Royal Caribbean International is setting sail on their first-ever world cruise in December 2023. Over the course of 274 nights, Serenade of the Sails will sail to more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and visit 11 great wonders of the world like the Great Wall of China, Petra archaeological site in Jordan, Taj Mahal, and Great Barrier Reef.
More than 40 of the ports are rarely available on other itineraries or are brand new to Royal Caribbean!
If you're unable to commit to the entire sailing, there are four different segments that you can choose from: the Ultimate Americas Cruise, Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, Ultimate Middle East and Med Cruise, and the Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise.
Each journey lasts a minimum of 60 nights and visits at least 36 different destinations.
Read on to see what Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise will be like.
Serenade of the Seas
The entirety of the Ultimate World Cruise will take place onboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, a Radiance-class ship that was first launched in August 2003.
With the capacity for 2,476 guests in 1,073 staterooms and gross tonnage of 90,090, Serenade of the Seas is on the smaller end of ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. Therefore, she's able to visit destinations that are unable to accommodate today's mega ships.
While you won't find all of the bells and whistles that are common on newer Royal Caribbean ships, there's still plenty to do, eat, and see onboard.
Dining options
Serenade of the Seas boasts eight dining options for guests to choose from, including the complimentary two-level Reflections Main Dining Room, Park Café, and Windjammer buffet.
Out of the eight dining venues, five are speciality restaurants and have an additional surcharge. These include Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table, Izumi, Café Latte-tudes, and Chef's Table.
Additionally, there are ten different bars and lounges onboard.
Activities
While you may not find a FlowRider surf simulator or SeaPlex multipurpose venue, the following activities and amenities can be found onboard Serenade of the Seas:
- Three pools and three hot tubs
- Adults-only Solarium
- Adventure Ocean youth programs, including the Fuel Teen Disco
- Rock climbing wall
- Mini-golf
- Sports court
- Vitality Spa & Fitness Center
- Jogging track
- Tropical Theatre
- Casino Royale
- Video Arcade
- Nightclub
- Concierge and Diamond Clubs
- Card room
- Cinema
Stateroom accommodations
As mentioned earlier, there are a total of 1,073 staterooms on Serenade of the Seas, including three interior cabins for solo travelers. Therefore, there are 1,070 staterooms for parties comprised of two or more people.
Serenade of the Seas offers standard interior, ocean view, and balcony staterooms, as well as over sixty suites, ranging from traditional Junior Suites to a one and two-bedroom Owner's Suite, Grand Suite, two-bedroom Ocean View Suite with no balcony, and Royal Suite.
Ultimate World Cruise Itinerary
Whether you want to embark on the entire 274-night journey or just a single segment, you'll be transported to wonders beyond your wildest dreams.
Ultimate Americas Cruise
The Ultimate Americas Cruise is the first segment of the Ultimate World Cruise and will visit 36 different destinations across three continents, including Antartica!
Serenade of the Seas will depart from Miami, Florida, the cruise capital of the world, on December 10, 2023 and take passengers to four incredible great wonders, including Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil -- where they'll be for New Year's Eve--, Iguazú Falls in Argentina, and Machu Picchu in Peru.
Plus, guests will spend two days in glacier-studded Antartica!
It will conclude on February 11th in Los Angeles, California.
Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise
The second segment begins on February 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California and end on May 9, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This is the longest of the four segments at a total of 84 nights. However, it include visits at three different great wonders -- the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Great Wall of China, and Taj Mahal in India -- and 40 different ports of call, including Subic Bay, Philippines; Jeju Island, South Korea; and Colombo, Sri Lanka!
Ultimate Middle East and Med Cruise
The second to last segment departs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on May 9, 2024. Visiting 44 destinations in only 63 nights, it's the most port-intensive portion of the Ultimate World Cruise.
Over the course of the trip, guests will visit the last four great wonders on the itinerary: the Petra archaeological site in Jordan; Great Pyramid of Giza in Alexandria, Egypt; Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey; and the Colosseum in Rome.
Plus, there are overnight stays in Alexandria, Egypt; Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel; Athens, Greece; Odessa, Ukraine; Istanbul, Turkey; Venice, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain.
The segment ends on July 10, 2024 in Barcelona.
Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise
The very last portion of the Ultimate World Cruise will depart from Barcelona, Spain on July 10, 2024 and return to where it all began, Miami, Florida, a mere 63 nights later.
While there aren't any great wonders included on the itinerary, guests can expect to visit jaw-dropping destinations such as Casablanca, Morocco; Visby, Sweden; Kristiansand, Norway; Nuuk, Greenland; and, of course, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The Ultimate World Cruise will conclude on September 10, 2024.
Pricing
As to be expected, the Ultimate World Cruise is not for those who are pinching pennies. In fact, an interior room for the entire 274 days will set you back at least $58,666 per person based on double occupancy.
