Royal Caribbean Announces World's Longest All-Inclusive Cruise Vacation

For anyone who has dreamed of traveling around the world on a cruise, we have some exciting news for you! 

Royal Caribbean has recently announced its latest offering - a thrilling all-inclusive cruise vacation for 9 long months, exploring over 150 destinations on this planet. Over 40 ports of call that you get to visit on this cruise vacation are either rarely available on the regular Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries or are the latest additions. 

This long, all-inclusive cruise vacation, also known as the “Ultimate World Cruise,” will lead you to almost every iconic tourist spot on the planet, including the Great Barrier Reef, Chichen Itza, Peru’s Machu Picchu, the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Blue Lagoon, The Great Wall of China, The Taj Mahal and the Colosseum in Rome. Whichever wonder of the world you can think of, it will probably be on the list. 

What would have been unthinkable almost a few months ago is now really happening as the cruise industry is still coming out of the effects of the global pandemic. 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Serenade of the Seas will commence its sailing on December 10th, 2023, from Miami and will sail for 274 nights, after which it will return to Florida on September 10th, 2024. Despite the dates, bookings have started to flood in, in huge numbers. 

In their statement, Royal Caribbean International President Michael Bayley states this all-inclusive cruise vacation is a way to help all the travel-starved people to make up for their lost time because of Covid-19. 

Prices 

Prices for joining this longest all-inclusive cruise vacation aboard the Serenade of the Seas start at $60,000 per person for the interior stateroom. The junior suite tickets will start at $111,999 per person. Travelers who will pay in full before January 6th, 2023, will also get an additional 10% discount. 

An additional $4,667 surcharge will also be levied to cover all the fees, taxes, and other port expenses. 

Considering this is an all-inclusive cruise vacation, you get great value for every penny you pay. No matter which accommodation you choose, the price you pay will include the overall fare for the Ultimate World Cruise with various complimentary amenities. These amenities also include business class airfare, pre-cruise hotel and gala, gratuities, deluxe beverage package, VOOM internet package, laundry service, and so much more.

Living on the ship for 274 days

Of course, the star of your all-inclusive cruise vacation would be the ports of call, but what about the ship, Serenade of the Seas, where you will be living for almost a year?

The Serenade of the Seas has been a stalwart, mid-sized ship of the Royal Caribbean fleet since 2003. The cruise ship can accommodate almost 2,100 passengers at a time, with nearly 900 crew members. Upon leaving Miami late in 2023, the all-inclusive cruise vacation will take you around the Caribbean before its scheduled stop-offs in Central and South America, including multiple trips to Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and the Iguazu Falls of Argentina. 

The cruise ship’s itinerary on the official website promises many things, which is essential, considering people are going to spend almost nine months on this cruise ship. 

The ship also comes with various amenities that you would expect for the next one year of your life, like a spa, theater, and a fitness center. A few more activities might not sound essential but will be, like mini-golf, card shows, singalong parties, rock climbing, game centers, and shows, etc. There is also a nightclub on the cruise ship where guests can dance, chill and relax from time to time.  

Cruise passengers can also attend various guest lectures, take a few classes, and learn the art of cupcakes and sushi, foreign languages, scrapbooking, dancing, and much more! 

Other highlights of your all-inclusive cruise vacation include 57 new destinations that Royal Caribbean has never before sailed to. These include Casablanca, Greenland, Shimizu, Japan’s crown - Mount Fuji, Qaqortoq, even Peru and India.

Can you take just one portion of this all-inclusive cruise vacation around the world?

Yes, you can. The Ultimate World Cruise is divided into four different segments/expeditions that will open for sale in December 2021. 

- Round the Horn - America and Antarctica Expedition for 64 nights, through 36 destinations from December 10th, 2023 to February 11th, 2024. The journey begins from Miami, Florida, and ends in Los Angeles. The itinerary also includes three continents, with four wonders spread across 36 destinations. 

- Wonders of Asia and Pacific Expedition for 87 nights, through 40 destinations from February 1st, 2024 to May 9th, 2024. This journey departs from Los Angeles and ends in Dubai. The itinerary covers three wonders of the world, spread across 40 destinations on three continents. 

- Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition for 63 nights, through 44 destinations from May 9th, 2024 to July 10th, 2024. The cruise journey starts in Dubai and ends in Barcelona, voyaging across four wonders of the world in 44 different destinations on three continents. 

- Capitals of Culture Expedition for 63 nights, through 40 destinations from July 10th, 2024 to September 10th, 2024. This journey starts in Barcelona and ends in Miami again. This will mark the end of the entire world cruise tour after covering almost 150 destinations across 274 nights in total. 

You can check out the full itinerary on Royal Caribbean’s official website.  

Other world cruise itineraries 

Many other cruise companies have reintroduced all-inclusive cruise vacations after the long hiatus because of the global pandemic. Those too, like this “Ultimate World Cruise,” are not cheap.

The Regent Seven Seas Cruise has introduced a 143-nights world cruise, with the starting price from $78,000 going up to $209,000 for different room categories. The cruise ship departs on January 7th, 2023. Similarly, Oceania Cruises had also introduced their latest “Around The World in 180 Days,” which sold out in just one day when their bookings went live on January 27th, 2021. The prices of this cruise start from $41,600. Silversea also introduced its world cruiser itinerary for 2023, which sold out in just a day. The fares for the same range from $74,000 to $278,000 per person. 

For Royal Caribbean cruises departing from the US and other international ports, passengers above 12 must be vaccinated completely. All the passengers must present a negative test report before boarding and adhere to indoor mark mandates. Any updates on Covid-19 restrictions and protocols on this world cruise shall be updated before disembarkation.