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16-year-old dies in fall aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ship that set sail from Florida: report

Allure of the seas departed port canaveral for the bahamas.

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – A 16-year-old died after falling from a balcony to the deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral, according to TMZ.com .

The teen fell Saturday aboard Allure of the Seas, which left the port on Friday and traveled to the Bahamas before returning to Florida on Monday.

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News 6 spoke with a passenger aboard the ship, who said the cruise line made an announcement urging passengers to donate blood.

TMZ reported that the boy died at a hospital.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of a guest, and our hearts go out to the family. Out of respect for them, we won’t provide any further comment,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

TMZ posted photos of yellow caution tape across a balcony on the ship.

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Passenger dies aboard 9-month cruise, Royal Caribbean confirms

The company did not release additional details about the death on the ultimate world cruise.

A passenger has died aboard Royal Caribbean’s nine-month world cruise , the company said in a statement Tuesday.

“A guest sailing on board Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away,” the statement 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.”

Royal Caribbean did not release additional details on the passenger.

“First, some sad news. We had our first death on the Ultimate World Cruise,” a passenger who goes by Adita said in a TikTok video. “She was an elderly lady. The reason why I know is because I was coming to my room when they were taking the body out. So very, very sad for me because I was there to watch.”

The original video has been removed, but it was posted in a report from a cruise watcher who described the update as “Ultimate World Cruise Tea Time Depressing Edition.”

The company did not confirm that it was the first death during the voyage, which set sail in December. Official statistics on the number of people who die on a cruise are not made public, but a 2020 study in the International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health found that there were 623 reported deaths aboard 78 ocean and river cruise lines between 2000 and 2019. Excluding suicides, the leading causes of passenger deaths were shown to be unspecified natural causes, cardiac incidents and falling overboard or onto lower decks.

For months, Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise has captivated the public like a social media reality show, with reports on storms, coronavirus outbreaks, canceled port calls and interpersonal drama.

The itinerary on the nine-month expedition includes 65 countries across every continent. Dozens of TikTok accounts have popped up to document the cruise. Some are run by a few of the 600-something travelers staying on board; others are spectators on land.

Spencer Aronfeld, an attorney who sues cruise lines and posts cruise content on TikTok, recorded a video about the death.

“People die and people die on cruises,” he said. “And it’s not always as a result of some foul play or accident. That’s why cruise ships have onboard morgues that can have a capacity sometimes up to six to 12 bodies.”

He said the medical care available on a ship is limited, and it can be difficult and expensive to transfer a sick passenger to land.

“It is important before you go on any cruise, no matter what the duration, to make sure that you are physically fit to sail,” he said.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

US court revives lawsuit against Royal Caribbean over toddler's death

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Video shows girl's final moments with grandfather before cruise ship death

November 21, 2019 / 7:26 AM EST / CBS News

New surveillance video shown to CBS News reveals the final moments before an 18-month-old girl fell to her death off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Chloe Wiegand was being held by her grandfather Salvatore Anello while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico in July.

Prosecutors have charged Anello with negligent homicide. He appeared in court Wednesday and was expected back in court on Dec. 17.

The video, which has not been released publicly, will be a key piece of evidence in the criminal trial, CBS News correspondent David Begnaud reports. The video shows what appears to be 18-month-old Chloe cross over to the side of the ship and stand in front of a bank of windows. A man attorneys said is Anello is seen following her.

There was a railing about a foot from the windows, Michael Winkleman, the Wiegand family's attorney said. The surveillance video appears to show Anello look over the railing for one second.

He then reaches down, picks Chloe up and appears to hold her over the railing. Winkleman said Anello didn't realize there was no glass directly in front of him. Within five seconds Chloe falls more than 100 feet below.

"She's sitting on the wooden banister, why did he then lean forward with her?" Begnaud asked Winkleman.

"I think it's pretty obvious why they leaned forward, and that would be so that you could get a better view," Winkleman said.

"What do you say to the fact that he raised her and put her on this banister which the cruise line might argue was not meant for young children to be sitting on?" Begnaud asked.

"If that was the case and they want no one to sit on it, they should say no one should sit on it. … There's no sign that says that. There's no warning, no nothing," Winkleman said.

"It may be hard for some people to believe that the grandpa didn't know that that section of the window was open. … How did he know that there was glass?" Begnaud asked.

"The only way that you can prove or disprove anything that Sam said is based on the video and based on his testimony … Those are the only pieces of evidence you have," Winkleman said. "There were no eye witnesses. There's no one who's come forward to tell any different story. … So all you have is Sam's testimony, his story and the video."

After Chloe fell out of the window, Anello drops to his knees, according to Winkleman, and he yelled out loud, "I just dropped my child. I thought there was glass! I thought there was glass!"

Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

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Granddad of toddler who died in cruise ship fall knew window was open, Royal Caribbean says

The grandfather of a toddler who fell to her death on a cruise ship "unquestionably" knew the window was open before he held the 18-month-old up to it and lost his grip, the cruise line claims in a court filing.

Royal Caribbean Cruises filed a motion this month asking the federal court in the Southern District of Florida to dismiss a suit by the family of the toddler, Chloe Rae Margaret Wiegand, who died July 7, from a 150-foot fall on a docked vessel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The family announced in December that it was suing Royal Caribbean, claiming that warning signs about open windows could have prevented the toddler's death.

The family said the little girl wanted to bang on a window's glass, as she did at the rink at her brother's hockey games. So, grandfather Salvatore Anello lifted her up to a window pane, believing it was closed, the family claims.

Anello is color blind and couldn't have seen that the window, part of a bank of green-tinted windows on the ship’s 11th floor, was open before he lost control of Chloe and she fell onto a deck below, the family said.

