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A passenger on the nine-month Royal Caribbean ‘Serenade of the Sea’ cruise has died as it begins it’s leg through the Pacific Ocean. The Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise is a 274-night journey that visits more than 60 countries and 11 ‘world wonders’ – including ancient and natural – on a vacation that costs up to $105,000.
The ship, called Serenade of the Seas, departed from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023 – but on January 2, less than two weeks in, while sailing toward Montevideo, Uruguay, it was battered by 60mph winds and heavy rain. News of the passenger’s death emanated – as much of the information has on the ship – from TikTok , where a user named ‘Adita’ posted word of the death, which was taken down but resurfaced in a reaction video. ‘We had our first death on the Ultimate World Cruise. A lady passed away last night. She was an elderly lady, and the reason why I know is because I was coming to my room when they were taking the body out,’ Adita said in the video.
Royal Caribbean confirmed the death in a statement, though they did not identify the passenger, nor did they offer any circumstances relating to their death. ‘A guest sailing on board Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away,’ they said. ‘We are actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones at this time. Out of the privacy of the guest and their family, we have nothing further to share at this time.’
They also announced that they may be making adjustments to the route taken by the cruise ship going forward due to unrest in the Middle East. ‘The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority, and we are monitoring what is taking place in and around the Red Sea,’ a spokesman said in a statement. ‘In looking ahead at potential itinerary adjustments, we are currently reviewing alternatives for Serenade of the Seas, which is currently scheduled to transit the Suez Canal in May. Our guests and travel partners will receive an update from us in mid-February.’
It’s the latest twist in a story that has made the long-running cruise ship a source of controversy on social media. Many disgruntled cruise goers took to TikTok to report the deluge, with one woman revealing how she had to move rooms, while one couple complained that in the midst of the chaos, wine supplies were running low.
Serenade of the Seas will return to its home port in Miami on September 10, 2024. The first leg of the trip, the Ultimate Americas Cruise, saw passengers travel to islands in the Caribbean to Antarctica.
On Sunday, they embarked on the Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, where they’ll travel to Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
This is followed by the Ultimate Middle East and Med part of the cruise, spotlighting Dubai, Egypt, Greece and Croatia, before looping around Europe and across to New York.
The 90,090-ton, 2,100-passenger vessel has a spa pool, library, cinema, slot machines, plenty of decking space, a two-floor dining space, and a shopping arcade.
One passenger said the journey costs anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 depending on your room.
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