royal caribbean cruise 7 continents

Around the World in 274 Days: Royal Caribbean Reveals Record-Breaking Seven-Continent World Cruise for 2023

(10:15 a.m. ET) -- Royal Caribbean today revealed its inaugural Ultimate World Cruise and it’s a record-breaking 274-day voyage taking in seven continents and 65 countries, departing in 2023.

The epic Miami-roundtrip voyage will take place on the Radiance Class Serenade of the Seas , leaving December 10, 2023, and returning 10 months later, on September 10, 2024.

The ambitious circumnavigation will call at 150 destinations, with four bookable segments -- the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe -- taking in eye-popping sights such as the glaciers of Antarctica; the Taj Mahal in India; Machu Picchu in Peru, and Mount Fuji in Japan.

The world cruise also includes 57 new ports for the line, including Casablanca, Morocco; Qaqortoq, Greenland; and Shimizu, Japan, the gateway to Mount Fuji.

The World Cruise of World Cruises

President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley teased the news via a cryptic Facebook post earlier this week, saying: "Get ready for the news of a lifetime. A big announcement is on the horizon. Stay tuned!"

In an official statement released today, Bayley said: "This is the world cruise of world cruises.

"Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere."

World Cruises of 2022 and 2023

Four Ultimate World Cruise Segments Available

Don't worry if you can't spare 274 days. Four bookable segments are available, broken down below:

Segment 1 : Round the Horn: Americas and Antarctica Expedition, December 10, 2023, to February 11, 2024, including three continents and 36 destinations.

Highlights : Beginning in Miami, the ship will first sail to the Caribbean, before traversing south to Antarctica and around Cape Horn. Highlights will include Antarctica's glistening glaciers, Chichen Itza in Cozumel, Mexico; Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, where the ship will spend New Year’s Eve, and the largest waterfall system on the planet, Iguazu Falls near Buenos Aires, Argentina, topped off with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu, in Peru, before ending in starry Los Angeles.

Segment 2 : Wonders of Asia and the Pacific Expedition, February 11 to May 9, 2024, including three continents and 40 destinations.

Highlights : From L.A. passengers will sail to Hawaii, followed by the South Pacific; New Zealand; Australia; Bali; Vietnam; Malaysia; China, and Japan. Highlights include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; the Great Wall of China; India's Taj Mahal, and an immersive voyage around Japan.

Segment 3 : Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition, from May 9 to July 10, 2024, taking in three continents and 44 destinations.

Highlights : Starting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and ending in Rome, highlights of the third segment include Petra, Jordan; the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt; the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey, and the Colosseum in Rome, plus calls to Greece, Croatia, and France.

Segment 4: Capitals of Culture, July 10 to September 10, 2024, including three continents and 40 destinations.

Highlights : The final leg of the Ultimate World Cruise starts in the Mediterranean and heads north, covering Spain, Morocco, France, Russia, Norway, Iceland, and North America. Highlights include the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell in Barcelona; the museums of St. Petersburg, Russia; the Blue Lagoon in Iceland; and New York, before the ship returns to Miami.

Booking and Pricing

Bookings for the entire Ultimate World Cruise open today by phone, exclusively for Diamond and above Crown & Anchor Society members through October 26, before going on general sale. Royal Caribbean has set up a dedicated line for the Ultimate World Cruise bookings 800-423-2100 (U.S. toll free).

The cost for the full 274-day cruise starts at $60,999 per person for an interior cabin; a 10 percent discount for paying in full brings it down to $54,899 per person. Balcony staterooms start at $78,999 per person ($71,099 with the pay-in-full discount).

Crown & Anchor Society Platinum-status members and above will also receive a Seven New World Wonders shore excursion package, a deluxe beverage package, Voom Wi-Fi and laundry service, among other perks.

Individual segments can be booked from December 2021.

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This New Around-the-World Cruise Will Take You to All 7 Continents in 274 Days

Royal caribbean's ultimate world cruise will take travelers to 150 destinations in 65 countries starting in 2023., demetrius simms, demetrius simms's most recent stories.

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Get ready to set sail like never before.

This week, Royal Caribbean International announced its Ultimate World Cruise that will take passengers to all seven continents in the span of 274 days. On the world’s farthest-reaching cruise to date, passengers can expect to arrive at 150 destinations in 65 countries aboard the company’s Serenade of the Seas ship, and will get the chance to view 11 great wonders of the world, from the Taj Mahal to the majestic peaks of Macchu Pichu, along the way. The immersive experience will embark on its roundtrip course from Miami on December 10, 2023 and return on September 10, 2024.

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Royal Caribbean has charted the seas for over 50 years, crafting popular itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents. This new global itinerary will include a visit to one additional continent—Antarctica—and another 57 destinations that are both new to the cruise line and exclusive to this itinerary; these include Casablanca, Morocco, Qaqortoq, Greenland, and Shimizu, Japan.

Meanwhile, you’ll also visit favorites like the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, enjoy city stops from Rome to Rio to Tokyo, and get up close to natural wonders like the fjords of Norway, the beaches of French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef. Shore visits to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the ancient city of Petra, the Great Wall of China and the Temple of Artemis, among other notable sites, will grant travelers the opportunity to explore distinct cultures and take in iconic views.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” says Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in a statement. “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

The cruise liner is also planning exceptional service from start to finish for this adventure. Business class airfare, premium ground transportation and five-star hotel accommodations will be available to guests before setting sail, while a gala evening will be hosted the night before you hit the water. Once aboard the 13-floor ship, guests will travel in comfortable staterooms that range from interior (without a window) set-ups to rooms with balconies and larger suites. All come with 24-hour room service, nightly turn-down service, a deluxe beverage package, Wi-Fi and wash-and-fold laundry service

Elsewhere on board, there should be plenty to keep you occupied for nearly a year, including a variety of international dining options, mini-golf, a rock climbing wall, a pool and solarium, a spa and fitness center, live entertainment venues and a glass-roofed bar. On this cruise, Crown & Anchor Society Platinum status members and above will receive a bonus Seven New World Wonders shore excursion package, too.

If spending nine months on the water sounds appealing, reservations for Royal Caribbean’s 2023 Ultimate World Cruise are now available by phone; rates start at $124,161 per person (for an interior stateroom). Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above have an exclusive one-week purchase window through Oct. 26. If you don’t have 274 days to spare, interested parties can also book any of the voyage’s four sections—the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe—separately. Visit RoyalCarribean.com for more information.

Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. After starting their career in PR, they transitioned to freelance writing in 2020. Their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture…

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Royal Caribbean Unveils Epic 274-Night “Ultimate World Cruise” to all 7 Continents

Clear your schedule, because Royal Caribbean just announced the most jaw-dropping of bucket-list cruises.

The cruise line unveiled a brand-new 274-night “ Ultimate World Cruise ” departing December 2023 that is truly an around-the-world trip. Sailing aboard Serenade of the Seas, passengers will reach all seven continents, totaling more than 150 destinations and 65 different countries.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International’s CEO and president. “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world.”

Schedule & Pricing of the Ultimate World Cruise

The sailing departs December 10, 2023. Serenade of the Seas will leave from Miami, not returning until roughly nine months later on September 10, 2024.

If that’s too long for you, the 274-night trip is broken down into four different segments , which can be sailed individually:

• Round the Horn (Americas & Antarctica): 64 nights with 36 destinations
• Wonders of Asia & the Pacific: 87 nights with 40 destinations
• Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Mediterranean: 63 nights with 44 destinations
• Capitals of Culture: 63 nights with 40 destinations

So what all would you be able to see on the cruise? It might be easier to list things you wouldn’t see.

From as far south as Antarctica to as far north as Greenland, the trip is truly global, reaching every corner of the planet. Highlights include the ability to visit the Great Wall of China, Petra, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids, Chichen-Itza, the Taj Mahal and more.

