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You can now book a year-long cruise that visits all 7 continents

Would you go for an almost year-long cruise that starts at USD$54,000?

Adventurers with means can now visit all seven continents, more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world in an epic 274-night cruise with Royal Caribbean International inaugural Ultimate World Cruise .

Starting from Miami on 10 December 2023 and through 10 September 2024, the Serenade of the Seas is offering an immersive experience on its longest and most comprehensive world cruise yet.

Travellers will sail to 57 destinations new to the cruise line and exclusive to the cruise itself. Highlights include Casablanca, Morocco; Qaqortoq, Greenland; and Shimizu, Japan – the gateway to Mount Fuji. Guests can delve deep into many of the world’s breathtaking wonders, from Peru’s Machu Picchu to the Taj Mahal in India, and experience distinct cultures and picturesque shores at every corner of the world all in one spectacular adventure.

“This is the world cruise of world cruises,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “To travellers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

And the cost of going everywhere?

Guests ready to traverse the world can book the full Ultimate World Cruise today or choose from any of the four expeditions that will offer a wide range of destinations as soon as December 2021 – the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Round the Horn: Americas and Antarctica Expedition

Dec. 10, 2023 - Feb. 11, 2024 – Three continents, 36 destinations, four wonders

The once-in-a-lifetime journey begins in Miami, the cruise capital of the world, and sets course for postcard-perfect Caribbean destinations – like the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) – before heading to glacier-studded Antarctica and around Cape Horn. Travellers can take in four of the world’s stunning wonders along the way in Central and South America, including Chichen Itza in Cozumel, Mexico; the largest art deco sculpture in the world, Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro – where they’ll celebrate New Year’s Eve – and the largest waterfall system on the planet, Iguazu Falls near Buenos Aires, Argentina. One of the most iconic symbols of ancient Inca civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu, awaits in Peru, while sunshine and glamour will welcome guests in Los Angeles.

Wonders of Asia and the Pacific Expedition

Feb. 11 - May 9, 2024 – Three continents, 40 destinations, three wonders

Guests will venture miles from the ordinary in Oceania, Asia and beyond on the cruise’s next showstopping leg. They can discover the beauty and adventure throughout the Hawaiian Islands’ world-renowned mountainous landscapes and black sand beaches before sailing south to Moorea and Tahiti, French Polynesia, for sapphire blue skies and crystal-clear waters. The thrills continue with an exploration of New Zealand, before a deep-dive into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – the only living thing on the planet that’s visible from space. Pristine natural beauty in Bali, Indonesia, is soon followed by two of the most iconic manmade world wonders, the Great Wall of China and India’s Taj Mahal, and gems of the South Pacific – from Vietnam to Malaysia. Rounding out the expedition are endless possibilities in Japan, with unparalleled culture in Tokyo, street food in Osaka and the tropical beaches of Okinawa.

Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition

May 9 - July 10, 2024 – Three continents, 44 destinations, four wonders

This expedition begins in glamorous Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and brings many of history’s greatest mysteries, myths and legends to life. Adventurers can uncover ancient sites and more world wonders from the times of emperors and pharaohs, like Jordan’s lost city of Petra, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey, and the Colosseum in Rome. There are also less-travelled places to explore, such as Greece’s Olympia, once a sanctuary site to honour Zeus and the location of the first Olympic games. The journey only continues to even more destinations known for their storied history — like Split, Croatia, and Cannes and Provence in France.

Capitals of Culture

July 10 - Sept. 10, 2024 – Three continents, 40 destinations

The final leg of the Ultimate World Cruise is an immersive, cultural experience that begins in the Mediterranean and heads north. At travellers’ fingertips is the opportunity to discover Barcelona’s brilliant architecture, including Antoni Gaudi’s famed Sagrada Familia and whimsical Park Guell, and savour new flavours across continents — such as an indulgent lunch in a Parisian bistro and a dinner of tagine and mint tea in Morocco. Museums, theatres and galleries line the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia, while larger-than-life fjords await in Norway. Guests can reflect on their epic voyage in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland before visiting New York on their way back to Miami.

From start to finish, guests who book the full Ultimate World Cruise can expect a seamless, world-class travel experience that includes business class airfare, premium transportation as well as an evening of festivities and accommodations at a five-star hotel before setting sail. Plus, Crown & Anchor Society Platinum status members and above will receive a bonus Seven New World Wonders shore excursion package in addition to other perks, including a Deluxe Beverage package, VOOM Wi-Fi, laundry service and more.

Bookings for the full Ultimate World Cruise can be made by phone starting today, with an exclusive one-week window through 26 October   for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above. Guests interested in booking can call Royal Caribbean’s dedicated line for the Ultimate World Cruise at +65 6675 0418 or their travel advisor.

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MSC Magnifica in San Francisco (Photo: MSC Cruises)

Best World Cruises of 2024 And 2025

one year long cruise

If a seven-night cruise doesn't seem long enough, perhaps a world cruise featuring 100-plus nights of lavish galas, hobnobbing with interesting fellow passengers and visits to faraway lands might be more your style?

World cruises continue to be enduringly popular thanks to their innovative itineraries and modern technology that makes it easier than ever to stay in touch when you're spending several months -- to half a year -- onboard.

Whether you want to dream big or live large, here's the rundown of upcoming 2024 and 2025 world cruise options.

On This Page

What should you know about world cruises, 2024 world cruises, 2025 world cruises.

10 Reasons You're Paying Too Much for Your Cruise (Photo: Paul Gauguin Cruises)

World cruises come in all shapes and sizes. Prospective travelers will find sailings as long as 180 nights on Oceania's "180 Days Around the World" voyages, while some lines -- like Cunard, Silversea, and MSC -- are now running two or more World Cruises in a given calendar year. This means there are more opportunities than ever before to take one of these bucket list cruises.

A few things to note: Many world cruises don't sail fully around the world, though they do offer a chance to see a varied portfolio of diverse cultures all in one sailing. Also, if you can't commit to a full world cruise in 2024, you can often book a "segment" of the voyage, typically ranging from a week to more than a month in duration.

World cruises usually begin in January and end in April or May, but some lines change it up with departures in other seasons, including summer and early winter. Cruise itineraries are still under development for 2025 and future years, so watch this space for more information as it becomes available.

Azamara Onward (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)

The Trip: Azamara’s 2024 World Voyage aboard Azamara Onward starts in Fort Lauderdale on January 5, 2024. Passengers will sail for 155 nights through more than 40 countries, with 27 late stays and 22 overnight stays. The voyage highlights the Seven Wonders of the World, from Chichén Itzá in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula; Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes Mountains; Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the Great Wall of China; India’s Taj Mahal; the ancient city of Petra; the Colosseum in Rome; and more, including the great pyramids of Giza.

Departure Date: January 5, 2024, from Fort Lauderdale

Itinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Lima (13 nights); Auckland to Sydney (15 nights); Sydney to Hong Kong (20 nights); Hong Kong to Singapore (15 nights); Singapore to Dubai (20 nights); Dubai to Istanbul (21 nights); Istanbul to Venice (13 nights); Venice to Barcelona (10 nights)

Price: Fares for the 2024 world cruise begin at $36,379 per person.

Cunard Line - Queen Mary 2

The Trip: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 will head off on a 123-night transatlantic sailing roundtrip from New York on January 3, 2024, calling on ports in Asia, South Africa and Australia, with overnight port stays will be offered in Cape Town, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Singapore, before returning to New York on May 5, 2024.

Departure Date: Queen Mary 2 departs January 3, 2024, from New York.

Itinerary Segments : New York to Sydney (55 nights); Southampton to Sydney (47 nights); Southampton to Hong Kong (63 nights); Cape Town to Sydney (26 nights); Sydney to Dubai (40 nights); Sydney to Southampton (61 nights); Sydney to New York (68 nights); Port Kelang to Southampton (45 nights); Hong Kong to New York (52 nights); Singapore to Southampton (36 nights); Dubai to Southampton (21 nights); Dubai to New York (28 nights); Southampton roundtrip (108 nights)

Price: Full world cruise fares start at $20,699 per person.

Cunard Line - Queen Victoria

The Trip : While Queen Mary 2 takes to the seas for its round-the-world sailing, Cunard’s Queen Victoria will once again embark on an 111-night world sailing of its own, roundtrip from Hamburg on January 9, 2024, sailing to the “four corners of the world”: San Francisco, Fiji, Hong Kong, and South Africa.

Departure Date: Queen Victoria departs Hamburg on January 9, 2024 and Southampton on January 11, 2024.

Itinerary Segments: Hamburg to Sydney (54 nights); Southampton to Auckland (44 nights); Southampton to Sydney (52 nights); Southampton roundtrip (107 nights); Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco (16 nights); Fort Lauderdale to Sydney (41 nights); Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (96 nights); San Francisco to Auckland (17 nights); San Francisco to Sydney (25 nights); San Francisco to Southampton (80 nights); Auckland to Southampton (63 nights); Sydney to Hong Kong (16 nights); Sydney to Cape Town (39 nights); Sydney to Southampton (55 nights); Hong Kong to Cape Town (23 nights); Port Kelang to Southampton (39 nights); Singapore to Cape Town (17 nights); Singapore to Southampton (33 nights)

Price: Full world cruise fares start at $19,699 per person.

Holland America Line

The Trip: The 128-day Grand World Voyage aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam will sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale in 2024, with overnights in Tokyo, Kobe, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Petra, and Istanbul. The itinerary is punctuated with stops in South America, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Middle East, providing an immersive experience in a variety of cultures across the globe.

Departure Date: January 3, 2024

Itinerary Segments: Itinerary segments have not yet been released.

Price: Full world cruise fares start at $23,599 per person.

MSC Cruises

The Trip: MSC Poesia’s 2024 world cruise will sail roundtrip from Rome, on January 4, 2024.

The 120-night voyage will call on 56 destinations in 31 countries, including Valparaiso, Chile; Lima, Peru; Auckland, New Zealand; Alotau, Papua New Guinea; Cairns, Australia; Lombok, Indonesia, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mumbai/Bombay, India; Aqaba/Petra, Jordan; and more. MSC Poesia returns to Berlin on May 4, 2024.

