As the ‘viral’ Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise comes to an end, those who spent nine months (and up to $118,000 each) reveal what life was like on board.
After setting sail on Serenade of the Seas from Miami on December 10, 2023, guests explored 60 countries on all seven continents.
Cindy Seletos, 71, a retired Apple education executive, and her husband Jim, 72, a retired wine and spirits distributor, estimate the trip of a lifetime cost them $150,000 (£112,000).
“We never dreamed we would love this adventure so much,” says Cindy from Wildwood, Florida.
‘We experienced new places, new foods, new customs, new friends and now our family has grown exponentially.
As the ‘viral’ Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise on Serenade of the Seas comes to an end, those who spent nine months (and up to $118,000 (£88,000) each) reveal what life was like on board. This image was taken by passenger Matthias Chan as the ship left Oslo.
This image was taken by analytical engineer Matías, 36, on the island of Cozumel, Mexico.
“Meeting and interacting with so many diverse cultures has given us a completely new perspective on everyday life and people.”
They visited the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu, and said their balcony room was worth every penny.
And they note that the huge cost included everything from drinks to laundry, and “there really weren’t any other costs except souvenirs.”
For Jim, the world became smaller when he and Cindy discovered that there are “many more similarities than differences between all of us.”
Animal magic: a photograph Matthias took of wildlife in Sri Lanka
Matthias said the natural world was his main inspiration for the trip. The image above was taken in Sri Lanka.
The impressive image was taken off the coast of Gibraltar
Reflecting on the trip, he added, “Hopefully our brief interactions with each other will help us all realize that we are one big universal village.”
Renee Shull, 60, a content creator from Buford, Georgia, described the magical experience of visiting Antarctica during her nine-month excursion, which ended last month.
“I was amazed as the ship sailed between huge, silent icebergs,” she said.
“Moments like sailing near Elephant Island made us feel like we were really on the edge of the Earth.”
His stay on the cruise even inspired a new creative outlet. “It inspired me to start writing children’s books about a stuffed elephant that travels the world,” he shares.
Matthias took this photo of a lion during a cruise in Kenya
A puffin flying in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Seals and cormorants photographed by cruise ship passengers Dawn and Robert Cahn in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Passengers were taken to this incredible waterfall in the Skaftafell nature reserve, Iceland.
For her husband, Dr. Tom Shull, 64, the trip was especially personal.
Adopted as a baby in Seoul, South Korea, Tom returned to his birthplace for the first time in 63 years.
“A friend organized a DNA test at the same police station where I was dropped off when I was a baby,” he says, although no relative was found.
However, in a remarkable twist of fate, Tom met another passenger, Kim, who told him his first story: they had both been abandoned at the same police station and housed in the same orphanage before being adopted in the United States in 1961.
Passengers Dawn and Robert Cahn in Ushuaia, Argentina
A bird captured on camera by Matthias in Kona, Hawaii
The white: Dawn Cahn explores the snowy landscape of Antarctica
“Although I didn’t find a birth family, I did make a connection with someone who shared my initial journey,” Tom reflects.
Matthias Chan, a 36-year-old data and analytics engineer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, said the natural world was his main inspiration for the trip.
“I went on the cruise with the intention of photographing wildlife and nature,” he says. “What surprised me most were the friendships I made with so many people on the cruise, including guests and crew.”
From seeing baby puffins born to seeing koalas in Australia and orangutans in Indonesia, Matthias’ time on board exceeded expectations. “What was priceless and worth it were the unexpected new lifelong friends we made on the boat.”
For Dawn Cahn, 62, a nurse practitioner from Denver, North Carolina, the trip also opened her eyes to new friendships and unforgettable moments.
Passengers Cindy and Jim Seletos, and Karen Schwartz (center), in Denmark
Passengers Cindy and Jim Seletos (center) with Geert and Catherine Benoot in Belgium
Robert Cahn in Sydney, Australia
“We had no idea what to expect,” he says. ‘On our first night, we met two other couples who will now be friends for life, plus other couples along the way. Our boat quickly became a floating community.’
She recalls moments that left her in awe, such as sitting for two hours listening to the sea organ in Zadar, Croatia (where the organ pipes on the boardwalk capture the sound of the waves) and witnessing the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Her husband, Robert Cahn, 74, a retired employee of the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, was equally surprised by the diversity of experiences.
From snorkeling in pristine waters to walking the Great Wall of China, Robert was transformed by places he had only dreamed of seeing.
“Antarctica with all its beauty and immense wildlife… Whales, seals and birds,” he shares. ‘The roar of Iguazu Falls in South America… pure wonder.’
As Robert reflects on the trip, he knows one thing for sure: “Would we do it again?” Absolutely. Ready for Alaska reunion cruise next September.’
Serenade of the Seas ended its voyage in New York on September 10, 2024.
Serenade of the Seas enters the port of Puerto Madryn, Argentina
