Could you imagine living on a cruise ship for 274 days? Well, that's what a handful of passengers lucky enough to sail onboard Royal Caribbean's first-ever world cruise have been doing since December.
The voyage, however, hasn't been without its drama. Sharing the 90,090 gross registered ton (GRT) Serenade of the Seas with nearly 2,500 other guests is like living in a small town, after all!
Reddit user Bruin144 shared his thoughts on lessons they learned while spending 150 days on the Ultimate World Cruise, visiting destinations like Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, Argentina; Valparaiso, Chile; Lima, Peru; Hawaii; Auckland, New Zealand; Bali, Indonesia; Hong Kong, China; and more.
Whether you're planning a short 3-night getaway or hope to be on Royal Caribbean's next global voyage, here are 20 lessons you can apply to your future cruise.
1. You'll encounter rude passengers, whether they're tired from exhaustion or stressed about last-minute changes
While dealing with impolite guests, it's important not to reciprocate their behavior. From chair hogs to line cutters. If any major issues arise, seek out a crew member, as they're trained to handle such situations professionally and efficiently.
Rather than contribute to an unpleasant or hostile environment, lead by example and follow some unwritten rules of cruising, including washing your hands before entering the buffet, completing the muster drill as soon as possible, and only smoking in designated areas.
Read more: 20 rules of cruise ship etiquette no one ever tells you
2. Bruin144 encountered a lot of wealth on the Ultimate World Cruise
While cruising remains an affordable family vacation option, those sailing on the Ultimate World Cruise paid, at minimum, $58,666 for their fare. The lowest price for a balcony increased to $110,506 per person.
Given the substantial cost, it's no surprise that Bruin144 says, "The vast majority of people on the full world cruise are rich. Not a little rich either — like [the] founder of a successful company, invented a lucrative widget, or successful surgeon rich."
However, even those on 3- and 4-night cruises will be surrounded by wealthy passengers, even if you're staying in an affordable interior cabin. For instance, a Two-Bedroom AquaTheater Suite on the upcoming Utopia of the Seas costs $3,500 per person on a 3-night sailing departing in February 2026.
Read more: Study reveals that taking a cruise is more affordable than you think
3. Speaking of wealth, be kind to crew members, especially if you're sensitive to class disparities
Though working on a cruise ship certainly has its benefits, many crew members come from third-world countries to help provide for their families at home.
Everyone onboard will work tirelessly to ensure you have a memorable vacation; however, Bruin144 reminded future cruisers to "think about what you ask for or about."
"No matter how [rude] you are," they write, "customer service isn't going to get their supervisor or...the President of RCL on the line. They are going to deal with your issue within their guidelines."
4. Royal Caribbean isn't a luxury brand
If you board a Royal Caribbean expecting 5-star amenities, food, and service, you'll be disappointed.
Rather than bringing in Michelin-star chefs to help curate dining room menus or provide luxury amenities in every cabin, they focus on providing a diverse range of experiences for guests of all ages and interests.
Managing your expectations is the best way to ensure you have a great time onboard. If you spend your entire vacation criticizing every aspect of the cruise experience, you'll miss out on making positive memories with your loved ones.
Read more: 10 Ways To Make Your Cruise More Extravagant
5. Cruises allow you to visit places you may never have otherwise seen
Though cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean are some of the most popular, there's a vast array of itineraries to choose from.
From European getaways centered on cultural immersion to voyages sailing through the dramatic fjords of Norway, each port of call offers unique adventures to match every traveler's interests.
"Even though I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what the world outside of the U.S. was like, several places truly expanded my view of the world. Watching central India roll by from a train for 6 hours was genuinely a thought-provoking experience," Bruin144 says.
You may also discover somewhere that you'd love to return to. In a way, cruises can be thought of as a taste taster, so you can learn whether you could see yourself vacationing in a single destination for an extended period.
6. With that, however, it's important to understand you're limits
While exploring new desintations is one of the major appeals of cruising, it's okay to stay onboard when docked, too. You can also compromise with a shorter tour, rather than booking multiple full-day excursions to balance your time ashore and on the ship.
Even if you have a couple sea days built into your itinerary, it's easier to enjoy the ship's amenities on port days, as there are fewer guests onboard.