But Royal Caribbean counters this claim in its motion, which includes a series of still images that the company said were taken from security video and which it says show that Anello knew the window was open before holding Chloe up to it.

One of the images shows Anello leaning out the window, the court filing says.

"When he arrives at the open window, and while Chloe is on the floor, Mr. Anello leans his upper-torso over the wooden railing and out of the window frame for approximately eight seconds," the cruise line's court motion says. "Because Mr. Anello had himself leaned out the window, he was well aware that the window is open."

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Michael Winkleman, an attorney for the Wiegand family, called the pictures "misleading" but declined to elaborate at this point.

Separate from the lawsuit by the family and the company's response, prosecutors in Puerto Rico have charged Anello with negligent homicide in his granddaughter's death. Anello was arrested in October and released on an $80,000 bond. He has insisted in media interviews that he is not guilty.

Royal Caribbean in its court filing on Jan. 8 said that while the "death of Chloe Wiegand is a sad tragedy," the grandfather is entirely to blame.

"His actions, which no reasonable person could have foreseen, were reckless and irresponsible and the sole reason why Chloe is no longer with her parents," the court motion said.

Jose G. Perez-Ortiz, Anello’s lawyer in Puerto Rico, also could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.

Alan Wiegand is a police officer for the South Bend Police Department in Indiana.

David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Teen passenger dies after fall on Royal Caribbean cruise ship based at Port Canaveral

A teenage passenger died after falling from the balcony to a deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that sails out of Port Canaveral, according to the media site TMZ.

TMZ reported that a 16-year-old boy died Saturday while on a cruise, after the fall that occurred on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. The passenger was transported to a hospital for treatment, but died there.

In a statement to FLORIDA TODAY, Royal Caribbean said: "We are saddened to learn of the passing of a guest, and our hearts go out to the family. Out of respect for them, we won’t provide any further comment."

Allure at Port Canaveral: Allure of the Seas joins Port Canaveral lineup as largest ship with twice-weekly sailings

The Allure sails out of Port Canaveral on a three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Nassau and Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean's private island. The cruise on which the incident occurred was a three-night sailing that left Port Canaveral on Friday and returned Monday. The ship then departed Monday from Port Canaveral on a four-night sailing.

The Allure of the Seas has 2,748 staterooms, a double-occupancy capacity of 5,496 passengers and a full capacity of 6,828 passengers. It is the world's fifth-largest cruise ship. Port Canaveral ― the world's busiest cruise port ― also is home to the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

The Allure of the Seas joined the Port Canaveral lineup in October.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at  [email protected] , on X at  @bydaveberman  and on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

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A teenager died Saturday after reportedly falling from a Royal Caribbean ship's balcony.

Passengers told TMZ a 16-year-old died after falling from a balcony onto a deck on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas ship, saying it's unclear if the incident was intentional.

One passenger on the ship said there was an announcement asking for passengers willing to donate blood early on Saturday morning, according to FOX 35 .

The teen was reportedly taken to a hospital but later died.

VIDEO SHOWS HORRIFYING MOMENTS CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS 'FEARED FOR THEIR LIVES': 'TABLES WERE FLYING'

Pictures taken by a passenger on the ship show yellow caution tape on a balcony and one area of the deck blocked off by a tent and a temporary wall. (FOX 35)

Pictures taken by a passenger on the ship show yellow caution tape on a balcony and one area of the deck blocked off by a tent and a temporary wall.

The Allure of the Seas had just begun a 3-day trip when the incident happened and was between Port Canaveral, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas.

OFFICIALS UPDATE ON CRUISE SHIP CREW MEMBER WHO WENT OVERBOARD

Passengers told TMZ a 16-year-old died after falling from a balcony onto a deck on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas ship, saying its unclear if the incident was intentional. (Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images and FOX 35)

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean didn't address what happened but told Fox News Digital one passenger had died.

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Balconies line each side of the Boardwalk of the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruise ship. (Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of a guest and our hearts go out to the family. Out of respect for them, we won’t provide any further comment," a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said.

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.

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'Storm Chasers' ' Joel Taylor's Family Identifies His Body in Puerto Rico After He Died on Cruise

The 38-year-old Discovery Channel star was found dead in his cabin on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship Harmony of the Seas which docked in San Juan on Tuesday

The family of Storm Chaser ‘s Joel Taylor has identified his body in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a day after he was found dead on a cruise ship.

Taylor’s cause of death is still unknown and an autopsy has yet to be performed, the Institute of Forensic Sciences of Puerto Rico confirms to PEOPLE Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Discovery Channel star from Elk City, Oklahoma, was found dead in his cabin on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship Harmony of the Seas which docked in San Juan on Tuesday.

“The U.S. Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico was notified today in the afternoon by the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas cruise ship that they had a death on board,” Ricardo Castrodad, public affairs officer for the Coast Guard’s San Juan sector, tells to PEOPLE.

Though an investigation is already underway, Castrodad says the Coast Guard has yet to inspect the cruise ship.

“As is our standard procedure, law enforcement was notified and responded to the ship when it arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, January 23,” Owen Torres, manager of global corporate communications for Royal Caribbean Cruises said in a statement to PEOPLE.

“We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the 38-year-old male guest from the United States who died while onboard Harmony of the Seas. A member of our Care Team is providing support and assistance to his family,” he added.

WATCH: Who Was Joel Taylor? Remembering the Storm Chasers Star

At the time of Taylor’s death, the cruise liner was hosting Atlantis Events’ all-gay Caribbean Cruise which sailed from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 20 and is scheduled to return on Jan. 27.

