Royal Caribbean International has announced changes to its Ultimate World Cruise itinerary, avoiding the Red Sea due to regional unrest. Following a vote by passengers onboard, the Serenade of the Seas will now follow a new path circumnavigating Africa.
This updated journey includes 18 stops across Africa and Europe, featuring unique locales such as the Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius, as detailed by Royal Caribbean. The revised 43-night leg, routing from Dubai to Italy via South Africa, spans from May 9 to June 20, 2024.
Guests onboard chose their preferred route through an exclusive voting system initiated in late February, lasting five days.

Amid concerns over regional stability, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, offered passengers alternate routes, emphasizing the need for early decision-making due to the upcoming schedule. “We have all been closely monitoring the unrest in the Red Sea and were hopeful everything would settle down,” he stated.
Bayley highlighted two alternative routes around Africa, with one focusing more on sea days and fewer stops but extending the exploration to include additional Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Egypt, Greece, and Italy.
Although the resulting route diverges from the initial plan, it introduces Royal Caribbean’s inaugural visits to African ports, marking a significant first for the company.
As compensation for the itinerary change, passengers will receive a 25 percent pro-rated onboard credit refund for the altered segment. Additionally, those opting to leave the Serenade during this modified section will be granted a pro-rated refund for their time not spent onboard.
The Ultimate World Cruise, which set sail from Miami in early December, aims to cover a vast global expanse over 274 nights, originally planning to visit over 150 ports across 60 countries and all seven continents, encompassing diverse regions from Antarctica to Europe.