Departure Date: January 4, 2024

Itinerary Segments: Miami to Berlin (35 nights); New York to Berlin (31 nights); Cape Town to London (67 nights); Cape Town to Paris (69 nights); Cape Town to Berlin (73 nights); Genoa to Cape Town (47 nights); Barcelona to Miami (83 nights); Provence to Miami (84 nights); Barcelona to New York (87 nights); Genoa to Miami (85 nights); Genoa to New York (89 nights); Provence to New York (88 nights); Barcelona to New York (112 nights); Genoa to London (114 nights); Provence to Paris (115 nights); Barcelona to Ijmuiden (116 nights); Genoa to Berlin (120 nights); Rome to London (115 nights); Barcelona to Stockholm (126 nights); Barcelona to Stockholm (128 nights); Barcelona to Berlin (118 nights)

Price : Fares for the 2024 world cruise begin at $17,199 per person for the full world cruise.

Oceania Cruises

The Trip: Though the vessel and the timeframe remain the same, Oceania Insignia’s itinerary for its world voyage in 180 days varies from year to year, starting and ending in different locations, and picking up new ports along the way. For 2024, the voyage begins in Los Angeles on January 14 and heads to the Pacific, beginning with the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesia and the South Pacific. Then on to Asia, spending about a week in Japan before cruising the Arabian Sea and Red Sea, visiting Jordan, Egypt and onto Europe, the U.K., Denmark, Iceland, and returning to New York on July 12.

Departure Date: January 14, 2024 in Los Angeles

Price: Full world cruise fares start at $43,199 per person.

Princess Cruises - Island Princess

The Trip: Princess Cruises offers two world cruises in 2024, one on Island Princess leaving from Fort Lauderdale or Los Angeles on January 4, 2024, or January 18, 2024, and one on Coral Princess from New Zealand or Australia (see below).

The 51 destinations in 27 countries, including 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visiting six continents, and crossing the equator twice, as well as a full transit of the Panama Canal. Cities include Honolulu, Hawaii; Sydney, Australia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Salalah, Oman; Mykonos, Greece; Seville, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Agadir, Morocco; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and many others.

Departure Date : January 4, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Itinerary Segments: Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale (97 days); Fort Lauderdale roundtrip (111 days); Los Angeles roundtrip (111 days).

Price: Fares for the 2024 world cruise begin at $19,149 per person.

Princess Cruises - Coral Princess

The Trip: Take a 110-day world itinerary in 2024 on Coral Princess, leaving either from Auckland, New Zealand, or Brisbane or Sydney Australia, starting in April 2024.

The 47 destinations in 32 countries, including more than 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, crossing the equator twice and the International Dateline and the Panama Canal. This trip features several late-night port calls, ensuring plenty of time in each port, with overnight stays in Lima, New York, and St. Petersburg.

Other ports of call include Easter Island, Chile; Tahiti, French Polynesia; Bar Harbor, Maine; Edinburgh, Scotland; Halifax, Canada; Dover, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Cork, Ireland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Berlin, Germany; and others.

Departure Date: April 26, 2024 from Auckland; April 30, 2024 from Sydney; or May 2, 2024, from Brisbane

Itinerary Segments: Auckland roundtrip (110 days); Sydney roundtrip (110 days); Brisbane roundtrip (110 days)

Price: Pricing not available at time of publication.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Trip: Regent Seven Seas Mariner will head out for a 2024 World Cruise on January 6, 2024, roundtrip from Miami for a 132-night voyage. The 2024 World Cruise will visit 66 ports of call and 31 countries, with access to 61 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 12 o overnight stays in port. You’ll cross both the Panama and the Suez canals.

Departure Date: January 6, 2024 from Miami

Itinerary Segments: Additional segments have not yet been released for this cruise.

Price: Fares for the 2024 world cruise begin at $73,499 per person.

Viking Cruises

The Trip: Viking will offer two separate world cruise voyages in 2024, on Viking Sky and Viking Neptune, both with identical 121-day itineraries starting in Los Angeles January 6 and January 9, 2024, and ending in London on May 6 and May 9, 2024.

Both cruises sail across the Pacific Ocean for Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, before heading to ports in Asia and the Middle East. The world cruises then journey to the Mediterranean and disembark in London. Cruisers will stay overnight in Sydney, Haifa, and Istanbul, with two nights in Auckland, Bali, Ho Chi Minh, Yangon, and Mumbai.

Departure Date : January 6, 2024 (Viking Sky); and January 9, 2024 (Viking Neptune), from Los Angeles

Price: Fares for the 2024 world cruise begin at $54,995 per person.

(Photo: Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

The Trip: Azamara Onward will embark on a world cruise for a second year in 2025, after the first itinerary in 2024 on the new vessel sold out. The voyage will include 155 nights, including 46 late nights or overnights in port. The world cruise will go from Hawaii and French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia, tracing ancient trade routes through Asia, and more.

Departure Date: January 6, 2025, from San Diego

Itinerary Segments: San Diego to Tahiti (18 nights); Tahiti to Auckland (14 nights); Auckland to Sydney (12 nights); Singapore to Bangkok (20 nights); Bangkok to Mumbai (17 nights); Mumbai to Athens (18 nights); Athens to Rome (14 nights); Rome to Lisbon (10 nights); Lisbon to Southampton (10 nights)

Price: Fares for the 2025 world cruise begin at $39,999 per person.

The Trip: Why not devote about half of the year to exploring the world aboard Oceania's Insignia in 2025? Plan ahead for this once-in-a-lifetime voyage, which begins in Miami on January 5, 2025, and heads across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, South America, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. Overnight stops include along the Amazon River, Madagascar, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Bora Bora. The cruise ends on July 3 in San Diego.

Departure Date: January 5, 2025 in Miami

Price : Full world cruise fares for 2025 start at $44,999 per person.

The Trip: On a Regent World Cruise onboard Seven Seas Mariner, get the chance to deeply explore 97 ports and 25 continents with 16 overnights on this 150-night trip, venturing from Miami across the globe to San Francisco leaving on January 7, 2025.

You’ll cross the Atlantic for the Caribbean before visiting Brazil and South America; then down to the Antarctic Peninsula; crossing the Pacific to explore French Polynesia and the South Pacific; Australia and New Zealand, and then onto Asia; finishing up with Alaska, British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Depart in San Francisco, or continue the voyage back to Miami for a total of 168 nights.

Departure Date: January 7, 2025, from Miami

Price: Fares for the 2025 world cruise begin at $87,499 per person.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

11 epic around-the-world cruises that will check off all your bucket list travel destinations

Janice Wald Henderson

Imagine the joys of traveling seamlessly from one bucket list country to another without packing and unpacking, switching hotels, boarding countless flights or even doing laundry.

Think it's a fantasy? It's actually a world cruise, the nirvana of many ocean-going devotees. As a bonus, most of these around-the-world voyages include enviable perks, like pre-cruise hotel stays, alcohol, shipboard credit, exclusive-access shore excursions — and, yes, laundry service.

Retired, taking a job hiatus or working remotely? A world cruise is a safe, easy and exhilarating way to score a global adventure beyond compare. You might even make new lifelong friends sharing similar interests.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

So, pull out your travel wish list and find an itinerary for those coveted destinations.

Here, you can learn more about what's involved in an around-the-world cruise and drool over 11 terrific choices across a range of fares for an incredible monthslong voyage at sea.

What is a world cruise?

Never mind the moniker, a world cruise may visit several continents but not circumnavigate the globe. Cruise lines usually designate one ship (a few offer two) to sail about 100 days or longer — some even sail more than 200 days — without repeating ports.

World cruises traditionally start in January and end around April or May. They sail round-trip from one American city, such as San Francisco or Miami, or offer a choice of starting points on both coasts, making access easy.

What to know about world cruises

With so few world cruises available, book far in advance. Bookings open roughly two years in advance, and some small-ship cruises sell out within hours. You'll need the extra time to make arrangements to leave your home for months. For that reason, this story will focus on 2025 world cruises.

Related: Hot cruises you'll need to book at least 1 year in advance — maybe even 2!

Around-the-world cruise cost

Such lengthy sailings cost plenty. The bigger ship lines offer the lowest fares, although extra fees for what's not included (such as shore excursions and alcohol) can add up quickly. If contemplating a big-ship voyage, read the inclusions carefully, as they vary among lines.

Luxury vessels bundle many costly amenities into the fare, like business- or first-class plane tickets and luxury hotel stays, and charge the most. They also deliver fine dining, pampering service, glam surroundings and impressive special events. (Silversea Cruises has previously rented out an entire island to entertain its world cruise guests.)

Thus, expect considerable price differences. Count on spending about $20,000 per person minimum to score an entry-level accommodation on the bigger ships and approximately $80,000 to $90,000 per person for an ultraluxury vessel.

Note that for the poshest lines, "entry-level" may mean a spacious, elegant suite with a veranda. For other lines, the most basic cabin is a small, windowless room.

Read on to discover where you can sail to in 2025 on a world cruise.

one year long cruise

World Voyage

Thanks to an overwhelming response to its 2024 world cruise (which is currently waitlisted), Azamara announced itineraries for both 2025 and 2026, both aboard the 684-passenger Azamara Onward.

Azamara Onward is the newest ship to join the Miami-based line's four-vessel fleet. The ship's size provides an intimate experience and allows it to call on small towns bigger ships can't access.

For 2025, the 155-night, 37-country voyage begins in San Diego and ends in Southampton, England, with visits to exciting locales in French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Italy, France and others.

Along the way, world cruisers can sample authentic Hawaiian cuisine; explore the unspoiled beaches and the lush rainforest on Stewart Island, New Zealand; and visit the world's largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia.

The itinerary will include a pre-sailing welcome party, exclusive cultural events, concierge service and other upscale perks.

The 2026 world cruise sets sail from Miami and concludes in Barcelona. The itinerary for this 155-night expedition features some of the world's most iconic landmarks and sites.

Cruisers will have the opportunity to explore the great pyramid of Kukulcan and other ancient Mayan sites in Chichen Itza, Mexico; wander among Rio de Janeiro's architectural gems and experience the awe of Iguazu Falls in Brazil; sample Peruvian cuisine and soak in the landscape of Machu Picchu in Cusco; scale the Great Wall of China; and enjoy other bucket-list worthy adventures.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2025. Prices start from $89,001 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2026. Prices start from $85,141 per person.

one year long cruise

World Cruise

If luxury and unparalleled personal service are important to you, consider Crystal 's 2025 world cruise aboard Crystal Serenity .