Headlining a concert on the cruise were actress and singer Olivia Newton-John as well as Swedish electronic dance music duo Galantis.

A rep for Newton-John did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE.

Johnny Faevelen, the captain of the Harmony of the Seas, shared several photos of him and Newton-John with her husband John Easterling. “She has performed a great concert onboard the Harmony last night,” he tweeted on Wednesday morning.

Taylor’s best friend and former costar Reed Timmer was among the first to publicly grieve his passing on social media.

“RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend,” Timmer tweeted along with photos of them when they were chasing storms together since 2008.

“We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I’ll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend,” added Timmer, who attended the University of Oklahoma with Taylor, who studied meteorology.

The Discovery Channel also released a statement to PEOPLE: “We are so saddened to hear about Joel’s passing. We will always remember him fondly as an incredible meteorologist and driver of ‘The Dominator.’ Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Storm Chasers was filmed each year in the area known as Tornado Alley due to the frequency and severity of tornadoes occurring there in the central part of the U.S. Several teams of storm chasers appeared in the series and Taylor joined the cast in early 2008 as part of the team from the website TornadoVideos.Net (TVN) that was led by Timmer.

The show was canceled after five seasons in January 2012.

• Reporting by ALEXIA FERNANDEZ AND BRIANNE TRACY

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Passenger dies during 9-month Royal Caribbean world cruise

The viral nine-month Royal Caribbean cruise has experienced a death on the high seas.

“A guest sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson shared in a statement to NBC News Feb. 13.

The spokesperson did not share details regarding the passenger’s identity or the circumstances of their death.

“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,” the statement concluded.

The 9-month-long cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise captured the attention of social media towards the end of last year.

On Dec. 10, Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise kicked off its round-the-world tour. TikTok's obsession with the voyage and its partakers quickly followed suit. The hashtag #RoyalCaribbeanUltimateWorldCruise has already accumulated nearly 100 million views on the platform, and with the cruise liner ending its voyage on Sept. 10, 2024, that number has plenty of time to continue to climb.

A corner of TikTok has been closely tracking activity on the cruise ship, called Serenade of the Seas, with many users pointing out that so much can happen within the span that it’s at sea, including new relationships, falling outs, pregnancy, death and more.

“Can you imagine the type of drama that is gonna happen on that boat?” user @nchimad on TikTok said in a video posted soon after the trip set sail. “If something big goes down, I want to hear from different people, different angles, perspectives.”

TikTok is turning the 9-month-long cruise ship into an official reality TV show.

Read on for everything we know.

What is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise is a 274-night trip that began on Dec. 10, 2023, when it left from Miami and is expected to come to an end in the same place on Sept. 10, 2024.

Passengers are currently staying on Serenade of the Seas, a ship that had its maiden voyage in 2003 .

Serenade of the Seas will tour the world in four segments: the Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Mediterranean and "Europe and beyond."

Ticket rates are based on a range of 1,073 staterooms and the full 274-night trip ran from $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person. Tickets for different legs of the trip are still available to book.

Why is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?

TikTok users h ave become highly invested in the cr uise 's passengers, likening them to a cast of characters that would typically appear on a reality show.

For people tracking the day-to-day lives of cruise ship passengers, many have predicted that the 9-month trip has the potential for drama equivalent to or even larger than a reality TV series production. After all, the footage being streamed on TikTok is created and edited by real people, not a major network.

“I made an Ultimate World Cruise Bingo card for anyone else who is buckling in for this nine months TikTok reality show,” user @whimsysoul shared in a video posted shortly after the ship’s voyage began.

Her curated game of predicted events includes “minor mystery to solve,” “stowaway,” “podcast following the trip,” “2nd COVID outbreak” and “staff dates passenger.”

Some users following the events of the cruise ship appear to be ogling the voyage with a sense of suspicion and a sobering dose of reality. After all, the voyage's 9-month set up brings back memories of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.

As user @megseestheworld notes , the entire experience reminds her of an episode of "Suite Life on Deck" when the sea days repeat themselves, a similar vibe to the movie "Groundhog Day."

"I think that's what it would start to feel like, with all those sea days, like I couldn't do it," she says in the clip.

"But then on the flip side, when they get to Europe in the last segment of the cruise, like the last part of the itinerary, it's almost too intense," she continues. "I think I counted at some points, they're going 18 days in port with no sea days, and the last segment means that you're probably six months into this cruise, you're probably going to be really tired? I don't know, I'd be tired."

What has happened so far on the 9-month cruise?

Month 1 highlights — december to january.

• First scheduled port is canceled: Passengers experienced their first canceled scheduled port on Devil's Island due to inclement weather, but TikToker Angie Linderman shrugged it off in her video as something to be expected while on the high seas.
• Minor flooding on deck: There was some minor flooding. Video captured on board the cruise showed that on deck 12 of the ship, water spread across the floor carpets and small streams flowed down the corridor.
• Seeing Antarctica from a distance: After sailing through the trepidatious conditions of the Drake Passage, passengers weren't able to step foot on Antarctica due to it being a protected area. The TikToker known as Little Rat Brain expressed her disappointment with a video about the visit , writing, "Not stepping foot on Antarctica.” According to the TikToker, passengers were able to see an up-close slab of ice extracted from the area that was brought on the ship.
• Influencer joins the cruise and stirs up drama: On Jan. 6, fashion influencer Marc Sebastian announced that he received sponsorship from Atria Books, a part of Simon & Schuster, to track and stir up the drama on board for 18 nights out of the 274-day trip. In his next-day post, Sebastian revealed his tense-filled interaction with a member of the cruise’s Pinnacle Club when he let out a curse word. 

