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Home / CRUISES / 10 incredible around-the-world cruises that will allow you to visit every place on your bucket list

10 incredible around-the-world cruises that will allow you to visit every place on your bucket list

2023-03-15  Sophia Zackary

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Imagine the pleasures of going from one location on your bucket list to another without having to pack and unpack your belongings, change hotels, board a seemingly endless number of flights, or even do the laundry.

Do you believe it to be a myth? It is a global cruise, which is considered by many ocean-going aficionados to be the nirvana of travel. The majority of these travels throughout the world feature outstanding amenities such as pre-cruise hotel stays, booze, shipboard credit, exclusive access to shore excursions, and even laundry service as a bonus.

Are you currently retired, taking a break from your employment, or working from home? An unparalleled worldwide experience can be yours through the hassle-free, exciting, and risk-free medium of a world cruise. You might even find new pals with whom you can share your passions for the rest of your life.

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Now is the time to consult your travel bucket list and devise a plan to visit all of the places at the top of it.

You can find out more about what is involved in an around-the-world cruise here, as well as drool over 10 amazing options spanning a range of prices for a fantastic journey at sea that lasts for months at a time.

What exactly is involved in a cruise around the world?


Despite its name, a "world cruise" may only visit a few of the world's continents rather than sailing around the entire globe. In most cases, cruise lines will assign a single ship (though some may provide two), and some will sail for as long as 100 days or even 200 days without calling at the same port again.

January is normally the beginning of world cruises, while April or May is typically the last month of the trip. They provide convenient access by sailing nonstop from a single city in the United States, such as San Francisco or Miami, or by giving passengers the option of beginning their journey on either coast.

What you need to know about going on a global cruise


Plan ahead


Due to the limited number of world cruises that are offered, booking in advance is highly recommended. The booking process begins around two years in advance, and many small-ship trips are completely booked within hours of opening registration. You are going to need additional time to make preparations for leaving your home for months.

Related: if you want to go on one of these popular cruises, you'll need to book it at least a year (or maybe two) in advance.

The price paid.


Such a lengthy voyage comes with a hefty price tag. The cruise lines with the larger ships typically have the most affordable prices, but the additional costs for things that aren't included (such as booze and shore excursions) can mount up rapidly. If you are thinking about taking a cruise on a large ship, you should examine the inclusions very carefully because they differ between cruise lines.

The most expensive options are those that provide a variety of expensive extras as part of the package deal. They include things like first- or business-class airline tickets and stays at five-star hotels. In addition, they offer delectable dining options, attentive and soothing service, glamorous settings, and stunning special events. (Recently, Silversea rented out an entire island to provide its guests on its globe cruises with entertainment!)

So, you should anticipate significant variances in pricing. On the larger ships, you may expect to pay a minimum of around $20,000 per person for accommodation in the entry-level category. For an ultra-luxury vessel, you can expect to pay approximately $80,000 to $90,000 per person.

Take note that "entry-level" accommodations on the most luxurious cruise lines can imply a large, magnificent suite complete with a balcony; on other lines, the most basic cabin is a cramped room without any windows.

Cunard

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Enjoy 124 days aboard the premier ship of Cunard, the Queen Mary 2, and take pleasure in the art deco ambience and British fashion. An exquisite ocean liner transports passengers back in time to an era when sea travel was the primary mode of transportation, creating an atmosphere that is both restful and exhilarating.

The QM2 world cruise departs from New York and makes multiple stops in spectacular ports throughout the world, including overnight stays in Cape Town, Sydney, Melbourne, and Hong Kong, amongst others.

This fantastic itinerary also includes visits to some less usual ports, such as Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Adelaide, South Australia; and Hue, Vietnam, which travellers seeking an authentic experience should be aware of. Highlights of a cruise in the Middle East include stops at Doha, Qatar, and Dubai.

You should book a suite in the Princess or Queens Grill if you are looking for the most opulent accommodations and private activities while you are on board. All of the great amenities, such as private dining rooms, priority boarding, coffee and speciality tea service, and a private outdoor lounge area, are included in the price of the ticket.

In addition, passengers staying in a Queens Grill suite are offered butler service. But, several charming amenities are available for every client, such as white-gloved waitresses who provide complementary daily tea.

The trip departs on January 3, 2024, and costs start at $17,389.

America de Hollanda

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Holland Fort Lauderdale is the starting point and ending point of the 128-day Great World Cruise offered by America on the 1,964-passenger MS Zuiderdam. The alluring travel plan takes travellers far away from Florida to fascinating destinations such as Tokyo, Jerusalem, Bombay, Singapore, and Istanbul. In addition to that, the ship will travel through the Panama Canal.

The numerous overnight stays that are included provide ample opportunities to delve deeply into the local culture and experiences. Go to Kobe, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, and Singapore for an extended period. As an added perk, Zuiderdam will transport passengers to extremely off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as the Amazon and Sri Lanka.

