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Ultimate World Cruise journey goes viral as social media users track 9-month trip

VIDEO: Cruise lines offering longer journeys and new experiences despite setbacks

As vacation-goers around the world settle back into daily life after exciting holiday excursions, one group of ambitious adventure seekers is just getting started.

Royal Caribbean's nine-month cruise, known as The Ultimate World Cruise, left Miami on Dec. 10 for a massive global excursion that has gone viral on TikTok, as passengers share their unique experiences with the rest of the world.

Since embarking on the high seas three weeks ago, the hashtag #ultimateworldcruise has garnered over 150 million views on TikTok, with videos from passengers giving followers a behind-the-scenes look at the 274-day circumnavigational adventure.

MORE: Cruise lines offering longer journeys and new experiences despite setbacks

"They're enjoying coming along for the trip through our eyes and getting to see places that they wouldn't normally see," said passenger Audrey Martucci, whose TikTok account -- which she runs with her husband Joe -- has skyrocketed to 71,000 followers since the couple first started posting videos from their trip.

The Martuccis have even been dubbed the trip's unofficial "mom and dad" by their followers.

"We get some comments back to us sometimes on our TikTok that have really touched our heart, where someone says, 'I've lost track, I lost touch with family,'" said Joe Martucci. "They say, 'You make me feel like part of a family again.'"

The day-to-day routines -- and tribulations -- of world cruise passengers have fascinated TikTok users, who appear to be invested in the trip.

MORE: 3-year cruise canceled weeks before setting sail, prompting passenger backlash

Beyond the firsthand accounts from the passengers, videos from onlookers reacting to the cruise's daily events have also gained attention on TikTok, with some garnering millions of views.

The marathon cruise is expected to make stops in seven continents, 65 countries, and over 150 ports of call before finally docking back at the trip's origin port in Miami. For passengers unable to commit to nine months of international travel, the cruise also offered four separate segmented trips ranging from 63 nights to 87 nights, depending on the segment.

According to the Royal Caribbean website, the cheapest booking option for the Ultimate World Cruise is the Interior Stateroom, which is priced at $59,999 per person. The most expensive option listed is the Junior Stateroom, which is priced at $117,599 per person, with customers encouraged to call Royal Caribbean for pricing on "other suite categories."

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The vessel completing the tall task is the Serenade of the Seas, which has a guest capacity of 2,146 in 1,073 rooms, according to the cruise line's website. Some amenities onboard the ship include panoramic views, a mini-golf green and a variety of cuisines.

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Despite most passenger TikTok videos showing smooth sailing on the voyage so far, a logistical mix-up did temporarily impact one Ultimate World Cruise passenger.

Passenger Anthony Antoine told ABC News he was forced to stay behind in Brazil for a few days after a complication with Brazilian law, which he said did not allow him to onboard in the country. He was able to onboard in Uruguay later on.

"My family is like, 'Oh, poor Anthony, got stuck in Brazil!'" said Antoine.

The nine-month cruise is surprisingly not the longest voyage planned in the world of cruising. A 3.5-year trip is in the works from Villa Vie Residences, which plans to depart England in May of 2024 and complete its trip in West Palm Beach, Florida, in December 2027.

Life At Sea Cruises had a three year cruise planned, but postponed the trip in November, weeks before the ship was set to depart on its maiden voyage, after delays and logistical challenges involving the ship itself.

Such long voyages may not be for everyone. But according to Joe Martucci, the nine months afforded by The Ultimate World Cruise means he and his wife can take things at their own pace.

"On a seven-day cruise, you're so afraid you're gonna miss something -- but on this one, we just feel like we have all the time in the world," he said.

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The Ultimate World Cruise – A Look at Royal Caribbean’s Round the World Cruise 2023

World Cruises are an incredible way to get a taste of the world, see incredible architecture, historical wonders, experience different cultures, and be awestruck by breathtaking natural beauty all while on a cruise. Each year 13 or so cruise lines offer World Cruises. And, starting in winter 2023-2024 we can count one more. The draw of World Cruises have been so great that a cruise line that is known for ice rinks, robot bartenders, and aqua theaters is joining the many cruise lines offering them. That’s right, Royal Caribbean has announced a World Cruise . And, in true Royal Caribbean fashion, this world cruise is unlike any other. Just as they have pushed the envelope in cruise ship design, with this World Cruise itinerary they are pushing the boundaries of a World Cruise. “The Ultimate World Cruise” as they are calling it is a 274 night, 7-continent adventure. Let’s take a look at Royal Caribbean’s first Round the World Cruise 2023.

The Basics:

The Ultimate World Cruise by Royal Caribbean is sailing roundtrip from Miami in December of 2023.

Ship: Serenade of the Seas Departure: Miami, Florida (also offered in segments, see itinerary section below for more details) Dates: December 10, 2023 – September 10th, 2024 Cost: Starting at $60,999 per person (+port fees and taxes). 10% discount if paid in full by January 6, 2023.

What Makes Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise 2023 Different?

At nearly 9 months long, this is the longest world cruise out there.

It’s really the length of the itinerary that stands out – at 274 nights it’s 94 nights longer than the next longest World Cruise currently on the market. Oceania Cruises annually offers a World Cruise typically about 180 nights – however, adjusting departure dates can make a voyage with Oceania up to 196 nights. Anyway you design it though, 274 nights is by far the longest voyage offered as one continuous voyage.

It Visits All Seven Continents*

World Cruises rarely (if ever) repeat the same itinerary two years in a row. Really it’s rare that they would ever sail the same itinerary…ever. These itineraries have to stay interesting and engaging for World Cruise guests that are often repeat cruisers. Many have done the World Cruise year after year after year. This means that the guests want variety in their itineraries and may figure that if one year they explore Asia the next they may explore Antarctica. It is not a necessity to see everything as another World Cruise will (someday) happen.

Royal Caribbean’s round the world cruise is different. This cruise is like taking your bucket list and pouring it out over the map. It’s basically the itinerary of all the other World Cruises combined – *with the exception that while it technically visits Africa it only very lightly touches on the African continent.

There Are Some Good Perks

World Cruises are notorious for offering perks and amenities to the passengers (especially the ones that are completing the full voyage) that you wouldn’t find on an average cruise. On this particular voyage they are offering the “Seven Wonders” package for some of their most loyal cruisers in their Crown & Anchor loyalty program. The other inclusions are pretty good as well. Royal Caribbean is considered a main stream or contemporary cruise line and these inclusions are more along the lines of what is being included and offered by the luxury brands for their world cruises. Will this make other mainstream cruise lines increase what is included on future voyages? Only time will tell.

Other amenities for guests sailing on the complete Ultimate World Cruise 2023 are:

Round-trip business class airfare
pre-cruise hotel stay and welcome gala
transfers between airport, hotel, and ship
Deluxe beverage package for the entire voyage
“VOOM” Wi-Fi internet for entire voyage
Gratuities (this is a big one, think about the $15 or so usually per person/per day x 274, this is a huge savings!)
Laundry Service!! (Another big one, as how else would you pack for 9 months?)
Platinum Status and above loyalty members will have excursions to the Seven New World Wonders included.

If you are only sailing part of the voyage, there are still amenities:

Laundry Service!! (Another big one, as how else would you pack for 9 months?

*As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn a commission on eligible purchases

Can You Sail Just part of the Round the World Cruise?

Not if you don’t want to! This voyage is being offered either as an entire voyage but is also being broken up into four different and unique segments. While some guests will be on for the entire voyage it’s not necessary to be onboard for the entire voyage if you either don’t want to or simply aren’t able to.

This is a great opportunity for guests to try out Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Round the World Cruise 2023 experience for a shorter time, or maybe it’s just the time that would fit in their schedule. It can also be great for someone that has been wanting to explore a certain region for a bit longer and that segment of this itinerary happens to fit that bill. Some guests might be on for just one segment whereas others will be on for several segments and then some guests will be on for the entire cruise. Offering this voyage as segments as well as the entire voyage offers so many more opportunities for guests to experience this Ultimate World Cruise.

What is the Itinerary Like on Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise 2023?

The itinerary on this Round the World adventure is pretty good. If you’d like a complete look at the itinerary and an awesome video about this voyage, please check out this video where I review the cruise and itinerary with my friend (and incredible wealth of knowledge/travel professional) Joanne:

This itinerary does go around the world and visits some incredible places. There are a few things to note when reviewing the itinerary though:

Port times aren’t listed on the itinerary – yet. This means that some days could be shorter or longer in different ports than expected.
The large cities are listed versus where the ship is actually docked. While the ship will dock in one place that is near the big famous and large city, in those ports you will need to get transportation (or a tour) into the city itself. Examples of this are Rome (which is really Civitavecchia), Athens (Piraeus), Beijing (Tianjing), etc.
There aren’t a lot of overnights. Often on World Cruises of this length the ship would have overnights in many cities. This doesn’t seem to be the case on this itinerary. That’s not a bad thing and it will still give you a taste of the places, but it might not be as in depth as you would have gotten if the ship had overnighted there.
It doesn’t list which ports require tenders (yet). However, if you have any mobility challenges where using a tender or water taxi might pose challenging, please check out Royal Caribbean’s Accessible Cruise page for more information.

The Itinerary, in Four Parts:

If you were to sail on the entire voyage you would sail roundtrip from Miami on December 10th, 2023 and return September 10th, 2024. During that time you would visit 60+ countries, have the opportunity to visit 11 world wonders, and spend 274 nights onboard.

Segment 1: December 10th – February 11th Round the Horn: Americas and Antartica Expedition:

This segment begins in Miami on December 10th, 2023 and ends in Los Angeles on February 11th, 2024.

This ‘Round the Horn’ experience will visit 36 destinations in 64 nights around the Americas (mostly Central and South American). Highlights of this segment include Barbados, Devil’s Island, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Falkland Islands, Antartica, Ushuaia, Lima (with the potential to see Machu Picchu), Ecuador, and Mexico.

Segment 2: February 11th – May 9th Wonders of Asia and the Pacific, Expedition 02:

This segment starts in Los Angeles on February 11th and ends in Dubai on May 9th, 2024.

This Wonders of Asia and the Pacific expedition includes 40 destinations and is nearly 3 months long at 87 nights. This also includes the Pacific crossing which is the longest stretch of sea days on this itinerary (don’t worry, there will be plenty to do onboard and sea days are a great way to recharge!)

Highlights of this segment include Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand (North Island only), Australia (including options for the Great Barrier Reef), Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, China (including options for the Great Wall of China), Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India (including options to see the Taj Mahal – will likely require a flight), United Arab Emirates.

Segment 3: May 9th – July 4th Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med, Expedition 03

This segment starts in Dubai on May 9th and ends in Barcelona on July 4th.

During this expedition you will experience 44 destinations across 63 nights. Highlights include Oman, Jordan (with options for Petra and Wadi Rum), Egypt (with options to see the pyramids), Suez Canal transit, Israel, Cyprus, extensive Greece (lots of islands!), Turkey (options for Ephesus), Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Italy (including options for Pompeii, Rome), Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta, France, Spain.

Segment 4: July 4th – September 10th Capitals of Culture, Expedition 04:

This expedition starts in Barcelona on July 4th and ends in Miami on September 10th.