Port of call are too many to list here, but just a (small) sample include:

• Willemstad, Curacao
• Devil’s Island, French Guiana
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Elephant Island, Antarctica
• Maui, Hawaii
• Mo’orea, French Polynesia
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Cairns, Australia
• Manila, Philippines
• Hong Kong, China
• Seoul, South Korea
• Tokyo, Japan
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Mumbai, India
• Alexandria, Egypt
• Athens, Greece
• Venice, Italy
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Nice, France
• Casablanca, Morocco
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• New York City

So how much will it cost?

The list price for an interior cabin on the Ultimate World Cruise is $60,999 per person — about $220 per day. Rates climb from there with higher-tier rooms. Balcony staterooms start at $78,999 per person.

Want a suite? While Royal Caribbean requires interested parties to call for pricing on many suites, the Junior Suite has a list price of $111,999 per person.

If you want to save a little money, there is a 10% discount if paid in full by January 2023.

What’s Included in Your Fare & How to Book

Of course, with that sizeable fare you’re getting a truly once-in-a-lifetime trip. However, there are some other perks included. Royal Caribbean is offering passengers business-class airfare to the port, along with transportation from the airport to the hotel before the trip and then to the ship. The cruise line also includes a five-star hotel before the cruise and an exclusive gala to attend.

On the ship you’ll receive the Deluxe Beverage Package during the cruise. Wi-Fi, gratuities, and laundry are also included in the fare.

And if you have Platinum Crown & Anchor Society status, then you also receive shore excursions to the “7 New World Wonders” of Chichen-Itza, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, and the Colosseum.

Bookings open today for guests who are Diamond level and above in the Crown & Anchor Society. Royal Caribbean says these members have an “exclusive one-week window” through October 26 to book by calling 800-423-2100.

Reservations will be available to other passengers later on, including the ability to book individual portions of the Ultimate World Cruise on their own.

You can see Royal Caribbean’s website for all the details about this one-of-a-kind cruise, including the full itinerary, pricing, and more.

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This New Around-the-World Cruise Will Take You to All 7 Continents in 274 Days

Get ready to set sail like never before.

This week, Royal Caribbean International announced its Ultimate World Cruise that will take passengers to all seven continents in the span of 274 days. On the world’s farthest-reaching cruise to date, passengers can expect to arrive at 150 destinations in 65 countries aboard the company’s Serenade of the Seas ship, and will get the chance to view 11 great wonders of the world, from the Taj Mahal to the majestic peaks of Macchu Pichu, along the way. The immersive experience will embark on its roundtrip course from Miami on December 10, 2023 and return on September 10, 2024.

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Royal Caribbean has charted the seas for over 50 years, crafting popular itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents. This new global itinerary will include a visit to one additional continent—Antarctica—and another 57 destinations that are both new to the cruise line and exclusive to this itinerary; these include Casablanca, Morocco, Qaqortoq, Greenland, and Shimizu, Japan.

Meanwhile, you’ll also visit favorites like the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, enjoy city stops from Rome to Rio to Tokyo, and get up close to natural wonders like the fjords of Norway, the beaches of French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef. Shore visits to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the ancient city of Petra, the Great Wall of China and the Temple of Artemis, among other notable sites, will grant travelers the opportunity to explore distinct cultures and take in iconic views.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” says Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in a statement. “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

The cruise liner is also planning exceptional service from start to finish for this adventure. Business class airfare, premium ground transportation and five-star hotel accommodations will be available to guests before setting sail, while a gala evening will be hosted the night before you hit the water. Once aboard the 13-floor ship, guests will travel in comfortable staterooms that range from interior (without a window) set-ups to rooms with balconies and larger suites. All come with 24-hour room service, nightly turn-down service, a deluxe beverage package, Wi-Fi and wash-and-fold laundry service

Elsewhere on board, there should be plenty to keep you occupied for nearly a year, including a variety of international dining options, mini-golf, a rock climbing wall, a pool and solarium, a spa and fitness center, live entertainment venues and a glass-roofed bar. On this cruise, Crown & Anchor Society Platinum status members and above will receive a bonus Seven New World Wonders shore excursion package, too.

If spending nine months on the water sounds appealing, reservations for Royal Caribbean’s 2023 Ultimate World Cruise are now available by phone; rates start at $124,161 per person (for an interior stateroom). Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above have an exclusive one-week purchase window through Oct. 26. If you don’t have 274 days to spare, interested parties can also book any of the voyage’s four sections—the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe—separately. Visit RoyalCarribean.com for more information.

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Royal Caribbean's New Cruise Will Visit 65 Countries in 9 Months

Guests will be able to tour iconic destinations on all seven continents

Caitlin Morton is a freelance writer based in Kansas City. Her work has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, and many other publications.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

After the past couple of years stuck at home, most people are more than ready to jump back into travel—ideally visiting as many places as possible, as soon as possible. Enter Royal Caribbean International. The company just unveiled its Ultimate World Cruise , an epic 274-night sailing that visits all seven continents, including over 150 destinations in 65 countries. It sounds like the perfect way to cross off half your bucket list in one fell swoop.

The cruise will depart from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023, and last until Sept. 10, 2024. That should give you plenty of time to start pinching those pennies—tickets start at $61,000 for an interior stateroom and go up to $112,000 for a junior suite. The price covers business class airfare and accommodations at a five-star hotel before setting sail.

You also have the option to tag along for just one of the journey's four legs, each of which explores a different part of the world: Antarctica and the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and Europe's Capitals of Culture. As for the ports of call, you can plan on visiting pretty much every famous tourist attraction on the planet. We're talking the Great Barrier Reef, Pyramids of Giza, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, and Iceland's Blue Lagoon—and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Oh yeah, you'll visit some icebergs, too.

"This is the world cruise of world cruises," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. "To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere."

The all-encompassing itinerary is the main draw here, but guests should expect to have a pretty great time on the actual ship itself, Serenade of the Seas. According to the ship's website , onboard amenities include a mini-golf course, rock climbing wall, full-service spa, pool with a retractable glass roof, and a theater hosting everything from Broadway shows to stand-up comics. Guests can choose from nearly 20 restaurants and bars, then enjoy the scenery from the ship's panoramic, multi-story windows.

Bookings for the full Ultimate World Cruise can be made by phone now. The only thing left to do is pray you win the lottery in the next 26 months.

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Royal Caribbean Ship to Sail 274-Night World Cruise

• October 20, 2021

Royal Caribbean International has announced the Ultimate World Cruise, calling it epic 274-night adventure that visits all seven continents, more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

The sailing on the Serenade of the Seas is the longest and most comprehensive world cruise out there according to the company, sailing roundtrip from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023 and through Sept. 10, 2024.

Bookings for the full Ultimate World Cruise can be made by phone starting today, according to a statement, with an exclusive one-week window through Oct. 26 for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above.

Travelers will sail to 57 destinations new to the cruise line and exclusive to the cruise itself. Highlights include Casablanca, Morocco; Qaqortoq, Greenland; and Shimizu, Japan.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

Guests ready to traverse the world can book the full Ultimate World Cruise today or choose from any of the four expeditions that will offer a wide range of destinations as soon as December 2021 – the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe:

• Round the Horn: Americas and Antarctica Expedition Dec. 10, 2023 – Feb. 11, 2024 – Three continents, 36 destinations, four wonders

 Wonders of Asia and the Pacific Expedition Feb. 11 – May 9, 2024 – Three continents, 40 destinations, three wonders

• Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition May 9 – July 10, 2024 – Three continents, 44 destinations, four wonders

• Capitals of Culture July 10 – Sept. 10, 2024 – Three continents, 40 destinations

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Royal Caribbean announces world's longest cruise spanning nine months and seven continents

Ultimate world cruise is dedicated to travellers who wish to 'make up for lost time'.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked in Juneau, Alaska. AP

The longest and "most comprehensive" world cruise, lasting nine months, with stops in 65 countries and covering all seven continents, is set to sail soon. Bookings are now open for Royal Caribbean International's Ultimate World Cruise, which will begin its journey in Miami on December 10, 2023, and last through September 10, 2024.