Enjoy music venues such as Billboard Onboard and BBC Earth in Concert while you're on board. At these shows, a full orchestra performs in front of a large backdrop that displays breathtaking videos of animals. Works created by renowned choreographers are performed by Step One Dance Company. You can also count on a bustling casino, excellent speciality restaurants like Tamarind, and a fitness centre that is staffed by trained professionals.

The trip departs on January 3, 2024, and costs start at $23,599.

Related: How to Choose the Right Cruise Line for Your First Vacation

Oceania Cruises


For Oceania Cruises' 2024 world voyage, the magnificent Insignia, which can accommodate 656 passengers, will set sail from Miami to New York for a staggering 196 days. Yet, most people are put on a waiting list. It is recommended (and much simpler) to reserve a spot on the 196-day globe cruise that departs from Miami in 2025 and returns there.

On a cruise of this length, you should get ready to cross off every item on your bucket list. The ship begins its journey in the tropical Caribbean islands, then travels to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, continues through more of South America, and finally makes its way to the continents of Africa and Asia.

The schedule is completed with stops in Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii, and South America before the Insignia sails triumphantly back to Miami. The Caribbean stops on this leg of the journey are different to those on the first leg.

Oceania Cruises has garnered a reputation for having exceptional cuisine. You may anticipate eating and drinking incredibly well while you're on board.

The trip will leave on January 5, 2025, and fares start at $50,399.

The cruise line Princess

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A 111-day world cruise aboard the 2,200-passenger Island Princess offered by Princess Cruises departs from Fort Lauderdale (or Los Angeles as an alternative embarkation point), and the line guarantees passengers an experience they will never forget.

Onboard activities on this ship include cooking and dance lessons, trivia competitions, enrichment programmes, and a sports court with basketball, volleyball, and tennis nets. Having access to a putting green helps keep golfing skills strong.

You may also look forward to innovative musical shows, movies shown beneath the stars, and onboard wellness options such as spas and fitness centres.

World cruise passengers get the opportunity to explore 27 countries and 51 destinations spread across six continents, in addition to 12 ports that are new to Princess, such as Lisbon, Bali, Naples, Milan, and Haifa. With late-night stays in 11 different ports of call-in addition to an overnight in Dubai, you will have several opportunities to experience the nightlife onshore, as well as to wine and dine.

From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 4, 2024; fares begin at $19,722.

Prices start at $19,497 and the departure date is January 18, 2024, from Los Angeles.

Related: If I had to choose between large and small cruise ships, which would I prefer?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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This ultra-luxury cruise service sees consistent demand for circumnavigations of the globe. They frequently go out of stock in the wink of an eye.

The 133-day trip on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner in 2024 is only available through a waitlist. There are a limited number of spots available on the line's 151-day round-trip globe voyage that departs from Miami in 2025 on the same breathtaking ship. This trip will take you to French Polynesia, the Chilean fjords, Taiwan, and Bali in addition to Antarctica.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to announce its 2026 globe voyage, which will also take place on Seven Seas Mariner. This may be because its 2025 sailing is almost completely booked.

The line will set a new record for the length of time spent at sea with this trip, which will span 155 days and visit 77 ports spanning 41 nations and six continents. The journey will take Regent to three new ports of call, including Lifou Island and Mare of the Loyalty Islands, both of which are located in the New Caledonia archipelago. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Robben Island in South Africa are just two of the 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites that you may expect to explore.

Regent includes an abundance of premium extras in the price of all of its round-the-world cruises, such as first-class flights, unrestricted shore excursions, luggage service, an open bar, and a visa package, to name just a few of the numerous luxuries.

2025 globe cruise; departure is on January 7; rates start at $87,999 per person.

The globe voyage will begin on January 10, 2026, and fares start at $94,999 per person.

Related: These are the 8 greatest luxury cruise lines for exclusivity and elegance

The Royal Caribbean (RCL)

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Have you got a little over nine months to kill? Serenade of the Seas, which can carry 2,143 passengers, just revealed its new 274-night Ultimate World Cruise for 2024, which features an itinerary that will make passengers green with envy.

Petra, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal, and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil are just some of the famous landmarks that may be visited on this one cruise that departs and returns to Miami. This world voyage visits seven continents, more than 60 countries, and more than 150 different ports of call all around the globe.

Although Royal Caribbean is a mass-market line, it provides its customers on world cruises with a wide variety of upscale services. The prices include a hotel stay before the cruise, a pre-cruise gala, a luxury beverage package, premium transportation between the hotel and the ship, premium transportation between the hotel and the ship, laundry service, and gratuities.

The trip will leave on December 10, 2023, and fares start at $59,999.