Highlights of this segment include Spain, Morocco (including Casablanca), Portugal, Ireland, France, England, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, New York City, Bermuda, Perfect Day at Coco Cay Bahamas.

Logistics and Things to Think About:

When thinking about booking a World Cruise it is easy to get caught up in the glamour of sailing the seven seas. The less glamorous side though is everything you need to do to get ready to sail. Being gone for 9 months is a long time. From who will water your plants to how you will get your prescriptions (or whether you can bring enough onboard), there’s a lot to think about to get ready to be away from home for 9 months. Here’s a few things to think about:

What visas do you need? Most cruise lines will supply you with a basic list. At the end of the day though it’s your responsibility to get the required visas.
Weatherizing your home – or finding a house sitter
Getting any important documents notarized and/or having a power of attorney – I never would have thought of this one until a situation recently happened in my life where we needed something notarized while at sea. Who knew it could be such an adventure?!
Mail forwarding/stopping your mail/having a trustworthy neighbor pick it up?
Prescriptions/medical needs – and, importantly – travel insurance!
Cell phone plans – I love my plan through Google Fi which has allowed me to use my phone (without roaming fees) around the world (referral link)
Credit Cards without international fees! I use Chase Sapphire Preferred and have enjoyed it’s point system , both for travel rewards, the ability to transfer it to travel partners, but also for other cash back options as well. Plus, there’s a huge sign on points bonus that would easily pay for an international flight.

Will There Be the Same Crew for the Entire Voyage?

There needs to be some crew change at some point. And, that includes some of the higher ranking crew, too. 274 nights is 9 months. That is a long time! Can you imagine working every single day for 9 months? (Now, some of you surely can, but the majority of the work force expects to have a day off at some point.)

While some crew members will work for 9 or 10 month contracts and some will work the full Ultimate World Cruise, most will not. More than likely they will stagger departures and arrivals of key crew members so that it disrupts the cruise as little as possible.

In perspective though, many officer positions work for 3 months on and 3 months off (or some variation there of). Many positions in entertainment work 4-6 months at a time and then have a couple months off, and many other shipboard positions are for six month contracts. And, while keeping consistency throughout a voyage is important, a healthy work/life balance and avoiding burn out for crew is also incredibly important. However, as it is a World Cruise and there is value in consistency, my guess is the vacation between contracts for some crew in key passenger facing roles will be shortened to disrupt the cruise as little as possible and those crew changes will happen at the start/end of the different segments.

Is Royal Caribbean’s Round the World Cruise Really the “Ultimate World Cruise”?

That remains to be seen, and much like anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In this case whether it is “ultimate” is up to the guests to decide. What might be the perfect World Cruise for some might not be for others.

However, this voyage has a lot going for it – from an interesting itinerary offered as a full voyage or in well thought out segments, lovely included amenities, a beautiful ship – it sounds like a great experience to me.

Would you ever consider going on a World Cruise?

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What To Expect From Ultimate World Cruise

Get ready to visit all seven continents, 65 countries, over 150 ports of call, and 11 world wonders..

By Robert Schrader | Published on October 18, 2023

1. Are You The Ideal World Cruise Traveler?

Looking at Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise℠ itinerary, you might be surprised by the sheer volume of bucket-list sites, even if you consider yourself a seasoned traveler. The great explorers of history spent this long — the full cruise lasts 274 days — on a single sailing across the sea, never mind going to all corners of the globe.

Your epic journey around the world, of course, is sure to come with plenty of new-to-you destinations. From world wonders such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China to sun-dappled islands from French Polynesia to Greece, the array and diversity of horizons you sail to is unparalleled. This isn't a cruise — it's the cruise to top all other cruises.

2. Do You Want To Minimize Flights?

3. Is This Trip Too Good To Be True?

It might sound unbelievable that you'll be able to spread your arms out under Argentina's Christ the Redeemer statue and sip cocktails beneath the Sydney Opera House on the same sailing, but on this epic journey around the world, you can. The key to making the most of each port is to pace yourself — this is a long trip, in the best way possible.

Some stops along the Ultimate World Cruise℠ will invite more hiking and exploration (Jordan's ruins of Petra, for example), while the colorful waterfronts of European idylls like Bergen, Norway, are better for sitting down for a meal or drink. What makes this vacation unique is the luxury of time and space, which allow you to truly relax and explore many sides of yourself. You might consider yourself a total beach bum as you reach the sandy shores of Oahu but feel like a history buff as you take in the Taj Mahal. You might feel like an explorer as you explore the ruins of Chichén Itzá in Mexico on foot, then opt to take a camel when you reach the Pyramids of Giza.

Bergen, Norway Colorful Waterfront Homes

4. How Much Does It Cost?

As you can imagine, this once-in-a-lifetime epic journey around the world is highly customizable. The ticket price for the 274-night journey ranges from $59,999 per person for an interior stateroom to $117,599 for a junior suite on the 2,476-passenger Serenade of the Seas® .

You might think that if you travel the world for almost a year, you'll need to bring your whole home with you, but this isn't necessarily the case. In fact, you'll want to err on the side of bringing less rather than more. You'll have laundry services (among other complimentary treats) included in your fare, and can buy almost anything you need at ports. Focus on bringing a basic wardrobe built for laying in different climates, and any special items you know you can't easily buy, as well as medications and other need-to-haves. You won't want forget to pack bathing suits for Mexico, for example, or a coat for colder destinations.

So, is this the best way to travel the world? That's somewhat a matter of personal preference. Sailing the world with many of the same passengers offers an unprecendented bonding experience with like-minded travelers. The guests and crew become very much like a family on a world cruise, which can be a real joy to watch unfold — especially if you follow cruise etiquette and are considerate of others during the voyage. And the itinerary of the Ultimate World Cruise℠ 2023 is so extensive it's almost impossible to imagine. Certainly, if you love cruising and want to see much of the world as possible in one fell swoop, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to check many travel icons off your bucket list.

Go to the Kukulcan Pyramid at the Chichen Itza in Mexico

5. Do You Really Set Sail For ... Everywhere?

It's important to note that you can opt for the whole cruise, or stay onboard for however long you want. Each of four Ultimate World Cruise℠ segments — Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Med and Europe & Beyond — can be booked a la carte, with business class airfare between your home and wherever you start and end included in the price. Or, pick one of the 17 sailings (ranging from nine to 29 nights) that make up the cruise and visit the sites that are most exciting to you.

Then again, if you can find the time, it's tempting to complete most of your bucket list in a single, epic trip when you circumnavigate the globe onboard a cruise ship. The iconic world wonders you'll see are only the beginning on this epic adventure.

Want to learn more? Check out the thrilling itinerary of the Ultimate World Cruise℠ .

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Tiktok star’s inside scoop on royal carribbean’s ‘ultimate world cruise’.

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It’s a 274-day, jam-packed journey crossing multiple seas – and passengers on Royal Caribbean’s “Ultimate World Cruise” are sharing what the experience has really been like.

On TikTok, a select group of content creators have banded together to document nearly every day of the voyage, from sea conditions, to what they eat and the off-boat excursions taking place.

“So far the cruise has been amazing, so I can’t complain about anything,” Amike Oosthuizen, who hails from South Africa, told Fox News Digital. “I’ve always wanted to see the world, and this is such an exciting experience, and you get so excited to see so many new places and places each day. And it’s just crazy to think the world is so big, and we get to see it.”

“It’s pretty cool that we blew up so much on TikTok. I think it’s so fun,” she continued, “and crazy that so many people want to actually see our journey.”

Oosthuizen and her family represent just a few of the slew of passengers participating in the 9-month cruise, which departed from Miami on Dec. 10 for its worldwide trip that visits 11 world wonders and more than 60 countries.

The cruise’s itinerary is broken up into four geographic “segments” for a total of 17 unique sailings, and guests also had the opportunity to separately pick and choose certain destinations as opposed to traveling the full 9 months.

@amike_oosthuizen I’M GOING ON A WORLD CRUISE IN 4 WEEKS! 🥳 #SAMA28 #southafrica #foryou #foryoupage #worldtravel #worldcruise2023 #travel #world ♬ original sound – Amike Oosthuizen

Starting prices for the experience range between $60,000 and $117,000 per person, not including excursions, according to the Royal Caribbean website.

Prior to embarking on the Serenade of the Seas, Oosthuizen’s family had only been on a handful of cruises.

But a once-in-a-lifetime expedition such as this was her father’s retirement wish.

She estimated total costs and accommodations for 9 months’ travel was between $500,000 and $700,000.

TikTokers like Amike Oosthuizen have gone viral on the platform for documenting each of the 274 days on Royal Caribbeans "Ultimate World Cruise."

“My dad saw a news article back in 2020 that Royal Caribbean is launching this world cruise. And then he showed us the article, and he said by that time he wants to be retired and he wants to take the whole family on the cruise and do like a big voyage out of it,” she explained. “So we didn’t believe that it would ever happen, but then in 2021, he books it and surprised us with it.”

Oosthuizen’s TikTok account originally started with a fashion and beauty focus, but surged with millions of views and likes once she started posting daily updates from the Ultimate World Cruise.

“Coming on the cruise, I knew I might get a chance to grow my account more and maybe create more opportunities,” she noted, “but I honestly did not think it would blow up this much… I also think someday I can go back and look at all the videos of all the different places I’ve been… it’s also like a special memory to keep forever.”

Oosthuizen says it's "so crazy" that her TikToks went viral.

In an opinion piece published earlier this month, The New York Times called the Ultimate World Cruise vloggers “TikTok’s favorite new reality show.”

Between her and the other creators, Oosthuizen detailed a sense of community and friendship, and argued there’s no “drama” like a real reality series.

“All the people I’ve met [are] so nice. I don’t think it’s really like a reality show. Everyone is so nice, there won’t be drama, and the people creating the drama is like people not on the ship, I feel. So that is just funny to me,” she said.

Even though the first month has sailed by, the Ultimate World Cruise hasn’t been completely smooth: passenger videos showed how heavy rain could flood some of the common areas, and this week the boat travels through the infamous Drake’s Passage on its way to Antarctica.

She also shared it's exciting to see so many new places each day.

While she didn’t witness last week’s flooding firsthand, Oosthuizen did see “very wet” floors amid heavy wind and rain, and explained that the flooding in the video occurred when a set of automatic doors wouldn’t stay shut.

“It wasn’t a massive flood. I wouldn’t call it something to worry about,” Oosthuizen said. “To be honest, I feel like even now the conditions were worse than back then. So I didn’t think there’s anything to be concerned about, and the staff on the ship, they have so many safety drills, and they’re so cautious about everything. I think we’re in very good hands.”

One month in – and eight more to go – the TikToker reflected that she’s learned how minimalist living can open up travel perspectives.

And while she’d be happy to travel the world again, Oosthuizen admits she couldn’t spend another 274 nights on one cruise.

“What’s cool about this trip is that you get to see so many places… in such a short time period. If I hadn’t done this before, I would definitely do it again,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be on this cruise, and I feel so blessed to be here, and I don’t think I will ever take this opportunity for granted.”

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Pop Culture

How a world cruise became a 'tiktok reality show' — and what happened next.

