphasis on just doing all of the things I can do now while I’m healthy, while I’m able, instead of putting them off in hopes that I can do them later, when in reality that may not happen,” she said. Those who chose the full trip, prices started at $53,999, according to the Royal Caribbean website.
"It's balancing normal life things when you’re in a cool spot and trying to balance how to make the most time when you’re in a new place," Linderman said. She said she wouldn't force herself to be the first person to disembark and the last to return to the ship. About a decade ago, she lived in West Africa with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit that offers free medical care from a hospital ship. "I’m so excited. There are places I maybe wouldn’t have to traveled to as a female solo traveler." To her, the cruise option makes visiting these places "more doable" and removes the hassle of figuring out logistics. "I always thought cruising for retirees or people with kids because of the many activities onboard," she said, but she liked how she could see different countries without having to pack her bags and move to a new hostel each day. "I’ve always really loved to travel and always wanted that to be how I spend my time and money," she said.
The penultimate leg of the trip heads to the Mediterranean and Middle East destinations over the course of another 67 days. Jessica Maddox, an assistant professor of digital media at the University of Alabama where Bama Rush takes place each year, said she knows first-hand how morally gray it can be to wish drama onto the lives of real people. “I’m so invested in this 9 month world cruise happening cause I know it’s gonna be some MESS,” one person posted on X. Linderman said her test cruise allowed her to visualize how she would store items such as toiletries and clothes for the next nine months.
Since she boarded the Serenade of the Seas, her followers climbed from 100 to more than 103,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. With 650 guests on board, Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise departed from Miami on Dec. 10. The 274-day itinerary was scheduled to stop in more than 60 countries, including Antarctica, China, Oman, Spain, Mexico and French Polynesia. The first leg, the Ultimate Americas, ran from Dec. 10 until Feb. 11 and took passengers around North America, South America, the Caribbean and Antarctica. World wonders on the to-see list included the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and Machu Pichu.
And with top-notch restaurants onboard, every meal turns into a global taste-tour that’s as immersive as your Ultimate World Cruise. She recalled that when she started to put the items away, she thought, "OK, how do I win this game of Tetris." When you book your cabin or suite on a Oceania World Cruise with Cruise Specialists, you may also receive the benefit of a Voyage Host or complimentary, VIP Shore Events. These amenities vary by World Cruise and a Cruise Specialists Cruise Consultant can advise you on the details. Here are ten of the best around-the-world cruises you can take in 2023 and 2024.