The beloved upscale line went bankrupt and stopped sailing in 2022. However, luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent acquired it and brought it back to life with a $150 million glow-up, starting with 740-passenger Crystal Serenity.

With newly renovated expansive suites, an array of social areas and nearly one staff member per guest, Crystal Serenity offers ultimate comfort, quality and personalization. Every cabin comes with a butler ready to assist with reservations, laundry and any other needs you have during your global odyssey.

Beginning in Fort Lauderdale and concluding in Barcelona, the sailing spans 123 nights with visits to 31 countries. The cruise kicks off with a welcome celebration, and guests can enjoy themed onboard and shoreside events and gala dinners throughout the sailing.

Exciting destinations along the way include Belize, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Jordan. Passengers can get a close-up look at Argentine tango through performances, enjoy street food in Sri Lanka's capital city and celebrate like a Greek god on Mount Olympus, among other events.

Custom excursions and pre- and post-cruise tours organized by Abercrombie & Kent are available along the way (for an additional cost).

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $66,200 per person.

Cunard Line

one year long cruise

Be among the first to explore the world aboard Queen Anne, the line's first new ship in 12 years. Scheduled to launch in May 2024, the 2,996-passenger ship will take over Cunard 's world cruise duties in January 2025.

Queen Anne's maiden World Voyage in 2025 will span 111 nights, beginning and ending in Hamburg, Germany. Along the way, guests can explore historic churches in the Old Town of Lubeck, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site; visit the historic city of Antigua, Guatemala's original capital; and indulge in retail therapy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's bustling shopping hub.

Passengers will enjoy spectacular new elements on this ship. The vessel's main pool area, The Pavilion, is topped with a gorgeous retractable glass roof that will act as a showpiece and also a functional structure to keep poolgoers dry on rainy days.

If you're seeking the most luxurious accommodations and exclusive experiences on board, book Princess or Queens Grill suites. Fares include outstanding amenities such as private dining rooms, coffee and specialty tea service, priority boarding, and a private outdoor lounge area.

Queens Grill suite passengers receive butler service, too. However, many lovely inclusions, such as white-gloved servers presenting complimentary daily tea, are available for all guests.

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $17,799 per person.

Holland America

one year long cruise

Grand World Voyage

Holland America 's 124-day Grand World Voyage on the 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam cruises round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. The enticing itinerary ventures far from Florida to must-visit cities such as Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore and Istanbul. The ship will also traverse the Panama Canal.

Many included overnights allow opportunities to dive deep into local cultures and experiences. Spend extra time in Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; and Singapore. As a bonus, Zuiderdam will take guests to incredibly remote locales, such as the Amazon.

On board, relish music venues like Billboard Onboard and BBC Earth in Concert, where a live orchestra plays before a huge backdrop of spectacular wildlife footage. Step One Dance Company presents works by noted choreographers. Count on a buzzy casino, fine dining at specialty restaurants and a professionally staffed fitness center.

Departs Jan. 4, 2025. Prices start from $24,999 per person.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

MSC Cruises

one year long cruise

MSC Cruises is doing something a little different with its 2025 world cruise. It's offering a choice of four embarkation ports — Rome and Genoa in Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona. Passengers will return to the same port they left from.

The 2,550-passenger MSC Magnifica is the home base for the 116-night journey. The itinerary features port calls at 50 destinations across 21 countries in the Mediterranean, South America, the South Pacific, Australia and Asia. Among the cities you'll explore are Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro; Casablanca, Morocco; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Broome, Australia; and Auckland.

Spend your port days ogling at Genoa's majestic Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Lawrence and Doge's Palace; exploring the peaceful mountaintop monastery in Montserrat, Spain; and wandering through the restored ceremonial village of Orongo, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a World Heritage Site.

Departs Jan. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2025 (depending on your embarkation port). Prices start from $14,469 per person.

Oceania Cruises

one year long cruise

Around the World Cruise

The lovely 656-passenger Insignia sails a whopping 200 days from Miami to New York for Oceania Cruises ' 2025 world cruise. It might seem a long way away, but inside cabins and some suites are already waitlisted for the sailing.

Prepare to tear up any bucket list on a cruise this long. The ship begins in the balmy Caribbean islands, ventures to the Brazilian Amazon, explores more of South America and then heads off to Africa and Asia. Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii and Latin America round out the itinerary before Insignia circles back to the Caribbean (different ports on this end) and sails triumphantly back to Miami.

Oceania Cruises is renowned for fine dining. Expect to eat and drink exceptionally well on board.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $54,099 per person.

Princess Cruises

one year long cruise

Princess Cruises promises an unforgettable journey on its 116-day world cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale (or Los Angeles, as an alternative embarkation port) on the 2,200-passenger Island Princess.

This ship delivers many onboard activities like cooking and dance classes, trivia contests, enrichment programs and games of basketball, volleyball and tennis on the sports court. A putting green ensures golf games stay sharp.

You can also expect outdoor movies, original musical productions and onboard wellness features such as a spa and fitness center.

World cruisers can visit 26 countries with 51 destinations across six continents; the exciting port of call include Lisbon; Bali; Naples, Italy; Milan; and Haifa, Israel. With late-night stays in 11 ports of call and a Dubai overnight, you can relish multiple opportunities to wine, dine and enjoy the nightlife ashore.

For 2025, Princess offers two 116-day world cruise itinerary options on Island Princess, one round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and the other round-trip from Los Angeles.

From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $16,225 per person.

From Los Angeles: Departs Jan. 20, 2025. Prices start from $16,298 per person.

Related: Big vs. small cruise ships: Which will I like better?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Navigate the World

World cruises prove perpetually popular on this ultraluxe line. They often sell out in the blink of an eye.

Availability is limited on the 2025 150-night world cruise on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner, sailing round-trip from Miami to San Francisco. This itinerary includes cruising in Antarctica, the Chilean fjords, French Polynesia, Taipei and Bali.

Perhaps because its 2025 sailing is nearly sold out, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to announce its 2026 world voyage, also on Seven Seas Mariner.

This journey will be the line's longest, sailing for 154 nights and visiting 77 ports in 41 countries across six continents. The itinerary includes three new ports of call for Regent, including Lifou Island and Mare of the Loyalty Islands in the New Caledonia archipelago. Count on visiting 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Robben Island in South Africa.

For all its around-the-world cruises, Regent piles on primo inclusions — first-class flights, unlimited shore excursions, luggage service, an open bar and a visa package are among countless amenities.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $87,999 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 10, 2026. Prices start from $94,999 per person.

Related: The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

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Grand Africa Voyage

Wander the majestic Grandmaster's Palace in Malta. Snorkel the pristine waters along the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Ogle the tropical beauty of the 115-island archipelago of the Seychelles. Soak up the beauty of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain.

You'll find many pinch-me moments on Seabourn 's 90-day, 26-country Grand Africa cruise in late 2024 and early 2025. It takes place onboard the 450-passenger all-suite Seabourn Sojourn and sails round-trip from Barcelona. (The line is not currently offering a more traditional world cruise in 2025.)

On the ultraluxurious vessel, you can expect exclusive VIP celebrations, like a Caviar in the Surf party. (Note that complimentary Champagne and caviar flow freely on board, too, adding to the happy vibe.)

There's much to love about Seabourn Sojourn. Its intimate size allows truly personalized service from a polished, attentive crew. Seabourn Square, a living room-like venue, is a magnet for affable passengers who quickly make new friends. Count on superb dining and 24-hour room service among a slew of upscale amenities.

Departs Nov. 30, 2024. Prices start from $38,999 per person.

Related: 7 extremely decadent things you can do on a luxury cruise vacation

Silversea Cruises

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Controtempo

Silversea Cruises ' 2025 world cruise aboard the ultraluxurious, 596-passenger Silver Dawn looks amazing. The around-the-world cruise is designed to visit far-flung and more remote ports, often out of season, to avoid the touristy crowds.

This 136-day voyage sails from Tokyo to New York and explores 59 ports in 30 countries. Count on visiting enchanting cities, including Istanbul, Naples and Stockholm. Wonderfully remote ports, like Cochin, India; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Nuuk, Greenland, tempt travelers to come aboard for the long haul.

Silversea's world cruises are known for showcasing exceptional special-access events, and this sailing is no different. On this cruise, applause goes to a private tour of Cairo's 500-room Abdeen Palace and an inimitable evening at Versailles in lavish Marie Antoinette style (pre-guillotine, of course).

Silver Dawn is a wowser with a game-changer spa , all-suite accommodations, tux-clad butlers for all passengers and complimentary caviar service anytime, anywhere. Expect many fare inclusions, such as business-class flights, shore excursions and private transfers.

Departs Jan. 13, 2025. Prices start from $81,900 per person.

one year long cruise

Viking World Voyage II

Imagine the joy of ticking many bucket list boxes on Viking World Voyage II, Viking 's 163-day world cruise on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky in 2025. Book quickly; availability is extremely limited, with many suites and penthouses already sold out.

The Los Angeles-to-New York voyage visits 29 countries and 78 ports.

Palm-tree ports are plentiful, including Moorea, French Polynesia; Bay of Islands, New Zealand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You'll cross many seas, such as the Tasman, Arafura and Arabian, and take your pick of a plethora of possible excursions, including a visit to a Balinese Hindu temple in Indonesia and a tour of the ancient Elephanta Caves in India. You can pretty much do it all on this world cruise.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $74,995 per person.

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Around the World Cruise

The journey of a lifetime — best world cruise.

Voted “Best Cruise Itineraries” 12-Times

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Embark on a Princess World Cruise and experience the globe’s marquis ports and hidden gems. With carefully crafted itineraries to the most sought-after destinations, there’s no better escort to guide you through your travel bucket list than Princess Cruises.

2025 World Cruise From Los Angeles or Ft. Lauderdale

For a limited time, you’ll enjoy our Princess Premier package – at no extra cost when you book this World Cruise

Our longest voyage ever sets sails in January 2025 as Island Princess embarks on an epic 116-day roundtrip World Cruise from both Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles, visiting 51 destinations in 26 countries across 6 continents. This adventure includes our first ever visits to historic Bar, Montenegro, and Taranto, Italy. Also maiden for our North American World Cruises are stops to the idyllic Greek islands of Patmos and Volos – for the Monasteries of Meteora.