Rachel Treisman

Dozens of passengers on board the Royal Caribbean's nine-month "Ultimate World Cruise" have gone viral on TikTok since it set sail in December. Captivated viewers are comparing it to a social media reality show. Royal Caribbean/@amike_oosthuizen @brooklyntravelstheworld @spendingourkidsmoney @angielinderman @cooljul1 @aditaml2759 @drjennytravels @marcsebastianf @yourdatingtipbestie @whimsysoul/LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

Marc Sebastian, like many people, first started seeing the cruise videos around the holidays.

After Royal Caribbean's " Ultimate World Cruise " set sail from Miami in mid-December, many passengers started filming their daily routines at sea , from hanging wet laundry in their cabinet-sized bathrooms to piling their plates high at the dining room buffet.

They posted highlight reels of their excursions at ports throughout the Caribbean and South America, the first of hundreds of stops on their nine-month journey around all seven continents. Their videos flooded TikTok almost immediately, captivating viewers at home.

Videos from Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise are captivating TikTok viewers

Onlookers wondered about the practicalities of life on board the cruise, which was first announced in late 2021 and starts around $59,999. And they relished the potential for drama, especially since aspiring passengers can theoretically join at any time for individual "segments" before the cruise docks in September.

Many posted that they wished reality TV cameras would come on board to document it all. Sebastian, a 33-year-old content creator based in Los Angeles, was one of them.

"Put cameras on that ship right now ... There's gonna be mutiny. There's gonna be blood. Someone is going overboard, I want to watch," Sebastian said in a December TikTok that's since gotten more than 1.3 million likes. " Bravo , where are you?"

In the absence of camera crews, viewers have turned to TikTokkers to follow along for the journey.

They include the accounts of more than two dozen fast-emerging "cruise influencers" on board, as well as a growing handful of content creators across the U.S. and U.K. who are cross-referencing, synthesizing and analyzing their videos in posts of their own.

Do you have 'TikTok voice'? It's OK if you don't want to get rid of it

They've been answering questions and updating viewers on the cruise's latest new "characters" and storylines, from minor flooding to a rumored wine shortage.

By the start of the 2024, the hashtag #UltimateWorldCruise had surpassed 150 million views and become its own form of must-see TV, all on TikTok.

"It's been fun to kind of just follow what truly feels like a TikTok reality show," said Kara Harms, the founder of a lifestyle travel website who has been posting videos and a now-viral bingo card about the cruise from her home in San Francisco.

"The way that we're getting higher-produced content from some people and then some more raw, gossipy content from other people really does feel like you could stitch everything together and make an episode for every single day," she added.

Nine months on a cruise ship is just the kind of "social incubator" that's so central to reality TV, said Jamie Cohen, a media studies professor at Queens College who began his career as a reality television producer.

Throughline

Editing reality (2023).

But he says there are some key differences. Whereas TV producers typically hold the keys to casting and plot points, it's the viewers who are shaping the #CruiseTok narrative, by reacting to and interacting with the passengers' posts in real time.

Social media users are effectively "opening the door to plot lines that create reality around the people who are just on the ship to enjoy themselves," Cohen added. The risk is that people at home or on board might change their behavior or even manufacture drama for views.

That's something most of the nine-month cruisers are acutely aware of and trying to avoid, several passengers told NPR. Not Sebastian, though.

"Alternately, put me on the cruise," he said in his December video. "I will cause chaos, I will wreak havoc, and I will record everything."

Within days, he was on board.

Discovering the truth behind the reality show

Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, paid for Sebastian to join the cruise for 18 nights, on a stretch that included the Drake Passage and Antarctica.

His duties included promoting their books through a virtual book club, in which thousands of humans and a handful of penguins participated. He's since passed the torch to another cruiser.

Sebastian told NPR towards the end of his time on board that while he arrived ready to play the part of a villain — including packing an "evil"-looking long red coat — he wasn't serious about causing drama.

"I really did think at the very beginning that I was going to find a lot of interpersonal drama within the people," he said. "But unfortunately, they're all so nice — crazy! — and they are all really kind. There's a really amazing sense of community."

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The economics of the influencer industry, and its pitfalls.

Sebastian documented everything , posting candid reviews of the food, accommodations and other aspects of the cruise on a scale of "fabulous," to "pressing charges" to "prison, honey." He made clear throughout the trip that he was not a fan of cruises to begin with, and had criticisms of this one.

@marcsebastianf for 18 nights? fine. But for 9 months? No can do babe #ultimateworldcruise #marcreadsabook #worldcruise #serenadeoftheseas #royalcaribbean #cruisetok #cruise #9monthcruise ♬ original sound - Marc Sebastian

His trip wasn't devoid of drama. Some memorable moments included him getting scolded for profanity , forming alliances for (boat) tenders, getting kicked out of a members-only lounge and the reservation incident .

But Sebastian says nearly all of the conflict came from members of the cruise community online , whom he says tended to be older and mistake his bluntness for ungratefulness.

"I do feel really lucky," he added. "But I don't feel lucky that I'm on a cruise. I feel lucky that a brand noticed that I made content and trusted me enough to put me forth into this experience."

Royal Caribbean did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The Indicator from Planet Money

The dark side of the influencer industry.

Jenny Honeycutt (aka @ drjennytravels ), a 34-year-old writing consultant and full-time traveler, spent time with Sebastian on board. She says he was "extremely respectful" about not filming or posting videos of people without their consent, a practice she recommends for any future influencers who may join the ship.

She says the way the outside world is portraying passengers as reality show characters, while amusing, has stirred up some negativity on board.

"Everyone has paid a lot of money and given up a lot in some way or another to be here, whether it be their families, their homes, their pets," added Honeycutt. "So I think people have a fear of this taking away from this adventure that it is."

The "cruise influencers" have also gained a lot, chiefly, hundreds of thousands of social media followers each. But most of them couldn't have predicted they would go viral overnight — let alone have to add "film and post daily TikToks" to their vacation to-do lists.

The full nine-month journey is scheduled to visit more than 150 ports across seven continents before ending in Miami in September. Royal Caribbean hide caption

The full nine-month journey is scheduled to visit more than 150 ports across seven continents before ending in Miami in September.

Not all passengers set out to become influencers

The so-called cast of characters documenting their cruise travels on TikTok is large and growing.

There are Gen Z-ers and retirees , solo travelers and entire families , crew members and performers , duos of spouses and of siblings .

@amikeoosthuizen Made some new friends!! 🥰🛳️🫶 #SAMA28 #ultimateworldcruise #worldcruise #royalcaribbean #foryoupage #foryou #travel #cruisetok ♬ original sound - amikeoosthuizen

Passengers chose the cruise for a variety of reasons, from celebrating a retirement to spending an inheritance or simply wanting to see the world.

Some, like Amike Oosthuizen , boarded the ship with a sizable social media following already.

The Sunday Story: So you want to be an influencer?

The 26-year-old had done some influencing back home in South Africa (her mom, incidentally, is one of the stars of Real Housewives of Pretoria ) . Oosthuizen says she joined the trip with plans to post "day in the life" videos, with a focus on makeup and fashion.

"I really did it because I wanted to capture the memories and there's so many places we were seeing," Oosthuizen said. "And it was such a bonus that it actually blew up and everyone wanted to see what we're doing. So now it's more like I want to keep everyone updated."

She says she spends two to three hours a day editing her footage into videos, and has already been approached by brands for potential partnerships. Most of these companies are offering excursions at upcoming ports, since she can't receive packages on the ship.

Oosthuizen, who is working remotely as a regulatory officer for an agriculture company, says she hopes those opportunities — and the chance to be a full-time influencer — will continue even past the cruise.

Joe Martucci, on the other hand, never wanted to become TikTok famous. The 67-year-old, who is traveling with his wife to celebrate his recent retirement from the finance industry, wasn't on the platform at all.

He started making daily videos to send to their four adult children, who live all over the world. They encouraged him to start posting them on TikTok, which Martucci suspects has something to do with his tendency to mispronounce words. He set up an account called @spendingourkidsinheritance, which he emphasizes is a joke.

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"Then I had to figure out how to post something to Tik Tok," he said. "And two of my daughters said, let's put these — I thought they said hash marks, but they're hashtags."

His first video took off, garnering more than 400,000 views, and he's continued posting daily recaps ever since. Each video still opens with a cheery "hey, kids" — only now he's addressing not just his own children, but the 90,000 or so "adopted kids" who now follow him.

"Some people have said, 'We hear more from you than we hear from our own parents," Martucci said, recounting the touching messages he's received since. "We're overwhelmed, we're very humbled and we like the fact that people like watching what we're doing."

The couple doesn't plan to start monetizing their videos, or stop posting them, anytime soon.

But they had a close call this week. On Wednesday, Martucci tearfully announced on the platform that their account had been hacked , saying the culprit had asked his contacts for money.

He told NPR later that same day that some five other TikTokers on board the cruise had rushed to their room to help them change their password and set up two-factor authentication. The passengers had learned about the hack from a TikTok posted by one of the cruise commentators on shore.

Other viewers on land, he said, were using their TikTok connections to try to help them get their old username back.

Passengers say the drama isn't coming from the ship

Viewers on land can't seem to get enough cruise content.

About half of the items on Harms' viral bingo card — which Sebastian cheekily played on board — have already been crossed off , including fist fight, COVID outbreak, petty neighbor drama, cliques forming, an early departure and a (sort of) pirate takeover .

Kisha Peart , one of the at-home cruise commentators, told NPR that she originally started posting to share her insights as a former cruise ship employee. But the actress and waitress says she now spends hours a day researching, recording and editing TikToks — and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon.

This 3-year cruise around the world is called off, leaving passengers in the lurch

"It is kind of a lot taking it all in but it's also been fun," she said. "So it's been exciting being like, 'Okay, what happened today?' And I'll deep dive and try to bring the info to the people."

She's one of many TikTokkers reporting on the latest cruise ship "tea." At least, that's what they're calling it. Harms, of bingo card fame, says viewers are so excited about the potential for drama that they may be misusing the word.

"When you peel back the layers and look at it objectively you're like, that's just humans being humans," Harms said. "It's not actually drama and tea."

@whimsysoul Ultimate World Cruise Bingo Card!!! who's playing with me? 🛥️ 🌊 🌍 🍿 #ultimateworldcruise #royalcaribbean #worldcruise #cruise #bingo #travel #whimsysoul ♬ original sound - Kara | travel girlie

Several nine-month cruisers told NPR that they feel the drama is coming not from the passengers, but from people watching at home.

Without naming names, Honeycutt said some recap accounts are doing a great job while others are stirring the pot.

"There's kind of been this pall even on the ship of, what are we as the TikTokkers posting versus what's going on?" she added.

She said the TikTokers on board have gotten together several times — including once at a private dining experience at Royal Caribbean's invitation — to make videos, bond about their love of travel and sometimes vent about the negative comments.

More than 30 cruise influencers are now in a group chat, Oosthuizen said. She said they see each other pretty often, in passing and on purpose — but not always to make content.

"Sometimes it's just nice being with the other creators and just chatting and catching up and not pulling your phone out and recording everything," she said. "We get together a lot more than we actually record."

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Martucci described the cruise as "a floating city of 2,000 people," and said he didn't feel anyone was intentionally trying to cause drama on board. In fact, he said Wednesday, the response to his account being hacked demonstrated how "we all look after each other."

