The longest cruise in the world lasts 274 nights - and visits over 60 countries

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise is the longest-ever cruise to be offered by a mainstream commercial cruise line, having debuted in December 2023. The cruise lasts a whopping 274 nights, taking guests around the world to more than 60 countries across seven continents.

Royal Caribbean state that it is "the most epic world cruise ever to set sail."

Along the way, guests can expect to be wowed by eight of the "World's Wonders", including the Great Wall of China, Iguazú Falls, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Chichén-Itzá, The Colosseum, The Taj Mahal and the Great Barrier Reef.

The world cruise sets sail onboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, the third Radiance-class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet which has the capacity for 2,100 passengers.

Guests can choose to book a segment of the cruise, boarding and then leaving the ship in ports along the way, or true world explorers can stay on for the full global itinerary.

Serenade of the Seas global itinerary is split up into sections, starting with the Ultimate Americas Cruise, starting in Los Angeles and taking in Hawaii and French Polynesia along the way, before moving into the Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, which spans the likes of Austria, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and India.

Next, it's onto the Ultimate Africa and Southern Europe leg of the trip, starting in Dubai and spanning countries including. the Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Canary Islands, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.

The Ultimate Europe and Beyond segment of the cruise, which has multiple stops in countries including Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Iceland, Newfoundland, New York and the Bahamas.

• You can click here to see the full itinerary of the cruise at the time of writing. 

When cruisers are not exploring destinations around the world, there is plenty to keep you busy onboard. The vessel is home to 12 dining options, along with multiple bars and lounges.

The main dining room is a multi-level eatery serving up "world-class" cuisine from breakfast through to dinner. Windjammer Cafe is the ship's casual dining destination, serving a selection of global cuisines and American favourites. The cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Park Cafe is another casual dining spot, where guests can enjoy salads, paninis, and freshly prepared sandwiches to eat in or take away. There are also room service options.

Serenade of the Seas also has three swimming pools, three whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a mini-golf course, and a basketball court.

Fitness enthusiast can stay active in the state-of-the-art fitness centre, meaning you never need to miss a working. And if relaxation is top of the menu, then guests can head to the full-service Vitality at Sea Spa which offers numerous treatments.