Royal Caribbean International has commented on the fate of the immensely popular Ultimate World Cruise in light of rising tensions in the Red Sea that may threaten a significant part of the ship’s upcoming itinerary.

Speculation has arisen that the itinerary may be radically altered or the cruise could even be ended early to ensure the safety of the guests, crew, and ship.

The Ultimate World Cruise – Less Than Ultimate?

The Ultimate World Cruise – a 274-night adventure aboard Serenade of the Seas visiting all seven continents, 65 countries, and more than 150 ports of call – has only been sailing for five weeks, but already questions are being asked about whether or not the voyage will continue.

A woman by the name of Adita (@aditaml2759) is currently onboard Serenade of the Seas and posting regular TikTok videos of her experiences, including a discussion of rumors that the sailing may end in Los Angeles.

“I’ve been hearing a couple of rumors and I am starting to get a little worried,” Adita said. “The rumor that I’ve been hearing is that Royal Caribbean is thinking of ending the World Cruise in Los Angeles due to the problems in the Middle East and us not being able to go through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.”

Adita asks for clarity and communication from Royal Caribbean and is not confirming any itinerary changes, but only asking if there has been any official word.

“I don’t like putting rumors out there, but I think we also, the passengers that invested so much money and so much time to see the world, we deserve to know what is going on, what the plans are, what Plan B is,” she said.

Possible options that have been speculated about include the itinerary shifting to go around Cape Horn and up the west coast of Africa. Alternatively, passengers could be flown from Dubai to a destination in the Mediterranean while the ship crosses the Red Sea and Suez Canal with minimal crew complement before picking guests back up to resume sailing.

Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean’s 274-Night World Cruise is Making a Buzz

Adita’s video on these rumors has been viewed more than 85,600 times and is one of her more popular videos documenting this extreme journey. Other videos include showing weather conditions it the Drake Passage, tips for organizing and storage for such a long trip, and other tidbits that bring viewers along on the spectacular sailing.

Royal Caribbean Responds

Royal Caribbean International has responded to the rumors and confirmed that at this time, there are no changes to the planned Ultimate World Cruise itinerary.

“Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise will continue its current schedule as planned,” a cruise line spokesperson said to Business Insider. “The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. In collaboration with our Global Security team, we continuously monitor the situation in the region and make any necessary adjustments. Guests will be notified directly of any changes.”

Several cruise lines have already adjusted or cancelled cruises in the Red Sea region due to escalating geopolitical tensions. Drones and mines have been used to disrupt marine traffic, and while no cruise ships have yet been attacked, all cruise lines are closely monitoring the situation as necessary to protect their respective fleets.

Royal Caribbean stated to Cruise Hive, “The Ultimate World Cruise has given guests the opportunity to see the world in a unique way, and we have loved watching their reactions to this incredible experience. This adventure will complete its first segment in February, and we can’t wait to kick off the next part of the journey shortly after and begin exploring Asia.”

MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Cunard Line, and others are all keeping updated on the situation and will adjust itineraries if needed.

It should be noted that Serenade of the Seas is not scheduled to enter the Red Sea until mid-May. With four months to go until that portion of the Ultimate World Cruise is reached, there may yet be many factors to consider about whether or not the itinerary will proceed and the situation is evolving every day.

Read Also: Not Everyone Is Enjoying the 9-Month Ultimate World Cruise

Meanwhile, if the speculation about the sailing ending in Los Angeles were accurate – which it is not – that would mean the cruise would end on February 11, 2024, just two months after beginning on December 10, 2023. Furthermore, this would mean the “world” cruise would only have explored one small section of its diverse and detailed itinerary.

The sailing has already had an itinerary change due to weather conditions near Antarctica, and undoubtedly there will be further itinerary adjustments in the months to come. Hopefully, tensions will ease and no such dramatic change as skipping an entire portion of the cruise route will be necessary.

As Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas sails through its ambitious global itinerary, it’s not all smooth sailing. From cramped living quarters to preferential treatment complaints, the cruise is making waves for all the wrong reasons.

A Passenger’s Online Outcry

Marc Sebastian, a TikToker among the passengers on Royal Caribbean’s 274-night “Ultimate World Cruise,” has been catapulting into the viral spotlight, chronicling the not-so-glamourous aspects of his prolonged sea voyage.

Initially excited about joining Serenade of the Seas for the first leg of its journey, fully sponsored by Atria Books, his posts soon revealed a tide of challenges, including cramped accommodations to itinerary disruptions.

“I’m going to tell you ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’ but in my own way, which is ‘fabulous, pressing charges, and prison, honey,’” Sebastian (@marcsebastianf) begins many of his reviews.

In one post, Sebastian says, “You know when you’re out to dinner and someone comes up to you at the worst possible time and asks, ‘How is everything?’ while your mouth is stuffed with food? That happens on a loop here.“

He goes on to add, “It’s an eternal hell. [Expletive] drink packages. [Expletive] internet packages. I want a package where I have a little sign that sits on my table and says, ‘I am fine. Thank you,’ so 14,000 people don’t come up to my table every four minutes going, ‘How’s everything?’”

