The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked in Juneau, Alaska. AP
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked in Juneau, Alaska. AP
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked in Juneau, Alaska. AP
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked in Juneau, Alaska. AP

Royal Caribbean announces world's longest cruise spanning nine months and seven continents


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The longest and "most comprehensive" world cruise, lasting nine months, with stops in 65 countries and covering all seven continents, is set to sail soon. Bookings are now open for Royal Caribbean International's Ultimate World Cruise, which will begin its journey in Miami on December 10, 2023, and last through September 10, 2024.

The price range for the full excursion is between $66,000 to $112,000 per person, according to CNN Travel. Ticket prices are inclusive of business class airfare, transportation and accommodation at a five-star hotel before setting sail. Taxes and fees are not included.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” Royal Caribbean International's president and chief executive Michael Bayley said. “Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travellers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

The record-breaking journey will be on board the company's Serenade of the Seas, the 294-metre-long ship with 13 decks that can accommodate up to 2,476 guests. The ship's facilities include a mini-golf course, an arcade, rock-climbing wall, pool, theatre and spa.

Upon leaving Miami, the ship will travel around the Caribbean, before scheduled stop-offs in Central and South America, including trips to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro and Argentina's Iguazu Falls. A total of 150 destinations will be covered across the 274 days, including stops at Casablanca in Morocco, Qaqortoq in Greenland, and Shimizu in Japan, as well as stops to visit 11 wonders of the world, from Peru’s Machu Picchu to the Taj Mahal in India.

Travellers can book the full nine-month experience or join for specific legs. The journey has been split into four main categories: the Americas and Antarctica, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and northern Europe.

Royal Caribbean resumed sailing in June with vaccinated adult guests, ending a year-long hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In July, a luxury cruise starting at $73,499 per person, set to sail around 31 countries across four months, sold out within three hours of its announcement.

Called the Moments In Time world cruise, the journey by Regent Seven Seas Cruises promises to offer passengers the opportunity to “experience a lifetime of travel with one unforgettable adventure after another.” It is scheduled to depart from Miami in January 2024.

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

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  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Results for Stage 2

Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race

Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)

Leap of Faith

Michael J Mazarr

Public Affairs

Dh67
 

Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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Chelsea 0

Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')

Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)

Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Sri Lanka Test squad:

Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.

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Tamkeen's offering
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  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
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Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Votes

Total votes: 1.8 million

Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes

Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes 

Updated: October 23, 2021, 9:30 AM