Seabourn

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Luxor is home to some truly magnificent monuments. Explore the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. In the city of Ho Chi Minh, you can go to the local markets with a local chef.

During the 145-day, 72-port, 28-country Los Angeles-to-Athens 2024 globe trip that Seabourn is offering onboard the 450-passenger, all-suite Seabourn Sojourn, you will have many opportunities to pinch yourself.

On board this ultra-luxurious vessel, you may look forward to attending exclusive VIP events such as a party-themed "Caviar in the Waves." (It is important to note that complimentary Champagne and caviar are available on board, further contributing to the joyous atmosphere.)

The Seabourn Sojourn is a wonderful cruise ship in many respects. The polished and attentive staff can provide truly individualised service thanks to the restaurant's small size. The venue known as Seabourn Square, which is designed to resemble a living room, attracts friendly passengers who rapidly make new friends.

The Grill by Thomas Keller is one of the ship's exceptional restaurants, and it was developed by the legendary American chef Thomas Keller, who is well known for his work at the iconic French Laundry in Napa Valley. Among the many other luxurious amenities offered, you can count on having access to in-room dining around the clock.

Prices start at $79,399; the departure date is January 11, 2024.

Related: Seven highly lavish activities that may be enjoyed on a vacation aboard a luxury cruise

Silversea Cruises

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The 133-day, round-trip San Francisco world cruise that Silversea Cruises will offer in 2024 is presently being waitlisted.

Fortunately, it seems like its global voyage in 2025 onboard its newest flagship, the ultra-luxurious Silver Dawn, which can carry 596 passengers, will be a fantastic experience. The purpose of the around-the-world cruise is to visit far-flung and less frequented ports, frequently at off-peak times of the year, to avoid the typical tourist throngs.

This trip lasts for 137 days and visits 59 ports spread over 30 nations as it sails from Tokyo to New York. You can count on cities with entrancing charms, such as Istanbul, Naples, and Stockholm. In addition, numerous alluring ports, such as Cochin in India, Jedda in Saudi Arabia, and Nuuk in Greenland, are located in magnificent distant areas.

This particular voyage is typical of Silversea's globe cruises in that it will feature several remarkable exclusive access events. Applause is due to a private tour of Cairo's 500-room Abdeen Palace and an unforgettable evening at Versailles in the opulent manner of Marie Antoinette, both of which are included on this voyage (pre-guillotine, of course).

The Silver Dawn is a ship that will blow your mind thanks to its revolutionary spa, its all-suite accommodations, its tuxedo-clad butlers for all passengers, and its gratis caviar service at any time and in any location. You may anticipate several amenities being included in the price of the ticket, such as flights in business class, shore excursions, and private shuttles.

The trip will leave on January 13, 2025, and fares start at $81,000.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

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Who is to say that a wonderful trip around the world can only take place on the ocean? This year marks the successful launch of Uniworld's first-ever world cruise, which will set sail in May of 2023. The Rivers of the World Lima-to-Saigon voyage in 2024 will cover three continents, and ten countries, and will take place on four ultra-luxurious riverboats over 55 fantastic days.

The adventure starts in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls are two of South America's most famous attractions.

After that, passengers will enjoy a private concert including the works of Mozart and Strauss in Austria while cruising the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. After an action-packed tour of France, travellers have whisked away to Southeast Asia, where they will explore Angkor Wat and have a candlelit dinner in a temple that was built in the 10th century (Prasat Kravan), among many other exciting experiences.

This one-of-a-kind journey can only be experienced by 68 lucky travellers at a time. The prices of the tickets include a wide variety of luxurious extras, such as flights and transfers between cruise segments, the services of a dedicated concierge who travels with the passengers throughout the entire trip, luxurious hotel stays, invitations to exclusive events, shore excursions, and unlimited premium alcohol.

The trip departs on October 3, 2024, and fares start at $49,399.

Related: 5 luxurious river cruises with an itinerary that will blow your mind

Viking

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Imagine the satisfaction of crossing off numerous items on your bucket list during Viking World Journey I, a new world voyage that Viking will offer in 2024 aboard the 930-passenger Viking Sky for 180 days. Because space is limited, you should make your reservation as soon as possible.

It is noteworthy that this 37-country journey from Fort Lauderdale to New York will get underway during the holiday season in December 2024 rather than in January, which is the typical departure month for world cruises.

Moorea, in French Polynesia; the Bay of Islands, in New Zealand; and Phuket, in Thailand are just a few of the many places that have palm-tree ports. You will sail over several seas, including the Tasman, the Arabian, and the Andaman, and you will have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of interesting shore excursions, such as going to a banana plantation in Nicaragua or seeing a Komodo dragon in Indonesia. On this trip across the world, you will have the opportunity to do just about everything.

The departure date is December 19, 2024, and prices start at $79,995.

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2023-03-15  Sophia Zackary