2024 World Cruise from Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland

Sail aboard the Coral Princess for our longest-ever Australia-based World Cruise! This six-continent and 110-day world adventure visits popular destinations including Scandinavia & Baltic, Iceland, South America and transits the historic Panama Canal. Make seven maiden calls including Aarhus and Edinburgh (South Queensferry), including overnight stays in New York and Lima (Callao), and spend more time ashore with eight late night stays including Berlin (Warnemunde), Boston, Copenhagen and Tahiti (Papeete).

2025 World Cruise from Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney

Crown Princess® – our largest ship to ever host a World Cruise – will be your escort on a wondrous 113-day adventure, visiting 49 destinations in 28 countries across six continents. Explore Asia, Indonesia, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe – including two ports in Greenland – the Americas and South Pacific. The 2025 itinerary travels over 33,500 miles and features countless UNESCO World Heritage sites plus other bucket-list attractions.

2026 World Cruise from Auckland or Sydney

On a wondrous 114-day voyage roundtrip from Auckland or Sydney, you'll visit 48 destinations in 31 countries across six continents for the adventure of a lifetime. Explore countless buck-list attractions in Asia, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, North and South America. This cruise also brings you to 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and some of the world's greatest cities as well as more remote locales, offering striking contrasts in architecture, fashion, music, culture and cuisine.

Why Take a World Cruise?

Collect a world of countless stories as you sail from continent to continent

Adventure of a lifetime

Nothing can beat the experience of a World Cruise. The camaraderie among guests, the shared experiences in fascinating ports across the globe, and the parties and celebrations on board and ashore all make this a true adventure that everyone should embark on at least once in their lifetime.

Exclusive experiences

Enjoy special activities unique to this epic voyage. Over 50 international guest entertainers keep you smiling; attend cocktail parties and themed deck parties, watch local folkloric shows, savor special officer dinners, commemorative take-home menus, cooking classes with Princess Cruises Chefs and much more.

Fresh flavors & global tastes

Cuisine is designed for fresh — prepared from scratch, using regionally sourced ingredients. In addition to the delicious signature dishes that Princess® is known for, you'll be treated to flavors and influences from the traditional cuisines of the destinations you are visiting, bringing a bit of the tantalizing tastes of the world on board.

Unforgettable ports of call

Not only will you encounter some of the world’s most revered sites and cities from Dubai to Sydney, you’ll have the opportunity to step ashore in lesser frequented ports, maiden calls and first time ever calls for Princess. Encounter some of the world’s most revered sites and cities from Kuala Lumpur and Sri Lanka to Bali, and Singapore. Volos (Meteora), and Athens.

Now Available: 2025 World Cruises . Learn more

World Cruise Travel Articles

Imagine yourself on a world cruise vacation to six continents, 25 countries, and 34 cruise destinations, making this the journey of a lifetime.

2024-2026 World Cruises

Embark on a Princess World Cruise and experience the globe’s marquis ports and hidden gems.

Cruise Around the World: Must-see Cultural Locations in India

If you are planning a cruise around the world, make sure you stop in Mumbai and Cochin, Indian and explore and experience the unique culture.

3 Cruise Activities That Give You an Up-close View of Dubai

Dubai — a city of the future with strong roots in its past — can best be experienced through cruise activities on world vacations with Princess Cruises.

Plan a Cruise Around the World and Discover 3 Exotic New Ports

Ready to take your most meaningful vacation yet? Plan a cruise around the world, and visit ports you may not know even existed.

A Beer Lover's Guide to a World Cruise

If you're a beer lover, you're in good company. On your next world cruise, you can sample the beer of cultures ranging from Sydney to London.

Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess Get You There

Princess EZair® Flights

Stress-free airfare

Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled.

EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages.

Airplane to Ship Transfer

We get you where you need to go

Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

Stay longer and relax

Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.

Need help planning?

Princess Cruise Vacation Planners are a dedicated resource to help you every step of the way through the planning process of your cruise vacation. And the best part is, they are absolutely FREE!

Cruise deals & promotions

Find our top sales, deals, partnerships and promotions for our destinations all in one place. We run promotions throughout the year and sometimes run sweepstakes where you could win prizes!

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Sailing on November, 2024

Cruise the world.

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Embark on a 3 Year Ultimate Bucket List World Cruise.

Come onboard for a first of its kind 3-Year World Cruise  aboard the beautifully revitalized MV Lara . The first reasonably priced, all-inclusive world cruise starting from only $77,026 per year based on double-occupancy that will cover over 130,000 miles across all 7 continents and 140 countries, 382 ports

Experience the World, One Country at a Time

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The Art of Adventure

Visit 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World and embark on a journey of a lifetime that will take you through the most Hidden Gems the world has to offer

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Adventure at Every Turn

Experience a wide range of onboard activities and entertainment, from Golf and Fitness to live shows and performances, we've got something for everyone.

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Cultural Immersions and Discoveries

Explore and learn about different cultures, cuisines, and landmarks through our curated excursions and educational opportunities, each tailored to enhance your overall travel experience.

Live at Sea

Where neighbors become family.

Life at Sea Cruises is the first World Cruise specifically tailored to guests wanting to Cruise, Live, Work and Explore from their Home at Sea. Free Medical Visits, from Free WIFI to the ability to invite Friends and Family, we have thought of everything you need on an everyday basis to live your life to its fullest

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Dive Around the World

Explore the depths of adventure.

Learn More

Break the routine, renew your life and explore new horizons

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Redefine the Everyday

Wake up with new Backyard Every Morning, Make Friends who become Family, Learn Something New Every Day and Elevate your Taste Buds to the Next Level.

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Relax and Rejuvenate

Take a pause from life, and indulge in the replenishing sanctuary with invigorating treatments and services to beautify, unwind and replenish your physical and mental wellbeing. Our Salon staff are trained internationally in face, body, hair, and nail treatments, and will provide a wide range of reasonably priced treatments for everyone.

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Experience More

With everything taken care of, you have time to explore in every port for more immersive experiences. Visit the Hidden Gems away from the populous and explore off the beaten paths.

Life at Sea Highlights

Golf around the World, Invite your Friends & Family to Visit Onboard, and 2-3 Days in port for Immersive Experiences.

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The Guardian

Office duties from anywhere in the world.

We have developed a first of its kind Business Center at Sea with Meeting Rooms, Offices, Relaxing Lounge and a Self-Service Café. Loaded with Screens, Conference Equipment, WIFI, Printers and staff ready to assist. Making money at Sea has never been easier, and with the Tax Benefits of an International Residence, you may keep more of what you earn!

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Tax Benefits

Speak to your Tax Accountant about the advantages of being an international resident aboard a ship.

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Star link internet

Always stay connected to the real world with the fastest internet available at sea

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Explore every Corner of the World

Visit 382 Destinations, 6 Equator Crossings to all 7 Continents and 140 Countries. Over 100 Tropical Islands to explore and Countless Hills to climb, the opportunities to explore are truly endless!

All you need, included in a single package

Starting from $77,026 per year.

Included all Essentials, World Class Local Cuisine, Wash-Fold Laundry, Entertainment and endless Learning Opportunities just for You.

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All-Inclusive Dining

Savor every bite with our all-inclusive dining options featuring a wide variety of cuisines and dishes, expertly prepared by our talented chefs. With all meals, snacks, and selected beverages included, you can indulge in culinary delights without a care in the world.

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Get Started

Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the ultimate all-inclusive lifestyle onboard our cruise ship. Book your reservation online now for the fastest and most convenient way to secure your spot.

The details of what is included in the all-inclusive package can be found on our all-inclusive page.

No, dogs are not allowed on the cruise ship.

There is no charge for additional guests staying in your cabin, however family and friends are responsible for paying the local port taxes and fees($33 Per-day). Guest cabins are available, subject to availability and seasonal rates.

Cabin can be transferred to a 3rd person with 2 weeks prior notice to Life At Sea Management

The fitness center on our cruise ship offers a variety of state-of-the-art equipment and amenities, including treadmills, weight machines, exercise bikes, and free weights. Our fitness center is open 24 hours a day and is staffed by certified personal trainers who can assist you

Yes, global Star-Link Wi-Fi is available and included in package.

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This 3-year Cruise Visits 135 Countries on 7 Continents — and It Might Cost Less Than You Pay in Rent

Welcome to the Work From Ship life.

one year long cruise

Want to set sail and just keep going? Life at Sea Cruises just announced it’s accepting reservations on its first-ever, three-year cruise, which will travel 130,000 miles, visit 135 countries across seven continents, and stop in 375 ports of call, all aboard the MV Gemini .

At each port, the vessel will stay docked for multiple days to allow its passengers to explore at their leisure. It visits 13 wonders of the world, including Egypt's Pyramids of Giza and Mexico's Chichén Itzá, and more than 100 islands, including numerous Caribbean and Central American visits. The cruise also spends 98 days in South American and Antarctica.

Courtesy of Life at Sea

The ship provides everything one would need to live at sea for several years, including spacious cabins, dining and entertainment options, recreational areas like a wellness center, sun deck, and pool, and plentiful work spaces for those who want to live the digital nomad life at sea. That includes a business center with meeting rooms, 14 offices, and a business library for all Zoom call needs. 

“Professionals need connectivity, the right amenities, and the functionality to perform their jobs. There is no other cruise product that offers this sort of flexibility to their customers,” said Mikael Petterson, the managing director of Life at Sea Cruises, in a statement released to Travel + Leisure .

The ship also has other practical amenities, including a 24-hour hospital, which offers guests free medical visits, learning experiences for guests like lectures and classes, and volunteer opportunities at various ports. 

“Life at Sea Cruises offers the ultimate cruise without having to sacrifice the comforts of home,” Irina Strembitsky, director of sales and marketing, added in the statement. “It’s your home at sea with the world as your backyard.”

The three-year voyage departs from Istanbul on Nov. 1, 2023, with additional pick-ups in Barcelona and Miami later in 2023. Pricing begins at $29,999 per year. The company also offers payment options starting from $2,499 per month, which includes food and beverage. Cabin options range from 130-square-foot interior rooms to 260-square-foot balcony suites. See more about the sailing and make your booking at lifeatseacruises.com . 

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How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship For a Year

Who hasn’t gone on a cruise and thought, “I could do this forever”?

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The idea of retiring from the rat race and living out your days on a cruise has great appeal for some people.

