The longest cruise in history took on a life of its own. And while Royal's first world cruise ends this week, it might not be its last.

Royal Caribbean has been continuously raising the bar when it comes to building bigger ships. It changed the industry when it introduced Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis-Class ship, in 2009. That was the world's biggest cruise ship at the time,

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley confirmed that the official announcement will be made during a 2025 reunion sailing in for the passengers of the first Ultimate World Cruise

The 274-night cruise, which garnered widespread attention in the weeks following its departure, ends on Tuesday.

While the first Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise had its fair share of drama, it has to be considered a massive success. In addition to being an epic adventure — it took passengers to more than 60 countries — it was also a giant social-media event.

Royal Caribbean International is cancelling bookings for the upcoming cruise of the Rhapsody of the Seas due to damage to one of the vessel's lifeboats. According to a statement sent to guests, the issue is lowering the ship's lifesaving capacity,

Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas will be skipping her September 15, 2024, sailing due to damage to one of her life boats.

Cruises often get canceled for reasons that the cruise line can't control. That could be a mechanical issue or problematic weather. Every cruise line gets hit with these problems and will always make the decision to opt for the safest choices for its passengers and equipment.

Royal Caribbean Cruises had strong Q2 on top and bottom lines, with positive EPS growth forecast for 2024. Read more on RCL stock here.