"We all respect that people who are on this ship spent a lot of money to be on this ship," he said. "And this is their vacation. This is their life story. And they need to be able to enjoy their life's dream."

Peart, at home in New York City, acknowledged that she has played a role in hyping up the reality TV aspect of the cruise, by putting people in the spotlight and adding "a little pizzazz onto what's already out there." But she says it's not malicious, and all in good fun.

"At the end of the day, we're all on TikTok to be entertained," she added.

The cruise hype reflects the state of social media, and could hint at its future

We're not likely to stop hearing about the nine-month cruise anytime soon.

More travelers will likely come on board, including more influencers. Australian comedian Christian Hull , who has been posting excitedly for weeks, will be joining the ship when it docks in Brisbane in March.

He told LiSTNR's "The Briefing Podcast " that he took $20,000 out of his mortgage to pay for a balcony room for 16 days.

Consider This from NPR

Covid nearly sunk the cruise industry. now it's trying to make a comeback..

"I got sucked right in," he said, adding that he hopes a sponsor will eventually cover the cost.

Several influencers told NPR they think Sebastian's novel partnership with Atria Books could help usher in a change with how brand partnerships work.

Harms, for example, thinks people should expect more "integrated" campaigns in the near future, where products are advertised more organically on social media. That could mean, for example, an influencer showing their journey on a walk to advertise a pair of sneakers, rather than talking into the camera about them.

Sebastian said he'd be thrilled to see more brands using trips and experiences to market goods. He'd also like to see influencers being more honest about the things they're promoting, as he was about his time on board.

"I hope that this takes off and allows other people to see you don't need to have this toxic positivity when it comes to influencing, and that you can express how you actually feel about something," he added.

At the same time, the cruise hype also illustrates the potential risks of virality and social media culture itself. Hacking is just one example.

How social media algorithms 'flatten' our culture by making decisions for us

"The majority of these humans that are on here aren't previously known influencers. They're becoming that," said Cohen, the former reality TV producer. "So it is one of those things where creating drama ... could create adverse results."

Cohen views this as an experiment that can hopefully offer insights into better policy for future cruises when it comes to things like privacy and cameras on board.

He acknowledges that cameras and vlogs are ubiquitous today, at least among Gen Z. And he hopes those who may be tempted to cause a scene for views or stir the pot in the comments section will remember that "these are all humans; we could be the other person."

Cohen says social media audiences have a lot more power than they realize to "bend and mold the way that these things go," and urges them to use it responsibly.

"I think it's important to enjoy them," he says of the TikToks. "I don't think there's a reason to try to change reality."

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10 Around-the-world Cruises for the Trip of a Lifetime

These world cruises offer the ultimate itineraries.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Want to island hop around French Polynesia, visit Africa's incredible cities, and cruise through Asia without ever switching hotels or repacking your bags? An around-the-world cruise provides the ultimate itinerary, packed with exciting international destinations (some even visit hard-to-reach destinations like Easter Island and Antarctica), and luxury cruise lines provide comfortable accommodations, specialty restaurants, and plenty to do on and off the ship.

There are two main things you need before booking a world cruise: plenty of time and some spare cash. Prices range from around $20,000 to upwards of $100,000 per person, and all our top picks are more than 100 days (one is even a whopping 275 days), so they're ideal for retired travelers looking for their next big adventure. Pack wisely for a range of destinations and climates, and get ready for the journey of a lifetime, filled with postcard-perfect destinations and new friends (because you're bound to meet a travel buddy or two after 100-plus days on a ship). If an around-the-world cruise is at the top of your travel list, you'll want to book sooner rather than later — these journeys frequently sell out because many cruise lines only offer a limited number of sailings.

Here are ten of the best around-the-world cruises you can take in 2023 and 2024.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking world cruise.

See 28 countries on the 138-day Viking World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to London. After departing from Florida, the Viking Sky will sail the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, stopping in sunny destinations before crossing the Panama Canal to reach the Pacific. From there, the ship will visit destinations in Mexico and the continental United States, continuing on to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and Australia. Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and India are among the ports in Asia, then it's on to the Middle East before traveling to Europe, where final destinations include Italy, Spain, and Portugal en route to London. Fares start at $59,995.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Moments in time: world cruise 2024.

Sail around the world in 132 nights aboard the Seven Seas Mariner on a round-trip journey from Miami. You'll spend the days at sea enjoying the luxury ship's amenities, including the spa and several restaurants and lounges, between stops in destinations like Costa Rica, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, UAE, Israel, and Italy, among others. This 2024 world cruise , with fares starting at $73,499, is officially sold out , but you can join a waitlist to be notified of cancellations.

Royal Caribbean

The ultimate world cruise.

Royal Caribbean pulls out all the stops — and there are more than 150 of them — on this 274-night cruise to all seven continents. The itinerary aboard the Serenade of the Seas begins in Miami on December 10, 2023, and visits more than 60 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, French Polynesia, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Romania, and Greenland, before ending in Miami on September 10, 2024. Travelers who don't want to commit to the entire cruise can book shorter segments. Fares start at $59,999 for this cruise that gives travelers the opportunity to visit 11 of the great wonders of the world, including the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and Chichen Itza.

World Cruise 2024

Enjoy 133 days on Silversea's Silver Shadow with this round-trip sailing from San Francisco. During that time, the ship will visit 65 ports in 14 countries, including Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, and Canada. Fares start at $66,000 for this 2024 sailing, which currently has waitlist availability.

2024 World Cruise: Extraordinary Horizons

Climb aboard the Seabourn Sojourn for a 145-day world cruise from Los Angeles to Athens, visiting 72 ports in 28 countries. The cruise departs Los Angeles and goes to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Japan, and China — just to name a few places — before ending in Greece. Visit the website for booking details and shorter segments.

Oceania Cruises

Around the world in 180 days.

Travelers on Oceania's 180-day round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to New York aboard the Insignia will see some of the world's most impressive sights. Highlights include stops in stunning French Polynesia, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Spain, France, and Iceland. Fares start at $48,499 for the 2024 sailing .

MSC Cruises

Msc world cruise 2024.

The MSC Poesia will take guests to 56 destinations on this 120-day cruise starting in Rome. Countries visited during this journey include Argentina, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and Jordan. When you're not exploring each port, you can relax in the swimming pools and hot tubs, visit the many restaurants, bars, and lounges, or go to the spa. Fares start at $17,199 per person; find booking details on the MSC website.

Princess Cruises

111-day world cruise.

This round-trip cruise from Los Angeles on the Island Princess will visit 47 ports in beautiful places like New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Sri Lanka, UAE, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Bermuda, Mexico, and more. Fares for this 2024 sailing start at $19,497.

Holland America Line

128-day grand world voyage.

Explore the world on this 128-day round-trip journey from Fort Lauderdale on the Zuiderdam . This cruise's itinerary includes a trip down the Amazon River, stops in the Caribbean, a Panama Canal crossing, and stops in cities like Honolulu, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and more. Fares start at $23,599 for this 2024 cruise .

Azamara World Cruise

This 155-night itinerary to more than 40 countries kicks off in Fort Lauderdale and finishes in Barcelona. The itinerary features ports for experiencing some of the great wonders of the world, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, as well as Petra in Jordan and the Colosseum in Rome. Travelers can also choose to join segments of the cruise aboard the Azamara Onward for as few as 10 nights. Fares for this 2024 sailing start at $36,379.

50 Best Cruise YouTube Channels to Watch in 2021

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Top 50 Cruise YouTube Channels

About this Top 50 list:

This list of top 50 cruise YouTube channels is in no particular order . Each channel is different and each cruise content creator brings something special to the table.

Some content creators are relatively new, and have created a lot of amazing content during the pause in cruising. Other channels have ship tours and destination information that was made before the shutdown, equally valuable as you may be planning a future cruise.

This list will be reviewed and updated about once a year, so if you think that another channel deserves to be on this list, make sure to shout it out in the comments section below!

On the most part, these cruise YouTube channels are run by individuals, and not big brands. If you enjoy the content they create, please let them now by liking their videos and subscribing to their channels.

50 Favorite Cruise YouTube Channels and YouTubers

1. cruise tips tv.

2. Don’s Family Vacations

3. Tips for Travellers

4. La Lido Loca Cruise and Travel

5. Sharon at Sea Travel

The Sharon at Sea Travel YouTube channel features Sharon, Jamie, & Matthew, a family that loves to travel. They share relatable information about cruising and traveling through our videos, reviews, tips, and more.

6. The Shiplife

The Shiplife YouTube channel features J. Alexander, a former cruise ship crew member. J shares his unique perspective on recent cruise news and offers cruise advice for future cruise travelers

7. Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel

8. Eat Sleep Cruise

If you’re looking for detailed cruise news, cruise tips and informative cruise ship tours, you’ll appreciate the videos on the Eat Sleep Cruise YouTube channel . DB and Princess, as the duo is known, also have some great cruise vlogs!

9. Emma Cruises

Emma from Emma Cruises shares ship reviews, cabin tours, cruise vlogs, and cruise booking tips and tricks. If you’re considering taking your first cruise, or are interested in learning more about a certain cruise line or ship, you’re in the right place!

10. Morgan’s Very Unofficial Travel Guides

11. Cruise with Ben and David

Cruise with Ben and David are a married couple who share cruise tips, news, ship tours and vlogs. They pride themselves on honest reviews and opinions. As a viewer, you’ll be hooked on this fun and energetic cruise channel!

12. Sean & Stef

Sean and Stef are professional filmmakers that have shared incredible cruise ship tours and travel vlogs with cruisers and the cruise community. Sadly, Sean passed on in 2021, however Sean & Stef’s channel remains and is full of inspirational and helpful cruise content.

50 Cruise YouTube Channels - Cruise News, Tips & Vlogs

13. EECC Travels

Alisa and Jason from EECC Travels, along with their sons, offer great cruise travel tips and family cruise vlogs. Check out their cruising and travel adventures.

14. Life Well Cruised

Ilana (yes, that’s me) from Life Well Cruised shares cruise tips and advice for both new and veteran cruisers. Find cruise packing tips and hacks, cruise news, and cruise vlogs of both cruise ships and cruise port destinations to help you plan your next cruise.

15. Chad Cruisers

Chad Cruisers is made up of two travel, cruise and lifestyle vloggers Brad and Chris from Toronto, Canada. They love to travel by cruise ship as well as exciting and unique destinations from around the world and our their own backyard. If you’re a Princess Cruiser, you’ll enjoy their Princess cruises videos and ship tours.

16. Alanna Zingano

Alanna Zingano’s YouTube channel has some great cruise tips and travel advice for both first time and repeat cruisers. Check out the channel for ship tours, cruise vlogs, awesome interviews and more.

17. Cruzely

The Cruzely YouTube channel has videos full of valuable tips and advice about planning your next cruise. The content is great for anyone taking a cruise, whether you are a first-time passenger or have sailed time and again.

18. Porthole Cruise

19. Captain Kate McCue

Did you know that Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue has an awesome, informative cruise YouTube channel? If you’re a cruise fan (from any cruise line), you have to check it out.

As she explains in her channel description, “This is not your Love Boat or Captain Stubing… This is a real glimpse at the Captain’s life on a mega cruise ship!”. You’ll get insight on a “Captain’s career, her ship, crew, & trusty sidekick (a hairless cat named Bug Naked) & of course the adventures that only a life at sea can bring.”