There’s no cleaning, no cooking, and no lawn to mow. You don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or paying an electric bill. There’s always something going on, new people to meet, and every day you wake up to some of the most beautiful views in the world.

Add to that the fact that Internet access allows many to work remotely from anywhere, and wi-fi is widely available on any major cruise ship. That means even if you don’t want to completely retire, but instead work from the cruise ship, it’s technically possible.

Of course, not everyone can run off and live on a cruise ship, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream.

And the first question that comes to mind when you think about escaping is how much it would cost to live aboard a cruise ship?

So how much would you have to pay? Is the total cost even realistic? We recently priced out the cost of living on a cruise ship for an entire year.

The result? Just know that you’ll definitely need to open your wallet to live full-time in paradise.

Where You’ll Spend Money on Your Cruise

Cruise ship docked at Port Canaveral

Head to any cruise website and you’ll see plenty of cheap headline prices. Cruises starting at a few hundred dollars for a week are common. At first glance, it seems like living on a cruise ship would be amazingly affordable. ( One cruise line advertises the ability to live aboard for just around $33,000 per person, per year .)

After all, a cruise for $500 a week would cost only $26,000 to sail for a year. For many people, that would be cheaper than living on land! 

But anyone who has been on a cruise knows those headline prices are just the start of what you pay. In fact, in our opinion it’s a bit disingenuous of the cruise lines to advertise those prices. After all, what you’ll actually pay is much, much more.

Double Occupancy Cruise Fare: Apart from a few sailings that offer solo cabins, any headline price you find is actually only half of what you will pay for cruise fare. That’s because cabins are typically sold based on double occupancy, but prices are shown per person.

So for a fare that’s $599, it will actually cost $1,198 based on double occupancy. Even if you are sailing solo (unless in a solo cabin), you will still have to pay this “double” charge.

In other words, whenever you see a cruise price, double it right away for what you’ll really pay in fare.

Port Fees & Taxes: We all expect to pay taxes on things that we buy. It’s no different for a cruise. However, the taxes aren’t included in the headline cruise fare. As well, cruise fares will also have port fees tacked on. These are per-passenger fees paid to ports of call for the privilege of docking.

These fees vary, but in general, expect about $100-$200 per person for a seven-day cruise.

Gratuities: Sure, at the end of the day gratuities aren’t a required cost (you can adjust them as necessary), but in practice they are usually considered a charge that you’ll have to pay. They also add up quickly.

At around $16 per person, per day, a couple traveling on a week cruise will pay about $200 in gratuities. Over the course of a year on a cruise ship, that amount comes out to more than $10,000!

Onboard Spending: Anyone who has taken a cruise knows that what you pay in cruise fare is the start of what you’ll spend during your time on the ship.

From drinks to wi-fi to specialty restaurants, there are plenty of extra to spend on the ship . And even if you are a frugal sailor, you won’t go any lengthy time without having a few drinks or signing up for the Internet package to check in back on shore.

We Priced a Year’s Worth of Cruises to Get a True Cost

With all of these expenses in mind, we dove into what it would cost to live on a cruise ship for an entire year.

Cost of living on a cruise ship for a year.

Of course, when it comes to cruising for twelve months, you have an amazing number of options. From different cruise lines to routes, departure ports, ships, and even cabin types, there are a number of things that will have a big impact on what you spend.

That’s why we aimed to keep everything simple. To price what it costs to live aboard the ship, we took a look at sailings aboard a single ship from Carnival, which is known for being affordable. In this case, we priced a year’s worth of sailing for Carnival Horizon in 2024.

Carnival Horizon in port in Nassau

Carnival Horizon is a newer ship from the cruise line that sails six and eight-day itineraries year-round from Miami in 2024. That means you could sail the entire year without having to change ships and always coming back to a homeport in the United States.

The routes that the Horizon sails would take you all across the Caribbean, from Cozumel to Aruba, from Curacao to Grand Cayman. Because it is a bigger and (relatively) newer ship in the Carnival fleet, you’d also have tons of amenities and activities on board, as well as a many restaurant options — including Guy’s Burger Joint .

As for the cabin, in our search we opted for a balcony cabin. Yes, you would be able to sail for cheaper in an oceanview or interior cabin, however, we assume that if you are aboard the ship for an extended period of time, having your own balcony is a must.

As well, we assume a couple is sailing with two people to the room. 

Summing up, here’s what we searched for our prices used in this estimate:

  • Cruise Line: Carnival
  • Ship: Carnival Horizon
  • Time Period: January-December 2024
  • Homeport: Miami
  • Room Type: Balcony
  • Number of People: 2

Here’s How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship

So how much does it cost to sail on the Carnival Horizon for a year? We estimate it to cost around $199,000 for two people , although that number can vary from person to person, depending on their spending habits .

Here’s an overview of where you’ll spend, and we breakdown each expense below:

Cruise Fare: The largest expense by far is cruise fare. Pricing a balcony room for each of the dozens of cruises the ship sails in 2024, it totaled $99,766 . Factored out, that's about $1,900 a week or $6,150 per month. Keep in mind this is for two passengers on the ship and includes the bulk of what you'll spend on a cruise, including your cabin, entertainment, and food.

Port Fees & Taxes: There's no escaping taxes, even on a cruise out at sea. Pricing out our cruises, the taxes and port fees for two people totaled up to $15,395 for the year. That comes out to a little less than $1,300 a month.

Gratuities: One of the perks of being on a cruise is that you are waited on hand and foot. But it doesn't come free. Carnival charges $16.00 per person, per day for automatic gratuities. Over the course of a year, that adds up to $11,648 in tips paid to staff.

Onboard Spending: How can you know what you'll spend on the ship over the course of a year? It's impossible to know for sure, and different people will spend different amounts. For example, do you need to have a drink package every day of the year? Or are you fine drinking water or juice? Are you a gambler? How often do you want to eat at specialty restaurants?

While you can't pinpoint exactly what you'll spend, you can get a good estimate. As a public company, Carnival Corporation (the parent of Carnival Cruise Line) publishes detailed numbers about their business. For instance, in 2022 the company took in $7 billion in ticket revenue and $5.1 billion in onboard spending.

So onboard spending across all of its lines was 73% of ticket revenue. For every $1,000 in cruise fare, the average person would spend about $730 on the ship. (Note: Onboard spending has increased since cruises returned, but bundling of offers like drink packages and wi-fi have also changed the amount. Before the pandemic, it was usually around 45% of ticket revenue.)

Using this metric, with a total cruise fare of $99,766, the average couple would spend $72,829 onboard during the course of the year. However, it's likely that the figure would be drastically lower as average spending on the ship will likely be less if staying full-time versus splurging for a short vacation.

Total Cost: Adding up tickets, port fees, taxes, gratuities, and onboard spending, the total estimated cost of living on a cruise ship for a year is $199,638 for a couple -- or about $100,000 per person. Without onboard spending, it comes out to $126,809 or $63,404 per person.

Notably, this figure is about 35-40% higher than the roughly $145,000 we calculated for the same ship when we last ran the numbers in 2023. The main difference between then and now? Cruise fares in 2024 for Carnival Horizon come out about $18,000 higher (for two people) during the course of the year and onboard spending estimates increased sharply based on the latest figures provided in financial reports.

Too Expensive? Here's How to Lower the Cost

There's no doubt that it's expensive to live on a cruise ship, but there are ways that you can trim that amount. If you're interested in cutting down the price, here are a few ideas.

Limit Onboard Spending: In our estimate, we used the average spending Carnival Corporation sees across all its cruise lines, which is 73% of the cruise fare.

You don't have to spend near that much. After all, when people cruise they are on vacation and likely willing to spend more freely than they would normally. By limiting the amount spent on board, you can cut thousands off this estimated total.

It's doubtful you can get by without spending at least some money, but our estimate comes out to about $700 per person, per week. Being able to spend less than that should be relatively easy.

Older Ships: Our estimate is aboard the Carnival Horizon. We chose this ship because it is relatively new (meaning you'll have the most amenities for a long-term stay), but it also runs a regular schedule from Miami.

That said, in general newer ships like the Horizon are more expensive to sail aboard. If you look for older ships, you should be able to cut the price down.

Be Flexible for Cheaper Trips: For this estimate, we priced out a year's worth of cruises on a single ship. This makes it easy if you're sailing long-term; you simply stay on the ship and don't have to worry about changing ships, or ports.

If you want cheaper options, however, you might find them by being more flexible with changing ships and/or cruise lines when you find a deal. That's where sailing from a port like Miami -- which offers a lot of options -- can be beneficial to your pocketbook.

Avoid Expensive Times of Year: In our search, the sailing aboard the ship varied dramatically due to the time of year. For example, the most expensive cruise aboard Horizon during the year was during the Christmas holidays and ran $1,399 per person. The least expensive 8-day cruise ran $869 per person -- or about 60% as much.

If you have the ability to take a few weeks off here and there during the expensive times of year, it can lead to big savings.

What do you think about the cost of living full-time on a cruise ship for a year? Let us know in the comments below.

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What about the VCL Victoria Cruises Majestic ship? Set to sail this fall, it’s a true long term residential ship that will circumnavigate the globe in 27 months from Fort Lauderdale. There is still space available! Price points and discounts vary based on how long you lease your cabin -ranging from 6 month’s minimum up to 37 months and beyond. About 500 cabins have been sold so far- adults only. And it’s all inclusive of internet, most drinks, laundry service, housekeeping of course, room service, etc.. All the standard things you’d find on a cruise ship. See this article that was posted today by one of the future residents! https://www.allwaystraveller.com/continents/worldwide/circumnavigating-the-globe-for-two-years-on-a-residential-cruise-ship

I would love to see the cruise lines cater to single seniors, they would be surprised how many would travel all the time….I personally would like to do three months, but the cost is just too high! Maybe there is a singles travel cruise group that I can join. Any suggestions out there?

Someone young wrote this article. Carnival is not the line most people would choose to cruise for a long period of time. On the Oceania Marina we met a couple cruising for several months and a charming older man who was cruising for 180 days. The couple had sold their house & were having a new house built, so homeless for a period of time. The older man was single &, I think, rather lonely so the ship life provided him nice social opportunities to talk to people. Here’s more info; “After record demand for its 2023 world cruise, Oceania Cruises has unveiled the itinerary for its epic global voyage for 2024. The cruise line’s 180-day journey around the world will set sail on January 14, 2024, and visit more than 96 destinations in 34 different countries.

