10 epic around-the-world cruises that can verify off all of your bucket checklist journey locations

Think about the fun of touring seamlessly from one bucket checklist nation to a different with out packing and unpacking, switching motels, boarding numerous flights and even doing laundry.

Assume it’s a fantasy? It’s really a world cruise, the nirvana of many ocean-going devotees. As a bonus, most of those around-the-world voyages embody enviable perks, like pre-cruise lodge stays, alcohol, shipboard credit score, exclusive-access shore excursions — and, sure, laundry service.

Retired, taking a job hiatus or working remotely? A world cruise is a protected, simple and exhilarating approach to rating a world journey past evaluate. You may even make new lifelong mates sharing comparable pursuits.

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So, pull out your journey want checklist and discover an itinerary for these coveted locations.

Right here, you may be taught extra about what’s concerned in an around-the-world cruise and drool over 10 terrific selections throughout a variety of fares for an unbelievable months-long voyage at sea.

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The price

Such prolonged sailings price loads. The larger-ship strains provide the bottom fares, though additional charges for what’s not included (corresponding to shore excursions and alcohol) can add up rapidly. If considering a big-ship voyage, learn the inclusions rigorously, as they fluctuate amongst strains.

Luxurious vessels bundle many pricey facilities into the fare, like business- or first-class airplane tickets and five-star lodge stays, and cost probably the most. In addition they ship wonderful eating, pampering service, glam environment and spectacular particular occasions. (Silversea not too long ago rented out a complete island to entertain its world cruise friends!)

Thus, count on appreciable value variations. Rely on spending about $20,000 per individual minimal to attain an entry-level lodging on the larger ships and roughly $80,000 to 90,000 per individual for an ultra-luxury vessel.

Notice that for the poshest strains, entry-level could imply a spacious, elegant suite with a veranda; for different strains, probably the most fundamental cabin is a small, windowless room.

Cunard

Spend 124 days on board Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, reveling within the artwork deco setting and British model. A world cruise on this elegant ocean liner displays the stress-free and thrilling days when sea journey was the way in which to voyage.

The QM2 world cruise sails spherical journey from New York and contains in a single day calls in Cape City, Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong, amongst many dazzling ports.

Adventurers ought to word that unusual ports, like Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Adelaide, South Australia; and Hue, Vietnam, are on this terrific itinerary, too. Crusing the Center East calls at Doha, Qatar and Dubai are standouts.

If you happen to’re looking for probably the most luxurious lodging and unique experiences on board, guide Princess or Queens Grill suites. Fares embody excellent facilities corresponding to non-public eating rooms, espresso and specialty tea service, precedence boarding and a personal outside lounge space.

Queens Grill suite passengers obtain butler service, too. Nevertheless, many beautiful inclusions, corresponding to white-gloved servers presenting complimentary every day tea, can be found for all friends.

Departs Jan. 3, 2024; costs from $17,389.

Holland America

Holland America’s 128-day Grand World Voyage on the 1,964-passenger MS Zuiderdam cruises spherical journey from Fort Lauderdale. The attractive itinerary ventures removed from Florida to must-visit cities corresponding to Tokyo, Jerusalem, Mumbai, Singapore and Istanbul. The ship may even traverse the Panama Canal.

Many included overnights permit alternatives to dive deep into native cultures and experiences. Spend additional time in Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; and Singapore. As a bonus, Zuiderdam will take friends to extremely distant locales, such because the Amazon and Sri Lanka.

On board, relish music venues like Billboard Onboard and BBC Earth in Live performance, the place a dwell orchestra performs earlier than an enormous backdrop of spectacular wildlife footage. Step One Dance Firm presents works by famous choreographers. Rely on a buzzy on line casino, wonderful specialty eating places corresponding to Tamarind and a professionally staffed health heart, too.

Departs Jan. 3, 2024; costs from $23,599.