Sebastian’s candid coverage of his 18-nights on the South American and Antarctic segment, which cost his sponsors $8,500, has resonated with his 1.6 million followers. Yet, his critiques, sometimes seen as controversial, have sparked debate among other influencers and cruisers alike, highlighting a divide between expectations and reality of the high seas.

Says @dutchworld_americangirl, who has more than 880k followers and lives on a cruise ship, in response, “This person has been put on the Royal Caribbean cruise for 18 days looking for the drama – “the tea” – of living on a ship. I’ve been doing it for the last 12 years of my life. There’s no drama or tea on a ship but he’s been put there to get drama or tea.”

Unrest Over Preferential Treatment

Sebastian is not alone in his grievances. Other passengers have voiced their dissatisfaction, particularly around the perceived preferential treatment of Pinnacle members, the highest tier in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program. Accusations of exclusive privileges and priority boarding have created an atmosphere of inequality onboard.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society: What You Need to Know

The discontent extends to passengers like Sebastian, known as segmenters, who join the cruise only for a specific leg, being excluded from certain activities and social media groups, essentially feeling like outsiders on their own vacation.

This sentiment is exacerbated by the fact that only about 700 passengers aboard the 2,143-passenger Serenade of the Seas are sailing the full 9-month voyage.

Following the Journey Through Influencer Eyes

“The Ultimate World Cruise” has morphed into a digital spectacle, with passengers turning to social media to document their experiences. The mix of everyday travelers and seasoned influencers on platforms like TikTok is crafting a real-time narrative of the journey, watched by millions. 

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas extensive route, the longest of its kind, spans all seven continents, with over 150 destinations in 65 countries. Sebastian’s segment, the “Ultimate South America & Antarctica Cruise,” which completes January 23 in Valparaiso, Chile, drew particular attention for its passage through the challenging Drake Passage to Antarctica, sparking content around the ship’s handling of extreme conditions.

Future segments, exploring regions from Central America to the Mediterranean, are still available, with journeys ranging from 9 to 28 nights in length. The cruise continues until September 10, 2024.

Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas helped rescue six fishermen and their dog on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 while the cruise ship was en route to its first port of call on the current 7-night Western Caribbean sailing. The stunning rescue comes nearly two days after the fishing boat had been reported lost.

Harmony of the Seas Rescues Stranded Fishermen

The small fishing vessel Aris experienced an engine failure over the weekend, with six people reported onboard. Communication with the vessel was initially lost on Sunday, January 14, 20 miles from Cape Catoche, the northernmost tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

According to Cambio 22, local officials and community members immediately launched search efforts, but without success. Word was also spread through social media to help locate the fishermen.

“With all your heart if you go fishing tomorrow don’t forget to look up to the horizon, in case you see a boat drifting or floating in the sea,” CZM Noticias posted on Tuesday morning, January 16, alerting various local fishing fleets to the ongoing situation.

It was with great surprise and celebration, then, when Aris was spotted by Harmony of the Seas just hours later. The cruise ship had left Galveston, Texas on Sunday for a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, and both Monday and Tuesday are days at sea on the itinerary.

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Harmony of the Seas immediately sent out a rescue craft to check on the smaller boat, and found seven castaways in reasonably good health – six fishermen and their dog, Canelo.

All the individuals – including Canelo – were safely rescued and soon transferred to the Mexican Navy. The fishermen will be returned home to Cozumel, where their families will be very happy for the miraculous reunion.

There has been no reported impact on Harmony of the Seas‘ itinerary. The 226,963-gross-ton ship, third of the Oasis-class vessels, will be visiting Roatan, Honduras and both Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico before returning to Galveston on Sunday, January 21.

The ship can welcome 5,479 guests aboard at double occupancy or up to 6,687 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled, though there is always room for rescued individuals if the need arises.

Safety at Sea

The rescue so long after the fishing vessel initially lost contact with authorities is nothing short of amazing. This also emphasizes the need for all oceangoing craft – of any size or purpose – to have appropriate emergency beacons, communication equipment, and safety gear aboard in case of difficult situations or mechanical malfunctions.

Read Also: Secret Emergency Codes on Cruise Ships Only Crew Members Know

International maritime law requires all vessels to render assistance whenever necessary, regardless of the location, nationalities involved, reason for the emergency, or any other circumstances.

Cruise ships regularly offer such assistance to refugee craft, fishing vessels, pleasure boats, or anyone else needing the help anywhere in the world after engines fail, equipment malfunctions, leaks develop, or bad weather causes navigational problems.

At times, more than one vessel may need assistance at the same time, as happened when two cargo vessels collided in the North Sea in October 2023 and P&O Cruises’ Iona was called to assist the search and rescue efforts.

At times, cruise ships will perform the complete rescue operation themselves, while at other times they respond to calls for assistance from local navy officials or other craft and offer support, such as additional eyes to search, lifeboat availability, medical care, or supplies. Large cruise ships may even be used as windbreaks in bad weather so smaller official vessels can complete rescues more safely.

Cruise Hive commends those aboard Harmony of the Seas who were instrumental in this fantastic rescue, as well as all cruise ship crew members everywhere who help ensure the seas are safe for everyone.