National Geographic Logo - Home
    Sponsor Content by Royal Caribbean
    Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Royal Caribbean Gives Thrill Seekers a Shot at Winning World

    Adventure Squads Instabrag for the Top Prize.

    Published May 20, 2017
    • 7 min read
    This content was written by and is brought to you by our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

    In keeping with Royal Caribbean’s legacy of innovation on the high seas, the international cruise line recently launched an exciting social media contest on Instagram. Its mission? Find “The World’s Most Adventurous Squad.”

    Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Inspiring the gung-ho adventurer and wanderlust in us all, Royal Caribbean will reward one squad of thrill-seekers, made up of up to four like-minded friends, with the experience of a lifetime. And we’ll know who the top squad is in just two weeks. Beyond bragging rights, each lucky team member will win three cruises to anywhere that Royal Caribbean sails!

    In late March, squads began competing in the contest’s opening round of five challenges chronicled on social media. With themes like “Thrills and Chills” and “Epic Eats,” these challenges ran through April. Royal Caribbean then selected one winning squad for each challenge.

    If you’ve been following the big event on social (#AdventureSquad), you’ll know that the five-finalists were just announced, picked from 3,000+ competing teams who entered the contest.

    Meet the Final Five who know firsthand how adventure is always better with friends:

    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    1 / 5
    1 / 5
    Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

    Cousins of the Caribbean, Winners of the Thrills and Chills Challenge — These competitive cousins are former collegiate athletes, game-changers, and open-minded wanderlusters.

    Hawaii Koa, Winners of the Hidden Gems Challenge — Instagram ‘Pros and Bros’ are self-proclaimed ‘surf & snow animals’ that believe life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

    Bangarang, Winners of the Epic Eats Challenge — This globetrotting team collectively has sampled many of the world’s wonders and believe, ‘You gotta risk it to get the biscuit.’

    Seas the Day, Winners of the Culture Capture Challenge — Calling themselves ‘a couple of couples,’ this crew enthusiastically seeks out the adrenaline rush of serious adventure travel.

    Skallywags, Winners of the Air Land and Sea Challenge — Having brains, muscle, and moxie, these outdoorsy outliers know how to beat attitude with gratitude and plenty of altitude.

    Starting next week from May 27–June 3, the remaining tier of the Adventure Squad contest begins. The Final Five will embark on the newest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Harmony of the Seas, for a seven-day sailing. Beginning in Labadee, Haiti—Royal Caribbean’s private island destination—squad mettle will be tested as teams careen down Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, the world’s longest overwater zip line measuring 2,600+ feet, and soar at speeds up to 50mph. A sail to Haiti’s remote Amiga Island, surrounded by white-sand beaches and crystal blue waters, culminates in a kayaking and wave-jet surfing adventure to round out the day.

    Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Next, competitors sail to Falmouth, Jamaica, where they’ll raft their way down three miles of the Martha Brae River on handmade vessels of bamboo. Later, crews get to sample some of the best jerk chicken and pork in Jamaica that’s cooked over the pimento tree wood pits of Scotchie’s Restaurant in Montego Bay. Exploring the exhilarating waterfalls and secret cave of Jamaica’s Blue Hole as well as off-roading on ATVs through the island’s jungle terrain is also on the adrenaline-pumping itinerary. But no worries, squad members get to shake off hard-earned road dust with a refreshing cliff-dive into azure waters.

    The final port-of-call will take the eager travelers to the island of Cozumel, Mexico, where they’ll hop a plane to explore the intriguing archaeological Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Once there, underground limestone caverns of some of the country’s many cenotes (cey-NO’-tays) await their inspection. The group will then be treated to restorative handmade tortillas at a private Cozumel taqueria.

    Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s most state-of-the-art ship, will serve as part of the competition itself. While onboard, Squads will zip line sixteen stories up, ride one of the ship’s two FlowRider surf simulators, rock climb, navigate a ten-story slide down the Ultimate Abyss, as well as sample cuisine from Jamie’s Italian and Japanese hibachi restaurant Izumi—two of the ship’s most noteworthy specialty restaurants. Between stops at each island and throughout the competition’s last week, the five squads will take turns overseeing Royal Caribbean’s social media channels onboard, attempting to prove their team is undoubtedly the most adventurous, able to best capture the most extreme and action-packed moments of the sail.

    Ultimate Bragging Rights

    At the end of this impressive expedition, all five teams will gather in Harmony’s outdoor AquaTheater to hear which group is crowned “The World’s Most Adventurous Squad.” Each winning squad member will be awarded with three Royal Caribbean cruises, which offers an opportunity to head anywhere the cruise line visits around the world, which amounts to more than 250 destinations. Now, that’s some kind of adventure.

    Follow @RoyalCaribbean to watch the adventure unfold.

    Visit www.AdventureSquad.com

    This content was written by and is brought to you by our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.


    Read This Next

    How to see the green comet flying past Earth tonight
    • Science

    How to see the green comet flying past Earth tonight

    Get your binoculars: The last time this recently discovered comet was this close to the sun, Neanderthals and mammoths walked the lands.
    Can science help personalize your diet?
    • Science

    Can science help personalize your diet?

    An ambitious and inclusive nationwide health study aims to predict which diets will yield the best nutrition based on genes, microbes, and lifestyle.
    Hogs are running wild in the U.S.—and spreading disease
    • Animals

    Hogs are running wild in the U.S.—and spreading disease

    The nation's six million feral pigs are destroying crops and preying on endangered species. But the most serious threat they pose is to human health.
    Salman Rushdie on the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal
    • Travel

    Salman Rushdie on the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal

    The celebrated writer reminds us that the wonder of India’s iconic mausoleum transcends time—and tourist hordes.

    Legal

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your California Privacy Rights
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • About Nielsen Measurement
    • Do Not Sell My Info

    Our Sites

    • Nat Geo Home
    • Attend a Live Event
    • Book a Trip
    • Buy Maps
    • Inspire Your Kids
    • Shop Nat Geo
    • Visit the D.C. Museum
    • Watch TV
    • Learn About Our Impact
    • Support our Mission
    • Nat Geo Partners
    • Masthead
    • Press Room
    • Advertise With Us

    Join Us

    • Subscribe
    • Customer Service
    • Renew Subscription
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Work at NatGeo
    • Signup for Our Newsletters
    • Contribute to Protect the Planet
    • Pitch a Story

    Follow us


    National Geographic Logo - Home

    Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved