As the 'viral' Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise draws to a close, those who spent nine months — and up to $118,000 (£88,000) each — have shared their experiences of life on board.
Setting sail from Miami on December 10, 2023, the cruise became a huge hit online earlier this year when passengers began posting about their experiences onboard on TikTok. Guests had the opportunity to explore 60 countries across all seven continents. Among them were Cindy Seletos, 71, a retired Apple education executive, and her husband Jim, 72, a retired wine and liquor distributor. The couple estimate that their once-in-a-lifetime trip cost them around $150,000.
"We never dreamed that we would love this adventure as much as we did," says Cindy from Wildwood, Florida.
She added: "We experienced new places, new foods, new customs, new friends, and we now have grown our family exponentially. Getting to know and interact with so many diverse cultures has given us a completely new perspective on everyday life and people."
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The couple visited iconic landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu, and said their balcony room was worth every penny. They also highlighted that the hefty price tag included everything from drinks to laundry, with "really no other cost except for souvenirs".
For Jim, the world became smaller as he and Cindy discovered that there are "many more similarities than differences between us all." Reflecting on the trip, he added: "Hopefully, our short interactions with each other will help us all realise that we are one big universal village."
Renee Shull, 60, a content creator from Buford, Georgia, recently returned from an epic nine-month adventure that culminated in the icy wonder of Antarctica. "I stood in awe as the ship sailed past massive, silent icebergs," she recalled.
"Moments like navigating near Elephant Island felt like we were truly at the edge of the Earth." The cruise sparked a burst of creativity for Renee. "It inspired me to start writing children's books about a stuffed elephant cruising around the world," she revealed.
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For her spouse, Dr. Tom Shull, 64, the trip held deep personal significance. Tom, who was adopted from Seoul, South Korea as an infant, visited his birthplace for the first time in over six decades.
"A friend arranged a DNA test at the same police station where I was dropped off as a baby," he recounted, although the search for relatives came up empty.
However, fate had a surprise in store; Tom encountered another traveller, Kim, with an eerily similar backstory. Both were abandoned at the same police station and spent their early years in the same orphanage before being adopted by American families in 1961.
"While I didn't find a biological family, I gained a connection with someone who shared my early journey," Tom reflected on the serendipitous meeting. Meanwhile, Matthias Chan, a 36-year-old data and analytics engineer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was drawn to the natural splendour as his muse for the voyage.
"I boarded the cruise with the aim to capture wildlife and nature. What took me by surprise was the friendships that I formed with so many of the people on the cruise, including guests and crew," he said.
From witnessing baby puffins hatch to spotting koalas in Australia and orangutans in Indonesia, Matthias' time on board surpassed his expectations. "What was priceless and completely worth it was the unexpected new lifelong friends that we made on the ship."
For Dawn Cahn, 62, a nurse practitioner from Denver, North Carolina, the journey also led her to new friendships and unforgettable experiences.
"We had no idea what to expect. On our first night, we met two other couples who will now be life friends, plus others along the way. Our ship quickly became a floating community," she admitted.
She remembers moments that left her spellbound, like spending two hours listening to the sea organ in Zadar, Croatia, and marvelling at the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Her husband, Robert Cahn, 74, a retired State of Connecticut Department of Transportation employee, was equally captivated by the variety of experiences.
From snorkelling in pristine waters to walking the Great Wall of China, Robert was moved by places he had only dreamed of visiting.
"Antarctica with all its beauty and immense wildlife... Whales, seals, and birds. The roar of Iguazu Falls in South America... sheer wonder," he said.
Reflecting on the trip, Robert confidently stated: "Would we do it again? Absolutely. Ready for the reunion cruise in Alaska next September."
