“Exhausted” passengers reflect on “wonderful” trip

Ultimate World Cruise passengers officially say goodbye to the Serenade of the Seas after an epic nine-month journey.

For nearly a year, the cruise's famous passengers have documented the ups and downs of the long voyage, from the moment they departed Miami on December 10, 2023. Nine months later, the passengers are finally back on land on Tuesday, September 10 – and with mixed feelings.

Some revealed USA Today that they were “exhausted” at certain points during the trip, but are still grateful for the experience. The trip consisted of four legs, passed through over 65 countries, and traversed all seven continents, so it's understandable that some cruisers felt drained during the long journey.

“It's all a blur,” Adita Larson, one of the ship's Tiktok-famous passengers, said of the trip, particularly the European leg of the cruise. “We don't know where we were yesterday; we don't know where we're going tomorrow,” she added.

Some cruisers recalled their friends being so exhausted from all the ports of call that they decided to skip certain shore excursions and rest on the ship. Others recalled changing their minds about the once-dreaded “sea days” and instead looking forward to a relaxing day on the open sea.

Although the 274-night adventure was exhausting for cruisers like Larson, they reached absolutely “beautiful” destinations, she notes – especially the icebergs in Antarctica.

“You can't capture on video or photos how beautiful it is to stand in front of these icebergs and see them so close up, right in front of your eyes,” she told the outlet.

She also noticed the sense of community that developed among the passengers, as there were about 650 long-time Ultimate World Cruisers, plus new passengers boarding and disembarking with each stop.

The social media-savvy cruiser says she plans to continue documenting her life, “especially once we're back home and adjusting to nine months away from home and sleeping in a bed that no longer rocks.”

While Royal Caribbean continued to provide travelers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the cruise line faced unexpected challenges regarding itinerary changes due to political unrest and unsafe conditions in some regions, as well as the confirmation of a passenger death in February.

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In January, the cruise ship Brandee Lake provided updates to the original voyage.

“The itinerary has changed a few times. Because when we first signed up, Russia and Ukraine were on it,” Lake told PEOPLE at the time. “Israel was also on [the itinerary]and now it is no longer so.”

Royal Caribbean confirmed to PEOPLE in January that it would cancel the original Red Sea and Suez Canal itinerary in May to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew. Cruise lines ultimately voted for a “more scenic route” that skirts around Africa and includes many new ports of call.

Last week, passengers began preparing to return to life as land lovers.

Another famous passenger, Dr Jenny, who goes by the name drjennytravels on TikTok, has been documenting the ups and downs of the entire journey. Last week, as she counted down the final days, she spoke about how “bizarre” it was to see the journey come to an end.

“Look at this,” she said in a TikTok she shared on Tuesday, September 3. Pointing to a sign on a cabin door, she continued, “Seven days left. This is in my hallway for the world cruise and as you can see – look at all the luggage out here.”

“This is just bizarre. We watched people leave their luggage here as they came and went, but now we are here. These are World Cruisers,” she says of the last people on board, adding that it was a “sad day” for her.

According to various TikTokers, rumors are already circulating on board about a second world cruise, but Royal Caribbean has not yet made any announcements about another trip.