For the first time ever, Royal Caribbean offered a world cruise in 2023. And there’s no doing things by half – this epic adventure lasted for a full nine months!
We now know there’ll be another Ultimate World Cruise, though we won’t know details until after the reunion cruise for the last one in September 2025.
So in this guide, I’ll reveal the ticket prices for the cruise that did sail, as well as what you got for your money, and whether I think it’s worth the cost… Although prices for the next one may well be higher!
Royal Caribbean world cruise itinerary
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise lasted for 274 nights, between 10th December 2023 and 10th September 2024. It began and ended in Miami, Florida, visiting all seven continents, 65 countries and over 150 ports of call along the way.
This map shows the route of the World Cruise…
The world cruise allowed guests to experience 11 Wonders of the World:
- Chichen Itza
- Christ the Redeemer
- Iguazu Falls
- Machu Picchu
- Great Barrier Reef
- Great Wall of China
- Taj Mahal
- Petra
- Pyramids of Giza
- Temple of Artemis
- Colosseum
You can see the full itinerary on Royal Caribbean’s website.
The ship used for the cruise
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise took place on board Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas. Built in 2003, this Radiance-class ship is one of the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, with a guest capacity of 2,466.
Serenade of the Seas underwent a thorough renovation in 2022 in preparation for the world cruise.
Everything included in the Ultimate World Cruise
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise Included:
- Business-class flights
- Pre-cruise hotel
- Pre-cruise gala dinner
- Premium transfers between airport, hotel and ship
- Deluxe Beverage Package
- WiFi package
- Gratuities
- Laundry service
Guests who have a Crown & Anchor status of platinum or above also received included excursions to the 7 new Wonders of the World.
You didn’t have to pay for much else with the world cruise, as all accommodation, food, drinks and entertainment were included. As were flights to Miami.
But, you did need spending money for your time ashore. The easiest way to cruise is by purchasing Royal Caribbean’s excursions – but these can be pricey! It’s much cheaper to do your own thing ashore. But, with 150 ports of call, you’d have needed to dedicate a good chunk of time to planning each day.
If you’ve spent 25 nights onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the past, you’ll be a Platinum Crown & Anchor member so you’d have got seven free shore excursions.
Ahead of the next world cruise, if you’re close to this, I suggest booking another cruise to bump you over the threshold, as with the price of excursions, that one will pay for itself!
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The costs of the Ultimate World Cruise
Here are the Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise prices:
- Interior Stateroom – From $59,999 per person
- Ocean View Stateroom – From $64,999 per person
- Balcony Stateroom – From $82,949 per person
- Junior Suites – From $117,599 per person
- Royal Suite – $760,000 per person
On top of those pieces, you had taxes, fees and port expenses of $4,667 USD per person. However, if you paid for the cruise in full by 6th January 2023, you got a saving of 10%.
The cheapest ticket on Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise cost $58,666 per person. This included taxes, fees and port charges and was based on two people sharing the cheapest Interior Stateroom and paying the balance 11 months in advance.
This works out at $214 per night. If you wanted a balcony (and let’s face it, you probably would if you’re spending 9 months at sea), then the cheapest ticket would’ve cost you $79,321, equivalent to $289 per night.
According to my analysis of average cruise costs, a typical 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise to the Caribbean in a Balcony Stateroom with gratuities and drinks included costs $1,735. This equates to $248 per night.
So, the Ultimate World Cruise was pretty expensive. Per night, it’s 17% more expensive than the average Royal Caribbean cruise, despite being on one of the older, smaller ships. Wouldn’t you have thought that the per-night rate would be lower given the long duration of the cruise?
Did Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise sell out?
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise was 70% sold out within the first week of tickets going on sale! But by the time the ship sailed, it was close to capacity – though it isn’t clear if it fully sold out.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley commented:
“We launched the World Cruise with Royal Caribbean International literally about 10 days ago and we only made it available to 16 million loyalty members. And within seven days, we were 70 percent booked.”
Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO
Royal Caribbean World Cruise Segments
Of course, if the cost of a full World Cruise ticket seems out of reach, or you’re not ready to spend nine months away from home, then you could instead opt to take just a quarter of the World Cruise or even a Half World cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise was split into 4 segments:
- Round the Horn: Americas and Antarctica Expedition
- Wonders of Asia and the Pacific Expedition
- Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition
- Capitals of Culture
Here are the prices for each of the segments:
Ultimate Americas Cruise – 64 Nights
| Stateroom Category | Price Per Person | Price Per Person Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Stateroom | $13,399 | $213 |
| Ocean View Stateroom | $14,799 | $235 |
| Balcony Stateroom | $18,899 | $300 |
Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise – 87 Nights
| Stateroom Category | Price Per Person | Price Per Person Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Stateroom | $17,999 | $205 |
| Ocean View Stateroom | $19,599 | $225 |
| Balcony Stateroom | $25,099 | $335 |
Ultimate Middle East & Med Cruise – 63 Nights
| Stateroom Category | Price Per Person | Price Per Person Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Stateroom | $14,899 | $240 |
| Ocean View Stateroom | $14,799 | $255 |
| Balcony Stateroom | $20,799 | $288 |
Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise – 63 Nights
| Stateroom Category | Price Per Person | Price Per Person Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Stateroom | $14,299 | $231 |
| Ocean View Stateroom | $15,299 | $247 |
| Balcony Stateroom | $19,799 | $319 |
By booking the whole cruise, you’d save just $396 (based on an Inside Stateroom). This shows that Royal Caribbean really doesn’t care about giving discounts based on duration!
However, if you do want a discount on the next world cruise, then I suggest that you call a travel agent who can secure a good deal for you and make you a considerable saving on the list price.
Related posts:
- 13 Royal Caribbean Cabins To Avoid
- Royal Caribbean Ships by Size (Comparison)
- Royal Caribbean Suite Perks
- World Cruise Planning Tips
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