Who are the TikTokers on the ship?

While the exact number of current passengers on Serenade of the Seas, which can hold up to 2,476 guests, is unknown, recent footage from traveler @brooklynschwetje shows a cruise meeting when it was revealed 1,093 membership passengers were on board.

A select few passengers have been consistently posting on TikTok since the voyage began, and the list includes but isn't limited to: @aa.kenney , @ iambrandeelake , @angielinderman , @brooklynschwetje , @madisonschwetje , @amike_oosthuizen , @little_rat_brain , @drjennytravels , @spendingourkidsmoney and @livingphase2 .

Some of these users, many deeming themselves as The Ultimate Real World Cruise cast, have started to hang out with each other on the ship and post content together.

Alé Kenney and Andrew Kenney, @aa.kenney

Alé and Andrew Kenney will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary during the Ultimate World Cruise tour.

Speaking to TODAY.com, 29-year-old Alé Kenney says that the cruise isn’t just a massive voyage made up of TikTokers and Generation Z.

"I would say the majority, like the overwhelming majority of passengers, are retirees (or seniors)," she explains, summarizing that number as being at least 90% of the passengers.

According to the Kenneys, the two decided to hop on board the Serenade of the Seas after her father died two years ago.

"My dad got sick and passed away, and he was only 57," she explains.

"We just kind of started running numbers and processing and thinking about it," Andrew Kenney adds. "We were like, 'Well, we can do it. We don't have a mortgage right now. We don't have kids yet.' We're just in a season of life where we could actually take nine months off and see the world."

The Kenneys told TODAY Dec. 27 that when they first came on board, they had 200 followers, and that today, they now have 90K followers.

The couple declined to share what they do for work and whether they will work during the trip.

Brandee Lake @ iambrandeelake , Shannon Lake @swankalamode

Brandee Lake, 46, and her 42-year-old sister, Shannon, decided to join their retired parents on their trip.

“I’m like, you’re not leaving us behind. I don’t really know what you think is going on here,” Shannon Lake quips in their interview with TODAY.com

Brandee Lake worked in marketing and advertisement and lived in Los Angeles, California, before the trip. Shannon Lake runs her own consulting business and plans to work remotely from the ship while making up her own hours.

The sisters say they'll share the same cabin during their 9 months on the trip, and that they don't expect to butt heads too much with each other or their parents, since they're close and quarantined together during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Users have expressed interest in following the Lake sisters in particular to see their perspective of traveling the world and taking part in a cruise as Black women.

"We definitely are the youngest Black people on the boat," Brandee Lake explains.

"I think that's why my TikTok skyrocketed so fast, because I was the first Black person that people were seeing post that was actually on the ship," Shannon Lake adds.

During their joint interview, the sisters agreed in unison that the people and staff for the "most part are amazing."

"So friendly, so kind so much energy," Brandee Lake says, quashing any drama that users have attempted to stir up so far. "Our people at dinner are like family already, you know, we have people who we don't even interact with normally (who) are like family already. And of course, the staff itself is quite diverse."

She echoed these statements in separate interview that aired on TODAY Dec. 27, saying that the passengers are "one growing family" and that "everything has been great."

Though both sisters note that within days of setting sail, they did experience a loaded bump: “Apparently it seemed far fetched to some that a Black woman (and family) could be a guest on the once in a lifetime experience,” Brandee Lake wrote alongside a recent video she shared on her TikTok.

Soon after the post began to circulate, she says the cruise’s hotel director made a point to greet her at dinner.

"I think (TikTok users who watched the post) were tagging Royal Caribbean like 'you need to fix this,'" Brandee Lake explains. "They did at least take the time to come to me and you know, ask how everything's going now."

The Lake sisters tell TODAY.com that other than this, they've yet to encounter any reality television-worthy bits of drama to mark on a Bingo card, but they do have a podcast where they plan on sharing their journey with followers.

Angie Linderman, @angielinderman

Linderman tells TODAY.com that when she first boarded Serenade of the Seas, she had less than 100 followers. Now she has over 115K followers.

"I think that it is surprising out there to people that there's so many on the younger side who are on the cruise," she explained. "I think that's really resonating with people or gathering their attention, maybe."

For Linderman, she wants to use her new platform to share with others why she signed up for the cruise in the first place. Linderman has the BRCA2 gene , which means she is at a higher risk for certain cancers .

"That is something that has kind of helped to impact my desire to travel," she explains. "Retirement age is not a guarantee. And so (there is) an emphasis on just doing all of the things I can do now while I'm healthy, while I'm able, instead of putting them off in hopes that I can do them later, when in reality that may not happen."

Linderman says that she left her cozy three-bedroom home in Oregon to tour the world for nine months in her current 250-square-foot balcony stateroom.

To prepare for the 9-month voyage, she arranged for a friend to stay at her home with her dog and reduced the hours of her job in marketing. For the next several months, she'll work remotely and will be taking advantage of the various stops and sights the voyage will have to offer.

Where is The Ultimate World Cruise going?