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The beautiful 656-passenger Insignia sails a whopping 196 days from Miami to New York for Oceania Cruises’ 2024 world cruise. Nevertheless, house is generally waitlisted. It is higher (and simpler) to guide the round-trip Miami 2025 world cruise, which can also be 196 days.

Put together to tear up any bucket checklist on a cruise this lengthy. The ship begins within the balmy Caribbean islands, ventures to the Brazilian Amazon, explores extra of South America after which heads off to Africa and Asia.

Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii and Latin America spherical out the itinerary earlier than Insignia circles again to the Caribbean (totally different ports on this finish) and sails triumphantly again to Miami.

Oceania Cruises is famend for wonderful eating. Count on to eat and drink exceptionally properly on board.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025; costs from $50,399.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises guarantees an unforgettable journey on its 111-day world cruise from Fort Lauderdale (or Los Angeles, instead embarkation port) on the two,200-passenger Island Princess.

This ship delivers many onboard actions like cooking and dance courses, trivia contests, enrichment applications and a sports activities courtroom for basketball, volleyball and tennis. A placing inexperienced ensures golf video games keep sharp.

Count on, too, motion pictures underneath the celebrities, unique musical productions and onboard wellness corresponding to a spa and health heart.

World cruisers can go to 27 international locations with 51 locations throughout six continents, plus 12 new-to-Princess ports, together with Lisbon, Bali, Naples, Milan and Haifa. With late-night stays in 11 ports of name and a Dubai in a single day, you may relish a number of alternatives to wine, dine and benefit from the nightlife ashore.

From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 4, 2024; costs start at $19,722.

From Los Angeles: Departs Jan. 18, 2024; costs from $19,497.

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises

World cruises show perpetually widespread on this ultra-luxe line. They usually promote out within the blink of an eye fixed.

The 2024 133-day voyage on 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner is waitlist solely. Availability is proscribed on the road’s 2025 world cruise, crusing 151 days spherical journey from Miami on the identical gorgeous ship. This itinerary contains cruising in Antarctica, the Chilean fjords, French Polynesia, Taipei and Bali.

Maybe as a result of its 2025 crusing is almost offered out, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is without doubt one of the first cruise strains to announce its 2026 world voyage, additionally on Seven Seas Mariner.

This journey would be the line’s longest, crusing 155 days and visiting 77 ports in 41 international locations throughout six continents. The itinerary contains three new ports of name for Regent, corresponding to Lifou Island and Mare of the Loyalty Islands within the New Caledonia archipelago. Rely on visiting 47 UNESCO World Heritage websites, together with Australia’s Nice Barrier Reef and Robben Island in South Africa.

For all its around-the-world cruises, Regent heaps on primo inclusions — first-class flights, limitless shore excursions, baggage service, open bar and a visa package deal are amongst numerous facilities.

2025 world cruise: Departs Jan. 7, 2025; costs from $87,999.

2026 world cruise: Departs Jan. 10, 2026; costs from $94,999.

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Royal Caribbean

Obtained almost a 12 months to spare? The two,143-passenger Serenade of the Seas unveiled its new 274-night Final World Cruise for 2024 with a droolworthy, envy-inducing itinerary.

This one round-trip Miami crusing delivers many marquee locations like Petra, the Pyramids of Giza, Nice Wall of China, Nice Barrier Reef, Taj Mahal and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer. This world cruise ventures to seven continents, with 60-plus international locations and greater than 150 locations.

Royal Caribbean could also be a mass-market line, however it affords many posh facilities to its world cruise friends. Fares embody business-class airfare, premium transportation between lodge and ship, a deluxe beverage package deal, pre-cruise gala and lodge keep, laundry service and gratuities.

Departs Dec. 10, 2023; costs from $59,999.

Seabourn

Wander the majestic temples of Luxor. Snorkel on the Nice Barrier Reef. Ogle the tropical great thing about Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa. Go to native markets with a chef in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.

