Royal Caribbean’s first ever cruise around the globe begins in December 2023, and it will likely be a cruise ship stuffed with passengers who’re able to globe trot in a brand new manner.

Whereas the idea of a world cruise is nothing new to the cruise business, that is Royal Caribbean’s first foray into this kind of cruise.

The Final World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that can go to greater than 150 locations in 65 nations and 11 nice wonders of the world.

Serenade of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023 and thru Sept. 10, 2024.

When Royal Caribbean first introduced it could supply this cruise, many cruisers jumped on the probability to attempt it.

I wished to know why a cruise around the globe and a crusing that lengthy was interesting, and what compelled them to ebook.

Leah and Steve are bloggers that booked your entire transit, and so they shared why they booked and the way they’re planning a cruise of this size.

Why we began to think about a world cruise

Some time again after I was in my 20s, I heard a few month lengthy cruise that went to the entire non secular facilities of the world. Not a lot in comparison with the Final World Cruise, however I actually wished to do it. On the time, it was past my monetary assets.

Since then, it has been behind my thoughts to do a extremely lengthy, epic journey like that. So after I first noticed the Final World Cruise, I knew I used to be in. I’d discover some solution to pay for it, as a result of it was that vital to me. 

My husband Steve thought it could be an ideal journey, however wasn’t positive that we may afford it. You see, he began saving for retirement late in life and has been making an attempt to make up for misplaced time over the previous decade. I pestered him by sending him a meme – I’m positive you could have all seen it. The older couple in a Gondola in Venice, each sprawled out within the boat and sleeping.

The thousand phrases that this image explains are all the explanations you shouldn’t wait till you might be too previous, and too drained to take pleasure in touring and seeing the world. He laughed, however nonetheless thought retirement accounts can be a greater use of our funds. 

Why we determined to ebook a world cruise

Originally of 2022, we had been working in numerous places. Steve was in Nebraska, and I used to be in Guam.

Communication between us on this was largely texts and video chats. He came around me in Might, and we had plans for him to hitch me in Guam completely in a couple of months. Which he did in August. And fewer than 24 hours later, he had a coronary heart assault. That minor occasion modified each plan we had.

Over the subsequent couple of months we simply focused on getting him the therapy he wanted, and getting our heads wrapped round how are lives had been going to alter.

It took about three months for the mud to settle, after which that meme got here up in my feed once more. I confirmed it to him once more, and this time he was extra receptive to the concept. 

We did some analysis on-line. Referred to as Royal Caribbean and so they had a separate line arrange for the Final World Cruise, which was a great signal. However the people answering the cellphone didn’t sound like they actually knew the solutions to the questions we had been asking.

So we researched journey brokers, and began working with one from MEI Journey. Along with her assist, we acquired a greater thought of pricing, had been capable of set up the date for remaining fee with the intention to get a ten% low cost and spent some extra time speaking it over. We contacted our journey agent and made preparations to make the mandatory deposits.

Learn extra: Why first-time cruisers ought to use a Royal Caribbean journey agent

Then we began engaged on transfers for the ultimate funds. Neither of us had a single bank card that will accommodate your entire remaining stability, so we needed to get artistic. And as soon as the choice was made, we haven’t regretted it a bit. The arduous half has been the ready.

What we have finished thus far to plan for the world cruise

From our earlier analysis, we knew that to get the entire advantage of doing the total size cruise, we would wish to have Platinum standing with Crown and Anchor 180 days earlier than the Final Cruise started. Royal Caribbean was together with seven excursions to new Wonders of the World as complimentary for everybody with this standing.

Neither certainly one of us had sailed with Royal Caribbean earlier than, so we booked Junior Suites for 3, five-day cruises out of Galveston in April 2023. The identical itinerary for all three sailings.

We paid consideration and discovered rather a lot about cruising. We additionally had a blast, met some nice folks, and simply loved a calming trip. Steve was already retired. His coronary heart assault made it unimaginable for him to proceed doing the sort of work we had finished over the previous decade or so. I used to be nonetheless working part-time from house, so I needed to wait till my venture was largely completed earlier than I may name myself formally retired. 

That was in September, and since then, we’re planning, ready, planning, altering plans, and on the point of be gone for many of a yr. 

How we’re planning for the Final World Cruise voyage

Now that we’ve a couple of weeks to go, and I can style the joy. 

Since our embarkation day is now proper across the nook, just about the whole lot we do revolves round preparing for the Final World Cruise embarkation day. We’re treating it like a deployment or abroad job.

We now have to ensure we’re wholesome sufficient to be with out main medical for 9 months. This implies passing primary bodily necessities. Eye exams – with two pairs of glasses every, in case one breaks. Enamel exams and cleanings. The works.

We’ve already talked to our insurance coverage supplier about getting a “trip” 90 day provide of our drugs, so we can be engaged on that subsequent week. 

We’re arranging delivery of a few of our baggage with Baggage Ahead (That is an affiliate hyperlink which prices you nothing additional to make use of, however we make a small fee).

When folks ask the way you pack for a trip like this, there are two choices as I see it.

1. Pack for a typical 2 week trip and purchase issues as you go.
2. Or overpack.

I – am over-packing.

Learn extra: Final cruise packing listing

We’re additionally getting our house arrange with a house-sitter. Forwarding our mail. Checking the net necessities for voting. Getting all of our journey paperwork collectively, together with our vaccination data.

I’m fairly pale even on good days, so I’ve been trying to get a base tan earlier than we go away. And my dermatologist has supplied some further gadgets to assist. There may be nothing worse than beginning a trip with a horrible sunburn when you could have all kinds of intense exercise excursions deliberate. 

We don’t have any expectations for issues to be a lot totally different than some other cruise. Apart from the size and that a few of our fellow passengers will come and go all through the journey. There may be already some stage of disappointment as a result of present occasions and the way these have modified our unique itinerary, however it’s completely comprehensible given the circumstances. 

Steve and I’ve typically lived in cramped quarters, and already spend numerous time collectively, so no issues there!

What we predict of the Final World Cruise

Since it is a first-of-its-kind crusing for Royal Caribbean, I don’t suppose anybody actually is aware of what to anticipate, however we’re making some assumptions.

Given the fee and size of the Final World Cruise, we expect we can be among the many youngest of the group. I’m 52, and Steve is 59. A bit youthful than the usual retired age.  

There in all probability received’t be numerous households with younger children. 

We’re guessing the variety of folks doing the total 274 days can be lower than half.  There will certainly be numerous attention-grabbing folks to satisfy.

Steve and I’ll in all probability have the bottom Crown and Anchor society standing once we first board.

One factor we hope for is a much less busy gymnasium than on our earlier sailings. Steve and I each work out a minimum of 6 days per week and on our final three cruises the gymnasium was so crowded it was troublesome to get a good exercise in. If we’re right in regards to the basic demographics of the Final World Cruise, I believe we may have a great shot at it. However I should maintain you posted as soon as we set sail!