Ultimate World Cruise: What's it like to spend 9 months on a cruise that goes to 60 countries?

What's it like to be on a cruise that everyone's been eagerly following on TikTok like it was the hottest reality show on Netflix?

For the past five months, that's been the case for Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise, the nine-month voyage aboard the Serenade of the Seas that takes passengers to 60 countries across all seven continents. 

Thanks to avid TikTokers documenting their journey, landlocked viewers have been following every single thing onboard since the ship set sail from Miami on Dec 10, 2023.

The 274-night cruise – with a price tag that starts at a whopping US$59,999 (S$80,725) per person – has gone viral as it goes from the Americas to Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and finally, Europe and beyond, before the journey wraps up on Sep 10.

CNA Lifestyle recently got a chance to speak to some of the TikTokers during their Singapore stop to find out more. 

ICEBERGS, CHERRY BLOSSOMS, FIREWORKS

One of the highlights of the journey so far was reaching Antarctica, where passengers woke up surrounded by icebergs.

The continent was one of the stops that had first garnered significant attention on TikTok. The cruise ship had to navigate the Drake Passage, often described as the roughest water passage on the planet, and TikTokers duly documented the strong winds, massive waves and seasickness, which was nicknamed "Drake Passage Tok".

South African influencer Amike Oosthuizen recalled being particularly excited with her first sighting of snow.

“Antarctica was the best part of the cruise,” shared the 26-year-old. “It was absolutely magical. There were whales swimming next to the ship, penguins jumping out of the water. I think it was so cool because it was just so quiet and serene, yet there was wildlife everywhere.”

Depending on the ports they visited, passengers might spend a few hours, a few days, or even fly to other cities in the country. And for 27-year-old photographer Andrew Kenney, Japan's been his favourite city so far. They spent eight days exploring different cities and he was able to tick a few things off his bucket list: Snaps of cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji.

As for Kenney's travel buddy, his wife Ale, it was Peru that's left a lasting impression. While transport issues prevented them from visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu, they still enjoyed their stay in the city of Cusco. They spent three days encountering baby alpacas, exploring the Andes mountains, and visiting the Inca ruins.

Another highlight early on was celebrating New Year’s Eve on the ship, with a view overlooking Brazil's world-famous Copacabana beach and the fireworks show.

MORE THAN JUST CRUISING

So what happens in-between destinations? How do they keep themselves occupied and entertained?

Believe it or not, some of them just go about with their normal lives. Brooklyn Schwetje, for instance, is studying online. The 22-year-old from Orlando, Florida, is a grad student at the University of Alabama, who joined her parents for the cruise. 

“I watched (Disney sitcom) The Suite Life On Deck growing up and they did school on the ship. So, that's always been a dream of mine,” shared Schwetje, who also spends the rest of the time participating in activities like themed parties and Zumba classes. When she's not editing her TikTok videos, of course.

For others it's continuing with their day jobs. Oosthuizen, who apart from being an influencer also works for an agri-solutions company, is still clocking in the hours even as she enjoys the trip with her husband and parents.

In-between work commitments, she also dedicates a significant amount of time to research and plan the itinerary for the cities they'll be visiting. 

During the cruise, passengers also have an option to learn more about the places they're at. For instance, in Singapore, local performing arts group Sri Warisan came onboard to teach them the traditional Malay dance called zapin. In Brazil, it was samba dancers and musicians.

THE CABIN LIFE

While exploring destinations and attending cruise activities are the highlights, how they deal with "cabin fever" and being cooped up in a small space can be real. Especially for those who stay in "inside rooms" that have no windows. 

Schwetje stays in one with her sister and revealed she doesn’t mind the lack of windows because it helps them to sleep better. To personalise their rooms, they'd occasionally put up holiday decorations while keeping two walls bare to display souvenirs from every port visited, such as hats from Vietnam and a flag from Antarctica.

Meanwhile, those staying in a balcony room, such as Oosthuizen and her husband, can wake up to a sea view every morning. As for personalising their room, “we bought a lot of hooks to hold my handbags, and that’s about it,” she laughed.

For those wondering how it's like for the crew members who're also going to be onboard the entire journey, they're also well-taken care of. Cruise director Michele Scarpato describes it like "ship within a ship".

“We have an extensive and spacious area designated for crew members, which is strictly off-limits to guests. We have our own quarters, recreational area, gym, bar, laundry, and even our own supermarket! We also organise events for the crew – even though this is our workplace, it’s also our home for now," he said.

FROM NEIGHBOURS TO FRIENDS  

Living and travelling with strangers for nine months surely take some getting used to. So what’s the experience been like?

“We weren't really expecting there to be such a community on board. I think that really surprised us,” 30-year-old Ale Kenney admitted. “We thought it would be similar to other cruises where you maybe make a few friends and greet each other awkwardly in the elevator. But no, it has been more like, ‘What are you guys doing tomorrow? Do you want to do a movie night?’”

Her husband added that one of the best things about the whole experience has been making friends with the crew. “They’re always smiling and so attentive. It feels like their goal is to ensure you never have a bad day.”

And they've actually been one of the breakout hits on TikTok: The videos of the "Washy Washy" team, who sing and dance to remind people to sanitise their hands, have proven to be quite popular online.

But is it always smooth sailing? Apparently it has been, except for one moment that involved a change in the ship's plans in Africa.

Jenny Hunnicutt shared that because the cruise wasn't able to sail through the Red Sea, passengers were asked to vote between two different itineraries. While there were some disagreements on board, as it’s expected when you have a big group of people, she did her best to avoid the conflicts.

“When you put a bunch of people together in small quarters, there's naturally going to be some conflicts,” she quipped.

WOULD THEY DO THIS AGAIN?

With four months to go, anything can still happen on the Ultimate World Cruise. But for now, it's been an experience of a lifetime and the people we talked to are up for another round. 

“One hundred per cent. One thousand per cent!” said Schwetje. “We’re halfway through the trip, and I just keep thinking about having to leave and pack up – I wish I could just press a pause button."

That said, there are things they can't wait to do once it's all over. Said Kenney: “The first thing I’m going to do when I get off the ship is hug my mum.”