Whether you want to lounge on the lido deck without battling the chair hogs or ride the waterslides with minimal lines, choosing to get off the ship in every port might not be the most effective way to make the most out of your vacation.
Read more: Reasons Smart Cruisers Choose to Stay Onboard During Port Days
7. Be kind to your cabin steward
While on your cruise, you won't have to worry about any mundane housekeeping tasks including, but not limited to, making your bed, taking out the trash, vacuuming, and doing laundry. Instead, you'll have a cabin steward who will be responsible for the upkeep of your stateroom.
Though you may not see them every day of your sailing, you should still say hello and exchange a friendly smile whenever you pass them in the hallway.
Bruin144 says, "Be nice to your cabin steward. They have a lot of cabins to clean. We told ours to not clean on Sundays. Tipped him extra & didn’t ask for things like keeping ice in the ice bucket."
Read more: Cruise ship cabin stewards: who are they and what do they do?
8. Build relationships with other crew members
While on the topic of crew members, Bruin144 suggests finding a bar or bartender that you like.
Since you'll be building friendly relationships with crew members (as they'll likely start to know your go-to order after a day or so), don't forget to tip them, especially if they make your drink exactly how you like it.
9. Cruise ship scheduling isn't always the best
Unlike a land-based vacation, you'll have a limited amount of time in each port. Throughout your sailing, you may find that you would have preferred less time in one destination in favor of another.
"In some ways," Bruin144 writes, "RCLs scheduling isn’t wonderful. Like docking in a remote industrial zone an hour from Saigon, and then only [spending] a few hours in Singapore. They should have skipped one or two of the ports in SE Asia & done an overnight in Singapore."
When cruising to Alaska onboard Quantum of the Seas, my father and I wished we had less time in Icy Strait Point and more in Juneau. By the time our excursion ended, we barely had time to walk around downtown.
Read more: The pros and cons of cruises
10. Have a mission
Though crossing something like a snorkeling tour in Mexico off your bucket list is note-worthy, some passengers may prefer a challenge.
While on the Ultimate World Cruise, Bruin144 bought and mailed postcards from local post offices in numerous destinations. Additionally, they loved learning how to use the metros in large Asian cities.
Even if you're just going on a 3-night getaway to The Bahamas, give yourself a goal you'd like to accomplish, whether it's something as simple as picking up a souvenir for a friend or stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying a new activity or food.
11. Mobile map applications are useful while ashore
Chances are that you won't know your way around the ports of call like you do in your hometown.
Rather than wander aimlessly and risk getting lost or missing your ship's departure time, having a reliable mobile map application will assist in finding local landmarks, as well as restaurants, attractions, stores, and more.
If you don't have a stable internet connection or cellular service, download Maps.me. Before you're able to use it, though, you must download the map for your location beforehand. Bruin144 notes that this can take a while, as some of the files are large.
If you happen to run out of storage, delete a few apps that you don't need and reinstall them once you disembark and return home.
12. Take your health seriously leading up to the cruise
With unlimited food included in the cost of your fare, you shouldn't be surprised if you find yourself indulging more than usual. Walking past dessert at all hours of the day can be tempting!
Take a bit before your sailing to focus on making sure you feel your best, both mentally and physically. If you're going on a port-intensive sailing, you'll be doing a bit of walking in port, so you must have the stamina to keep up.
Additionally, on longer sailings like the Ultimate World Cruise, you aren't just on vacation. If you ate like you were on a normal trip for weeks and weeks upon end, you would start to feel ill quickly. "Learn to control your eating & drinking in the face of unlimited availability," they advise.
13. You'll want a portable charger handy
Phone batteries can deplete quicker than you think, especially if you're constantly unlocking and locking the device to check your location, snap a picture, etc. Plus, I've found that heat drains my battery quickly, even if I'm not using it.
To ensure that I'm never stranded without a mobile phone, I never leave the ship without my portable charger. Bruin144 takes it further and puts their phone in low power mode.
Whether you're getting off for a quick lunch nearby or going on a lengthy tour, you never know when you'll need a quick recharge!
14. Make sure your belongings are secure at all times
"Tether your phone to you to prevent dropping it, leaving it, or having it snatched," suggests Bruin144. Even if you aren't necessarily worried about pickpockets, one gust of wind could send something beloved off the gangway.