“Incredibly, last year our 2023 world cruise sold out in just one day, so for 2024 we are providing guests more extended voyage options to deeply and meaningfully rediscover the world,” Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure.

Oceania’s “Around the World in 180 Days” cruise will depart from Los Angeles and cross more than three oceans and 15 seas as it makes its way around the globe to New York. The journey, on the Oceania Insignia, stops at more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites with 24 overnight stays.

Passengers will journey across the Pacific, through French Polynesia and Australia before continuing onto destinations like Japan and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. The voyage continues along the shores of India and the Arabian Peninsula before sailing across Europe and completing its route across the Atlantic in New York.

The 2024 “Around the World” journey starts at $48,499 per person and includes roundtrip first-class airfare and amenities like prepaid gratuities, laundry, and luggage delivery. During your days at sea, you can keep yourself busy with spa appointments, art workshops, the casino, cabaret, and four open-seating restaurants — not to mention the daily afternoon tea service accompanied by a four-string quartet. There is also a fitness center and sports deck, and of course, a saltwater pool with two hot tubs.

As usual, catering mostly to people who have the means to do this without blinking. It is time for older single seniors on a fixed income to be able to be able to cruise on a non party boat. A tranquil, voyage, letting go and actually hearing the sounds of Mother Nature, not a floating amusement park. That would be amazing.

It would only be me living on the ship, cant i spilt that cost that I would have if i had a spouse? so would that be about 60k ?

I think this is not taking into consideration the rewards systems that most cruise operators have which would reduce the fare, even in a balcony cabin. I could never do it since the state of cruiseline wifi is still pathetic!

Another way to do it vs estimated$175k year is to buy in to a condo cabin on the new state of the art Narrative from Storylines.com. Sails around world in 3 1/2 years starting at $5000 a month 2 people all inclusive , starting 2024!

😂😂😂 with prices starting at $400,000 and rising to $8 million

What about when someone needs care/hospitalisation etc….. Surely you would need a private medical insurance policy, which would get progressively more expensive as you aged?

I’m sure. This article only focuses on the costs of sailing for the year. Other costs aren’t considered.

Good information but why does long term stay/full time cost is so high. you would think there be discount especially for seniors. Also price for solo why double? I think it sounds like fun how about travel for 3 months first to try out. Sea sick is that a common element to consider for most? People with restricted diet such as vegetarians do they get the meals prepared? Are some classes offered for free? classes such as dancing or crafts part of the activities? Thanks

the price for double occupancy is basic international hotel rates. The cruise ship is basically a floating/mobile resort hotel. All cruise lines came onboard with the double occupancy in 2010. before it was fare and half to cruise solo. If you get a good cruise line that you like, most have a loyalty program that after so many cruise points you will be charged fare and a half for solo travel. 3 months would be a good trial to see if you like it, sea sickness is not really a problem as these ship travel well. you can put in for restricted diet before going on a cruise so should not be a problem long term – might be you have to request every week. Main Dinning has a veggie meal every night and the buffet style cafe onboard allows you to select what you want. You can even get Kosher meals. most Classes are free as well as activities. buy the drink package that is suitable to your habits. your excursions will cost you but after a few weeks you may be done with excursions and it is all about enjoying the ship.

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One of the World’s Largest Cruise Ships That Nobody Is Talking About (Yet)

10 major differences between royal caribbean and norwegian cruise line (ncl), 7 easy ways to get from the airport to the miami cruise port, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

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The World’s Longest Cruise Is 245 Days, Costs $93,000

By Paul Brady

This image may contain Vehicle Transportation Boat Banister Handrail Watercraft and Vessel

A view from the Viking Sun on a trip to Cuba in 2017.

Try getting this time off work: Viking Cruises just announced the longest-ever world cruise, a continuous, 59-country, 245-day journey that will fully circumnavigate the world and hit every continent except Antarctica. The trip departs London on August 31, 2019 and doesn’t end until you return to the city on May 2, 2020.

Among the stops scheduled for the 113-port trip are Reykjavik, quite a few Caribbean islands, many lesser-visited South American cities including a few in Patagonia, six stops in the South Pacific, tons in Southeast Asia, and a few key spots in the Mediterranean, including Valletta, Cagliari, and Algiers. (And this is like a fraction of the full list .) Overall, the voyage is almost twice as long as the world cruise Viking arranged in 2017 , which clocked in at a relatively pedestrian 141 days.

The 2019-2020 itinerary will be aboard the Viking Sun , the newest ship from one of the world’s top-rated cruise lines, according to Condé Nast Traveler ’s Readers’ Choice Awards . The 930-passenger vessel has a sleek Scandinavian look, a gorgeous infinity pool at the stern, and private balconies for every cabin. It’s also got a spacious spa complete with an appropriately Nordic sauna and a “snow grotto,” for chilling out between hot tub dips.

Rates for the journey start at $92,990—or $379.55 per day—but that includes “business class international air, transfers to and from the ship, all gratuities and service fees, three complimentary visa services, free luggage shipping services,” and pretty much any booze you’d like to drink on board, Viking says. And should 245 days be a bit too long a trip, Viking is also letting guests book portions of the trip: A 127-day spell goes from London to Los Angeles (for $47,995), while a 119-day voyage goes from L.A. back to the U.K. (for $45,995). Surely your boss would go for one of those?

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Short vs. long cruises: Which one is right for you? Here's how they compare.

one year long cruise

Whether you want a weekend getaway or to max out your vacation days, there’s a cruise for that.

Cruise lines offer itineraries ranging from a few days to monthslong . But there are more differences between short and long sailings than just the amount of time guests spend on board. The length of a cruise can help dictate the types of ports passengers visit, the kind of ship they’re sailing on and even the general vibe on board.

“It's important to walk our guests through and for cruisers to think about, what's the experience that they're trying to have,” said Jamie Margolis, owner of Moms at Sea Travel, a Dream Vacations franchise. “So, we try to tease out that information, like, ‘What's your vacation style?’ ”

What can guests expect from short cruises?

Cruises can be divided into those shorter or longer than a week, according to Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. “So, anything less than that is really considered a short cruise,” he said.

Those around three nights long are often aimed at new-to-cruise guests “who aren’t really ready to commit to seven days but really want to quote-unquote test the waters, let's say – to see if cruising is right for them,” he added.

Those sailings typically feature just one port and a sea day and often visit tried-and-true cruise destinations. Travelers sailing from South Florida ports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale will likely visit Nassau in the Bahamas or one of many cruise line private islands , for example. While those sailing from Galveston, Texas, can expect to stop in Cozumel.

Margolis called three-and-four-night voyages a “great intro to cruising,” albeit with more limited itinerary choices. “Is their dream to go to Saint Kitts? They're probably not going to find that on a short sailing,” she said.

Shorter cruises may also lend themselves more to a party atmosphere and be less kid-friendly. But Margolis noted that’s not unique to cruising. “I mean, it's the nature of travel that short weekends can be celebratory,” she said.

And with diverse onboard offerings – from ship-within-a-ship concepts to kids clubs – passengers can often carve out their own experience.

Cruise lines have new offerings in that shorter category. Celebrity Cruises is launching its first regular weekend itineraries in the Caribbean this month, and Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas will offer three-and-four-night sailings when it debuts in July.

What can guests expect from long cruises?

Feldman said any sailing over seven days could be considered a “longer cruise.” Those can range from around 10 days to more than six months. Royal Caribbean is operating a nine-month world cruise to more than 60 countries.

While short cruises “can feel like a bit of a whirlwind,” according to Margolis, longer itineraries offer more time to explore a greater variety of ports. They may feature less-visited destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao and often take place on smaller, older vessels (though ships are refurbished regularly).

That’s partly due to the limitations in places they stop. “Some of the ports … cannot really accommodate this large ship hardware,” Feldman said. “So, you need a smaller-size ship to navigate in and out of these ports.”

The onboard demographic also tends to skew older on those cruises since retired passengers typically have more free time, and travelers with kids are often beholden to school schedules.

If you want a middle ground, though, Margolis said a seven-night cruise “really takes you through what I think is, like, the whole cruise cycle.”

"You get on, you get acclimated, you find all the different amenities, and then you're able to … truly relax, disconnect, unwind,” she said. ‘And then you know, midweek, you start getting your luggage tags, and you go through that mental process of accepting that you're going to have to get off in a couple of days and go back to work.”

At that length, it's also easier to tack on a bit of extra time on the front or back end of the sailing to explore on their own, Feldman added.

Are short or long sailings cheaper?

Because short sailings frequently take place on larger ships, they are “very attractively priced” to help fill the cabins. But that doesn’t mean they’ll always be cheaper than a longer cruise.

A cruise with more stops will have higher port fees, but passengers may book longer itineraries further out and get better fares.

Looking for cheap cruises?: Here's what to know know about finding deals.

“Most times, you're not going to book a three-to-four-night sailing 12 to 18 months in advance,” said Feldman. “You're going to book that much closer in.”

The ship’s age also plays a role in how it’s priced, with shiny new vessels commanding higher rates . “So, there's a lot of different variables in play that kind of dictate where you're going to come out ahead or how much your cruise is ultimately going to cost based on those factors,” said Feldman.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

See Four Seasons' upcoming ultra-luxury cruise with a $350,000-a-week suite bigger than most homes

  • Four Seasons says it will begin sailing an  ultra-luxury yacht cruise in January 2026.
  • The 222-guest vessel would have 95 spacious suites and 11 dining options — but food wouldn't be free.
  • The largest suite would have four floors and bedrooms, a spa, and a price of $350,000 per sailing.

Insider Today

Four Seasons plans to expand its high-end hotels and resorts portfolio with a luxury 222-guest cruise ship.

The company says the 95-suite vessel will debut in January 2026 and cost a minimum of $20,000 per weeklong sailing.

For that price, the luxury hospitality giant says travelers would enjoy a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio and massive suites spanning as many as four floors. If all goes as planned, the 679-foot-long Four Seasons I could become one of the most expensive and opulent options in the cruise industry.

The ultra-plush 14-deck Four Seasons I is scheduled for 19 voyages in 2026 to more than 130 Caribbean and Mediterranean ports.

one year long cruise

Reservations opened two weeks ago. Those interested can register to join a waitlist or book through a travel agent.