You’ll discover many pinch-me moments on Seabourn‘s 145-day, 72-port, 28-country Los Angeles-to-Athens 2024 world cruise onboard 450-passenger all-suite Seabourn Sojourn.

On this ultra-luxurious vessel, you may count on unique VIP celebrations, like a Caviar within the Surf celebration. (Notice that complimentary Champagne and caviar circulate freely on board, too, including to the completely satisfied vibe.)

There’s a lot to like about Seabourn Sojourn. Its intimate dimension permits really personalised service from a sophisticated, attentive crew. Seabourn Sq., a residing room-like venue, is a magnet for affable passengers who rapidly make new mates.

The ship’s excellent eating contains The Grill by Thomas Keller, a restaurant designed by the famous person American chef greatest recognized for Napa Valley’s iconic French Laundry. Rely on 24-hour in-suite eating amongst a slew of upscale facilities.

Departs Jan. 11, 2024; costs from $79,399.

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Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises‘ 133-day, round-trip San Francisco world cruise in 2024 is at the moment waitlisted.

Fortunately, its 2025 world cruise aboard its latest flagship, the ultra-luxurious, 596-passenger Silver Dawn, seems to be superb. The around-the-world cruise is designed to go to far-flung and extra distant ports, usually out of season, to keep away from the touristy crowds.

This 137-day voyage sails from Tokyo to New York and explores 59 ports in 30 international locations. Rely on enchanting cities, together with Istanbul, Naples and Stockholm. Additionally, many tempting ports, like Cochin, India; Jedda, Saudi Arabia; and Nuuk, Greenland, are splendidly distant.

Silversea world cruises are recognized for showcasing distinctive particular entry occasions, and this crusing is not any totally different. On this cruise, applause goes to a personal tour of Cairo’s 500-room Abdeen Palace and an inimitable night at Versailles in lavish Marie Antoinette model (pre-guillotine, in fact).

Silver Daybreak is a wowser with a game-changer spa, all-suite lodging, tux-clad butlers for all passengers and complimentary caviar service anytime, anyplace. Count on many fare inclusions, corresponding to business-class flights, shore excursions and personal transfers.

Departs Jan. 13, 2025; costs from $81,000.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Who says a spectacular world cruise solely unfolds on oceans? Uniworld launched its first world cruise this 12 months (crusing Could 2023) to nice success. For 2024, the Rivers of the World Lima-to-Saigon cruise spans three continents, 10 international locations and 4 ultra-luxury riverboats for 55 dreamy days.

The journey begins within the Peruvian Amazon. South American highlights embody Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls.

Subsequent, friends sail the Rhine, Foremost and Danube, reveling in a personal Mozart and Strauss live performance in Austria. After an intensive France itinerary, passengers are whisked to Southeast Asia to go to Angkor Wat and treasure a candlelit dinner in Tenth-century temple Prasat Kravan, amongst many thrills.

Solely 68 passengers can expertise this distinctive itinerary. Fares embody quite a few comfortable perks, corresponding to flights and transfers between cruise segments, a devoted concierge accompanying passengers for your complete journey, fancy lodge stays, unique occasions, excursions ashore and limitless premium alcohol.

Departs Oct. 3, 2024; costs from $49,399.

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Viking

Think about the enjoyment of ticking many bucket checklist packing containers on Viking World Voyage I, Viking’s new 180-day world cruise on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky in 2024. Availability is proscribed, so guide rapidly.

This 37-country Fort Lauderdale-to-New York voyage notably begins throughout the December 2024 festive season somewhat than in January, the standard world cruise departure date.

Palm-tree ports are plentiful, together with Moorea, French Polynesia; Bay of Islands, New Zealand; and Phuket, Thailand. You’ll cross many seas, such because the Tasman, Arabian and Andaman, and take your decide of a plethora of attainable excursions, together with a go to to a banana plantation in Nicaragua or encountering a Komodo dragon in Indonesia. You may just about do all of it on this world cruise.

Departs Dec. 19, 2024; costs from $79,995.

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