However, if you book the entire journey, you get some pretty neat perks:
- Round trip business class airfare
- Premium transportation between airport, hotel, and ship
- Pre-cruise hotel stay and gala
- Included shore excursions to the seven New World Wonders for Crown & Anchor Platinum members and above
- Deluxe Beverage Package for the entire voyage
- Wash and fold laundry service
- Gratuities for the entire voyage
- Voom internet for the entire voyage
It's important to note that you cannot book either the entire cruise or a single segment online; you must call 800-423-2100 or their travel advisor to reserve. Plus, all sailings are non-refundable, and travel insurance options are available to guests who meet certain qualifications.
Here's the pricing breakdown for the Ultimate World Cruise.
Entire sailing
The cheapest available option for the Ultimate World Cruise is an interior cabin. Pricing starts at $59,999 per person based on double occupancy, but you get a 10% discount if you pay in full at the time of booking. That brings the cost down to $53,999 plus $4,667 for taxes, fees, and port expenses brings the total to $58,666!
Next, an ocean view cabin starts at $64,999 per person based on double occupancy, before taxes, fees, and port expenses. With the 10% pay in full discount, the price drops to $58,499, or $63,166 per person.
A balcony starts at $82,949 for the entire cruise. By paying in full, you could save $11,760, or $105,839. After added taxes, fees, and port expenses, the total comes to $110,506.
They do not advertise the pricing for any of their suites; you must call to inquire about pricing.
Ultimate Americas Cruise
Sailing on a segment is cheaper than the entire voyage; however, you do not get all of the same benefits as if you went on the entire cruise. Here are the benefits you can expect to get on a partial journey:
- Deluxe Beverage Package for the entire segment
- Wash and fold laundry service
- Gratuities for the entire voyage
- Voom internet for the entire voyage
Note that this means that you will be responsible for your own airfare and pre-cruise accommodations!
An interior cabin for the Ultimate Americas Cruise is $13,399 per person. The website does not reveal how much taxes, fees, and port expenses for any of the individual segments; however, you can estimate that it will add at least another $1,000 to any fare, making the total for an interior cabin at least $14,399.
An ocean view is roughly $15,799 based on double occupancy including estimated taxes, fees, and port expenses, while a balcony stateroom is about $19,899.
They do not advertise the pricing for any of their suites; you must call to inquire about pricing.
Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise
The Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise is the most expensive of the four individual segments, with an interior costing $17,799 per person based on double occupancy before taxes, fees, and port expenses.
As this itinerary visits more ports than the Ultimate Americas Cruise, we are guessing that the port expenses are about $1,350, which would make an interior cost around $19,150.
An ocean view is roughly $20,950 based on double occupancy including estimated taxes, fees, and port expenses, and you can expect a balcony stateroom to run near $22,150.
Ultimate Middle East & Med Cruise
An interior cabin on the Ultimate Middle East & Med Cruise is $14,899 per person based on double occupancy before taxes, fees, and port expenses. If we estimate that said fees are at least $1,200, that brings the total cost for an interior stateroom to $16,099.
After included estimated fees, an ocean view is around $16,999, while a balcony is $21,999.
Again, since we don't know the exact amount of the fees, the cost may go up or down.
Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise
Getting an interior stateroom on the final segment of the Ultimate World Cruise will cost around $14,299 per person based on double occupancy before taxes, fees, and port expenses. If we assume taxes are around $1,100, this brings the total for an interior to be at least $15,399.
The same math estimates an ocean view to cost around $16,399 and a balcony around $20,899.
Other important information
Will you receive the same stateroom for the entire duration of your Ultimate World Cruise or Ultimate Cruise segment?
If you purchased within the exclusive booking window before November 2021, the Ultimate Cruise team will ensure that you get the same cabin for the entirety of the cruise.
If you are purchasing your Ultimate World Cruise after the Ultimate Cruise segments have opened for sale, they will make every effort to secure the same stateroom for your entire time onboard; however, it is based on the remaining available stateroom inventory.
How long do you have to place your deposit for the Ultimate World Cruise or one of the segments and what is the payment schedule?
If outside of final payment, all guests are able to place a two-week hold to lock in their preferred stateroom and pricing before a deposit is required. The deposit must be placed within the two-week period to secure the selected stateroom and is non-refundable.
Due to the uniqueness of the Ultimate World Cruise, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure that guests who are committed to sailing receive priority placement, which is why the deposit is non-refundable.
Final payment must be received by Royal Caribbean 180 days prior to cruise departure. That means that for all guests embarking on the entire journey or first segment, final payment must be received by June 13, 2023. For bookings created within 180 days prior to the sailing's departure, final payment must be received within 48 hours of booking.
- Final payment for Ultimate Asia Pacific is due by August 15, 2023.
- Final payment for Ultimate Middle East & Med is due by November 11, 2023.
- Final payment for Ultimate Europe & Beyond is due by January 12, 2024.
The bottom line
Attending even a single segment of the Ultimate World Cruise is costly and a dream for most people. However, if you're able to go, prepare yourself for a trip unlike any other!
After exploring different corners of the world, you'll be able to return to your state-of-the-art accommodations and enjoy everything that Serenade of the Seas has to offer, whether that's relaxing by the pool deck, playing trivia, or enjoying endless food!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