The price range for the full excursion is between $66,000 to $112,000 per person, according to CNN Travel . Ticket prices are inclusive of business class airfare, transportation and accommodation at a five-star hotel before setting sail. Taxes and fees are not included.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Royal Caribbean International (@royalcaribbean)

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” Royal Caribbean International's president and chief executive Michael Bayley said. “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travellers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

The record-breaking journey will be on board the company's Serenade of the Seas , the 294-metre-long ship with 13 decks that can accommodate up to 2,476 guests. The ship's facilities include a mini-golf course, an arcade, rock-climbing wall, pool, theatre and spa.

Upon leaving Miami, the ship will travel around the Caribbean, before scheduled stop-offs in Central and South America, including trips to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro and Argentina's Iguazu Falls. A total of 150 destinations will be covered across the 274 days, including stops at Casablanca in Morocco, Qaqortoq in Greenland, and Shimizu in Japan, as well as stops to visit 11 wonders of the world, from Peru’s Machu Picchu to the Taj Mahal in India.

Travellers can book the full nine-month experience or join for specific legs. The journey has been split into four main categories: the Americas and Antarctica, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and northern Europe.

Royal Caribbean resumed sailing in June with vaccinated adult guests, ending a year-long hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In July, a luxury cruise starting at $73,499 per person, set to sail around 31 countries across four months, sold out within three hours of its announcement.

Called the Moments In Tim e world cruise, the journey by Regent Seven Seas Cruises promises to offer passengers the opportunity to “experience a lifetime of travel with one unforgettable adventure after another.” It is scheduled to depart from Miami in January 2024.

This Royal Caribbean World Cruise Sails to All Seven Continents

Here’s something not many people can say: I’ve been to all seven continents. 

If you book yourself a cabin on board Royal Caribbean International’s  Serenade of the Seas leaving from Miami on December 10, 2023, you’ll be able to say just that! The cruise line announced today the debut of the inaugural Ultimate World Cruise, an unbelievable trip that visits all seven continents, more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 incredible wonders of the world. The cruise is 274 nights long and returns to Miami on September 10, 2024. 

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

The cruise gets off to a great start with a trip South from Miami around Cape Horn and a stop in Antarctica within the first 34 days. From there, the ship sails North up the West Coast of South and Central America before crossing the Pacific Ocean en route to New Zealand and Australia. The itinerary then heads North through Southeast Asia all the way to China and Japan before turning South again to visit India and the Arabic Peninsula. The ship then navigates the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean where it calls on Greece, Italy, France, Spain and more. From there, the ship heads North through the English Channel with calls on Russia, Norway and Denmark. The last leg of the journey visits Iceland and Greenland before sailing down the East Coast of the United States back to Miami. 

Of the destinations the cruise will call on, 57 are new for Royal Caribbean. Some of the popular new destinations include Casablanca, Morocco; Qaqortoq, Greenland; and Shimizu, Japan near Mount Fuji. 

RELATED:   ‘Pent-up Demand’ for Cruising Says Royal Caribbean CEO

There are some perks to booking the world cruise that make it a cut above the rest. The cruise line is offering business class airfare, premium transportation and a five-star hotel stay pre-cruise. In addition, Crown & Anchor Society Platinum status members and above receive a bonus shore excursion package, a Deluxe Beverage package, VOOM Wi-Fi, and laundry service. 

Would you take a 274-night world cruise? Let us know in the comments! 

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In Search of America Aboard the Icon of the Seas

Twenty decks, seven swimming pools, and one novelist wearing a meatball T-shirt

In January, the writer Gary Shteyngart spent a week of his life on the inaugural voyage of the Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever. Like many a great novelist before him , he went in search of the “real” America. He left his Russian novels at home, bought some novelty T-shirts, and psychically prepared to be the life of the party. About halfway through, Shteyngart called his editor and begged to be allowed to disembark and fly home. His desperate plea was rejected, resulting in a semi-sarcastic daily log of his misery .

In this episode of Radio Atlantic , Shteyngart discusses his “seven agonizing nights” on the cruise ship, where he roamed from mall to bar to infinity pool trying to make friends. He shares his theories about why cruise lovers nurture an almost spiritual devotion to an experience that, to him, inspires material for a “low-rent White Lotus. ” And he shares what happened when cruise lovers actually read what he wrote about their beloved ship.

Listen to the conversation here:

Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts

The following is a transcript of the episode:

Gary Shteyngart: Hi.

Hanna Rosin: Hi. It’s Hanna.

Shteyngart: Hi, Hanna. How are you?

Rosin: Good.

Rosin: I’m Hanna Rosin. This is Radio Atlantic .

Shteyngart: It’s cloudy here.

Rosin: It is? In a good way? In a way that makes your hair look full and rich?

Shteyngart: Oh, yeah. ( Laughs. ) It does add fullness to my hair, which is always a good thing at this point. I think spring has finally sprung. And I teach in the spring semester, and I’m like, God, I just want this to be over. I just want to go out and play .

Rosin: You teach fiction?

Shteyngart: Yeah. I can’t teach rocket science.

Rosin: ( Laughs. )

Shteyngart: Cruising technology.

Rosin: This is writer Gary Shteyngart.

Rosin: There’s just a Russian stereotype.

Shteyngart: ( Laughs. )

Rosin: I’m like, You could teach astronomy or physics . I don’t know.

Shteyngart: Chess.

Rosin: Chess. Exactly.

Rosin: Gary Shteyngart grew up in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 7. He’s written several award-winning novels, and he was a “literary consultant” on Succession , the HBO show.

Mostly, he is known for his satire, which can range from gentle to deadly. So who better to write an article about the inaugural voyage of the largest cruise ship ever built?

Shteyngart: This whole thing came about because I was on Twitter, and I saw a tweet that just showed the—may I use salty language here?

Rosin: Yes.

Shteyngart: The ass of the ship is how I describe it. I don’t know any of these terms, but, you know, with all the water parks and crap on it. And so I reposted the tweet, and I said, If somebody wants to send me on this cruise, please specify the level of sarcasm desired .

Rosin: Really? ( Laughs. )

Shteyngart: And then—God bless The Atlantic —within seconds, I had an assignment.

Rosin: That ass belongs to the Icon of the Seas, a ship that can hold more than 7,000 passengers and 2,000 crew. It has 20 decks with seven swimming pools and six waterslides. The ship itself is about five times bigger than the Titanic. And I’m pretty sure the Titanic did not have a swim-up bar, much less the world’s largest swim-up bar.

In a recent piece for The Atlantic , Gary describes it this way: “The ship makes no sense, vertically or horizontally. It makes no sense on sea, or on land, or in outer space. It looks like a hodgepodge of domes and minarets, tubes and canopies, like Istanbul had it been designed by idiots … This is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and I have been tasked with witnessing its inaugural voyage.”

To prepare for that voyage, Gary wore a meatball T-shirt he found in a store in Little Italy. More specifically, the shirt read: “Daddy’s Little Meatball.”

Shteyngart: You know, I grew up in Queens and, being a spicy meat-a-ball , I thought it was funny. A lot of cruisers were angry. They thought I was being sexual or sexualizing. It’s very interesting because I thought that T-shirt was the bond between a child and his daddy or her daddy.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) You thought it’d just be a conversation starter.

Shteyngart: I thought it’d be a conversation starter. If they had a “Mommy’s Little Meatball” T-shirt, that would’ve been preferable. I feel much more a mommy’s little meatball. But they only have daddy.

I actually thought, My expectations are low, but I bet I’m going to run into awesome people. And I love to drink and chat, and this is—I guess that’s what you do on a cruise ship. And I knew I was going to have a suite, so I was like, Maybe I’ll throw a suite party .

Shteyngart: Invite some people over . On land, I really am quite sociable. I remember I was just leaving a Columbia—I teach at Columbia—leaving a Columbia party, and somebody was saying, Well, there goes 75 percent of the party .

Rosin: Oh, that’s a compliment.

Shteyngart: It’s a compliment. I’m kind of a party animal. So I was super—I thought, you know, Look, 5,000 people. I’m going to find a soulmate or two .

Rosin: Great writers before Gary have deluded themselves in this way before. Most notably: David Foster Wallace, who ended up spending much of his cruise adventure alone in his cabin. They venture out, looking to swim with some “real Americans.” And instead, they are quickly confronted by the close-up details, like the nightly entertainment—

Shteyngart: There was a kind of packaged weirdness in the shows. Goddamn—the ice-skating tribute to the periodic table. What the hell was that?

