9 Months at Sea: Lessons Learned and Highlights from Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise

What if you could travel the world — as your world went with you? That’s the case for the more than 600 passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise. The nine-month voyage hit all seven continents (including Antarctica!) and created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those onboard, many of whom documented their journey on social media platforms like TikTok.

Now, however, that journey has come to an end. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Ultimate World Cruise made its final stop in Miami, returning to where it started. How do the passengers feel now that they’re returning to their normal routines? And what will they miss (or not) about their time at sea? Yahoo Life spoke with some cruisers who shared the ups, downs and delights of the biggest adventure of their lives.

Texas-based retiree and content creator Leah Bott, 53, who traveled on the cruise with her husband Steve Poorman, 60, tells Yahoo Life that the two have always longed to travel for an extended period of time. “When you’re younger, you don’t have the money to do stuff like that, and then when you get the money, you don’t have the time,” she explains.

Then Poorman had a heart attack. “That convinced him that if we wanted to start traveling for fun instead of work, sooner was better than later,” Bott says.

Oregon-based Angela Linderman, 38, who works remotely in social media management, was motivated to join the Ultimate World Cruise following her mother’s passing. Her brother and his family embarked on the journey first, and she came aboard as a “hybrid solo traveler.” She explains, “Life is short, there’s no guarantee. … If I can do the things now, I should.”

Florida-based retiree Joe Martucci, 67, and his wife Audrey Martucci, 60 (nicknamed Cruise Mom and Dad on TikTok), were unfamiliar with the other passengers when they started their cruise journey but soon found a community. “It [was like] a small city,” Joe remarks, highlighting that he and Audrey made six to eight “very good friends,” some of whom he believes “will be friends for life.” They have already planned more trips with some friends, while others live relatively close to their home in Saint Cloud, Fla.

Because of the ship’s vast size, Audrey mentions, it was feasible to not encounter some passengers for weeks. “Like any city, you have your routines, where some paths overlap and others do not,” she says. “Some individuals might not be seen for a couple of weeks, and then you suddenly meet and say, ‘Oh, hey, nice to see you. Let’s go and have tea.'”

Jenny Hunnicutt, a PhD researcher who runs her own writing and consulting firm, also traveled on the cruise with her husband. According to her, the atmosphere varied by season and segment of the journey. “Europe and the Mediterranean in the summer felt different because there were lots of children onboard, creating a vacation vibe, and it was warm,” she says. However, once children returned to school in late August, the demographic was older, with travelers present “for the adventure,” exploring locations like Iceland and across the Atlantic.

Like the Martuccis, Hunnicutt shared that by the journey’s conclusion, the ship had fostered a sense of community, mentioning that she and her husband have planned reunions with cruise companions back in the U.S. “Some of the people we’ve met… became lifelong friends, for sure,” she commented.

Among those on board, some, including Linderman, continued their professional duties thanks to the high-speed Starlink internet, despite the challenges posed by constantly changing time zones.

Others noted that life on the ship wasn’t constantly leisurely, pointing out the necessity to take breaks from the relentless pace of cruise activities. With the itinerary covering over 60 countries and more than 150 stops, Audrey decided to enjoy “sea days,” opting to relax on the ship rather than partake in every port excursion. This was particularly the case in Europe, where the schedule was tightly packed. “Europe kind of blended into one, because we were exhausted — absolutely exhausted,” she explained. Despite looking forward to visiting Europe due to its familiarity—being from Scotland—she found it overwhelmingly tiring.

Many cruise enthusiasts relish the unlimited eating and drinking offered onboard, yet maintaining a healthy lifestyle during an extended nine-month cruise requires additional considerations such as integrating regular exercise into daily routines.

Brandee Lake, 47, a former advertising professional from Los Angeles who moved onto the cruise with her family, preferred using the stairs over frequenting the gym and participated in available fitness classes like Zumba.

Audrey, who was in her best physical shape prior to the cruise, found the gym’s moving horizon off-putting and opted to exercise in her stateroom, engaging in stretches and weight lifting. She and her husband also paid close attention to their diet, aiming to eat sensibly to avoid the common issue of weight gain she heard others mention.

Bott began a fitness and nutrition regimen in July on the ship but faced challenges in acquiring specific nutritional food timely despite the kitchen staff’s willingness to accommodate special requests. She eventually decided to address her dietary needs after returning home.

Bott, aware that the cruise was more of an extended journey rather than a brief holiday, adapted her lifestyle accordingly. However, some of her fellow passengers struggled with this change. “There were some people that I was very concerned for their health and safety,” she remarked, noting that seeing people visibly inebriated early in the day was troubling. “People are free to live as they please if it makes them happy, but it’s not without risks,” she added.

Royal Caribbean is planning another Ultimate World Cruise, with more details to be announced later. A weeklong reunion cruise is also being organized for the following year.

Meanwhile, not all travelers are eager to undertake such a lengthy voyage again. The Martuccis, for instance, expressed that they would not want to spend another nine months at sea, a sentiment echoed by several other passengers. “I could handle four months, but not nine,” said Joe. Instead, the couple has planned five shorter cruises up to the year 2026. “The nine-month trip was unforgettable, it offered us the greatest adventure of our lives, but we wouldn’t do it again,” they concluded.

Linderman has decided to participate, though she has some conditions. The funds for the cruise were from her inherited wealth, compelling her to think prudently about future expenditures aimed at her retirement. She mentions the starting price for the lowest-level accommodation on the Ultimate World Cruise is quite substantial. (starts at around $60,000 for the lowest-level cabin option). Without financial concerns, her decision would be swift. She suggests improvements for future cruises like better scheduling to avoid consecutive port days and skipping the Mediterranean during peak heat levels, acknowledging these as high-class issues.

Hunnicutt concurs about the port scheduling. She reflects that if she were to book another world cruise, she would opt for fewer ports with extended stays. She has grown fond of the extended stopovers during the cruise, appreciating the lack of rush to return to the ship and the luxury of spending nights out—these experiences she found particularly splendid.

Conversely, Lake is eager to rejoin a cruise without hesitation and regrets that the trip couldn’t be longer. She’s even considering a career move to arrange travel tours to Africa soon. “Without question,” she asserts, puzzled why the cruise didn’t last a full year when it was close, at nine months.

Bott shares her enthusiasm without reserve: “10 out of 10, would do it again,” she states confidently.

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