We don’t know about you, but a nine-month-long vacation sounds pretty darn appealing right about now.

©Royal Caribbean

Quite a few folks have been spending the past nine months doing just that — on board Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise. When the cruise first set sail we saw a whole lot of luxury… and a whole lot of drama. So, what was life REALLY like on that nine-month-long cruise? We’re so glad you asked.

The Royal Caribbean World Cruise set sail at the very end of 2023 — and now that the full nine months of cruising are over, CNN is revealing what life was actually like on board for passengers and employees. The cruise included a 274-night vacation around the world, visiting all 7 continents, 65 countries, over 150 ports of call, 18 overnights, and 11 World Wonders.

©Royal Caribbean

This cruise was unique in that it drew quite a bit of social media attention — giving non-cruisers a look directly into what life was like on board from a variety of different perspectives. From a widowed traveler named Anthony McWilliams who wanted to inspire his followers to a young South African influencer Amike Oosthuizen who showed a bit more of the luxury of living at sea, there were plenty of people to relate to.

@brooklyntravelstheworld

Ultimate World cruise ship walking tour of the Serenade of the Seas!!??? #ultimateworldcruise #royalcaribbean #serenadeoftheseas #royalcaribbeancruise #royalcaribbeaninternationalcruise #worldcruise2023 #cruisetok #worldcruise #royalcaribbeanworldcruise #uwc

♬ Pop beat BGM / long version(1283324) – nightbird_bgm

The trip soon became almost like a reality show thanks to the TikTok boom, with billions of people watching and trying to find out what sort of drama was going to happen on board. One passenger who goes by Little Rat Brain recalled thinking “that there’s definitely going to be divorces, someone’s going to get thrown overboard,” although none of these things ended up happening. Sadly, one death was reported on the cruise.

@dinnerthendessert

Ultimate World Cruise – Day 11 breakfast Buffet! Join us as we sail 9 months on the Ultimate World Cruise and see what we’re eating every day onboard and off the ship! #cruise #worldcruise #worldcruise2023 #royalcaribbean #royalcarribean #cruisingtok #cruising #foodtok #food #foodie #breakfast #avocadotoast #ultimateworldcruise

♬ original sound – Dinner Then Dessert – Dinner then Dessert

But, many of the passengers on the ship said that friendships and the community they created were integral to their experience. McWilliams calls two fellow passengers his “sisters” and Little Rat Brain said it was fun to be part of a “supportive, creative community on board.”

If you ask the passengers on board, they’ll tell you that trying to pick one highlight from the trip is nearly impossible. As for future nine-month-long cruises, Royal Caribbean hasn’t made any announcements about any potential sailings, but we’ll certainly let you know if that changes.

@spendingourkidsmoney

#royalcaribbean #cruising #explore #WorldCruise #UltimateWorldCruise #UWC #Serenadeoftheseas #cruise #traveltiktok #travel #cruise

♬ original sound – Cruisemum&dad

We don’t think Disney will be in the business of nine-month-long cruises anytime soon, but if we hear about it — you’ll be the first to know! In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest news and updates.

5 TikToks That’ll Make You Wish You’re on That 9-Month World Cruise…and 3 That Will Make You Glad You Stayed Home

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Would you have gone on this 9-month-long cruise? Tell us in the comments.