Rosin: The food—

Shteyngart: It did not have the consistency of steak. It was like some kind of pleathery, weird—like this poor cow had been slapped around before it died.

Rosin: And the physical touch of an actual “real American.”

Shteyngart: He’d throw his arms around them drunkenly, and they’d be like, Ehh .

First of all, I just want to say, Royal Caribbean—the people that run it are geniuses. The CEO’s name is—I’m not making this up—Jason Liberty.

Shteyngart: His name is Liberty! I mean, I don’t know. What the hell? Like, exactly, if I was to write a novel character with, you know, Jason Liberty , people would be like, Oh, he’s being pretentious . But no. That’s his actual name.

I think they know the tastes of their clientele so well and are able to mirror it back to them, but also to give them this feeling that they’re awesome for doing something like this. One of my favorite slogans—you get all this literature— This isn’t a vacation day spent. It’s bragging rights earned .

Rosin: Mmm. It’s velvet ropey, like you’re in a club.

Shteyngart: It’s a velvet ropey situation. You are an adventurer. You’ve earned this. You have bragging rights. But when you enter the ship, you’re in a mall. And the mall is large and multileveled, and you can buy a Rolex at three times what it would cost on land and all this other crap.

And then there’s all these neighborhoods, and you can do whatever the hell you want. You can get trashed or have sex, which, whatever—I mean with your spouse, although there were some swingers on board. But you could do whatever you want in a way that you can’t on land, in a way, I think, because so many of these people are just working their asses off.

Rosin: Right.

Shteyngart: That was a topic of conversation that came up. People were like, Yeah, I work 90 hours a week, and this is my chance to just, you know, be blotto .

Rosin: You’re hinting at this. Part of being on a ship is being inducted into the language and the levels of the ship, and can you walk us through that? You mentioned, for example: You walk in, you’re in a mall. But I bet, eventually, you start to see more. What are the neighborhoods? You said the word neighborhoods . What does that even mean? And what are the distinctions?

Shteyngart: I think this ship and other Royal Caribbean ships of this size—although this is the biggest—try to create this idea of a city, like you’re in a city that happens to be at sea.

One of the funniest neighborhoods is called Central Park, which is literally another mall but with a couple of shrubs growing out here and there. I thought that was really funny—also, using a New York City landmark in one of the least New Yorkiest milieus in the world.

Rosin: I guess it just has to be terms—a word—people recognize. And people vaguely recognize it. They don’t need to know about Olmsted or live in Brooklyn.

Shteyngart: ( Laughs. ) No, no.

Rosin: They just vaguely recognize Central Park.

Shteyngart: It’d be funny if I asked—boy, would I get a lot of flak if I came up to a cruiser and be like, I don’t think this really matches Olmsted’s vision of Central Park. I don’t know. Meatball not happy . Maybe I should have used a Russian accent. Like, Hello. I am Meatball .

Rosin: Meatball not happy .

Shteyngart: Meatball not happy with Olmsted . So there’s that. There’s Surfside, which is a very funny kind of Disneyland for kids with—

Rosin: And are you walking—like, I still don’t get it. So you go in, and how big is a neighborhood? And then how do you get to the next neighborhood?

Shteyngart: Right, so everything’s on decks, so you take these elevators. I think I spent half the cruise on elevators just going from one place to another.

Rosin: Yeah.

Shteyngart: But I thought I would be in the Suites neighborhood. Because this whole thing—and Royal Caribbean is also brilliant at this. These people—really, a Nobel Prize in Economics. It’s a constant scramble. You constantly want a higher status, especially if you’ve been cruising forever. You want to reach Pinnacle status, which you have to do after 700 days (or nights, rather) on the ship, which is two years, right? Almost.

Rosin: Wow. And so what does that get you?

Shteyngart: So the Pinnacles have their own—I mean, there’s some priority things they get. Like, I was not allowed to go into one dining room at one point, and the guy—I didn’t know what Pinnacle was, so I thought the guy was saying, It’s just pendejo dining . He had a thick accent. I was like, I’m wearing a meatball T-shirt. I am the essence of pendejo . And he was like, No, no, pendejos only . But he was trying to say Pinnacles, I guess. So that kind of stuff.

They have their own little lounge, which I wasn’t allowed into. And some of the other cruisers who are not Pinnacles but have somehow gotten into the lounge, they’re very angry about being denied. And they’re like, There’s nothing in there. There’s just a coffee machine in there .

But the other thing is the suite status, which I had because by the time The Atlantic commissioned this piece, almost all the cabins were sold out. Everybody wanted to be on this ship, and all that was left was a $19,000—Jesus Christ—$19,000 suite that didn’t even look out on the sea.

Rosin: Wow.

Shteyngart: It looked out on the mall or whatever. But it looked like the Marriott, in a way, which—I like Marriotts—I’m just saying.

Rosin: So it’s just a plain—it’s like a hotel room.

Shteyngart: It’s like a hotel room.

Rosin: With a window.

Shteyngart: And I had two bathrooms.

Rosin: For yourself?

Shteyngart: Just for myself, I know. Well, I think the idea of these suites is that more than one person goes on them, right?

But there’s this—the Royal Bling. The Royal Bling is the jewelry store, such as it is, on board. And they introduced this thing called the something chalice. It’s a $100,000 chalice, and it entitles you to drink for free on Royal Caribbean once you’ve bought it.

So this thing is hilarious. Just the concept of it is insane. Everyone’s trying to figure out: Should I buy this? What’s up with this? Should I get it for my 28-year-old kid? Will it earn out? How much does he drink? How much can I drink ?

So I talked to the wonderful Serbian sales lady. Everyone’s country of origin, if you’re on the crew, is listed on their tag.

Rosin: Really?

Shteyngart: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Rosin: That’s weird.

Shteyngart: So you’re like, Oh, it’s Amir from Pakistan , or whatever.

Rosin: That’s so weird.

Shteyngart: Yeah. And she was, I don’t know, something Olga from Serbia, and she was amazing. They’re all amazing. Every crew member is excellent.

And she was like, Well —she was trying to sell me the $100,000 chalice. I said, It’s really gold ? And she’s like, No, it’s gold-plated. We couldn’t afford . She said, If it was really gold, it would be, like, a million dollars . I’m like, Okay . And then it has diamonds, and she’s like, Well, they’re actually cubic zirconia, again, because it would cost, like, $10 million if they were diamonds . I’m like, All right, this thing is sounding worse and worse .

And then she said, But, you know, if you already have everything, this is one more thing you can have . And I thought that was almost like a Zen haiku, but about the American condition. If you already have everything, this is one more thing you can have.

Rosin: So the ship has neighborhoods and levels and status in a very explicit way. And cruisers care about that. They care about it in a very deep, almost spiritual way that Gary didn’t quite appreciate until after he’d written the story.

Shteyngart: One of the funniest things—somebody was telling me to look this up on, I guess, Reddit.

Rosin: Mm-hmm.

Shteyngart: There’s a huge cruising community. I think half a million people are on that thing and, boy, were they pissed!

Rosin : That’s after the break.

Rosin: During his time on the Icon of the Seas, Gary Shteyngart met a few memorable characters. There was the younger couple he called, “Mr. and Mrs. Ayn Rand,” who he drank with a few times. And the couple’s couple friends, he described as quote: “bent psychos out of a Cormac McCarthy novel.” And then, there was “Duck Necklace.”

Shteyngart: He’s fascinating. He was drunk all the time, and he was being arrested—there is a security force—for photobombing.

Rosin: I wonder if the laws are different on the ship. Like photobombing is a felony.

Shteyngart: I’d love to do Law & Order: Icon of the Seas . That would be amazing.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) Right.

Shteyngart: But then he went on this long, drunken, very elegiac thing about, Well, I’m 62, and if I fall off the ship, I’m fine with that. I just don’t want a shark to eat me. And I believe in God, and the Mayans have a prophecy . He just went on and on. And then I looked him up and, when not drunk and getting arrested on a ship, he’s the pillar of his community in North Chicago. There’s so much more to this guy. So he was my favorite, I think.

