The cost of a trip from 60 to 118 thousand dollars: a world cruise that went viral on the Internet

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise has become an internet obsession. Since the ship first left the port in November, videos about the trip have been viewed millions of times, and people are fascinated by this route.

The scale of the journey is impressive. Over the course of nine months, 27,000 passengers will visit more than 60 countries on all seven continents. The cruise consists of four main parts - America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Europe, which are divided into 17 stages," Yahoo writes.

Passengers can join one of the sections, mix 17 stages or stay for the entire cruise. Those who sign up for the full cruise will part with $60,000 (£47,286) to $118,000 (£92,996).

The length and cost of the cruise made it an interesting phenomenon. Yes, round-the-world cruises are nothing new-the very first one set sail from New York in 1922-but this one rose to the top of social media algorithms like a benign iceberg and inevitably appeared in people's feeds, regardless of whether they had ever been interested in cruising before.

A kind of micro-industry of travel documentation has emerged. There are passengers who post daily updates on TikTok and Instagram, chronicling life at sea, but there are also commentators on land.

Amike Oosthuizen, a South African influencer, is not surprised by the interest online. She and her family have booked cruise tickets for 2021. "I've always wanted to travel the world," she says. "And a cruise is a great way to do that because you have your own cabin, your own space, and you don't have to fly between destinations. People want to see your daily routine, how you live for nine months."

Her favorite stop so far has been Antarctica, which she says was "magical" and she praises the conditions on board.

"I think some social media content creators exaggerate," says Amike Oosthuizen. - "Others, who are not even on the ship, use this opportunity to promote their accounts by creating fake dramas.

Social media users are watching the incredible nature. Only a few weeks ago, the cruise was passing through the Drake Passage, a waterway between Antarctica and Chile characterized by rough weather. Videos posted online showed the ship plowing through the choppy waters.

There was speculation that the "show" might end early. There were rumors on the Internet that due to the constant threat to navigation in the Red Sea, the full route would be impossible. Some ships, such as Viking Cruises, have changed their port calls, and Ultimate World Cruise hopes to continue its route.

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise has become a real phenomenon, demonstrating the vacation at sea to a new audience. Typical cruise passengers are people aged 50-60. Most TikTok creators are between 18 and 34 years old. In addition, world cruises, with their high ticket prices and long time commitments, are usually not accessible to young people.

Also among those who post videos are the staff on board, as well as a couple who boasted about how they spend their children's inheritance. There are also people like Jenny Hunnicutt, who works remotely and travels full time.

"This cruise was the catalyst for changing our lives," says Hunnicutt, who booked tickets for the Royal Caribbean cruise with her husband two years ago. "We sold everything: our apartment, our cars, many things like furniture and clothes. And then we moved into a motorhome."

Although she still works remotely, Hunnicutt now also chronicles life on a cruise.

"Talking about a cruise like this can be like bragging," she says. - "I never want to pass it on. So the fact that we've received positive comments means a lot. People say they are grateful that we let them have this experience through us."

While interest in cruising may be starting to wane, Emma Le Tis believes that the attention it has received will ultimately prove beneficial to the industry. Although she does have a word of caution for newcomers. "Sailing around the world is a very long cruise. Most people have done a lot of cruises before they go around the world. I would recommend starting with a seven-day cruise."