Passengers on 'viral' world cruise share photos of the sights they saw

As the 'viral' Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise comes to an end, those who spent nine months - and up to $118,000 (£88,000) each - reveal what life was like on board.

After setting sail on the Serenade of the Seas from Miami on December 10, 2023, guests have explored 60 countries across all seven continents.

Cindy Seletos, 71, a retired Apple education executive and husband, Jim, 72, a retired wine and liquor distributor, reckon the trip of a lifetime cost them $150,000 (£112,000).

'We never dreamed that we would love this adventure as much as we did,' says Cindy from Wildwood, Florida.

'We experienced new places, new foods, new customs, new friends, and we now have grown our family exponentially.

'Getting to know and interact with so many diverse cultures has given us a completely new perspective on everyday life and people.'

They visited the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu - and said their balcony room was worth every penny.

And they point out that the mammoth cost included everything from drinks to laundry - and there was 'really no other cost except for souvenirs'.

For Jim, the world became smaller as he and Cindy found that there are 'many more similarities than differences between us all'.

Reflecting on the trip, he added: 'Hopefully, our short interactions with each other will help us all realise 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 jaunt, which ended last month.

'I stood in awe as the ship sailed past massive, silent icebergs,' she said.

'Moments like navigating near Elephant Island felt like we were truly at the edge of the Earth.'

Her time on the cruise even inspired a new creative outlet. 'It inspired me to start writing children's books about a stuffed elephant cruising around the world,' she shares.

For her husband, Dr Tom Shull, 64, the journey was especially personal.

Tom, adopted as an infant from Seoul, South Korea, returned to his birthplace for the first time in 63 years.

'A friend arranged a DNA test at the same police station where I was dropped off as a baby,' he says, though no relatives were found.

Yet, in a remarkable twist of fate, Tom met another passenger, Kim, who shared his early story - both had been abandoned at the same police station and housed at the same orphanage before being adopted to the US in 1961.

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'While I didn't find a biological family, I gained a connection with someone who shared my early journey,' Tom reflects.

Matthias Chan, a 36-year-old data and analytics engineer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, said the natural world was his primary inspiration for the journey.

'I went onto the cruise with the intention to photograph wildlife and nature,' he says. 'What was most surprising to me was the friendships that I made with so many of the people on the cruise, including guests and crew.'

From watching baby puffins hatch to seeing koalas in Australia and orangutans in Indonesia, Matthias's time aboard exceeded expectations. 'What was priceless and completely worth it was the unexpected new lifelong friends that we made on the ship.'

For Dawn Cahn, 62, a nurse practitioner from Denver, North Carolina, the trip also opened her eyes to new friendships and unforgettable moments.

'We had no idea what to expect,' she says. 'On our first night, we met two other couples who will now be life friends, plus others along the way. Our ship quickly became a floating community.'

She recalls moments that left her in awe, like sitting for two hours listening to the sea organ in Zadar, Croatia (where organ pipes in the promenade catch the sound of waves), and witnessing the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Her husband, Robert Cahn, 74, a retired State of Connecticut Department of Transportation employee, was equally amazed by the diversity of experiences.

From snorkelling in untouched 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... sheer wonder.'

As Robert reflects on the trip, he knows one thing for sure: 'Would we do it again? Absolutely. Ready for the reunion cruise in Alaska next September.'

The Serenade of the Seas finished its voyage in New York on September 10, 2024.