A couple spent $118,000 on a nine-month cruise around the world after realizing that “life is too short.”

Andrew Kenney, 27, and his wife Ale, 29, will set off on their epic cruise in December 2023, visiting 150 ports in 65 countries.

The couple had decided to undertake this mammoth journey after the death of both their fathers – they did not want to wait until they retired to travel.

So far, the couple have visited Australia, France, Greenland and the Bahamas on their “once in a lifetime journey” and say they have made friends for life on board.

But the two of them don’t let themselves go completely – Andrew works as a freelance videographer and Ale has documented their journey in a vlog.

Ale, a pharmaceutical technician from Panama City, Florida, said: “Our fathers both died when they were very young and couldn’t travel much.

“After my father died, we said we hoped we could travel in retirement.

“But we thought that one of us might die before we could travel, so we decided to travel around the world together.”

Andrew, a videographer and photographer, added: “It was an incredible experience.

“If we can leave now, why shouldn’t we?

“After talking to friends and family about it, they said we should do it and here we are.”

Ale’s father, Lynn Ellenburg, died in 2021 at the age of 57 after a short illness, and Andrew’s father, Chris Kenney, then 30, died in 1999 when he was two years old.

Ale said she saw an ad for the Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise after her father died and asked Andrew about it.

She said: “I mentioned it as a joke because I thought you had to be crazy to go on a nine-month cruise.

“But we looked into it and the fact that it was a complete trip around the world, where we would visit seven continents and see the wonders of the world, convinced us.”

The couple set off on the cruise from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023.

They say it was a “trip of a lifetime” and they hope to return to some of their favorite places in the future.

She said: “The things we have experienced are what we have read about or seen on television.

“Who is allowed to see the Great Wall of China or the Taj Mahal, for example?

“We loved Japan, it was incredible, the food was fantastic and the people were super helpful and friendly.

“South Africa was beautiful and different from any place we have ever been.

“French Polynesia is the most perfect place on earth. We realized that this is an example of the places we will return to.”

When the cruise ends, Andrew and Ale will have been on board for nine months.

They said they were “surprised” by the community they met on the ship.

Ale said: “I didn’t expect such a community on board. As we have all been forced into these different circumstances, we have made some friends for life.

“We have created a community of like-minded people who love to travel.

“It was a whole new level that I didn’t expect.”

The couple paid $59,000 each for their room and said it was “worth the money.”

Andrew said: “You get three loads of laundry done every week, unlimited WiFi, free food and drinks and see seven wonders of the world – all included in the price.

“They really made it worthwhile. We knew it would have been more expensive if we had done all the excursions separately.

“It’s like paying your rent for nine months in advance.”

Andrew added: “I was able to work as an editor in the shop and film for people who needed it on board.

“Our entry required a lot of preparation and we managed to pack a lot of travel into these nine months.

“We have to work all our lives and that’s why we wanted to take this opportunity.”

Ale added: “I’m taking a break from work at the moment and being more active on social media.

“I take care of a few things at home, but we just enjoy our time together.”

Countries they visit:
Seychelles
Mauritius
reunion
South Africa
Namibia
Angola
Ghana
Canary Islands
Gibraltar
Malta
Bahamas
Montenegro
Malta
France
Spain
Morocco
Portugal
Ireland
Belgium
England
Denmark
Germany
Latvia
Estonia
Finland
Sweden
Lithuania
Denmark
Norway
Australia
Indonesia
Philippines
China
Taiwan
Japan
South Korea
Vietnam
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
India
United Arab Emirates
Greece
Italy
Slovenia
Croatia
Miami
Coco Cay
Cozumel
Aruba
Curaçao
Bonaire
Barbados
Grenada
Brazil
Uruguay
Argentina
Chile
Peru
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Mexico
French Polynesia
New Zealand