Rosin: So maybe the ship creates a space where, if you’re grinding and working every day and being a pillar of the community, the ship is your space to contemplate and be philosophical or be an idiot or whatever it is you can’t be elsewhere.

Shteyngart: Yeah. And I think you’re right. And I think a couple of people, especially older people—I mean, 62 isn’t that old—but a couple of the older people were trying to summarize their lives through their cruising experiences, including, for one woman, realizing that she wanted to divorce her husband. All these things happened on cruises.

It’s like the cruise is the time when they’re—the way people say when you’re off land, it’s the rules of the sea. You’re in international waters; you can do whatever you want. I think for some people, the cruise affords them some weird way to look back on their lives and to make large decisions or to celebrate either happy moments or sometimes almost-elegiac moments. There were all these people who looked like they were about to die.

Rosin: Literally?

Shteyngart: Literally about to die, clearly coming off of chemo or on an oxygen tank. Or they had T-shirts celebrating a good cancer remission. So definitely there’s—and I hope this article, despite its very satirical tone, lends some of that poignancy. Because people are people, and this is the kind of stuff that they want to do, either to make an important moment in their lives or to think on the things that have happened to them.

But I think that’s one of the reasons people were so butt hurt on that Reddit—to use a term of art—because I wasn’t just going after a hobby or something. I was going after something that is so key to their identity.

Rosin: That’s interesting that people perceived it so badly. You both appreciated the earnestness of it and made fun of it at the same time. It was satirical but also present.

Shteyngart: I don’t know. I think people really wanted a quote-unquote “journalist” to give an honest review of the ship. But look, I got this assignment by saying, What level of sarcasm do you want ? But I didn’t deliver 11 on the sarcasm scale. I think it was, like, six or seven.

I realized the humor part of this—and this is what I talk about in my humor class—the human comedy is that no one understands quite who they are. So I may go around thinking I’m a giraffe, and I keep talking about, Oh, I’m so tall, and I eat leaves off of tall trees . But in reality, I’m an aardvark. I’m a small furry creature, burrowing in the bush.

And that, to me, felt like a lot of what people were saying on the ship. People would say, I feel like I’m on an adventure . And I’m like, Yes, but we’re in a mall, as you say this, that’s slowly steaming to all these islands . But many of the passengers wouldn’t even get off on these islands. They love the ship so much they wouldn’t leave.

And I’ll say this, also: One of the most important things that happened to me—I was in Charlotte Amalie, which I guess is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands or Saint Thomas, and I’d wandered off the beaten path. And this elderly Rastafarian gentleman looked at me, and with the most—I’ve never been talked to like this—but with a sneer beyond anything, he said, Redneck .

And I guess I did have a red neck at this point, and I was wearing this vibrant cap with the Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean logo. But I realized, also, that people hate these cruisers. They hate what they do to their islands, their environment, everything. There’s just so much more happening here than just a bunch of drunken Americans on a ship.

And this also goes to the fact that, obviously, there’s all these people, mostly from the global South, working below decks. They work nonstop. And it’s interesting because a lot of the passengers, they would say, Wow, these people work so hard , with a kind of like, Oh, I wish everybody back home would work so hard , or something like that. But at the same time, I was listening to a comedy act, and the comedian was making fun of quote-unquote “shithole countries.”

So there’s definitely a kind of—even though cruisers keep talking about how much they love the people on the ship, it doesn’t translate.

Rosin: It doesn’t translate. It doesn’t translate into politics.

Okay, I’m turning it back on you—your story. You came into the boat with the story that Gary is a party guy, and Gary’s gonna have parties in Gary’s suite. So what did you realize along the way?

Shteyngart: Yeah, it was like being an immigrant all over again. And, for me, assimilation into America was a very, very long process. So the meatball, or the lack of success of the meatball, really reminded me of that, too—like I’m always a step behind.

And this did feel like, Oh, I was always a step behind . People would have casual conversations in the elevators, just shooting the shit, and I would try to banter with them. But I would always get it a little bit wrong, and I would realize it, too. Like, there was a lot of wind one day, and I was like, Oof, the frost is really on the pumpkin .

Shteyngart: But I realized that that’s probably said in the fall, right? Before Thanksgiving. Is that right? The pumpkin is, you know—

Rosin: So Immigrant Gary comes roaring back in those moments.

Shteyngart: Oh, my god.

Rosin: You want to be, like, Sophisticated Writer Gary.

Shteyngart: Absolutely. So I was always sweating bullets. Like, I want to get into the conversation. And this was a big thing because there was a big contest, several contests—the semifinals or something? Quarterfinals? I don’t know—between the big teams. And I had no idea what the hell was going on, but everybody was talking about it. And everybody was wearing paraphernalia—that’s the other thing.

Rosin: Paraphernalia. ( Laughs. ) You’re referring to team T-shirts.

Shteyngart: But also everything! I don’t know. Name it: hats, T-shirts, all kinds of crap. And I had nothing. I had meatball, you know.

Shteyngart: Look, the preparation for this article should have—I should have bought T-shirts with sports.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) T-shirts with sports.

Shteyngart: And then I should have talked to people about all the rules of football. Maybe there’s a documentary that I can watch, something like that. And then maybe that would have been it.

Rosin: Okay, so I’m reading this essay about this cruise ship, which has a little bit of politics, a little bit of cult, a little bit of status obsession. What am I understanding about America?

Shteyngart: Well, I think we are, in some ways, a country that has been losing religion for a while. I know this is a strange approach to it, but people are looking for something to fill the void. Especially, among the hardworking middle class I think is where you feel it quite a bit. And I think because Americans are never satisfied, everyone’s always looking for, What’s my ancestry? Where do I come from ? Somehow just the term American is not enough to fulfill people’s expectations of what life is.

Rosin: Of what they belong to. Like, what they’re rooted in. Yeah.

Shteyngart: And for me, this is an easier question because I actually just want to be an American. I’m an immigrant who just wants to be an American, right?

So, on this ship, what I was seeing was people desperately trying to belong to some kind of idea. And I feel like the cruising life, because these people are so obsessed with the cruises that they wear these—half the people or more were wearing T-shirts somehow commemorating this voyage on the first day of the cruise. So I think I really offended a religion. I insulted not just a strange hobby that people engage in, but a way of life.

And I think that’s the future. Trying to understand America today is to try to understand people desperately grasping for something in the absence of more traditional ideas of what it means to an American, right? And this is one strange manifestation of that. But it was, for me, an ultimately unfulfilling one.

You know, God bless David Foster Wallace for being brilliant enough to start the genre, although there were a couple pieces before him, but the modern incarnation of this. Let’s stop this. I did not solve the question of what America is. None of that got solved.

Rosin: So what are we R.I.P.ing? We’re not just R.I.P.ing the cruise ship piece? I just want to end the episode this way. R.I.P. what?

Shteyngart: No, no, no, no. I don’t have that kind of cultural might.

Rosin: This episode of Radio Atlantic was produced by Jinae West. It was edited by Claudine Ebeid, fact-checked by Isabel Cristo, and engineered by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor. I’m Hanna Rosin. Thank you for listening.

Rosin: But was there a monkey on the ship?

Shteyngart: No, there wasn’t. The monkey was on Saint Kitts.

Rosin: Oh, okay. I remembered that wrong.

Shteyngart: No, no, no. The Royal Caribbean did not spring for a monkey. They had a golden retriever, and he wore, like, a cap or something? But see, so everybody was going gaga, and I’m like, You’ve never seen a golden freaking retriever? What kind of lives do you live on land ?

Rosin: Right, right. But it’s an Icon golden retriever, so it’s different.

Shteyngart: It’s an Icon golden retriever, and he’s, like, I guess, an emotional support dog for these people.

Press Releases

Construction begins on royal caribbean’s first royal beach club.

Abril de 2024 - Inaugurado en 2025, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island de Royal Caribbean será un pedazo de paraíso de casi siete hectáreas en Nassau, las Bahamas. La cultura y la gente de las Bahamas serán el corazón de esta incomparable experiencia de playa, que contará con tres impresionantes piscinas, dos playas, bares en la piscina, cabañas privadas, lugares para comer y beber, y mucho más.

Abril de 2024 - Inaugurado en 2025, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island de Royal Caribbean será un pedazo de paraíso de casi siete hectáreas en Nassau, las Bahamas. La cultura y la gente de las Bahamas serán el corazón de esta incomparable experiencia de playa, que contará con tres impresionantes piscinas, dos playas, bares en la piscina, cabañas privadas, lugares para comer y beber, y mucho más. 

April 2024 – Royal Caribbean and The Bahamas broke ground on the cruise line’s new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas. Opening in 2025, the first in the Royal Beach Club Collection will debut a memorable Bahamian beach day for vacationers and a unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will own up to 49% equity.*

* Photo from left to right: Phylicia Woods-Hanna, director of investments of The Bahamas; Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International; Dr. Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness of The Bahamas; Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; Philip Davis, prime minister of The Bahamas; Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; I. Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation of The Bahamas; JoBeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy and transport of The Bahamas; Philip Simon Jr., president and general manager, Royal Beach Club and Royal Caribbean International Bahamas; and Russell Benford, vice president of government relations – Americas, Royal Caribbean Group . Abril de 2024 - Royal Caribbean y las Bahamas han puesto la primera piedra del nuevo Royal Beach Club Paradise Island de la línea de cruceros en Nassau, las Bahamas. El primero del Royal Beach Club Collection, que se inaugurará en 2025, ofrecerá a los aventureros un día de playa memorable en las Bahamas y una asociación público-privada única, en la que los bahameños serán propietarios de hasta 49% de las acciones del club de playa*. *Foto de izquierda a derecha: Phylicia Woods-Hanna, directora de inversiones de las Bahamas; Jay Schneider, director de innovación de productos de Royal Caribbean International; Dr. Michael Darville, ministro de salud y bienestar de Bahamas; Jason Liberty, presidente y CEO de Royal Caribbean Group; Philip Davis, primer ministro de las Bahamas; Michael Bayley, presidente y CEO de Royal Caribbean International; I. Chester Cooper, viceprimer ministro y ministro de turismo, inversiones y aviación de las Bahamas; JoBeth Coleby-Davis, ministra de energía y transporte de las Bahamas; Philip Simon Jr, presidente y director general de Royal Beach Club y Royal Caribbean International Bahamas; y Russell Benford, vicepresidente de relaciones gubernamentales para las Americas en Royal Caribbean Group.

MIAMI, April 22, 2024 – Royal Caribbean International and The Bahamas marked the start of a new adventure today as the cruise line broke ground on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island , the 17-acre beach day experience on Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas. The beginning of construction was celebrated on location, where Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley were joined by The Bahamas' Prime Minister Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper to commemorate the major milestone.

The first of the Royal Beach Club Collection will take shape in the coming months ahead of its opening in 2025 , and at the heart of the experience will be the island nation of The Bahamas. From the location – one of the island’s most idyllic beaches – to the Bahamian food, culture and staff , to a unique public-private partnership  in which  Bahamians will own up to 49% equity, the all-new beach club combines the beauty and spirit of The Bahamas with signature Royal Caribbean touches across the experience, service and design.

“With the signing of this Heads of Agreement for the development of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, we embark on this project to further enhance the vitality of our tourism product. Signing today’s agreement, we add another world-class experience to our tourism offerings. And even more importantly, we take a bold step toward greater Bahamian empowerment in the tourism industry,” said Honorable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas.

Vacationers will be welcomed to their ultimate beach day at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, starting with the vibrant and charming local architecture crafted by a local Bahamian architectural firm and the exceptional views of The Bahamas’ renowned turquoise waters and white sand beaches. With more details to be revealed in the coming months, what’s in store ranges from three stunning pools with swim-up bars to private cabanas , four island-style spots for quick bites and local fare, and experiences that feature local artisans and live music .

“Marking more than the beginning of the construction process, today’s groundbreaking event symbolizes partnership, momentum and continued economic development for so many Bahamian entrepreneurs and the entire community,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We are grateful to our partners for their support, especially the Bahamian government, who stand with us here today in celebration of what is to come.”

Local businesses and entrepreneurs will also manage parts of the construction and experience, which will generate hundreds of jobs in the short and long term. To date, Bahamians have participated in workshops to develop authentic local dishes, music, entertainment, sports and activities as well as design ideas that reflect the true Bahamian spirit and style.

“As we break ground on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, together with the government and the people of The Bahamas, we are celebrating what partnership and innovation can achieve. This will be yet one more reason, in Nassau’s bright future, to experience a destination we have visited since the very beginning of Royal Caribbean more than 50 years ago,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The beauty and charm of the island are why we chose to debut the Royal Beach Club Collection in Nassau, and with the collaboration and support of local entrepreneurs and the wider community, we know that what we create will far exceed everything we imagined.”

Once complete, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is expected to host an average of 2,000 guests. Vacationers will access the beach club via a ferry ride from the Nassau Cruise Port and return through historic downtown Nassau near the world-famous Straw Market.

More details about the first Royal Beach Club, including the opening date and pricing, will be revealed on Royal Caribbean’s website soon.

About Royal Caribbean International   Royal Caribbean International , part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line’s game-changing ships and private destinations revolutionize vacations with innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 21 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the line’s top-rated private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visiting www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com . For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.

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CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S FIRST ROYAL BEACH CLUB

The New Experience on Paradise Island in The Bahamas Opens in 2025

MIAMI , April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean International and The Bahamas marked the start of a new adventure today as the cruise line broke ground on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island , the 17-acre beach day experience on Paradise Island in Nassau , The Bahamas . The beginning of construction was celebrated on location, where Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley were joined by The Bahamas'   Prime Minister Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper to commemorate the major milestone.

The first of the Royal Beach Club Collection will take shape in the coming months ahead of its opening in 2025 , and at the heart of the experience will be the island nation of The Bahamas . From the location – one of the island's most idyllic beaches – to the Bahamian food, culture and staff , to a unique public-private partnership  in which  Bahamians will own up to 49% equity ,  the all-new beach club combines the beauty and spirit of The Bahamas with signature Royal Caribbean touches across the experience, service and design.

"With the signing of this Heads of Agreement for the development of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island , we embark on this project to further enhance the vitality of our tourism product. Signing today's agreement, we add another world-class experience to our tourism offerings. And even more importantly, we take a bold step toward greater Bahamian empowerment in the tourism industry," said Honorable Philip Davis , Prime Minister of The Bahamas .

Vacationers will be welcomed to their ultimate beach day at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island , starting with the  vibrant and charming local architecture crafted by a local Bahamian architectural firm and the exceptional views of The Bahamas' renowned turquoise waters and white sand beaches. With more details to be revealed in the coming months, what's in store ranges from three stunning pools with swim-up bars to private cabanas , four island-style spots for quick bites and local fare, and experiences that feature local artisans and live music . 

"Marking more than the beginning of the construction process, today's groundbreaking event symbolizes partnership, momentum and continued economic development for so many Bahamian entrepreneurs and the entire community," said Jason Liberty , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group . "We are grateful to our partners for their support, especially the Bahamian government, who stand with us here today in celebration of what is to come."

Local businesses and entrepreneurs will also manage parts of the construction and experience, which will generate hundreds of jobs in the short and long term. To date, Bahamians have participated in workshops to develop authentic local dishes, music, entertainment, sports and activities as well as design ideas that reflect the true Bahamian spirit and style.

"As we break ground on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island , together with the government and the people of The Bahamas , we are celebrating what partnership and innovation can achieve. This will be yet one more reason, in Nassau's bright future, to experience a destination we have visited since the very beginning of Royal Caribbean more than 50 years ago," said Michael Bayley , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International . "The beauty and charm of the island are why we chose to debut the Royal Beach Club Collection in Nassau , and with the collaboration and support of local entrepreneurs and the wider community, we know that what we create will far exceed everything we imagined."