I remember one summer when my family and I were vacationing on Harmony of the Seas. After spending a lovely day at the beach in St. Maarten, my sister's hat blew right off while we waited for the water ferry back to the terminal.
Thankfully, my dad felt heroic and dived into the water to catch it; however, this wouldn't have been possible if it had blown off as we boarded the ship.
15. You don't need to take everything off the ship, either
From passports to driver's licenses, cash, credit cards, insurance cards, and more, there's a lot we typically keep on our person.
When navigating foreign places, however, you want to limit what you carry. If, for instance, your wallet is stolen, you don't want them to have access to all of your bank accounts.
Instead, Bruin144 recommends only taking ashore what you absolutely have to. "I stick local money in a pocket I can get to," they write, "[And] a wad of U.S. 5s & 10s in a different pocket. [Finally,] my cruise line card, a small wallet [are] in a place it's easy to protect with one (but not both of my "government issued") IDs."
16. Neither ignore nor rely upon Apple Pay
Rather than dig through your bag for your wallet, many places accept Apple Pay, which allows you to pay for your goods and services with the tap of your phone.
Before disembarking the ship, ensure your preferred cards are loaded into your wallet. If you use American Express, you'll want a Visa or Mastercard handy in case AMEX isn't accepted.
You can also save boarding passes to your phone, which is helpful when flying to your embarkation port. If you aren't checking a bag, you can bypass the check-in lines and head straight to security! Plus, you won't have to worry about keeping up with your family's passes.
17. Some cellular services offer international plans
The thought of wandering a foreign country with no service can be daunting. Though you can often find Wi-Fi at local coffee shops, it's never guaranteed. Moreover, Wi-Fi near the port won't be of much help during an emergency while on an excursion.
Some cellular plans offer international coverage. Through Verizon, for instance, I can pay $10 for a 24-hour travel pass that includes 2GB of high-speed data, then 3G data for the remainder of the session.
"I paid $100 (extra) each month for an international cell plan with Verizon," writes Bruin144, "My phone worked in every country. [I] just had to take it off airplane mode when I walked off the ship. Occasionally, [I] had to restart [my phone] for it to find the local network."
18. Understand the local laws
When traveling to a foreign country, familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs, as you aren't excluded from abiding by the laws because you're an ignorant tourist. If you accidentally break a law, you could face serious consequences ranging from high fines to imprisonment.
There are places certain people just can’t go," Bruin144 advises, "For instance, certain links to Pakistan [means] you can’t get off the ship in India. Also, as a passenger found out, you can’t bring a satellite phone into India... You should pay attention to what the ship tells you about ports; it may not always be correct, but sometimes there is some vitally important stuff like you can be arrested for wearing camouflage clothes in certain countries."
Doing prior research will also ensure you don't miss out on any experiences ashore. You may, for example, have to wear modest clothing that covers your shoulders and thighs if you want to enter a religious landmark.
19. Bring a backup phone
While sailing on the Ultimate World Cruise, Bruin144 brought an iPhone 15 Pro, as well as an iPhone 14 Pro. In mainland China, they opted to use their backup phone and an eSim purchased to use in Hong Kong. After they left, they wiped the phone.
Of course, this isn't necessary on a short 3-night sailing to The Bahamas; however, if you're worried about protecting your personal data abroad, taking precautions like using an old phone and wiping your device before returning home, can provide some peace of mind.
Additionally, Bruin144 shares that their Amazon Firestick, with a pre-installed VPN, allowed them to watch and record U.S. television around the world.
20. The Main Dining Room wait staff was rotated at the beginning of each segment
Though you likely won't be on the same ship for months at a time, if you love the experience and book a sailing a year or so in advance, you may not be greeted by the same crew members.
Cruise ship crew contracts vary in length. According to RCG Careers, they're typically anywhere from three to roughly eight months: "Most senior management roles have 4-month contracts while most of the rest of the positions have 6-8 month contracts." However, it's not uncommon for some crew to have 9-month contacts, either.
Bruin144 notes that rather than rotate the staff, which resulted in unhappy guests, Royal Caribbean should have replaced each individual crew member as their contracts ended.
Read more: How To Get a Job on a Cruise Ship (With No Experience)
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.