The Serenade of the Seas' Ultimate World Tour has an extensive itinerary that promises to take its passengers to 11 Wonders of the World and 65 countries in 274 nights flat. The destinations are broken down into four travel segments. Check out the four segments and their stretches below:

Ultimate Americas Cruise 

• 64 nights from Dec. 10, 2023, to Feb. 11, 2024
• 36 destinations, including Cozumel, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Los Angeles, California
• 4 Wonders, including Iguazú Falls and Machu Picchu

Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise 

• 87 nights from Feb. 11, 2024, to May 9, 2024
• 40 destinations, including Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Manila, Philippines; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• 3 Wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Taj Mahal

Ultimate Middle East and Med Pacific Cruise 

• 63 nights from May 9, 2024, to July 10, 2024
• 44 destinations, including Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Alexandria, Egypt; Rhodes, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; and Provence, France
• 4 Wonders, including the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Temple of Artemis

Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise 

• 63 nights from July 10, 2024, to Sept. 10, 2024
• 40 destinations, including Casablanca, Morocco; Paris, France; Bruges, Belgium; and Nuuk, Greenland

Alex Portée is a senior trending reporter at TODAY Digital and is based in Los Angeles.

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Distressing footage shows tourist boat sinking that left Royal Caribbean passenger dead

The catamaran capsized after hitting some rough waves, and a 74-year-old was pronounced dead after the accident..

Warning: This article contains content some readers may find upsetting

Footage has captured the harrowing moment a tourist boat sunk whilst ferrying luxury cruise ship passengers across the sea

On Tuesday (14 November) a double-decker catamaran was carrying holidaymakers to the private Blue Lagoon Island from the Bahamas’ Paradise Island.

However, the vessel began to take on water after encountering rough waves and eventually capsized in the Caribbean Sea.

You can watch the tragic footage below:

Police confirmed on Wednesday that a woman died after the boat carrying more than 100 people sank on Tuesday 14 November.

Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press that the unidentified 74-year-old woman was from Broomfield, Colorado and was on a five-day vacation with her family when the cruiser sank.

Police said that the woman was found unresponsive and was later given CPR before being declared dead.

As per ABC7 , police said two other unidentified people were taken to a medical facility. However, their conditions were not immediately known.

One TikTok user posted a video of the sinking on her profile, and wrote in the caption: “Our ferry capsized while going to Blue Lagoon. Absolutely traumatising.

“We were on the bottom level and had to climb out of a window while being almost vertical… So scary trying to save my parents, babies, children and elderly people from downing.”

Elsewhere, a Facebook user who was also onboard the vessel said: ”We drove into a wave and too much water came into the front of the boat and it weighed the boat down and it just kept sinking.”

Officials said that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force also helped with the rescue, as well as nearby pleasure craft.

A statement from Blue Lagoon Island said that all passengers onboard were cruise ship guests and that local authorities, the ship and the US Embassy had been notified of the tragic events.

Following the death of the Colorado woman, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said: "We are saddened to hear that one of our guests passed away following an accident on a shore excursion in Nassau, The Bahamas.

"Our hearts are with the families involved and our Care Team has been activated to support them during this difficult time.”

The vessel involved in the incident was not owned by Royal Caribbean or linked to their shore excursions.

It is not known whether tourists from other cruise boats were on the catamaran at the time of its sinking.

The investigation is ongoing.

LADbible Group has contacted Royal Caribbean and the Royal Bahamas Police Force for comment.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677

Topics:  Health , Travel , World News , US News

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Royal Caribbean World Cruise Confirms First Death — TikToker Breaks News

The deceased was an elderly woman who had embarked on the journey alone.

Feb. 19 2024, Published 9:51 a.m. ET

Back in December 2023, Royal Caribbean set sail on their Ultimate World Cruise — a nine-month adventure that will take passengers to every corner of the globe. This extraordinary journey, spanning 274 nights, ferries passengers across the world's seven continents.

It takes them through more than 60 countries and offers the chance to marvel at 11 global wonders. Sounds like a wonderful and relaxing adventure, right?

Unfortunately, a somber note has been struck on the nine-month cruise; a death has been reported. The death has been confirmed by Royal Caribbean, as reported by The Washington Post .

Death on cruise ship made public by social media creator.

In a report from MSN , Adita, a well-known content creator and cruise ship enthusiast who is currently a passenger on the Serenade of the Seas , shared some distressing news in a recent TikTok video that has since been deleted.

She revealed, "We experienced our first death on the Ultimate World Cruise." The deceased was an elderly woman who had embarked on the journey alone.

According to Adita per MSN , the woman passed away in her cabin. As she was returning to her room, Adita happened to witness staff members removing the woman's body.

This understandably left a profound impact on her, as she expressed the event as incredibly saddening for her because she was at the scene when the woman's body was removed.

The name of the woman who passed away has not yet been released by authorities. Royal Caribbean is currently notifying next of kin.

What happens if you die on a cruise ship?

I saw a tiktok about royal caribbean’s 9 month cruise and you know I can see the vision. Nine months traveling and everything has been taken care by someone else. BUT after corona cruises are like a death capsule. — A (@thatssocool) October 30, 2021

When a passenger dies on a cruise ship, several protocols are followed to manage the unfortunate situation. The course of action largely depends on the specifics of the voyage and the deceased's circumstances.

According to Business Insider , if a death occurs while the ship is sailing, the body is kept in the ship's morgue until it reaches a major port. This procedure ensures that the body is preserved properly and can be transported with dignity once the ship docks.

If the passenger was traveling alone at the time of their death, the responsibility falls on the cruise line to notify the emergency contact provided by the deceased passenger. Contrary to what some might expect, cruise ships usually do not turn back or halt their journey due to a death onboard.

@lovee.miss.lauren [Educational Content] What happens when someone dies on a cruise? 🛥️ #mortician #funeraldirector #educationalpurposes #autopsy #cruiseship #deathtok #fy #mentalhealthmatters #rip ♬ original sound - Lauren the Mortician

The unfortunate death of a passenger aboard the nine-month Ultimate World Cruise underscores the reality that unforeseen incidents can occur, even amidst the grandeur and excitement of a world-spanning voyage.