The construction plans, created in close collaboration with the Bahamian government, also include the cruise line's  restoration of the native habitat that will help protect wildlife during the build and for many years to come . Guiding the overall development of the beach club experience are Royal Caribbean Group's sustainability vision and proven practices as well as The Bahamas' stringent environmental protection and planning process.

Once complete, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is expected to host an average of 2,000 guests. Vacationers will access the beach club via a ferry ride from the Nassau Cruise Port and return through historic downtown Nassau near the world-famous Straw Market.  

More details about the first Royal Beach Club , including the opening date and pricing, will be revealed on Royal Caribbean's website soon.

*NOTE TO EDITOR: Photo from left to right: Phylicia Woods-Hanna , director of investments of The Bahamas ; Jay Schneider , Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International ; Dr. Michael Darville , minister of health and wellness of The Bahamas ; Jason Liberty , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group ; Philip Davis , prime minister of The Bahamas ; Michael Bayley , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International ; I. Chester Cooper , deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation of The Bahamas ; JoBeth Coleby-Davis , minister of energy and transport of The Bahamas ; Philip Simon Jr ., president and general manager, Royal Beach Club and Royal Caribbean International Bahamas; and Russell Benford , vice president of government relations – Americas , Royal Caribbean Group .  

About Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean International , part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line's game-changing ships and private destinations revolutionize vacations with innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted "Best Cruise Line Overall " for 21 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the line's top-rated private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas .

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visiting www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com . For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com , call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean International

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I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.

• I booked a stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships.
• For $2,000 a week, the 179-square-foot cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and a view.
• I thought I'd feel cramped in the room, but it had everything I needed and left no space unused.

In April 2022, I cruised on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas . At the time, it was the largest cruise ship in the world , but the title has since been replaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas .

During my voyage, the ship sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas .

For $2,000, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom on deck eight. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000. Take a look inside the 179-square-foot space.

My room was a mid-tier cabin at the front of deck eight.

I booked a mid-tier room — a step above interior staterooms , which have no window. It's a category below staterooms with a balcony , and two steps below a suite.

My cabin was on the same deck as Central Park, an outdoor space with 20,000 plants.

I thought it was the most relaxing area on the ship, so I enjoyed being close by.

When I stepped inside my stateroom, I was surprised at how big it felt.

Right away, I thought the cabin made great use of a small space.

To operate most of the electricity in the room, I had to insert my room key into a slot on the wall.

I appreciated the energy-saving system.

On one side of the room, I had a mirror and a desk with several outlets to charge electronics with USB, American, and European ports.

I thought the desk was useful for eating, as well as storing daily flyers about the day's events.

Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

The desk drawers were mostly empty aside from a hair dryer, which I didn't end up using.

Across from the desk, I had a couch positioned in between two closets.

Inside each closet, I found a rack of hangers, shelving, and a small safe. I thought it was plenty of space for a weeklong journey

Next to the couch and desk area, a small bathroom used clever storage hacks, like placing the trash can and toilet paper under the counter.

In the bathroom, there were two glasses, a bar of soap, and a two-in-one hair and body wash.

At the top of the shower, a pullout clothing line was useful for drying my bathing suits.

Each night, my stateroom attendant replenished towels and brought flyers and schedules for the next day.

Sometimes, the towels were folded creatively to look like animals.

I noticed that my king-size bed at the back of the room was actually two twin beds pushed together.

All Royal Caribbean cabins come with this configuration, according to its website , so they may be separated for additional guests. I often woke up in the crevice.

A large flat-screen TV was mounted across from the bed with storage hooks below.

Skinny nightstands on either side of the bed held lamps, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

Because I booked an ocean-view room, I was able to look out over the front of the ship from a window above my bed.

The window was equipped with an electronic shade that could be opened during the day for grand views and closed when I was ready to sleep.

While I thought the room might have been a tight space for a couple with a lot of luggage or a family, it was just right for me.

And watching the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea from the comfort of my room was the best part.

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INTRODUCING

Adventure the royal way.

Nothing compares to a Royal Caribbean vacation — on land or at sea. Our exclusive private island destinations and Royal Beach Clubs are filled with gamechanging experiences of every kind. Whether you’re looking for action-packed thrills, beachside chill or anything in between. The world's boldest adventures await you.

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Welcome to the club.

Introducing the Royal Beach Club℠ Collection, an exciting new way to chill, bond, and celebrate — Royal Caribbean® style. From picturesque beaches in The Bahamas to cabana lounging in Cozumel, your ultimate beach day is here.

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Carnival may copy popular Royal Caribbean offer

C arnival and Royal Caribbean are the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox of the cruise industry, except it's hard to know which company is the market leader. Both cruise lines dominate the family cruise market and have millions of passengers in their loyalty program.

In many ways, the cruise space has become an arms race with Carnival and Royal trying to outdo each other. Carnival added a roller coaster to its Excel-class ships so Royal Caribbean built the biggest waterpark at sea on its latest ship, Icon of the Seas.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line shuts down illegal on-board activity

The two companies won't admit they're throwing haymakers at each other trying for a knockout, but they do seem to compete for the same customers. It's very much like Disney World and Universal Studios trying to add the latest rides and the freshest intellectual property. 

Not every move made by the competing cruise lines involves building bigger, better ships and new private destinations. Royal Caribbean  ( RCL )  has scored a big hit both in terms of revenue and social media coverage with its ongoing Ultimate World Cruise.  

The sailing, which could be purchased as a whole or in segments, promised to be the adventure of a lifetime.

"You can spend 274 nights bonding with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents. Or pick a corner of the globe and explore every inch of it on one of four Ultimate World Cruise segments — each an immersive voyage of 60+ nights. Connect with countless distinct cultures, soak up the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, and marvel at World Wonders that showcase mankind’s boundless imagination," the cruise line shared.

Carnival hints at a World Cruise

Royal Caribbean's Deluxe World Cruise has gotten a lot of social media attention because it's fascinating for people to spend so much time together in a confined space. It's an event that has led to a lot of drama, but the coverage has gotten the cruise line a lot of attention.

Carnival does not have a comparable cruise. It's longest cruises are repositioning trips where ships move from Australia to Seattle. Carnival Luminosa regularly makes that trip back and forth each year.

The cruise line's brand ambassador John Heald threw out the idea of a potential world cruise on his Facebook page.

I wonder if it’s time for us to consider doing a world cruise? 150 days. I wonder if we could fill a Spirit Class ship? Could anyone, would anyone do this with us?

Spirit-class ships are smaller Carnival ships designed to be sailed in any weather. They have an indoor main pool area so passengers can still swim in colder climates.

Carnival customers respond to a world cruise

Heald only posts speculative things to his Facebook page when he wants a reaction. His followers did not disappoint. Many like the idea of a world cruise, but question the logistics.

"I would love to do a world cruise. My challenge today is that I don’t have that much vacation time. If ship internet was to the point that I could be confident I’d be able to work remotely, I’d definitely consider it! Especially if there’s a business center those of us who have to work can use so that we don’t disturb our spouses in our cabins if we have to work overnight due to the time differences," Heather Corson Moffo wrote.

Many posters seemed to like the idea of sailing the world on a Spirit-class ship.

"If I was retired, I’d do this in a heartbeat! Especially Spirit class (perfect size!!)," wrote Tracey McPhee.

"I’d be there in a heartbeat!!! Especially on a Spirit class, our favorite!!!!!!!," posted a clearly enthusiastic Tonja Senn.

The post garnered over 1,650 comments with nearly all being in support of the idea of Carnival offering a world cruise.  

Are you planning a cruise this year? You’re not alone. Here’s where ships are headed

The ships are bigger — one based at PortMiami has 18 passenger decks, seven swimming pools and a water slide park.

The trips are more ambitiou s — one vessel left downtown Miami in December for 274 days while another will depart Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale this December and visit five continents.

Viking’s World Voyage I, after departing Port Everglades, will visit Santa Barbara, California, sail up and down the Pacific Ocean, stop in Java, Indonesia, traverse the South China Sea, then visit Ho Chi Minh City and dock for three days in Yangon, Myanmar, just a sample of its itinerary.

