Infamous nine-month Royal Caribbean cruise finally comes to an end - as weary passengers admit they are 'exhausted'

After nine months at sea, the weary travelers from the infamous Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise are finally back on dry land - and reflecting on their time away.

Serenade of the Seas set sail from Miami on December 10 - and when it first left the ship was ablaze with wild stories of swinging, sailing through a hurricane, being rerouted due to political unrest on the Red Sea and even a passenger death.

Now, 274 days after leaving, passengers admit they are 'exhausted' but grateful for the experience, which took them to four continents and over 60 countries

'It's a blur,' one of the passengers, Adita Larson, said of the journey.

Adita, who traveled with husband Lee and caused a stir on TikTok when viewers noticed pineapple décor in their bedroom - forcing them to deny rumors they were swingers, said it was particularly tiring during the European leg of the journey when they were traveling to different countries most days. 

'We don't know where we were yesterday, we don't know where we're going tomorrow,' she told USA Today.

Some of the passengers said that their attitudes about how they approached the days at sea changed over time.

Many said at the beginning of the journey they loved getting off the boat and exploring, but towards the end began to appreciate spending days at sea so they could relax.

Adita also noted that many of the 650 passengers doing the entire nine months cruise became close friends, in addition to new passengers coming in and out with every leg. 

'I mean, obviously, it's just like any other community,' fellow passengers Brandee Lake chimed in.

'You have the people that you are really close to, some of them are acquaintances, maybe some that are not your people, but nothing wrong. It's just, you have your group that you naturally gel with,' she added.

As for anyone thinking about going on a multi-month cruise, Brandee advises to 'pack light.'

Brandee admits she overpacked, bringing three large suitcases, a rolling carry-on bag and a backpack with her on the cruise. 

'I pared it down, and it's still just too much,' she shared. 'It's kind of like your own closet: you really only wear about 10 per cent to 20 per cent of it.'

Married couple Joe and Audrey Martucci told CNN Travel they loved the trip - and couldn't have asked for a 'better opportunity,' they did 'get a little tired being on vacation.'

The couple, both in their 60s, added they missed their kids and struggled being far away as major life events played out on land.

'Nine months is a long time,' Joe acknowledged, saying he wouldn't go for as long if he were to go on another cruise.

'It's just way too long away from family, away from everyone and we started to feel burned out,' he explained.

'We couldn't really catch up with sleep,' added his wife Audrey, joking that they 'do realize how first world problems this sounds.'

As for Adita, there's no question if she would do another cruise, replying to a TikTok comment saying she'd do another one 'in a flash!'

The ship departed from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023, and returned to New York on September 10, 2024.

Social media users loved the content, and the cruise - which cost between $50,000 to $100,000 per person for the entire nine months, depending on rooms and packages - became a fixture on For You Pages on TikTok.

While many hoped for a dramatic time at sea - some even declaring it was a reality TV show waiting to happen - unfortunately, over time viewership began to wane and the cruise was not as dramatic as people had predicated.

They did however, face their fair share of drama. 

The ship sustained flooding after severe weather at the start of the year, and an elderly woman passed away whilst onboard.

Royal Caribbean were also forced to reroute the ship after ongoing attacks in the Red Sea.