So far, "sales have been very encouraging, and the demand is exciting to see," Thatcher Brown, chief commercial officer and head of joint operations for Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, told Business Insider in a statement. The company is a joint owner and operator of Four Seasons Yachts.

Renderings make the Four Seasons I look as opulent as the brand's land-based properties.

one year long cruise

Four Seasons says its vessel will have 95 suites ranging from 537 to 9,975 square feet, some with three bedrooms.

The smallest suite starts at $19,700 for a five-night roundtrip voyage to Athens, Greece.

No windowless interior cabins here: Like other ultra-luxe cruises, the suites would all have terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.

one year long cruise

Customers could expect upscale amenities like a walk-in closet, down-filled duvets and pillows, and marble dual vanity bathrooms, per Four Seasons.

The most premium suites would also feature additional accommodations for "personal assistants," such as au pairs or security personnel.

Some options, like the 7,952-square-foot Loft Suite, could be adjoined with seven other cabins to accommodate up to 20 people.

one year long cruise

Without connecting cabins, the Loft Suite would already have three bedrooms and bathrooms, a powder room, and a sauna.

Others, like the largest Funnel Suite, would have its own spa and kitchen.

one year long cruise

Four Seasons says the 9,975-square-foot mansion, partially perched in the ship's glass-lined funnel , will span four floors, four bathrooms, three bedrooms, and three powder rooms.

Not to mention the private elevator, pool, and $350,000-a-voyage price tag.

Accommodations of this price and size are generally unheard of in the cruise industry.

one year long cruise

Luxury operator Silversea says the largest suite on its upcoming 728-guest Silver Ray will be 1,324 square feet. Competitor Regent Seven Seas' new Seven Seas Grandeur debuted in 2023 with a more expansive six-guest 4,443-square-foot option.

Both suites' sizes and prices — Regent's starts at $42,000 per person for a total of $252,000 at maximum occupancy — would be stunted by Four Seasons' promise of a 9,975-square-foot, $350,000 floating mansion.

But cabins with six-digit prices aren't unheard of.

one year long cruise

While not a luxury cruise line, Royal Caribbean's popular three-floor townhouse on the new Icon of the Seas is being booked at an average of $100,000 a week — although it's about four times smaller than Four Seasons' largest.

Royal Caribbean and other mass-market cruise lines are beloved, in part, for their unlimited complimentary food options.

one year long cruise

Regent Seven Seas' all-inclusive fare also covers caviar, foie gras, and Champagne.

But don't expect any of these to be free on the Four Seasons I.

Breakfast would be complimentary. Lunch, dinner, and booze would not.

one year long cruise

The vessel's 11 restaurants and lounges would be priced similarly to Four Seasons' on-land properties. (A dinner entrée at its resort on the Caribbean island of Nevis — also one of the ship's destinations — ranges from $34 to $163.)

The pricing structure may sound odd to most cruise traditionalists. (Hey, at least WiFi would be "free.")

one year long cruise

But some of the ship's amenities could look familiar: Like most cruise liners, the Four Seasons I would have a pool, spa, and clubs for children and teens.

The company also promises a lounge and marina that will open onto the water, giving guests direct access to activities like snorkeling or windsurfing.

Four Seasons Yachts plans to take delivery of its $399 million vessel, now being built by famed Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, in late 2025.

one year long cruise

A second Fincantieri-built ship would join the hospitality company's fleet the following year. The next vessel would cost more than 400 million euros, about $429.2 million, Four Seasons says.

This isn’t Four Seasons' first foray into itinerary-based vacations.

one year long cruise

The company has also found "tremendous success" in its private jet-based "cruises," Alejandro Reynal, the president and CEO of Four Seasons, told BI in a statement.

Its 2024 vacation-by-air itineraries started at $135,000 for a 16-day Asia tour. Demand has been growing, he said, "signaling that luxury travelers are looking for immersive, exclusive, end-to-end travel journeys that allow them to explore the world with their favorite brands."

But its new ultra-luxe cruise arm would be entering an increasingly crowded luxury market, soon to be dominated by like-minded hospitality giants.

one year long cruise

High-end Aman Resorts and Orient Express plan to launch their own luxury cruises in 2027 and 2026, respectively.

Staying ahead of the competition, Ritz-Carlton debuted its first 149-suite Evrima yacht cruise in 2021, with a second 224-cabin ship scheduled to begin sailing later this year. Its least expensive itinerary is currently $5,100 per person for a six-night voyage from Barbados to Puerto Rico in early 2025.

Interested in a hotelier-owned vacation at sea but don't want to pay the luxury price tag? Margaritaville's cruise is an affordable $75 for two nights.

one year long cruise

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Introducing the world’s longest cruise – visiting 135 countries over three years

Epic voyages have been a mainstay of cruising, but a new three-year odyssey, launching in November, really raises the bar

All 400 cabins on Miray Cruises’ ship Gemini are expected to be snapped up by the end of April

A record-breaking three-year world cruise costing as little as £70 a day is expected to sell out in weeks after bookings opened to a flood of inquiries.

All 400 cabins on Miray Cruises’ ship Gemini are expected to be snapped up by the end of April for the 130,000-mile voyage which starts in Istanbul on November 1 and includes stops in 135 countries.

After 385,000 website visits in the first two days, a seven-strong sales team is now following up 2,200 leads, said Mikael Petterson, managing director of Life at Sea Cruises, based in Florida.

“The response has been overwhelming – we could probably fill the ship now. There’s absolutely no doubt we’ll sell out before the end of April.”

Mr Petterson said Turkey-based Miray Cruises was inspired to offer the voyage to 135 countries on all seven continents after seeing the success of world cruises by US lines Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises, which sold out in a day. 

“There’s no secret, world cruising is growing in popularity,” he added. “Just looking at the post-Covid trends, you see people want to go on longer cruises.”

A luxurious room aboard the Miray Cruises vessel

Unlike normal cruises, cabins on Gemini are being sold by the month on a residential basis. The ship – which normally cruises the Greek islands and is currently helping with earthquake aid in Turkey – will be fitted with a hospital and its casino turned into a business centre. Passenger numbers will be limited to around 600 instead of the normal 1,074.

Most inquiries so far are for the lowest-priced inside cabins which – at $29,999 (around £25,000) a year – work out at less than $85 (£70) a day to be taken to a total of 375 destinations around the world.

“A lot of the balconies are spoken for and about two-thirds of the bookings are for insides,” said Mr Petterson.

People aged between the mid-50s and mid-70s are the target audience, with most inquiries so far coming from the US and Canada – though some Europeans have shown interest too.

Mr Petterson said the big difference between Gemini and normal world voyages was the number of days spent in port. 

He regards his nearest competitor as Royal Caribbean, which is planning an epic 274-night global voyage starting in Miami in December (see below).

“Passengers [with Royal Caribbean] will often spend just a day in a port. In Beijing, for example, they only stay for 10 hours. But we’ll be in the city for six days and in most other ports for two or three days. The more there is to do in port, the longer we stay.

“Our guests will have time to rent a car and travel on their own. It’s never far to the next location so people can disembark and take a week out and join the ship at a later port.

“What’s more, we will be in the Northern Hemisphere in the summers and the Southern in the winters – so it’s always summer for us.”

People aged between mid-50s and mid-70s are the target audience for the voyage

The hospital on Gemini will be equipped with a range of medical equipment, including ECGs, X-rays, ultrasound and defibrillators, plus the ability to perform some minor surgeries.

“A normal onboard hospital would have one doctor and maybe two nurses – we have triple that,” said Mr Petterson. “We have our own pharmacy and we work with shoreside institutions to provide other services.”

In probably the frankest FAQ on a cruise website, one question on LifeAtSeaCruises.com states: “What happens if I die in my cabin?”. To which the answer is: “We have morgues onboard and have funeral and estate planning available. We will arrange with your next of kin to fulfill your last wishes.”

Epic voyages have been a mainstay of cruising ever since Cunard offered the first world cruise in 1923. The longest continual ocean journey with passengers is on residential ship The World, which circles the globe every three years. 

Three other epic cruises you can book for 2023 

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise takes place aboard the Serenade of the Seas, pictured here in Venice

World cruises – generally ranging from 100 to 180 days – mostly start in January but here are three mega voyages you can still book this year:

274 nights: Royal Caribbean 

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise – the longest ever offered by a mainstream line – will start on December 10 in Miami and visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries on all seven continents. Despite the nearly £50,000pp price tag, 70 per cent of the voyage sold out within a week. 

183 days: Nicko Cruises

German company Nicko Cruises is pushing the boat out on this six-month cruise. Starting in October, the 1,000-passenger Vasco da Gama will leave Lisbon, head to Africa and southeast Asia before crossing to Australia and New Zealand, then via Central America to the Caribbean and back across the Atlantic. From £29,995. 

101 nights: P&O Cruises

On P&O Cruises ship Aurora you can stay on for five back-to-back cruises – as long as you don’t mind returning to Southampton after each leg. First off on September 3 is a 30-night crossing to the US and Canada, followed by 19 nights in the Med, 24 in the Caribbean, 12 in Norway and finally 16 in the Canary Islands. Total cost starts from £10,175.

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Inside an $11,000-Per-Night Cruise Ship Suite

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By Rachel Wallace

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In 2023, 31.5 million vacationers boarded massive cruise ships teeming with all-you-can-drink piña coladas (if you got the beverage package) and all-you-can-eat shrimp cocktails. The industry is growing steadily, with the Cruise Lines International Association predicting that 35.7 million passengers will board a cruise ship in 2024, and Forbes reporting that the industry brought in $13.6 billion in revenue last year.

If you’ve been on a cruise, you know that cruise culture very much exists. By word of mouth and online (such as in Facebook groups where travelers mix and mingle with the people who will be aboard their next jaunt), cruisers love to compare notes on different ships and share tips and tricks for life aboard. Many of these revolve around saving space in small cabins—the most widely discussed being the over-the-door shoe rack hack.

To a non-cruiser, the idea that you need space-saving hacks to travel comfortably at sea could be off-putting, but not all cruise lines and cabins are created equal. Aboard ships from Regent, Oceania, and other high-end lines, the focus is less on waterslides and roller coasters (yes, three Carnival ships feature one on board) and more on comfort. On the newest ship from Regent Seven Seas, the Grandeur, which embarked upon its maiden voyage in late 2023, even the most basic suite features a private balcony, queen-size bed, and sitting area, but for passengers with even deeper pockets looking for the utmost luxury, behold the Regent Suite.