20. Cruise Fever

On the Cruise Fever YouTube channel , you’ll find great cruise ship tours, plus cruise tips and advice for first timers and seasoned cruisers. This channel is run by 2 brothers who are passionate cruise travelers.

21. Cruise Radio

On the Cruise Radio YouTube channel , you’ll find short daily cruise news updates plus a variety of cruise ship tours from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and others. Cruise Radio was launched in 2009 as a resource for cruisers that were looking for ship reviews, port tips, and money saving advice.

Doug shares a daily dose of cruise news, in just a few minutes, a great way to keep up with all the latest updates.

22. Griff & Alyssa

Griff and Alyssa share fun, honest and beautifully filmed cruise YouTube videos! You’ll find awesome cruise vlogs, ship tours and cruise port vlogs as well as cruise tips.

23. Paul and Carol Love to Travel

Paul and Carol are a fun couple who share their honest travel experiences and hope to inspire and help viewers make an informed choice when booking their next trip. You’ll find useful cruise ship information and tours, hotel reviews, and destination guides.

24. Talking Cruise

Talking Cruise presents the latest news, cruise ship tours and topics from around the world of cruising in a fun and unique format. The host of Talking Cruise, Chris Cardona, is passionate about all things related to cruising.

25. Scott Singer Cruises

Scott Singer Cruises videos are always fun and informative! You’ll find ship tour videos, cruise vlogs, cruise planning, and everything else cruise related!

26. Cruise Hive

Cruise Hive features videos about major cruise lines and cruise news. If you enjoy cruise tips and information, this cruise YouTube channel is worth the watch.

27. Visit with Us

Rich and Helen from the Visit with Us YouTube channel share videos about luxury cruising. You’ll find cruise tips and cruise ship tours, all beautifully filmed!

28. Mr. & Mrs. Traveler

Mr. & Mrs. Traveler are a fun couple that believes “Life’s short… Have fun!”. On their YouTube channel, they share cruise tips, reviews and cruise news and chats.

50 Top Cruise YouTube Channels to Watch Right Now

29. Travelling with Bruce

Bruce Frommert of Travelling with Bruce , is a resource of information for all things cruise news, cruise trends and travel updates. In his videos, Bruce shares detailed explanations and his take on the current state of cruising.

30. Sal Pitera

Sal Pitera has a popular cruise and travel YouTube channel with cruise cruise information, how to’s and “amazing photography from the crazy mind of Sal Pitera”.

31. Harr Travel

Harr Travel specializes in cruise ship tours (cruise cabins and full ship tours), as well as other types of land vacations. On this channel you’ll find helpful cruise news and information, and cruise ship tours you’ll enjoy.

32. Chris Wong Vlogs

Chris Wong is a member of the Royal Caribbean crew. On the Chris Wong Vlogs YouTube channel , Chris shares his experiences about cruise ship life, as well as some awesome Royal Caribbean cruise ship tours.

33. Same Ship Different Day

Alfie Smith, from Same Ship Different Day is an officer working on a cruise ship. He has shared videos about being on Coral Princess as cruising was paused. You’ll learn information about cruise ships and cruising from a ship’s officer’s perspective.

34. The Curious Lens of Martina from Argentina

Martina, from The Curious Lens of Martina from Argentina , is a crew member onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Martina shares information and her experiences as a cruise ship crew member and a travel lifestyle. If you’re a crew member or cruise passenger, this is a channel to watch!

35. Cruising with Wheels

The YouTubers at Cruising with Wheels are a married couple, one who is in a wheelchair. Since they find cruising to be the best option for their vacations, their YouTube channel focuses on everything about cruising and primarily handicap accessibility. You’ll see ship accessibility, cabin tours, ship tours, shore excursions and cruise vlogs.

50 Top Cruise Youtube Channels You'll Love

36. Sea Cruisers

Amy from Sea Cruisers shares cruise vlogs, cruise ship and cabin tours as well as interesting destination videos. You’ll enjoy bring brought along with the Sea Cruisers crew, as they cruise on several different cruise lines.

37. Jim Zim

The Jim Zim YouTube channel is a hybrid of Jim Zimmerlin’s three passions: cruise ships, model trains, and puppies. As Jim says, “if you’re in to Caribbean cruises, G-scale model railroads, or cute little pups… you’ll love these videos!”

38. Chris Frame

The Chris Frame YouTube channel features videos about the history of cruise ships, ocean liners and maritime history. You’ll also find cruise interest stories, cruise news and lots of Cunard content.

39. Cruise Passion

Victoria is the YouTuber behind Cruise Passion . She says, “I produce cruise ship videos, from cruise ship tours to cruise ship events. I bring you along on all of my cruise adventures from all around the world.”

40. Solo Cruisers

The Solo Cruisers YouTube channel presents videos, that are according to the creator “honest and real as you can get and will give you a vision of what it really is like cruising on various line, the good the bad and the ugly.” If you’re a solo cruiser, you’ll find some helpful solo cruise tips.

41. Cruise with Josh

Josh Hocum is the Cruise YouTuber and Vlogger behind Cruise with Josh . You’ll find room tours, ship tours, resort stays, food reviews, best excursions to do on each island, ship reviews, and full recaps along with a fun and outgoing take on cruising!

42. Popular Cruising

On the Popular Cruising YouTube channel , you’ll find cruise reviews and tour videos; featuring the newest ships, covering every cruise style (ocean cruising, river cruising and expedition cruising), previewing upcoming ships, reviewing onboard experiences and sharing shoreside excursions (in 4K Ultra HD).

43. DCL Fan

Are you a Disney Cruise Line fan? Keep up with the latest news and Disney Cruise info and tips on the DCL Fan YouTube channel .

44. ParoDeeJay

ParoDeeJay is a fan favorite combo channel of cruising videos, travel and parody and musical entertainment from Dee & Jay. They say they love to create challenge videos, cruise vlogs, couples gaming, cooking videos, and anything else that makes them laugh.

45. Cruise Nostalgia

Cruise Nostalgia is a very different type of cruise YouTube channel. If you love a bit of old school cruising, you’ll find videos about cruise ships from the past, including nostalgic cruise line commercials and promotional videos.

Personally, I get a kick out of the kitschy cruise advertisements from the 1970’s and 80’s in particular!

46. Travel Scouts

Jason and Kellie from Travel Scouts have “a goal to help YOU by bringing the latest information on cruise lines, ships, excursions, and of course, all those great tips that will make your vacation unforgettable!” Plus, if you’re planning a Carnival cruise, you’ll find some great videos and tips!

47. JJ Cruise

JJ Cruise are a married, millennial couple who LOVES CRUISES! In their own words “Our focus is to provide tips on travel, recommendations on all things cruising and to have tons of fun while doing it!”. Jordan and Jarred have an infectious energy and are lots of fun to watch!

48. Nautical Nurse Nancy

On the Nautical Nurse Nancy YouTube channel you’ll find fun cruise vlogs and adventures in cruise ports! She definitely looks like she’s having fun and enjoying that cruise life! In her own words “I love sharing our cruise adventures and cruise tips in a creative way!”.

49. Jordan Bauth

Jordan Bauth is a professional figure skater for Royal Caribbean. She shares her experiences and her life onboard a cruise ship. In her own words “This channel is a way to express all my passions as well as give you an inside look at my life and all the amazing things I get to experience. I also post tons of different lifestyle content! (vlogs, fashion, travel, and makeup videos)”.

50. Travel Spree

Fain and Laura from Travel Spree are a lot of fun to watch and have some great cruise and travel information on their YouTube channel.

In their own words, “We are Fain and Laura, an interracial couple, making family friendly, Travel Vlogs. Our goal with this channel is to bring you with us to experience what the world has to offer. We also plan to offer hassle-free travel advice, cruise tips, and other how-to travel advice around common mishaps you might have when it comes to certain types of travel.”

Final Thoughts:

I hope that you enjoyed this list of fabulous cruise YouTubers. Whether you’re interested in cruise news, cruise tips, cruise ship tours, cruise crew life, or cruise destinations – you’re bound to find many Cruise YouTube Channels to love!

Do you love podcasts? Here’s a list of 15 cruise podcasts to listen to right now !

Which cruise YouTube channels are your favorites? If there’s a channel I missed that deserves to be on this list, please leave a comment so we can check it out!

Happy Cruising!!

Ilana

If you found this post helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Share it on Facebook or Save for later Pinterest (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

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11 Comments

Cruise With Akshay YouTube Channel is good from Asia. As his accent is Indian which is good to understand for Asian People Rather US accent.

Thanks for sharing your recommendation!

I love the port guides from this family the Jelly Beans. ❤️

Thanks for sharing a channel you enjoy Jennifer!

The channel of cruises and travels crew is nice too, i follow on youtube

Thanks Vincent for sharing!

The Tyler Show is one of my Favorite cruise creators I follow on the platform. He always provides good coverage of events in the cruise industry and his editing of his videos are some of the best I have seen to date when it comes to cruise videos.

Great to know! Thanks for sharing

My husband and I enjoy watching many of these channels, and will check out some of the new names we’ve seen. We also have a channel called The Cruise World. We do vlogs, ship tours, trivia, news, and parodies. We’d love for you to check us out!

Hi Stephanie,

Glad you enjoy some of the channels on this list. Amazing that you and your husband have a channel as well. I’m happy to know about it and will check it out 🙂

Join us on Doris Visits @DorisVisits we don’t make opinions, just show what is there. Love to cruise.

Best Cruise Vlogs to Binge Watch

Last updated on January 29th, 2024 at 01:50 pm

As cruise lovers, we prefer to be on board in the middle of the sea than being on land, even virtually. But during those times we have to be away from the blue, we have modern-day storytellers that would bring us back right in the midst of the salty air–vloggers. Armed with cameras, microphones, tripods, and laptops, they tell stories that we love to immerse ourselves in.

Cruising is HOT and so are the Cruise Videos!

Now that cruising from the USA is moving full steam ahead, we’ve decided that 18 cruise vlogs just aren’t enough. We’ve added a few bonus channels to our list that we’ve found over the past year.

To help keep your bucket full, here’s a list of the best cruise vlogs that are truly binge-worthy.

Jordan Bauth – Performer on Royal Caribbean

Don’s Family Vacations – Lots of great, up-to-date cruise-related content.

Chris Wong Vlogs – Cruise ship employee on Royal Caribbean

Cruise with Ben & David – Over 40 cruises under their belt!

Life Well Cruised – Their videos are coming close to 1 Million Views on YouTube.

Eat Sleep Cruise – The YouTube channel to go along with their popular blog.

Harr Travel – In-Depth ship tour videos created by a travel agent with extensive cruise experience.

Cruise Tips TV – Sheri and her family started CruiseTipsTv in 2013. They are making astonishing progress, moving forward to 2020, having over 480 videos, more than 80,000 youtube subscribers, a Cruising academy, and almost 15 million viewers, their vlogs are treasure troves for both new and seasoned cruisers.

Sean & Stef Updated 2021: Sadly Sean passed away after battling cancer in April 2021. Sean and Stef Mullen, are professional filmmakers who have won 3 Emmy awards, are producing informative but fun cruise vlogs that are topnotch.

