Nine months on the water: World's longest cruise ends with passengers feeling exhausted

Royal Caribbean's nine-month, viral Ultimate World Cruise has finally come to an end, returning to port after a voyage that was an adventure of a lifetime for 650 travelers who paid between $59 and $999, writes New York Post.

Photo: Erin Cadigan | Dreamstime.com

“Nothing can prepare you for nine months,” Joe Martucci, 67, said of the epic 60-country journey that took in South America, Antarctica, China, Madagascar and other remote locations. The sprawling excursion ended Sept. 10.

(The Ultimate World Cruise was announced in 2021 and launched in December 2023. It is one of the longest and most extensive itineraries in the world. Of the 150 ports of call, 11 are designated “Wonders of the World,” from the Pyramids of Egypt to the Great Wall of China. The voyage took place on the Serenade of the Seas, which has all the amenities of a standard cruise ship. – Approx. Ed.)

On the subject: Royal Caribbean launched a new cruise ship: parties, performances and shows are held non-stop on board

“My family has always dreamed of traveling the world,” said 26-year-old cruise passenger Emike Oosthuizen from South Africa.

But even dreams can be exhausting. Houston tourist Adita Larson described the sea voyage as “exhausting.”

Brandy Lake, 47, said three-quarters of the year had flown by. “It’s been a blur,” she said. “We don’t know where we were yesterday; we don’t know where we’re going tomorrow.”

As for luggage, she says three large suitcases full of stuff were too much: “It’s like your own closet: you only actually carry about 10 to 20% of the stuff.”

Martucci said he quickly felt at home on the ship, even being able to perform important tasks, such as buying a car remotely to use later.

The cruise, which departed from Miami last December, became a major hit on TikTok as couples like Joe and Audrey Martucci documented their daily life on board. The couple became a global sensation under their account Spendingourkidsmoney.

"We've had people message us to say thank you so much for taking them on this trip," Audrey shared, recalling the fans cheering them on during a stop in Halifax, Canada.

Even those who followed the action from land have amassed their own TikTok following, such as Beth Ann Fletcher from the UK.

“If you’re interested in travel and psychology and people, what more could you want?” she asked, noting that cruise ship travelers wanted to meet her during the ship’s stop in Southampton, England. “It was such a surreal day. We met like old friends,” Fletcher said.

Audrey Martucci said the cruise was a constant source of social interaction, which helped cement new friendships. But even if someone wanted to be alone, there were plenty of places to retreat to, she said.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New Y

The trial cruise had its share of difficulties – Hurricane Beryl, the death of one of the passengers, a change in route due to military actions in the Red Sea, and finally, love dramas unfolding on board. And yet the voyage was successful enough for Royal Caribbean to to announce about the new tour.

Read also on ForumDaily:

What happens when someone dies on board a cruise ship, or Where are the morgues hidden on ships?

Ten bad things that happened on popular cruise ships

Profitable and exciting: stories of Americans who moved to cruise ships

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