Then there are the companies and countries not previously associated with cruising that are looking to get their feet wet: Ritz Carlton, Japanese conglomerate Mitsui, even the Saudi Arabia government.

The global cruise industry, for which South Florida is a capital , has not only recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and its foggy aftermath, it continues to set one record after another. But are cruises giving travelers what they want, with bigger ships and new ports?

One thing is for sure: The cruise industry is navigating uncharted waters.

Record numbers of cruise passengers

Travelers, many leaving from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, are back on the high seas. Last year, more than 31 million people across the world took an oceangoing cruise, an all-time high. That’s a huge increase over the 20 million in 2022, but also exceeded the pre-pandemic all-time high in 2019.

And in 2024, another record is expected: More than 34 million are estimated to hit the seas, and nearly 40 million million by 2027, according to a new report from the trade group Cruise Lines International Association, known as CLIA.

While the growth is global, South Florida has a captain’s seat. PortMiami, Florida’s largest port, set a record for passengers, more than 7 million, during fiscal year 2023. That exceeded the 6.8 million passengers in fiscal year 2019.

The record activity is reflected in several new ships sailing out of PortMiami, including Oceania’s Vista, Carnival Cruise Line Costa Venezia and Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas arrived in January at what will be its home port. The world’s largest cruise ship has more natural light and space on board with ocean views than its previous ships. Beds can even be adjusted to face the water.

Port Everglades is also growing and serving as a formidable competitor . In fiscal year 2023, the port drew just over three million passengers. While below its high-water mark of 3.9 million, the Fort Lauderdale port expects to reach that volume in 2025, the port CEO at the time told the Miami Herald last year.

In November, Disney Cruise Line started sailing from Port Everglades. The Disney Dream is based at the port and features shows with popular Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters and meet-and-greets at sea, seeking to draw children and families.

Cruises, long seen as post-retirement travel, are luring newcomers. According to the CLIA report, 27% of cruise passengers the past two years were new to cruising. Carriers like Virgin Voyages, with U.S. headquarters in Plantation and a new chic terminal at PortMiami, are catering to young adults.

The average age of a cruiser in the past year was 46, and the majority of cruises were Gen Z or Millennials, the two youngest groups.

The future of cruising

The type of passenger cruising combined with the continued overall growth “is unprecedented,” Josh Weinstein, President, CEO and Chief Climate Officer at Carnival Corp., said from the stage at the Seatrade Cruise Global annual meeting at the Miami Beach Convention Center in April. He expects that to continue.

“Our bookings for 2025 are better than they were last year at this point for 2024,” he said.

Some industry analysts, economists and academics had previously forecast a surge in demand for cruises in 2022 or early 2023 because so many people felt they lost time during the pandemic. But they thought the numbers would eventually subside as people got back to routine.

Yet, “the concept for pent-up demand for cruising is gone,” Weinstein said.

Other post-pandemic trends, like spending time with family and friends, are helping to boost cruising.

“The appreciation of building memories with your friends and families coming out of COVID is at extraordinary high levels,” Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said at the Miami Beach conference. He noted that cruisers sharing social photos of their families is good for advertising.

Ships becoming larger is increasingly appealing to multi-generation families because of the variety of activities.

“They are trying to include more experiences and more facilities: more dining, more entertainment, more shopping, spas and entertainment,” said Stewart Chiron, a longtime cruise expert who writes as The Cruise Guy.

“The future is incredibly bright,” Sommer said.

And the cruise companies want to keep it going. Norwegian Cruise Line said this month it had ordered eight new cruise ships. They will be delivered between 2026 and 2036.

Meanwhile, another cruise line carrier, Viking, recently has filed for an initial public offering. The company did not specify number or shares or size of IPO, but its prospectus showed a $1.86 billion loss in 2023 on revenues of $4.7 billion in 2023, up from $3.2 billion in 2022.

Viking’s World Voyage I, a 180-day trip, departs from Port Everglades in December . The line’s expedition ships, Octantis, Polaris, and Mars, also are based in Fort Lauderdale.

One likely advantage for South Florida’s ports is that the United States keeps driving demand for cruises.

The number of passengers worldwide increased 6.8% compared to 2019, but the U.S. saw a 19% rise over that period. About 16.9 million people took cruises last year. That number dwarfed second-place Germany with 2.5 million. Meanwhile, Brazil grew by 30% and Italy grew by 24%, with Europe seeing a 6.5% increase.

The one place that did not share in the growth is China, which had 157,000 cruisers, a 92% fall from 1.9 million in 2019.

“That’s where we’re seeing that major lag, in Asia,” said Chris Mastrippolito, director of global research for CLIA.

Where are cruise ships heading?

Even with all the choices, people are still taking cruises mostly to the Caribbean.

In 2023, the Caribbean/Bahamas/Bermuda run was tops worldwide with 12.9 million visitors, 7.3% higher than in 2019 and nearly one million more visitors.

The Mediterranean grew by 23% to 5.5 million visitors. The two biggest gainers by percentage were South America which increased by 34% and Alaska by 36%.

Not all signs point to continued euphoria for cruise companies. Some industry experts see slower growth in the coming years.

For example, the number of ships increased by 3.4% from last year, but that was less than the 5% and 4.1% increases in the two prior years, according to data from Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.

Caution signs for the cruise industry

Cruise companies have ordered 51 new ships this year, an increase from the COVID years.

Yet that number is still less than half of the industry’s peak year, in 2019, when 125 new ships were ordered.

“I don’t think we’re going to see 2019 levels ... for a while,” said Christian Savelli, director of cruise analytics for research firm Tourism Economics “We’re going to see a lull, a flattening of the supply.”

A ‘disconnect’ between passengers and cruising?

But are cruise companies offering what passengers want?

A survey commissioned by Tourism Economics found that while 11% fewer cruisers prefer larger vessels, with more than 3,000 passengers, 15% more passengers like small vessels, with fewer than 500 passengers.

Savelli described that as a “potential disconnect between cruisers preference for small and mid-size cruise ships with current and future fleet mix.”

Global unrest and tension and the ongoing war in the Middle East are also likely to affect where cruisers can go. Days after Iran attacked Israel, Norwegian canceled at least 14 cruises on 7 ships in 2025.

Several of those canceled trips, on the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Viva, were due to security concerns. A March 28 letter to passengers said: “We have been monitoring the situation in Israel, and despite our best hopes that it would de-escalate, we have made the decision to alter published itineraries that transit through and around the region.”

Since the terror group Hamas attacked Israel and the Gaza war started in October, cruise companies have been canceling trips to the Middle East.

Still, one thing cruise passengers can count on is having more options. All three of Norwegian ships headed to the Red Sea and near Israel in 2025 were re-routed, one of them to the Caribbean, and ahead of its schedule.

Then there is Puerto Rico which is expecting to upgrade its terminals after receiving a $100 million investment from Global Ports Holding so that it can accommodate big ships. Unconventional players like Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and Japan’s Mitsui Ocean Cruises already offer cruises and are growing.

Saudi Arabia is looking to start a cruise industry through Cruise Saudi, a government-owned company funded by the country’s sovereign wealth fund. It currently has three ports operational and hopes to have 10 up and running by 2030, Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said in an interview.

The firm also expects to have its first own cruise ship sail later this year, he estimated, with about a 3,000-passenger capacity. “What we’re doing is — it’s a first — we are developing a product for the Arabian market,” he said.

Cruise Saudi also has a joint venture with the luxury hotel brand Aman Hotel and Resorts to develop a ship for about 100 guests. Aman is owned by Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin, who separately is developing a new hotel in Miami Beach.

Then there is a more traditional carrier, from Europe, looking where others are not. The MSC Group is hoping to see a resurgence in China and looking to increase number of cruises there, its executive chairman of the cruise division at MSC Group Pierfrancesco Vago, said this month at the Seatrade conference in Miami Beach.

“I don’t think people are building ships just for the sake of it,” he said. “Ships are mobile and can go to where the demand is.”

This story was originally published April 25, 2024, 5:00 AM.

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