Emma Cruises – Creator of the page “Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People,” Emma breaks the stereotyping of cruisers as old school. In her cruise vlogs, she features cabin tours, cruise booking tips, and tricks, ship reviews, and she genuinely sails the coolest ships making cruising hip for Millenials.

SoloCruiser – A solo traveller, Julia produces vlogs that present the reality of cruising, both good and bad. She started uploading videos on youtube in 2012 and shares her personal insights she has learned from various lines, which are extremely helpful for people who want to try cruising alone .

In The Loop Travel – John, the content creator of this innovative vlog, was able to integrate fitness into cruising. Their philosophy is to travel fit, travel happy, and travel often. He provided answers to health-conscious cruisers who do not want to miss out on both fun and fitness.

I Like Cruise Ships – This youtube channel launched a little over 3 years in creating video content and has been steadily gaining traction. Russell, who has worked on cruise ships for more than 20 years, is running this channel with the expertise we all need to know about cruising.

Cruising with Wheels – A channel that primarily focuses on everything about cruising and provides informative videos for accessibility on and off-board while cruising. To get the most out of your vacation, preparation is imperative when cruising with a disability , and watching vlogs of this sort is a massive help.

Cruise Radio – Cruise Radio has made it onto the list of both our favorite cruise blogs and now, one of our fav cruise vlogs. Their YouTube channel consists of over 26,000 subscribers and over 4 million total views on their videos. Since launching the website in 2009, founder Doug Parker has created exceptional content, whether that’s on the website, podcast or video. Their ship tours are well done, informative and interesting.

Popular Cruising – Jason Leppert, the genius behind Popular Cruising, produces in-depth cruise reviews and tour views. He acquired his passion for cruising from his parents when he was just 2 years old, and after 130 sailings, I don’t think there’s stopping Jason from embarking . You’ll definitely love his behind-the-scenes cruise explorations, previews on upcoming ships and shoreside excursions.

Cruise Fever – Founded by two brothers who are passionate about cruising –Ben Souza and Jonathan Mark. These siblings made sure that their viewers are not just obtaining tips, reviews, and ship information — they keep their followers posted on the latest trends and news in the cruising industry. Their youtube channel has over 40,000 subscribers and about 17,000,000 views.

Paul & Carole Love to Travel – Paul and Carole have travelled to over 40 countries, tried different kinds of accommodations, and have been to 19 cruises. Now they want to give back to the cruising world by offering their honest opinions through their festive vlogs.

Griff & Alyssa – A lovely couple who adores cruising shares their adventures and provides informative videos with fantastic cinematography. Their content is perfect for cruise veterans and new cruisers alike who are looking for reliable information about their next travel.

Jim Zimmerlin – Jim has been running his own youtube channel since 2006 and has attained almost 300,000,000 views. People love him, he is an enjoyable person to watch with videos that offer varieties of fun – from cruising, trains, American Cocker Spaniel dogs to expensive toys.

La Lido Loca – Started uploading videos on youtube April of 2017, and they haven’t stopped since. In their lively vlogs, they generously share practical tips and realities of cruising that can help anyone in making informed decisions for their next cruise. To help out the cruising community, they created a Facebook community called La Lido Loca Community to help answer questions about cruising and provide a platform for wonderful travelling stories to be shared on.

Josh Hocum – Travel, Sleep, Repeat –that is Josh’s mantra. Though he seems laid back, he creates videos with thrilling cruise contents that transports viewers right at the very deck of each featured ship. If you are interested in the Carnival, you’ll love him more because a lot of the videos in his channel features the Carnival. His 3.8 million viewers are enough testament that he produces one of the best cruise vlogs out there.

Paro DeeJay – Since July of 2013, Jay and his wife Dee have been uploading content on youtube, which now has 685 videos and almost 2.8 million views. Besides the undeniable fact that they provide cruise tips, reviews, and tours of different cruise lines, what sets them apart is their amusing parody songs and cover tunes.

EECC Travels – An absolute must-watch vlog for families who enjoy cruising together. EECC Travels is composed of Alisa and Jason (Couple) and three sons. They make travelling as a family doable, especially for those who have children and haven’t tried cruising. You can check out their channel and be ready to be inspired to travel with the whole fam.

Trev & Chels – Viewers absolutely love this young couple on their travels, with the traction of over 56 million views, there’s a reason why cruisers are captivated by them. They create videos with superb editing and perfect voice-overs that feature their cruise experiences vividly, and it is keeping people hooked.

Talking Cruise – Equipped with the current news, cruise ship tours, and topics from around the world of cruising in a fun and unique format. Hosted by Chris Cardona, with 19 years of working in the cruise industry, his channel is a gem for anyone who’s planning to go on a cruise.

Before you start your vlog-watching spree…

Going on a cruise can be intimidating with all the preparation, booking, parking, finding the right ports, and so on and on, but these vloggers manage to contribute to the cruising industry by featuring and creating content that will genuinely make the process a bit uncomplicated. But hey! It’s all worth it, so I hope you’ll enjoy watching 19 of the best cruise vlogs.

And, don’t forget to check out our Top Cruise Blogs post too !

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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Cruise Around the World: Must-see Cultural Locations in India

If you are planning a cruise around the world, make sure you stop in Mumbai and Cochin, Indian and explore and experience the unique culture.

3 Cruise Activities That Give You an Up-close View of Dubai

Dubai — a city of the future with strong roots in its past — can best be experienced through cruise activities on world vacations with Princess Cruises.

Plan a Cruise Around the World and Discover 3 Exotic New Ports

Ready to take your most meaningful vacation yet? Plan a cruise around the world, and visit ports you may not know even existed.

A Beer Lover's Guide to a World Cruise

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Who Are The Top 50 And Cruise Vloggers To Watch?

by Gary Bembridge · May 24, 2021

Despite the cruise shutdown, cruise vlog channels on YouTube have been very active – with new ones launching too.

Earlier this year, I started to pull together a list of all the top cruise vlog channels I was following (or aware of) on YouTube, and I surprised myself how many there were – 57 and counting as of today. I am sure I have missed many off my list below (and if I have, please add a comment on this post and I will add them).

Hopefully, this list will help anyone interested in cruising to discover new channels to follow and to learn from the extensive, growing and diverse collection of cruise channels across YouTube.

I included channels on the list where at least 80% of the content looks to be cruise focused.

As I built the list, I started adding the number of subscribers and all-time views for the channels, with an aim to update them every 3 – 6 months. The subscriber count is visible on most channels (unless they have turned that option off in YouTube settings) and the all-time views are available on SocialBlade.

Below is the chart of all the channels and that data so far

Comparing the data I collected in February with that in May, there were three things I noticed:

OVER 100,0000: There are now three cruise vlog channels with over 100,000 subscribers as Cruise With Ben and David passed that YouTube milestone number and earned the YouTube Silver Tablet (congratulations!!). That means that two of the three channels with over 100,000 channels are UK-based!! My channel Tips For Travellers (183,000) being the other UK-based channel. Don’s Family Vacations (108,000) who is Canada based is the other channel. At present, no USA-based channel is over 100,000 – though two are getting close and suspect they will be soon.
MOST SUBSCRIBERS ADDED: The fastest growing channel in terms of subscribers since February was Emma Cruises (also UK!) who added 28,400 subscribers in the period between February and May.
CREW-RUN CHANNELS GROWING FAST: Channels set up by current, or recently left, ship crew are ones to watch as a number have launched (I counted 6), and seem to be growing fast and adding subscribers and views quickly. The two fastest growing in this period have been (1) USA-based The Ship Life with 56,300 subscribers (making him the 9th largest cruise vlog channel in the world) and (2) UK’s Chris Wong Vlogs , who works on Royal Caribbean Ships, and only started posting a year ago and is already the 4th biggest UK-based creator cruise vlog channel based on subscribers (39,600 subscribers). I am really enjoying the various crew channels as they bring a new angle to coverage. In the next update I will make it easier to know which those channels are.

Here is the list, and please leave a comment if your channel or one you follow is missing so I can add it

I hope this list helps people find new channels to watch and support, as there is such a wide range of content and passions here.

Podcast: Caribbean Cruise (Tips for Travellers Podcast # 33)

June 17, 2007

Telegraph Cruise Show: Ideal for both first time cruisers and experienced ones

March 24, 2012

Caribbean Cruise Part 7: Crossing the Atlantic to the UK

May 25, 2007

13 Responses

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How generous are you to do this Gary! Typical of you! Thank you.

Thanks, I wasn’t sure about posting but I found (and keep finding) so many new channels to me – and many of these will be THE channels of the future… Going to be fun as cruising starts up watching all of these

Very useful – found lots of channels to follow, thanks Gary!

I love this list! There are some amazing people on here. My wife has a travel channel with a lot of cruising if you want to see if she would be a good fit for this list. Her name is @haleewithaflair

Hey Gary. Some of the vloggers I really enjoy veiwing weekly is The Tyler Show, Travel With Nick, The Cruise World and so many more

Americans love the British accent 😁!

Thank you! This is sooo inspiring. Time for me to start a YouTube channel! I’ve been on 71 cruises.

Hi Gary! I am recently new into the cruise vlogging world. Please do add me, thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/c/CruisingWithJT

Thanks, John T.

Hi Gary, I messaged yesterday but my YouTube channel is actually “Cruising With JT” — thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/c/CruisingWithJT/

Thanks! Will add you to the list!

Thank you so much Gary, appreciate it!! Everyone starts at the beginning and then the journey is incredible! I am up over 200 subscribers now and just announced my adventure 2 days ago! Let the fun begin! Going on 5 cruises the rest of this year and excited to capture and share content and my experiences!

Thanks, John aka Cruising With JT

Hi Gary, Hi it’s Jerry and Jill (the Cruising Canucks) enjoy your videos and reviews – it looks like you were on the Niew Statendam right after us a few weeks ago! We have cruised dozens of times but just started to do cruise vlogs on our return to cruising this past Christmas. We felt the same way as you about cruising during COVID. We are small but growing fast and would really appreciate a mention on your list. We will be vlogging Holland America this March and then a month of cruising in Europe for the first time ever this summer! We typically do 4-6 cruises each year and can’t wait to share our adventures with everyone. Our youtube channel can be found at… https://www.youtube.com/cruising_canucks Thanks! Jerry and Jill

Hi there! Fab!! Will add the channel on next update. Added it to my spreadsheet so don’t forget!

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Search and rescue launched after man, 20, 'jumped off' cruise ship in front of family

Royal caribbean's liberty of the seas was sailing between cuba and the bahamas' grand inagua island when the incident occurred..

Poppy Bilderbeck

A 20-year-old man is reported as having 'jumped off' a Royal Caribbean cruise triggering a search and rescue mission.

On Thursday (April 4) at around 4:00am, a young man went overboard on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas as it sailed between Cuba and the Bahamas' Grand Inagua Island .

A search and rescue mission was immediately launched by the cruise line and passengers have since spoken out about the ongoing incident.

The incident occurred on the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.

A fellow passenger onboard the cruise called Bryan Sims told The Post that he was hanging out with the unnamed man and his brother in the hot tub 'until 3:30am'.

