Royal Caribbean International has revealed its inaugural Ultimate World Cruise for 2023.
The 274-night voyage will visit all seven continents, across more than 150 destinations in 65 countries.
Serenade of the Seas will depart from Miami on 10 December 2023, sailing through to 10 September 2024.
Bookings can be made by phone with an exclusive one-week window through to 26 October for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above.
Guests will sail to 57 destinations that are new to the cruise line, with highlights including Casablanca, Morocco, Greenland, and Simizu, Japan, to see Mount Fuji.
Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley said: “This is the world cruise of world cruises. Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for the lost time.
“Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate holiday that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travellers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”
Following its departure from Miami, Serenade of the Seas will visit a range of Caribbean destinations before heading to Antarctica and Cape Horn.
The ship will then travel to Central and South America, finishing the Americas and Antarctica expedition portion of the world tour.
From 11 February to 9 May 2024, Serenade of the Seas will continue its tour in Asia and the Pacific, visiting the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Tokyo and more.
The Middle East and the Mediterranean portion of the cruise will feature calls in Dubai, Egypt, Turkey, Rome, Greece, Split, Croatia and France, from 9 May to 10 July 2024.
The voyage will end with Serenade of the Seas visiting Barcelona, Morocco, Russia, Norway, Iceland and New York before the ship heads back to Miami.
Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas photo credit Spacejunkie2
As the winter approaches, the Royal Caribbean Group brands are expanding their restart plans, adding destinations and new homeports.
In November, eight more ships are resuming service for the corporation, bringing its brands back to Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, Antarctica, the Middle East and more.
Here are the latest plans, brand by brand:
Royal Caribbean International Status: 14 ships currently in service; three more set to follow by Dec. 1 Ships: Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas currently in service; Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas set to follow in November Regions: Asia, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, United Kingdom and West Coast
With 14 cruise ships in service, Royal Caribbean International currently has the most capacity back in the market.
Sailing in North America, Europe and Asia, the brand is set to reactivate three additional vessels by Dec. 1, relaunching service in additional destinations.
Debuting on the West Coast, the Navigator of the Seas is welcoming guests back in Los Angeles on Nov. 19.
A few weeks earlier, on Nov. 7, the Explorer of the Seas is resuming service in San Juan, bringing the brand back to its Puerto Rico homeport.
Currently, in a European shipyard, the Adventure of the Seas is also returning to revenue operation soon. On Nov. 29, the ship is set to return to Galveston for a series of four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises.
While the balance of the Royal Caribbean fleet is poised to return to guest operations until May 2022, the brand has also resumed service from Hong Kong recently, launching a program of short cruises to nowhere from the Asian port.
Celebrity Cruises Status:Eight ships currently in service; two more set to follow by Dec. 1 Ships: Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Xpedition currently in service; Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Reflection set to follow in November Regions: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, United Kingdom, Galapagos, West Coast and Panama Canal
In November, Celebrity Cruises is launching a new phase of its restart program. After several months with eight vessels sailing revenue cruises, the brand is adding two more ships into active service by Dec. 1.
Marking Celebrity’s return to Tampa, the Celebrity Constellation is set to welcome guests back on Nov. 7.
A day earlier, the Celebrity Reflection is resuming service after a 20-month operational pause, offering a series of Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades.
In October, Celebrity also returned to the West Coast and the Panama Canal with the Celebrity Millennium. After a season in Alaska, the vessel is offering a couple of California cruises from San Diego before crossing the Panama Canal on its way to the Caribbean.
TUI Cruises Status: Six ships currently in service Ships: Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff 3, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 6 Regions: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Emirates
Based in Germany, TUI Cruises currently has six cruise ships sailing with guests in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Preparing for the winter season, the brand is planning to expand its restart to new destinations over the next months.
While a season in Southeast Asia was recently cancelled, cruises to the Caribbean, the Canary Islands and the Emirates are on the plans through the end of the year.
Silversea Cruises Status: Four ships currently in service; three more sets to follow by Dec. 1 Ships: Silver Moon, Silver Origin, Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit currently in service; Silver Cloud, Silver Explorer and Silver Whisper set to follow in November Region: Galapagos, Mediterranean, Western Europe, Atlantic, Caribbean and Antarctica
After months of negotiation, Silversea Cruises is ready to relaunch its expedition sailings in Antarctica. With the Silver Cloud and the Silver Explorer, the brand is returning to the seventh continent in November, offering departures from Chile.
On Nov. 17, the Silver Whisper is also returning to revenue operations, offering Caribbean cruises from San Juan and Fort Lauderdale.
Currently, four Silversea ships are sailing with passengers, cruising in the Mediterranean, the Galapagos, Western Europe and more.
The luxury brand welcomed its passengers back in June with the inaugural cruises of two newbuilds, the Silver Moon and the Silver Origin.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises First sailing: Five ships in service Ships: Europa 2, Europa, Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit Region: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Atlantic
In November Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is completing yet another month with the entire five-ship fleet in service.
While, during the summer, the German brand sailed in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, new cruises are now being offered, including itineraries to the Atlantic Archipelagos and the Emirates.
Port Tampa Bay and Royal Caribbean International will celebrate the return of cruising on Saturday with the arrival of the Serenade of the Seas, a week ahead of her first commercial cruise and first revenue cruise from the port in more than 18 months.
Port Tampa Bay will welcome Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas to Cruise Terminal 6 before she departs on her maiden voyage next Saturday.
“The return of cruising will have a far-reaching impact on our region, with many small and local businesses standing to benefit,” the port said, in a statement. “Business Research & Economic Advisors estimated that a 3,000-passenger ship generates an average of $334,000 in passenger and crew onshore spending per call in a homeport city. The development of Sparkman Wharf, Water Street, Armature Works, and other hotels, dining, shopping, and entertainment projects in Tampa continues to boost the attractiveness of the bay area as a homeport. Cruise visitors to Tampa have the convenience of accessing a nationally top-ranked airport, secure parking garages – just steps away from all three cruise terminals, world-class beaches, and local attractions like Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and Ybor City.”
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