Royal Caribbean is in the process of planning its next world cruise.
Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, has confirmed that the cruise line is preparing to announce details about its upcoming world cruise.
In a recent TikTok video shared by @brooklyntravelstheworld, Bayley is seen informing guests aboard the current Ultimate World Cruise about the future plans. He reveals that not only will there be another world cruise, but also a reunion cruise on the Serenade of the Seas next summer in Alaska.
Bayley stated, “The answer is yes, we are going to do another Ultimate World Cruise.” Regarding the timing of the next world cruise, he mentioned that Royal Caribbean is still finalizing the specifics.
“We’re not entirely sure yet. We are still working our way through it,” he explained. However, he added another thrilling detail about an Ultimate World Cruise Reunion voyage scheduled for next summer.
“We’re announcing today that we are going to hold [an] Ultimate World Cruise reunion cruise. And when we have the reunion cruise, we are going to announce the next world cruise,” Bayley shared. He went on to explain that guests participating in the reunion cruise next summer will have exclusive access to make a deposit for a future reservation on the next world cruise.
“And when we announce the next world cruise during the reunion cruise, it will initially be available only to those attendees,” noted Bayley.
He elaborated that reunion cruise guests will have the first 24 hours to reserve their spot on the next world cruise once it becomes available, allowing them to choose the best cabins. “Whatever you want to do to make sure it works for you,” Bayley added.
The audience on the Serenade of the Seas reacted to this exciting news with applause and cheers. The video also includes more details about the reunion cruise’s timeline.
“In one year, pretty much from today, [the reunion] will be in Alaska – because I think you missed Alaska,” Bayley pointed out.
He confirmed that the reunion cruise will take place on the Serenade of the Seas, saying, “So, you’ll be in Alaska and you’ll be on Serenade [of the Seas]. It will be everyone you [formed] relationships with.”
Continuing, he added, “It’s a little bit of a part two of the Ultimate World Cruise, because we know circumstances were the way they were.”
Importantly, the Ultimate World Cruise had to be rerouted several times during its nine-month journey, including a change in route around Africa to avoid the conflict in the Red Sea. Initially, the Serenade of the Seas was meant to visit the Middle East and pass through the Suez Canal. Other stops were missed due to weather conditions, political unrest, and local protests.
At the end of the TikTok, Bayley presents a trailer officially announcing the Ultimate World Cruise reunion. The video features imagery of iconic world landmarks, such as the Great Wall of China and the Trevi Fountain in Rome. It declares, “But, there’s one chapter left. Relive the memories. Reconnect with friends. And go wild on one more shore.”
The announcement video wraps up with the unveiling of the reunion cruise, which is set for September 7, 2025, on the Serenade of the Seas.
Bayley had previously confirmed earlier this year that Royal Caribbean was indeed planning another world cruise, despite the process being “extremely complicated” and “massively expensive.”
During the President’s Cruise in July 2024, the CEO commented, “First of all, I think the World Cruise has been a fantastic, unbelievable product for Royal Caribbean to launch and operate. I think it has been a great success.”
Currently, the Serenade of the Seas is on its final world cruise segment, traveling from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Miami, Florida. The ship arrived back in the United States on September 3rd, docking in Bayonne, New Jersey, for an overnight stay in New York City, marking its return after nine months spent traveling the globe.
During this concluding segment, guests have explored ports in Iceland, Greenland, and Canada, before making their way down to Bermuda and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Serenade of the Seas is set to complete its first-ever Ultimate World Cruise on Tuesday, September 10, in Miami, Florida.
The Ultimate World Cruise was initially split into four segments: Ultimate Americas, Ultimate Asia Pacific, Immersive Africa, and Ultimate Europe and Beyond. Royal Caribbean also provided 17 shorter cruise segments as part of the Ultimate World Cruise, varying from nine to 29 nights across various destinations worldwide.
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise has garnered a significant social media following, with many world cruisers going viral on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Currently, numerous social media creators are documenting their last days onboard the Serenade of the Seas.
The Serenade of the Seas set sail on December 10, 2023, for its nine-month global voyage. After nearly 274 days, world cruisers have explored all seven continents and more than 55 countries, including iconic attractions like the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and the Taj Mahal in India.
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