According to Sims, it was 'standing room only' and the passenger - who was allegedly ' pretty drunk' - was 'sat right beside [him] the whole time'.

He continues: "As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.

"When we got to them, he said to his dad, 'I’ll fix this right now.' And he jumped out the window in front of us all."

The passenger is reported as having 'jumped' from the cruise.

Another passenger Deborah Morrison said the crew were 'alerted immediately' by the 'yelling' which erupted.

And a passenger took to Cruise Critic Community page online to write : "Currently on Liberty, heading back from Puerto Plata. Woke up last night between 2-3 and thought I heard an 'Alpha, Alpha, Alpha'. Learned this morning that it was an 'Oscar, Oscar, Oscar'.

"Other passengers said that the lifeboats had been out around the ship all morning. Later the Captain announced that the Coast Guard was taking over the search.

"At noon the Captain announced that we would be making up time and will probably only be an hour and a half late getting back to Ft. Lauderdale , we should be docking around 7:30 AM.

"My thoughts go out to all affected by this sad situation."

Fellow passengers have spoken out in support of the unnamed man and his family.

Morrison added the unnamed man's family appeared 'horrified' and were 'beside themselves'.

Sims similarly describes the experience as 'just surreal'.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told the Post: "The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who has taken over the search."

And when other guests onboard the ship woke up, many offered to help, with passenger Amy Phelps Fouse saying: "The early morning was definitely somber as so many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person."

The US Coast Guard has taken over the search for the man.

She added: "Royal Caribbean has been excellent at communicating updates throughout the day. They have asked that people act with compassion in light of the tragic situation."

The Royal Caribbean spokesperson added: "Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share."

The search and rescue mission is reported as taking place in the sea around Cuba.

The US Coast Guard confirmed to The Post that the mission is ongoing as the man has yet to be discovered.

UNILAD has contacted Royal Caribbean and the Coast Guard for comment.

Topics: Mental Health , Royal Caribbean , Travel , World News , Health

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Passenger recalled what happened moments before man, 20, 'jumped off' cruise ship in front of family
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Heartbreaking final message 23-year-old cruise ship passenger sent to wife before falling overboard

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Cruise Ship Facts That Are Rarely Talked About

Posted: December 14, 2023 | Last updated: December 14, 2023

For some people, cruises are the ultimate getaway when planning their travels. They are a floating ecosystem and it's almost like being in a whole new world where everything you might need is located all in one place. But they also come with their own set of rules and realities. Whether you're a luxury cruise line expert or a novice thinking about taking your first trip, you'll want to know these cruise secrets before hopping on board. From secret amenities to things crew members know but never tell the guests, these fun facts will shed new light on the whole experience.

A Morgue Lurks Within Every Cruise Ship

Cruises are supposed to be about letting loose and having fun but there is often a dark side to cruises that passengers don't really see. Because a large portion of cruise goers usually tend to be older it's actually not uncommon for people to pass away while on ship.

One former crew estimated that around three people pass away every month on a cruise. Due to this, all cruise ships are required to have a morgue on board and usually has room for around three to six bodies.

<p>The requirement that crew members be as hospitable and nice as possible to passengers, they don't usually get a chance to say everything they'd like to say. For this reason, cruise ships keep a log where they write down everything that happens while on a trip. These logs keep everything from something as big as a fire or injury to something as minimal as a comment a guest made.</p><p>It sounds weird but all of that information helps an incoming crew best prepare and spot potential hazards and how to manage them best. This log can also be used as a venting outlet for crew.</p>

It Might Sound Creepy but Crew Members Keep Record of Everything That Guests Do

The requirement that crew members be as hospitable and nice as possible to passengers, they don't usually get a chance to say everything they'd like to say. For this reason, cruise ships keep a log where they write down everything that happens while on a trip. These logs keep everything from something as big as a fire or injury to something as minimal as a comment a guest made.

It sounds weird but all of that information helps an incoming crew best prepare and spot potential hazards and how to manage them best. This log can also be used as a venting outlet for crew.

<p>If you have ever seen pictures from a cruise you will have noted that the pools are often the most crowded areas on the ship. Even though the ship is floating on water, people just gravitate toward the pools anyway.ÃÂ It turns out that most cruise ships have "secret" pools reserved for their staff only. Because these pools are dedicated to staff they are often much less crowded.</p><p>Guests can however be invited and of course, a guest would have to make quite the impression on the crew in order to be invited to the secret pool. The invite is actually harder to secure than you would think, considering some of the rules on board.</p>

The Eerie Hidden Pools of Cruise Ships

If you have ever seen pictures from a cruise you will have noted that the pools are often the most crowded areas on the ship. Even though the ship is floating on water, people just gravitate toward the pools anyway. It turns out that most cruise ships have "secret" pools reserved for their staff only. Because these pools are dedicated to staff they are often much less crowded.

Guests can however be invited and of course, a guest would have to make quite the impression on the crew in order to be invited to the secret pool. The invite is actually harder to secure than you would think, considering some of the rules on board.

<p>Passenger safety on board is paramount and maintaining that safety is not an easy task. Crew are sometimes forced to speak in code, so they don't incite panic while still being able to act quickly during an emergency. Some of these codes are used for dealing with medical emergencies, reacting to a fire, or responding if someone falls overboard. If you ever wondered about what code word is usually used for someone falling overboard, then it's "oscar."</p><p>This really makes a lot of sense since the last thing you really want is to terrify your passengers or cause a panic making it harder to do your job.</p>

The Crew Speaks in Code to Keep Guests in the Dark

Passenger safety on board is paramount and maintaining that safety is not an easy task. Crew are sometimes forced to speak in code, so they don't incite panic while still being able to act quickly during an emergency. Some of these codes are used for dealing with medical emergencies, reacting to a fire, or responding if someone falls overboard. If you ever wondered about what code word is usually used for someone falling overboard, then it's "oscar."

This really makes a lot of sense since the last thing you really want is to terrify your passengers or cause a panic making it harder to do your job.

<p>Many cruise ships have casinos on board, and since most of the time you are traveling through international waters, it's completely legal. This also means that the cruise ship isn't necessarily subject to a single area's laws concerning gambling. The rules onboard will occasionally change depending on whatever country is closest.</p><p>Cruise ships might switch up the number of decks they use for blackjack, etc. and your odds of winning can change dramatically depending on where you are. Just be aware that the rules governing their games aren't set in stone, and can change.</p>

Gambling Rules on Board Aren't as Legal as You Think

Many cruise ships have casinos on board, and since most of the time you are traveling through international waters, it's completely legal. This also means that the cruise ship isn't necessarily subject to a single area's laws concerning gambling. The rules onboard will occasionally change depending on whatever country is closest.

Cruise ships might switch up the number of decks they use for blackjack, etc. and your odds of winning can change dramatically depending on where you are. Just be aware that the rules governing their games aren't set in stone, and can change.

<p>The buck stops with the Captain at all times while on board which is a fantastic system when it works, and it typically does. It makes sense that one person with experience should calling the shots during an emergency. The last thing you would want is two or more people wasting time arguing over a decision in a crisis. That being said, even captains make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can be disastrous for a ship or its passengers.</p><p>It's not often that it happens which is why when it does it usually makes headlines. A few cruise ships have even been sunk due to a captain's decisions.</p>

Even Cruise Ships Are Vulnerable to Mysterious Accidents

The buck stops with the Captain at all times while on board which is a fantastic system when it works, and it typically does. It makes sense that one person with experience should calling the shots during an emergency. The last thing you would want is two or more people wasting time arguing over a decision in a crisis. That being said, even captains make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can be disastrous for a ship or its passengers.

It's not often that it happens which is why when it does it usually makes headlines. A few cruise ships have even been sunk due to a captain's decisions.

<p>Strange things happen while at sea, and one of those things is when people go missing. It sounds weird but people really do go missing on ships. Approximately 165 people reportedly went missing while on a cruise from 1995 to 2011.</p><p>There is speculation that the number is possibly higher. This is separate from passengers that fall overboard. We're talking about people who have just disappeared without a trace and were never seen again.</p>

Sometimes Passengers Go Missing at Sea

Strange things happen while at sea, and one of those things is when people go missing. It sounds weird but people really do go missing on ships. Approximately 165 people reportedly went missing while on a cruise from 1995 to 2011.

There is speculation that the number is possibly higher. This is separate from passengers that fall overboard. We're talking about people who have just disappeared without a trace and were never seen again.

<p>On occasion you will hear about pirates taking over cargo ships or something like that but you don't often hear about cruise ships being boarded. Still, it does happen, and because of that the crew is trained for it.</p><p>In 2005 a cruise ship was targeted, and the crew used some kind of acoustic weapon to assault the pirates' eardrums. The attack was thwarted, and everyone on board went about enjoying their vacations.</p>

"I'm the Captain Now" - There's a Risk of Pirates Coming Onboard

On occasion you will hear about pirates taking over cargo ships or something like that but you don't often hear about cruise ships being boarded. Still, it does happen, and because of that the crew is trained for it.

In 2005 a cruise ship was targeted, and the crew used some kind of acoustic weapon to assault the pirates' eardrums. The attack was thwarted, and everyone on board went about enjoying their vacations.

<p>Where there are often hookups between crew members, they are strictly forbidden to fraternize with passengers while on board. This rule is mainly in place to protect the crew from being accused of anything inappropriate but it is also to protect the cruise company from being sued by a passenger.</p><p>The cruise company will have a much easier time cleaning up in-house than it would feilding a public lawsuit with a passenger.</p>

No Fraternization With Guests

Where there are often hookups between crew members, they are strictly forbidden to fraternize with passengers while on board. This rule is mainly in place to protect the crew from being accused of anything inappropriate but it is also to protect the cruise company from being sued by a passenger.

The cruise company will have a much easier time cleaning up in-house than it would feilding a public lawsuit with a passenger.

<p>You have surely heard of the brig before but did you know there is one on a cruise ship and you don't have to be military to be thrown in it. It's a sort of jail cell on a ship, and it's reserved for passengers that break the law' get a bit too rowdy or in any way threaten the safety of other passengers or crew.</p><p>There is no judge or jury on a ship so if you're thrown in the brig, you'll most likely spend the rest of your vacation there or until the ship makes port and can offload you to the authorities. Sometimes this leaves you in a different country than the one you sailed from.</p>

You're Under Arrest

You have surely heard of the brig before but did you know there is one on a cruise ship and you don't have to be military to be thrown in it. It's a sort of jail cell on a ship, and it's reserved for passengers that break the law' get a bit too rowdy or in any way threaten the safety of other passengers or crew.

There is no judge or jury on a ship so if you're thrown in the brig, you'll most likely spend the rest of your vacation there or until the ship makes port and can offload you to the authorities. Sometimes this leaves you in a different country than the one you sailed from.

<p>It's never good when someone goes overboard but on a cruise ship it can be especially complicated to initiate a rescue. If a passenger goes overboard during a cruise, you may see crew members throwing stuff over the side in order to mark where they are in the water.</p><p>There aren't any landmarks in the ocean, meaning your brain doesn't have anything to refer to when trying to locate an overboard passenger from the top of a very high cruise ship.</p>

Rescuing Passengers Who Went Overboard Is Complicated

It's never good when someone goes overboard but on a cruise ship it can be especially complicated to initiate a rescue. If a passenger goes overboard during a cruise, you may see crew members throwing stuff over the side in order to mark where they are in the water.