This incident serves as a poignant reminder that while such cruises offer unparalleled experiences and the chance to explore the globe, they are not immune to the realities and unpredictability of life. It is a somber moment for the crew, passengers, and the broader cruising community, who are united in their shared love for sea travel and exploration.

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Royal Caribbean is canceling all stops at this private island port due to over 2,500 deaths & injuries in 3 months

• Updated: Apr. 29, 2024, 1:15 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 29, 2024, 1:05 p.m.

Royal Caribbean has stopped ships from docking at a private island port in Haiti due to ongoing violence in the region. AP

• Katherine Rodriguez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Royal Caribbean has stopped ships from docking at a private island port in Haiti due to ongoing violence in the region.

The cruise line canceled ships from docking at that port through May, but last week Royal Caribbean modified cruise schedules to avoid the port throughout the summer and into September, according to a post on the Royal Caribbean blog.

“Guests booked on cruises in the summer and early fall are getting notifications from Royal Caribbean that their visits to Labadee have been canceled,” the blog post stated . “On Tuesday (April 23), cruisers began to share updates they received from Royal Caribbean that their itineraries have been updated to drop Labadee and replace it with another port or a sea day.”

Labadee is a beach area owned by Royal Caribbean located on a peninsula in northern Haiti. It is barricaded from the rest of the country and has its own security force.

Between January and March of this year, more than 2,500 people were killed or injured due to violence across Haiti, specifically in the capital of Port-au-Prince.

Royal Caribbean International did not formally announce any changes on its website. Royal Caribbean Blog is not connected with Royal Caribbean International and is just a site for fans of the cruise liner.

However, the blog reposted a notice from the cruise liner about the itinerary changes without mentioning the violence.

“Due to the continuing situation in Haiti, we’ll now visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, instead of Labadee, Haiti,” the notice reads. “We’re sorry for the change – your safety is our top priority. Nevertheless, we’re excited to visit a new port with you!”

This decision by Royal Caribbean comes after the U.S. issued a warning to tourists to avoid traveling to Haiti at this time due to an increase in gang-related violence.

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Royal Caribbean passenger dies after excursion boat sinks on way to private island in Bahamas

The two-tiered catamaran was carrying the passengers to the blue lagoon island near nassau, bahamas, by ap and nbc6 • published november 15, 2023 • updated on november 16, 2023 at 9:38 am.

A U.S. tourist died in the Bahamas after an excursion boat carrying more than 100 people sank while traveling to a private island, police said Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press that the unidentified 74-year-old woman from Broomfield, Colorado , was on a five-day vacation with her family when the boat sank late Tuesday morning.

The rest of the passengers and crew members were rescued. Two other unidentified people were taken to a medical facility, police said, but their conditions were not immediately known.

It wasn’t immediately clear how the 74-year-old woman died. Police said in a statement that the woman was found unresponsive as they helped pull the passengers and crew members from the water. They said she was given CPR and then taken to a dock where she was declared dead.

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A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean confirmed that the woman had been a passenger on one of their ships and was participating in a shore excursion.

"We are saddened to hear that one of our guests passed away following an accident on a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas," the spokesperson said in a statement. "Our hearts are with the families involved and our Care Team has been activated to support them during this difficult time."

Kelly Schissell, a passenger on the catamaran, recalled the moments the ferry went down.

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"So we were on a two tiered ferry to Blue Lagoon. We were almost there. We started to stop and turn to go into the Blue Lagoon area. And we kind of, I kind of thought like the captain was trying to be silly and like whip a shootie because we all kind of went forward, and the water kind of splashed up. And then all of a sudden, we stayed leaning forward," Schissell said.

Schissell also said that people didn't jump into the water right away as they were awaiting instructions from the crew, but never got them.

"You wonder why people didn't jump in right away. We were kind of waiting for the staff to tell us what to do, which they never did because they were too busy crying and freaking out," Schissell added.

Life vests were available, and those aboard were wearing them, according to authorities.

Police said the double-deck catamaran began taking on water after departing Paradise Island with a group of tourists headed to Blue Lagoon Island, a popular destination located just northeast of the capital of Nassau.

A video posted on social media showed some passengers yelling as the catamaran began listing on its right side, prompting tourists to slowly start jumping into the water as they swam toward nearby boats.

Police said the Royal Bahamas Defense Force also helped with the rescue, as well as nearby pleasure craft.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

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World News | Passenger dies aboard Royal Caribbean’s 9-month cruise around the world

A passenger has died onboard Royal Caribbean’s nine-month cruise around the world, the company confirmed Tuesday following chatter on social media.

News about a death on the Serenade of the Seas began populating timelines on Sunday after a TikTok user named Adita, who goes by @aditaml2759 , took to the platform to share “some sad news.”

“We had our first death on the Ultimate World Cruise,” Adita said in a now-deleted video, according to People. “ A lady passed away last night, ” she continued, adding she witnessed people “taking the body out” of a room.

On Tuesday, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed to the Daily News that one of its passengers had died.

“A guest sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away,” the spokesperson said, without providing further details “out of the privacy of the guest and their family.”

“We are actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones at this time,” the spokesperson added.

The cruise giant’s longest-ever voyage began its 274-night, worldwide adventure departing from Miami on Dec. 10.

Its itinerary — which features more than 150 ports of call in 60 countries and seven continents — began with its first leg through the Americas, taking guests to 36 destinations in places including the Caribbean, Brazil, Argentina and the Mexican Riviera.

Its second leg, set to last 88 days, departed from Los Angeles on Sunday and is set to end in Dubai on May 9 after cruising around the Asia-Pacific region.

