What’s it prefer to stay on a cruise ship for 9 months straight?
Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Final World Cruise have skilled 239 days of crusing on Serenade of the Seas since December 2023.
The 9-month cruise around the globe is ready to go to 65 international locations, greater than 150 locations, and 11 Nice Wonders of the World earlier than it ends in September 2024.
The cruise has been successful for Royal Caribbean, to the purpose that the cruise line plans to do one other.
However what’s it actually like onboard the viral cruise?
Reddit consumer Bruin144 beforehand shared a photograph a day to the Royal Caribbean subreddit, updating social media on the world cruise adventures.
After an sudden household emergency brought on him to go away the cruise, he posted a mirrored image on the previous 8 months of the world cruise.
“I believe RCL has completed an incredible job on this cruise. I additionally suppose it has been a studying expertise each for the corporate & the staff concerned within the cruise,” he wrote.
Listed here are his high 15 classes discovered from crusing on the Final World Cruise.
1. Many of the cruisers are very rich
The overwhelming majority of individuals on the total world cruise are wealthy,” Bruin144 mentioned.
“Not just a little wealthy both—like founding father of a profitable firm, invented a profitable widget, or profitable surgeon wealthy.”
He guessed many of the cruisers have a median internet price of seven figures or above.
Most of the passengers had by no means even operated a washer or dryer earlier than.
Regardless of that financial privilege, he doesn’t think about Royal Caribbean a luxurious model. When you handle these expectations, he mentioned, you’ll have a good time.
2. Financial disparities shall be apparent on and off the ship
As a bit of recommendation for anybody contemplating taking the following World Cruise: “If class disparity bothers you a large number, then long run cruising might not be for you.”
As a result of passengers are fairly rich, you may discover an enormous financial disparity.
Plus, visiting over 65 world nations will open your eyes to quite a lot of life and cultures.
Bruin144’s submit mentioned “The world cruise was undoubtedly an eye fixed opener on each ends of the financial scale.”
3. Spend money on a relationship with crew members
“Be good to your cabin steward,” Bruin144 suggested.
Over 9 months and plenty of passengers, they’ll have plenty of cabins to scrub.
Bruin144 and his journey accomplice requested their cabin steward to not clear on Sundays to provide them an additional break.
In addition they tipped and didn’t ask for different issues, reminiscent of retaining ice within the ice bucket.
4. In the case of drinks, discover a particular bar and bartender you want
Serenade of the Seas has 12 bars onboard.
Quite than having a drink at a number of areas in a day, Bruin144 recommends discovering one bartender and bartenders you want, and going there for all of your drinks.
He recommends tipping the workers as properly—he gave a big tip as soon as per week on common.
5. Stress and exhaustion can flip anybody right into a crank
Whereas some TikTokers on the Final World Cruise complained that they encountered impolite passengers, Bruin144 had a special perspective.
The wealthy friends onboard weren’t essentially impolite due to their financial standing—many had been very good.
However, he identified that “anybody when burdened or drained” is usually a jerk. “This is applicable to me,” he confessed.
Regardless of the long-term nature of a World Cruise, it nonetheless counts as a type of journey. Journey could be aggravating, exhausting, and annoying.
6. Ports weren’t scheduled completely
There have been some port days that Bruin144 would have scheduled in another way.
For instance, the ship docked in a distant industrial space an hour away from Saigon, then solely spent just a few hours within the main metropolis of Singapore.
He ended up wishing they’d skipped just a few of the Southeast Asian ports to do an in a single day in Singapore.
Learn extra: I am occurring Royal Caribbean’s first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I am anticipating
7. The cruise solely supplies a brief style of locations
For the reason that World Cruise solely stopped at ports for a brief time period, Bruin144 in contrast it to the film “If it’s Tuesday it have to be Belgium”—through which a gaggle of People sees a whirlwind of 9 international locations in 18 days.
“Many individuals skip going ashore in some ports or solely go for a short while,” he mentioned.
Moreover, he got here to actually take pleasure in sea days, and even back-to-back days spent at sea.
8. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity to find locations for a future go to
Though not each place was a success, the Final World was an incredible alternative to find areas Bruin144 would possibly need to revisit.
Within the feedback, he shared that he want to go to Japan, Moʻoreʻa & Australia sooner or later.
All through the cruise, Bruin144 wrote, “A number of locations really expanded my view of the world.”
“Watching Central India roll by from a prepare for six hours was genuinely a thought-provoking expertise.”
9. Give your self a purpose or mission to finish for the size of the cruise
For his or her cruise, Bruin144 and his journey buddy made it a purpose to purchase and mail a postcard from a neighborhood submit workplace in as many locations as doable.
They ended up sending them to a member of the family who collects postcards.
Since he likes trains, Bruin144 additionally rode metros, streetcars, and trains in lots of areas.
That was a strategy to have enjoyable and assist get across the cities!
10. Don’t gather too many souvenirs
Whereas a standard week-long cruise would possibly look like the right time to purchase tons of souvenirs and collectibles, that doesn’t work on a long-term crusing.
Some cruisers have a tendency to purchase stuff at each port they go to.
However shopping for too many gadgets can quickly fill the cabin you’re spending a number of months in!
We gather fridge magnets and nothing else,” Bruin144 wrote.
11. Be wholesome and ready earlier than occurring the cruise
If you happen to’re going to be crusing a cruise that visits so many locations, you’ll want to have the ability to stroll to correctly take pleasure in sights and excursions.
Bruin144 recommends that future cruisers “Take six months (or a 12 months) earlier than the cruise, cut back your weight, and do no matter you want to take action you may stroll not less than a few miles in excessive warmth & humidity.”
If in case you have any well being points or pending surgical procedures, get these completed earlier than boarding the ship.
12. It’s additionally essential to care to your well being on the cruise—don’t deal with it like simply one other trip
On a typical cruise, you is perhaps tempted to stay it as much as the fullest—eat, drink, and occasion as a lot as you need.
However on a world cruise, you aren’t on a typical trip, you’re studying to stay on a ship.
You’ll must “study to manage your consuming and consuming within the face of limitless availability.”
13. Solely take ashore what you completely must
Particularly when you don’t mix in with the locals, make sure that you’re not bringing any indispensable gadgets off the ship.
On port days, Bruin144 solely brings native money, US payments, his SeaPass card, a small pockets, and just one ID.
He retains his different ID and bank cards protected, again within the stateroom.
14. Royal Caribbean shore excursions are safer, however not at all times assorted
When the ship is just in port for a short while, Royal Caribbean shore excursions are a superb possibility as a result of the ship is contracted to attend for you earlier than leaving.
Nevertheless, they are often dearer when purchased via the cruise line.
Most of them additionally include the identical method: “going someplace on a bus with a driver & a reasonably English proficient information.”
Throughout these bus rides, which may final over an hour, a number of the guides will discuss your complete time.
“So that you get an in-depth view of their nation’s historical past, the information’s view on politics and/or a historical past of colonialism or their abuela’s recipe for fish stew.”
This method might not be everybody’s cup of tea.
15. Be taught to identify the tour information scams
Typically, native tour guides change the marketed itinerary, Bruin144 mentioned.
As a substitute of taking friends to the supposed vacation spot, they’ll attempt to deliver the group to their cousin’s tapestry manufacturing unit for purchasing.
“It’s essential to study to incite buswide revolts and demand on going to the merchandise on the itinerary or again to the ship.”
