North Sea, Drake Passage TikToks trending as Ultimate World Cruise journeys to Antarctica

Fans of North Sea TikTok have turned their attention south, to the Drake Passage.

In case that sentence is confusing you, “North Sea TikTok” is just one of the many topics dominating hundreds of thousands of “For You” pages right now.

Over the last few months, TikTok users became fascinated with videos of huge fishing and cargo boats almost capsizing in monstrous waves – all posted with the “Hoist the Colours” song from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or as some TikTokers call it, “the yo-ho song.”

There’s even a TikTok account that sprung up in December, dedicated to the dangers of the North Sea, one of the most treacherous regions of the Atlantic Ocean. That TikTok account already has 14,000 followers and almost 27,000 likes at only one month old. And the North Sea TikTok channel has 129 million views as of Jan. 11.

Now, North Sea TikTokers are merging interests with another topic that’s been equally-as popular for the last few months. More than 17 million TikTok users are watching videos about Royal Caribbean’s 9-month Ultimate World Cruise. 

Both videos from creators tracking the ship and videos from passengers on the ship are amassing more views by the hour, as the ship passes through the Drake Passage, one of the most dangerous waterways in the world.

Here’s what to know about the Drake Passage and a roundup of some of the most popular TikTok creators posting about the Ultimate World Cruise’s journey.

Where is the Drake Passage?

The Drake Passage is a 600-mile-wide waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It's neighbored by the southernmost point of South America to the north and lies about 100 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula.

How dangerous is the Drake Passage?

Although it may seem like certain death for land-lovers, the Drake Passage isn't as difficult to cross as you might think. It only takes around 48 hours to cross if everything goes really well. The most common complaint from passengers of ships who have crossed the Drake Passage is the danger of raging sea sickness.

Can cruise ships go through Drake Passage?

Yes, cruise ships can travel through the Drake Passage. It's the fastest way to get to Antarctica. So, if you want to cruise Antarctica spotting penguins, icebergs and whales, you’ll have to go through the Drake Passage.

Some consider it a right of passage (pun intended) for those taking an Antarctica trip and even nicknamed the waterway “Drake Shakes.”

Royal Caribbean’s ship isn’t the first to cross the waterway, but the boat did already have some flooding last week while traveling through water less rocky than the Drake Passage.

Passengers posting videos of their journey through the Drake Passage on Jan. 11 reported waves crashing against the boat at around 20 feet high, but all say that the staff of the ship are working hard to keep them safe and comfortable while they cross the rough water.

Is anyone from Florida crossing the Drake Passage on the Ultimate World Cruise?

Yes! A student from the University of Central Florida is on the cruise and completing classes remotely from Royal Caribbean’s 9-month worldwide cruise.

The creator, @madisonschwetje, hasn’t posted any videos from the Drake Passage but has plenty of content posted from each of the cruise’s stops so far.

Watch: TikTokers document the Ultimate World Cruise’s trip through the Drake Passage

The last TikTok on this list isn't from the Drake Passage. It's a video from the North Sea side of TikTok for comparison.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Watch TikToks of the Drake Passage from passengers on the World Cruise