Guests will then head to 44 destinations in the Middle East and the Mediterranean for 63 nights. For its fourth and final leg, also for 63 nights, they’ll stop by 40 destinations throughout Europe, before returning to Miami in September 2024.

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Breaking news, cruise ship industry is booming despite spate of high-seas deaths.

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It’s full steam ahead for the cruise ship industry after Royal Caribbean hiked its full-year profit guidance on Thursday, saying it expects 60% growth from last year following record bookings during the first quarter.

Travelers are paying “record ticket prices,” according to Royal Caribbean — despite a recent spate of high-sea deaths and missing passengers reports, including a Florida 20-year-old who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise this month.

Soaring demand for vacations at sea has given cruise operators ample room to raise ticket prices as the industry looks to close the pricing gap between more expensive land-based holidays and give their profits a lift.

Royal Caribbean, which operates the Celebrity Cruises, now expects annual profits of between $10.70 and $10.90 per share, compared with its earlier forecast of $9.90 to $10.10.

“Our existing fleet along with our new ships continue to perform exceptionally well, highlighted by the market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas,” CEO Jason Liberty said.

Royal Caribbean’s shares — which have spiked 126% in the past year, were up 2% on Thursday morning, to $139.32.

“I remember owning the stock in 2022 and every client was giving me grief about it,” said Peter Ahluwalia, manager at Belinvest Global Equity Fund that holds Royal Caribbean stocks and chief investment officer at Swiss Partners Group. “We’re turning almost 45% return on equity at the moment, which is quite incredible.”

Overall, the industry which was among the hardest hit during the pandemic, is expected to grow to 39.4 million passengers in 2027 from 31.7 million last year, according to Statista.

The surge in demand comes amid major publicity blows from incidents at sea involving passengers who have gone missing, including the Florida man who jumped overboard on April 4 in front of his brother and father after a night of drinking.

Last December, a 41-year-old Royal Caribbean passenger went overboard on a cruise to the Bahamas. That followed an incident last August involving a 64 year-old woman sailing from Singapore to Malaysia on Royal Caribbean who is presumed to have jumped to her death .

On average, 19 people go overboard on cruise ships every year — and of those, only about four are rescued, according to a 2020 study commissioned by the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association.

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Yet another passenger dies on world’s biggest gay cruise

Recently, Atlantis Events-chartered cruises have included passenger deaths, and it happened again last week.

In a tragic development during the “world’s biggest gay festival at sea,” a passenger aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, chartered by Atlantis Events, unexpectedly died last week. Atlantis Events specializes in cruise vacations targeted at gay men. The death occurred during the Oasis Caribbean Cruise from January 21 to 28. The cruise originated and concluded in Miami.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines confirmed the death in a statement to The Advocate.

“I can confirm that we had a death onboard and that it was unexpected and not suspicious,” the spokesperson said.The details of the passenger’s death have not been publicly disclosed.

Related: Death Confirmed Onboard Atlantis Events’ Oasis of the Seas Gay Cruise

Details from a private Facebook group and private chat groups for those on the cruise shed some light on the incident.

Atlantis Events cruises feature large-scale circuit party-type dance events, among other entertainment offerings. Drug use at those events is common.

To all my gays on the Atlantis cruise please please be careful and look out for one another \ud83d\ude22 — (@)

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there were at least five instances of an “alpha alpha alpha” alert issued during the voyage. Cruise ships typically use this code to signify that someone needs life-saving medical assistance. If accurate, the frequency of such alerts would suggest multiple medical emergencies during the cruise, although the nature and severity of these incidents remain unclear.

The Oasis of the Seas, known for its extensive amenities and entertainment options, was navigating with about 5,200 guests, according to Atlantis Events’ website. The itinerary included visits to several Caribbean destinations, offering a blend of parties, performances, and social activities.

Related: Florida Man Dies on Gay Atlantis Cruise After Jumping Overboard

An anonymous source aboard the ship spoke to The Advocate, highlighting that the death was isolated and also mentioned the spread of influenza A among passengers. The private Facebook group for the cruise revealed many passengers suffered from flu-like symptoms.

The source commended the onboard medical team of Atlantis Events for their professionalism.

Despite multiple requests for comment from Atlantis Events, the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office, and Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, no further information has been provided.

It is not the first time that a passenger has died on an Atlantis Events chartered cruise.

In 2022, a passenger died on the same ship during another Atlantis Events chartered cruise.

In the 2022 case, The Advocate reported a death aboard the Oasis of the Seas during Atlantis Events’ 30th Anniversary Cruise. The death was confirmed by Atlantis Events, with a representative describing it as “nothing out of the ordinary” and directing further inquiries regarding the cause of death to Royal Caribbean.

In 2020, a 46-year-old Florida man died after jumping 10 stories from the Oasis of the Seas in Puerto Rico during an Atlantis charter.

In November, two people reportedly died while aboard an Atlantis cruise.

According to a November 2020 study in the International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health , covering data from 2000 to 2019, 623 people died aboard cruise ships, with 89 percent being passengers and 11 percent crew members. The majority of these passenger deaths were among U.S. residents, and the leading causes included falls overboard or onto lower decks, suicide, murder, and terror attacks, unspecified natural causes, and cardiac incidents.

• GLAAD Board Member Dies on Atlantis Events Vacation ›
• Gay Cruise Forbids Making Sexually Explicit Content on Its Ship ›
• Florida Man Dies on Gay Atlantis Cruise After Jumping Overboard ›
• Death Confirmed Onboard Atlantis Events' Oasis of the Seas Gay Cruise ›
• Details emerge after man dies on gay Royal Caribbean cruise ›

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Nearly 200 people sick in norovirus outbreaks on Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises ships

Nearly 200 people got sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 94 of the 2,532 guests on Sapphire Princess reported being ill during its April 5 cruise, along with 20 crew members. The round-trip cruise, which left from Los Angeles with stops in Hawaii and the South Pacific, will end on May 7, according to CruiseMapper .

On Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, 67 of its 1,993 guests reported being ill in addition to two crew members during a cruise that ended April 22, according to the CDC . The two-week voyage sailed from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles with stops in countries like Colombia and Panama, according to CruiseMapper .

In both outbreaks, the guests and crew members’ main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.

Princess, Royal Caribbean and the ships’ crews implemented heightened cleaning and disinfection measures and isolated those who were sick, among other steps, the health agency said.

"Onboard the most current sailing of Sapphire Princess, there have been a small number of cases of mild gastrointestinal illness among passengers, the cause likely is the common but contagious virus called Norovirus," a Princess spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus. Our sanitization program, developed in coordination with the CDC, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard."

Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CDC has logged six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met its threshold for public notification since the beginning of the year. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in five, while one was unknown.

The illness is often associated with cruise ships but outbreaks occur in communities on land as well, according to Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist and the section chief of infectious diseases at NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital.

“There's not something special or unique about cruise ships,” she said. “It's really any type of congregate setting, but it's also happening out in the community on a much smaller scale among households and household contacts. It just doesn't come to the attention of public health as much as it does for larger congregate settings.”

Hochman said the virus is “incredibly infectious” and congregate settings tend to have many shared surfaces, such as handrails in cruise ship stairwells or elevators. “And so, if you just have one person who's shedding the virus and touches the surface and then someone else touches it and then touches their mouth, that's how it can spread in those types of settings.”

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn't as effective against norovirus, and Hochman emphasized that washing hands with soap and water “will do a lot to prevent the spread.”

The news comes after more than two dozen Silversea Cruises guests got sick in a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on the luxury line’s Silver Nova ship during a sailing that began in late March.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Business Insider

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

Posted: April 20, 2024 | Last updated: April 23, 2024

• Royal Caribbean invited me to spend three complimentary nights on its new Icon of the Seas  in January.
• My eight favorite amenities included the waterpark and jazz bar.
• I've yet to see most of the amenities on my list on other cruise ships.

There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings .

The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer.

If you're a frequent cruiser — especially with Royal Caribbean — amenities like the mini-golf course and water playground may not seem exciting.

But of all the activities the new world's largest cruise ship has to offer, my eight favorites are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on another vessel.

Take a look at what made the cut.

1. The six-slide waterpark

It wouldn't be a roundup of Icon of the Seas' best amenities without a mention of its waterpark.

Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft.

However, if you don't like the feeling of your stomach dropping, I'd advise skipping the 46-foot-tall drop slide.

2. The adult-only suspended infinity pool

The 7,600-guest Icon of the Seas has seven pools and nine hot tubs. As a kid-fearing adult, I loved the grown-ups-only suspended infinity pool.

I spent my time there perched at one of its in-water loungers, contently splashing my legs around the water, wondering if I actually hated cruises.

While I would've preferred a quieter atmosphere (the DJ did not, in fact, play smooth jazz), the pool's views, day beds, and lack of screaming children were hard to beat.

3. The Crown’s Edge thrill 'ride'

There's no need to grab coffee before harnessing up for the part-zipling, part-agility Crown's Edge course. You'll be jolted awake when the floor drops from beneath your feet, leaving you dangling 154 feet above the ocean before the zipline kicks in.

Unfortunately, it comes with two costs: $49 and a spike of anxiety.

4. The 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Aqua Action!' shows

If you hate cruise shows, Icon of the Seas could make you change your mind.

The ship's riff on Broadway-approved "Wizard of Oz" — 16-piece live orchestra and flying bed included — delighted me, a hater of most musicals.

For something less traditional, the semi-circle AquaDome theater hosts a compelling multi-disciplinary swim, dive, and aerial show reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil.

It's the first show-at-sea I've seen with a waterfall and nine-foot-tall robotic arms, and so far, it's one of my favorites.

5. The live jazz bar

Ya like jazz? So do I.

Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts. But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.

6. The customizable Mediterranean-style wrap at the five-stall food hall

The mega-ship's food hall wasn't nearly as diverse or exciting as the one on Norwegian Prima .

But compared to the rest of my mediocre meals on Icon of the Seas — including dinner at a specialty restaurant — my complimentary pork pita wrap from the food hall's Mediterranean-inspired stall was admittedly pretty decent.

The Cava -like meal was balanced, succulent, and filling. Ending it with a strawberry nutella crepe from one of the vendors didn't hurt either.

7. The Pearl Café with sweeping ocean views

Everyone takes a picture inside the Pearl . But few people know that the best part about the glittering structure isn't what's inside it — it's what's behind it: the Pearl Café.

Admittedly, the food wasn't standout.

But it's 2024. In this era, we don't dine for food. We dine for vibes . And the Pearl Café was definitely "serving" (even with its mediocre sandwiches).

At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop. But during my three days on Icon, I returned to the centrally located space more often than expected. It turns out it's a great place to get some work done.

8. The lounging pods that tower above passerbys

Speaking of vibes, if you're looking for a secluded place to drink (as in, not the swim-up pool bar), few will top the Overlook Pods, perched just behind the AquaDome.

If you want to feel like you're drinking in a nest atop a tree, bring your coffee-infused cocktail from nearby Rye and Bean to one of the elevated pods. .

Just don't drink too much. What goes up must come down. And to get down from the pods, you'll have to take the stairs.

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