There aren't any landmarks in the ocean, meaning your brain doesn't have anything to refer to when trying to locate an overboard passenger from the top of a very high cruise ship.

<p>If you have ever noticed your crew is especially happy or chatty it may be because they have had a couple of drinks themselves. Crew members get great discounts on alcohol and although most cruise lines say they randomly test their employees to ensure that they're not drinking while on the job, they still manage to sneak a few drinks here and there.</p><p>According to former crew members, it happens more than from time to time. Some former crew members have also come out and said that drinking among crew members is much more common than some cruise companies would have their passengers believe.</p>

Crew Members Are Drinking All Day on Cruises

If you have ever noticed your crew is especially happy or chatty it may be because they have had a couple of drinks themselves. Crew members get great discounts on alcohol and although most cruise lines say they randomly test their employees to ensure that they're not drinking while on the job, they still manage to sneak a few drinks here and there.

According to former crew members, it happens more than from time to time. Some former crew members have also come out and said that drinking among crew members is much more common than some cruise companies would have their passengers believe.

<p>We all heard about outbreaks onboard cruise ships curing the 2020 pandemic. They got big news coverage as essentially floating petri dishes. Due to thousands of people situated together in a tight space the outbreaks seem to spread faster.</p><p>Even before the pandemic there were plenty of outbreaks. For example in 2014, around eight cruise ships and many of their passengers were hit with the norovirus. As a result there have been strict procedures and rules to limit the spread of sickness during an outbreak but the risk is always going to be there.</p>

Disease Outbreaks Are More Common Than You Think

We all heard about outbreaks onboard cruise ships curing the 2020 pandemic. They got big news coverage as essentially floating petri dishes. Due to thousands of people situated together in a tight space the outbreaks seem to spread faster.

Even before the pandemic there were plenty of outbreaks. For example in 2014, around eight cruise ships and many of their passengers were hit with the norovirus. As a result there have been strict procedures and rules to limit the spread of sickness during an outbreak but the risk is always going to be there.

<p>There are a lot of reasons that cruise lines don't tend to hire American workers and one of the reasons is that Americans wouldn't put up with the long hours required on a cruise ship. The typical work week in America is around 40 hours, compared to the sometimes 100-hour long work week on a cruise ship.</p><p>Together with different and less generous overtime rules as well as lower pay, it's not hard to see why there aren't as many Americans in the cruise industry.</p>

Crew Members Are Mostly From Outside of the USA

There are a lot of reasons that cruise lines don't tend to hire American workers and one of the reasons is that Americans wouldn't put up with the long hours required on a cruise ship. The typical work week in America is around 40 hours, compared to the sometimes 100-hour long work week on a cruise ship.

Together with different and less generous overtime rules as well as lower pay, it's not hard to see why there aren't as many Americans in the cruise industry.

<p>Cruise ships aren't really required to operate to the same standards as other companies located on land in the U.S. and because of that the medical care available to passengers can sometimes be hit or miss.</p><p>It's common for cruise ships to hire doctors from countries with lower medical standards than in the U.S. and also have the facilities on board a cruise ship to be not quite as great as you'd find on land. Together with the fact that doctors on cruise ships basically can't be sued for malpractice, it leaves something lacking in the care like on a lot of cruise ships.</p>

Medical Care Can Be Spotty

Cruise ships aren't really required to operate to the same standards as other companies located on land in the U.S. and because of that the medical care available to passengers can sometimes be hit or miss.

It's common for cruise ships to hire doctors from countries with lower medical standards than in the U.S. and also have the facilities on board a cruise ship to be not quite as great as you'd find on land. Together with the fact that doctors on cruise ships basically can't be sued for malpractice, it leaves something lacking in the care like on a lot of cruise ships.

<p>Where does all the human waste go when you're on a ship and out at the ocean? It goes exactly where you might expect it to go, in the ocean. Cruise ships simply dump waste when they are around 12 miles from shore. They are required to treat it first but it still isn't great for the environment and it's quite gross.</p><p>Not all countries have the same laws either and this means that sometimes cruise ships will discharge waste when they're closer to shore in a country with more lax laws like recently when Canadians complained about U.S. cruise ships dumping near British Columbia.</p>

Where Does All The Waste Go?

Where does all the human waste go when you're on a ship and out at the ocean? It goes exactly where you might expect it to go, in the ocean. Cruise ships simply dump waste when they are around 12 miles from shore. They are required to treat it first but it still isn't great for the environment and it's quite gross.

Not all countries have the same laws either and this means that sometimes cruise ships will discharge waste when they're closer to shore in a country with more lax laws like recently when Canadians complained about U.S. cruise ships dumping near British Columbia.

<p>It goes without saying that rooms for crew members are much different than the rooms for guests on cruise ships. Crew quarters are very cramped in comparison and for the most part rooms are shared by multiple crew members.</p><p>That being said, crew members do have their own break areas and even have crew-only events, classes, and a pool for staff only. On the downside they don't really get to enjoy all of that stuff very often because they work such long hours.</p>

Tight Quarters for the Crew

It goes without saying that rooms for crew members are much different than the rooms for guests on cruise ships. Crew quarters are very cramped in comparison and for the most part rooms are shared by multiple crew members.

That being said, crew members do have their own break areas and even have crew-only events, classes, and a pool for staff only. On the downside they don't really get to enjoy all of that stuff very often because they work such long hours.

<p>You would think there would be some kind of system making sure every guest is accounted for when they cruise pulls away from port but there isn't. The cruise is not going to wait at port for a couple of passengers who failed to get back in time. If you're late getting back to the ship there is a good chance you will be watching from shore as your ship sails away.</p><p>That's why it's important that you always remember to get back to the ship well before it's scheduled departure. It's also a good idea to carry your documents and passport with you just in case you're left behind in a foreign country.</p>

Cruise Ships Wait For No One

You would think there would be some kind of system making sure every guest is accounted for when they cruise pulls away from port but there isn't. The cruise is not going to wait at port for a couple of passengers who failed to get back in time. If you're late getting back to the ship there is a good chance you will be watching from shore as your ship sails away.

That's why it's important that you always remember to get back to the ship well before it's scheduled departure. It's also a good idea to carry your documents and passport with you just in case you're left behind in a foreign country.

<p>To keep things running smoothly while feeding thousands of guests, it's no surprise that most cruise ship kitchens run their operations with military-like precision. With that many mouths to feed they have to ensure that they have enough food on board for everyone and stay within a budget working hard to eliminate waste.</p><p>Some kitchens are so precise that they can predict consumption down to a margin of two meals for a week. Sometimes crews even change up how much they order based on the nationality of their guests. For example, a ship with many Americans might order more ketchup than one with a majority of other nationalities.</p>

Preparing the Kitchen Is Done With Military Precision

To keep things running smoothly while feeding thousands of guests, it's no surprise that most cruise ship kitchens run their operations with military-like precision. With that many mouths to feed they have to ensure that they have enough food on board for everyone and stay within a budget working hard to eliminate waste.

Some kitchens are so precise that they can predict consumption down to a margin of two meals for a week. Sometimes crews even change up how much they order based on the nationality of their guests. For example, a ship with many Americans might order more ketchup than one with a majority of other nationalities.

<p>Alcohol is always the most expensive part of any trip for good reason. There are really good margins for alcohol sales so it makes sense that there would be strict rules regarding their biggest money maker. Cruise lines force you to use the bars on the ship and for this reason, people have figured out how to smuggle their own booze onto cruises.</p><p>For these reasons guests get really inventive with the way they smuggle on alcohol. One way of sneaking alcohol on board a cruise ship involves filling a plastic bladder with booze in an effort to evade x-ray detection. People have also resorted to filling mouthwash bottles with alcohol and adding food coloring to dye them a specific color.</p>

Hiding Drinks Isn't Easy

Alcohol is always the most expensive part of any trip for good reason. There are really good margins for alcohol sales so it makes sense that there would be strict rules regarding their biggest money maker. Cruise lines force you to use the bars on the ship and for this reason, people have figured out how to smuggle their own booze onto cruises.

For these reasons guests get really inventive with the way they smuggle on alcohol. One way of sneaking alcohol on board a cruise ship involves filling a plastic bladder with booze in an effort to evade x-ray detection. People have also resorted to filling mouthwash bottles with alcohol and adding food coloring to dye them a specific color.

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Man is suffering the consequences after living on a cruise ship for 23 years

Mario salcedo is a part of the furniture at this point.

Olivia Burke

Mario Salcedo lives and breathes cruising - hence why he has spent the entirety of the last 23 years living on one.

The sea-loving Cuban has been sailing his way through life for more than two decades after ditching his demanding job as an international finance director at a multinational corporation on dry land in the US .

Although it might sound like Mario fulfilling his wish to be beside the seaside each and every day is all fun and games, he has been left suffering with some strange health consequences due to his lifestyle choice.

He first bid bon voyage to dry land back in the late 90s, after deciding to embark on an array of cruises as he had grown tired of plane travel due to constantly jetting off for his high-flying job.

Mario had lived in hotel rooms for longer than he lived in his Miami home , so he handed in his notice at the age of 47 and set out on the voyage of a lifetime.

Over the next few years, he embarked on more than 100 back-to-back cruises before falling in love with one special ship - Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

Mario Salcedo has spent more than two decades cruising.

Describing the vessel as 'revolutionary', Mario was firmly under the spell of the ship thanks to it boasting 'so many elements that took cruising to another dimension'.

His extraordinary experience sealed his loyalty to Royal Caribbean and he has called the firm's array of different cruises home ever since.

By 2016, Mario had spent more than £1 million on his holiday-come-home habit.

As you can imagine, he has become part of the furniture and counts the staff onboard various ships as his pals - so much so, that they gave him the nickname 'Super Mario', which has firmly stuck.

Luckily, he has free internet access thanks to him rising up the ranks to the top of Royal Caribbean's loyalty tier and can run his investment management business remotely while satisfying his craving for cruising.

The businessman has an office with an ocean view.

Mario reckons the approximately £64,945 ($82,000) a year he spends on keeping up his unusual lifestyle is worth every penny seen as though he can work from a pool deckchair with an ocean view each day.

If he's not busily working away, you can find Mario scuba diving in stunning waters, throwing some shapes while ballroom dancing or unwinding with a cigar in the dedicated lounge.

What a life, eh?

Apart from a 15-day break each year and a 15-month hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic , the bloke has spent the best part of 23 years at sea.

Mario does still have an apartment in Miami, but he now dubs this his 'hotel' due to the fact he spends barely any time there - and when the time does arise to abandon ship, it isn't exactly enjoyable.

Mario is good friends with the staff onboard the Royal Caribbean ships.

That's because all those years at sea have really caught up with his body... so although he can handle seasickness like a champ, he isn't that great at being on dry land anymore.

Mario is literally like a fish out of water when he's stood on the Earth's surface, as he's accidentally earned himself a permanent set of sea legs after acclimatising a bit too well to life on a cruise.

Discussing the bizarre physical side effect, the cruise connoisseur told Condé Nast Traveller: "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line.

"I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

Topics: Travel , Cruise Ship , World News , US News , Health , Lifestyle

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

@ livburke_

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