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A sofa, matching lounge chairs, and coffee table from Holly Hunt , a Sollos rocking chair, a Pouenat chandelier, and a custom Jaime Stern rug anchor the main living space. A drawing by Pablo Picasso called Les Ménines et la Vie hangs on the wall to the left.

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A mirror-polished bronze sculpture by FP Art decorates the marble faux fireplace in the living room of the suite.

Located on the top deck away from all other berths, the 4,443 square foot suite holds two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, and opens out onto a 1,227 square-foot veranda with a private hot tub. Designed by Miami-based Studio DADO , the suite is swathed in so much Italian marble—nine types in the primary bathroom alone—that one wonders how the ship stays afloat. (Don’t worry, trust modern engineering! The vessel was built in Italy by Fincantieri .)

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The primary bathroom in the suite is a spa unto itself, complete with Cocoon fixtures, a jetted bathtub, separate shower, and heated lounge area.

Along with Regent art director Sarah Hall Smith, Studio DADO aimed to “create a suite that really puts art at the forefront,” said founding partner Yohandel Ruiz while speaking to a group of journalists aboard in December. “It is like a suite for an art connoisseur somewhere in New York or London.” The drawing hanging on the living room wall— Les Ménines et la Vie by Pablo Picasso—helps achieve this, as do other contemporary pieces by artists like Ricardo Mazal, Leigh Wells, Jane Puylagarde, Bastian Woud, and more.

As chef Joshua Weissman welcomes AD into his Austin home in the latest episode of Open Door, he jokes that he doesn’t actually live in a kitchen.

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“Every piece in that suite, from the lighting to the shower experience to the dining experience, everything was elevated to an art form,” said Ruiz. This is especially true of the bed in the main bedroom: In between its four posters lies a Hästens Vividus mattress, which is handmade using horsehair and retails for $315,990 . ( Drake sleeps on a similar model.)

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The dining room features a Henrytimi dining table surrounded by Baker chairs under a pendant light that was custom-designed by Studio DADO and manufactured by Patrizia Volpato . The space opens into a private solarium where guests can stargaze on chaise lounges custom-designed by Studio DADO, made by Elledue , and upholstered in burnt orange Mokum alpaca velvet.

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The main bedroom in the Regent Suite contains a Hästens Vividus mattress.

Of all the accoutrements, however, the best part of staying in an elite suite such as this just might be the perks, which include free air fair, a pre-cruise hotel package, in-suite spa services, and private elevator access to a hidden 12-person dining room located inside Prime 7, the onboard steakhouse (where you’ll find three more Picassos). Guests shelling out for this suite will have little use for hacks.

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Travel | Alaska is ready for another record-breaking…

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Travel | staying in cali: los angeles sparks select stanford star cameron brink second overall in wnba draft, travel | alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season.

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Alaska is home to more than 30,000 grizzlies, but the state’s cruise industry is experiencing anything but a bear market as momentum of last year’s record-breaking season is expected to continue in 2024.

The most-visited Alaskan port, Juneau set a new mark a year ago with 1.65 million passengers descending on the capital city during cruise season, which generally runs from April to late October. That figure from the Juneau Chamber of Commerce is a Denali-sized jump of 30 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

Coinciding with Alaska’s 65th anniversary of statehood, the upcoming cruise season appears to be just as robust, with 19 cruise lines sending 43 ships to the Last Frontier. Kicking things off for the second straight year is the 4,008-passenger Norwegian Bliss, which docked in rustic Skagway last week. With four mainstream-category ships homeported in either Seattle or Vancouver, Norwegian Cruise Line  has nearly 100 more after that.

Two competing companies have staked out even larger claims in this modern-day, maritime Alaskan gold rush. Holland America Line is sending seven premium-class ships for 141 total cruises. And at the top of the totem pole is Princess Cruises , which is celebrating its 55th year in these waters with seven premium ships sharing 158 departures.

Rafting alongside Mendenhall Glacier is a chance-of-a-lifetime adventure for many. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Not counting grand voyages with itineraries so rich they make a visit to Alaska seem more like a pit stop, this cruise season will see more than 800 trips of mostly seven to 10 days starting or ending on this side of the Pacific. Where they’re all going is a destination rich in unparalleled wilderness, wildlife and native culture. In other words, bucket list stuff.

“Alaska is one of those places that draws you in and sets the hook right away,” said Kristi Switzer, destination marketing manager for Travel Juneau. “Visitors come for the otherworldly experience of being in the presence of glaciers and fjords, seeing whales and bears and finding the balance of Alaska Native cultural heritage with the rustic sophistication found in the capital city.”

Sometimes just seeing a whale's tail is a win when on an Alaskan tour. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Although Switzer recommends visits lasting several days instead of several hours, the city’s destination evangelist hopes that a partial day in Juneau and each major Alaskan cruise port will have 1.5 million passengers wanting more.

“This magical corner of the world has so much to offer beyond being a checkmark on people’s bucket lists,” she said.

Walking on a glacier is one of the more exciting shore excursions Alaska has to offer. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Alaska is a checkmark for about three-quarters of all passengers headed there, according to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association, and the same can be said for two ships this season.

Starting with a six-day sail out of Vancouver on May 11, the namesake of Celebrity Cruises ’ popular Edge class will make its Alaskan debut with weeklong roundtrips from Seattle through Sept. 13. The 2,918-passenger vessel features a unique “outside-in” architecture that provides more floor-to-ceiling glass on the exterior and expanded outdoor spaces to soak up the Alaskan coastlines.

Skagway, a popular cruise port, is the northernmost point in Alaska's Inside Passage. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Edge will be joined by a pair of fleet mates for the season, albeit Summit’s seven-day roundtrips are turnarounds out of Anchorage or Vancouver, and Solstice’s weeklong jaunts are solely based in the British Columbian seaport. Celebrity, a premier-category cruise line has 57 departures to Alaska scheduled this year.

The other new recruit is Silver Nova, the youngest Silversea Cruises  ship in the luxury fleet to ever service Alaska. Capped at 728 guests, Silver Nova was launched last year and has the goods to do justice to a dreamlike place that captures the imagination of wilderness lovers and history buffs.

“Silver Nova is the ideal ship for Alaska cruising,” said company spokesman Brad Ball. “Her innovative design, which incorporates an unprecedented 4,000 square meters of glass, immerses guests into the incredible scenery of Alaska from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn.”

While in Skagway, let happy and hard-working sled dogs take you on a spin around Musher's Camp. (Photo by David Dickstein)

The ship’s reimagined pool deck, which overlooks the water on her starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues — the Dusk Bar and the Marquee — allows unique openness to view spectacular Alaskan glaciers and wildlife. Those who want to experience an older and smaller Evolution-class Silversea vessel can book the Silver Muse, which also will sail mostly seven- to 14-day trips between Anchorage and Vancouver.

Because nearly every Alaskan cruise includes the staples — Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Inside Passage and Denali with a land add-on — some cruise lines like to shake things up with unique itineraries.

Holland America has a roundtrip that makes it easy to visit the 49th and 50th states without a long flight. A new “Glaciers & Volcanos: Alaska to Hawaii” cruise, part of the premium line’s Legendary Voyages collection of journeys from 25 to 59 days, departs on Aug. 31 from Seattle or Sept. 1 from Vancouver aboard the 1,916-passenger Westerdam. The nearly four-weeklong itinerary includes seldomly visited Kodiak and Dutch Harbor before heading down to the tropics to make four calls to three Hawaiian islands.

Seabourn  strives to offer a more tasteful Alaskan cruise and not only because it’s an ultra-luxury cruise line. “Caviar on the Ice” is a savory and swanky soiree on every Alaskan voyage, and when the 450-passenger Odyssey is in Sitka, a town originally built by Russian traders in the early 1800s, Seabourn guests can enjoy a culinary adventure that includes a scenic drive to a taproom for a sampling of local brews and a few eateries to try Siberian-rooted pelmeni dumplings and a hot dog made with caribou that the locals call “reindeer dawgs.” Sorry, vegetarians and friends of Santa, but Blitzen on a bun is da bomb.

Red Onion Saloon, a former bordello built in 1898, is a top attraction in historic Skagway. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Disney Cruise Line  is sending its 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder out of Vancouver for 15 week-long roundtrips, one five-day spin leaving on July 24 and an extended nine-day voyage on July 15.

Other cruise lines showing passengers a whale of a time in Alaska include Crystal, Cunard, Hurtigruten, Lindblad/National Geographic, Oceania, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas and Viking.

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BUCKET LIST BUSTING

Week long cruises.

Revel in adventure like never before on a 7 night cruise to the world’s most captivating destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and Mexican Riviera.

Flex your sense of wonder during a week long exploration of majestic sights and cultural discoveries. Our upcoming sailings are packed with countless exciting options filled with bucket list destinations. From chasing waterfalls in the Caribbean, to whale watching in Alaska, and sipping wine on the Amalfi Coast to snorkeling the Mexican Riviera’s emerald waters — now is the perfect time to book a 7 night cruise. Adventure is calling your name.

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Whether you choose to tropic hop through paradise, pioneer dramatic fjords on the Last Frontier, wander European marvels and monuments or trek ancient temples in the Mexican Riviera — next-level thrills are always on the itinerary with these week long cruises.

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Ready to explore the sun-soaked shores of the world’s most pristine beaches? Snorkel in turquoise waters, wiggle your toes in the sand and feel the island vibes all day every day on these 7 night Caribbean cruises . There’s never been a better time to plan an unforgettable island getaway.

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Alaska is the spot for your coolest adventure yet. Sled with Huskies across massive glaciers. Or gear up for white water rafting alongside dramatic landscapes. Nothing compares to the captivating wildlife and unspoiled beauty of the Last Frontier — and there’s no better way to see it all than a 7 night Alaska cruise.

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Ancient cultures and world-famous cuisine abound on a 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise. Kayak through epic rock formations in Cabo San Lucas. Or explore the exotic jungles of Puerto Costa Maya. The Mexican Riviera is pure magic.

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Timeless beauty and epic adventures await you on an unforgettable 7 night Europe cruise. From marveling at Italian architecture to cliff diving into the azure Mediterranean Sea in Santorini — chase the thrill of adventure on a legendary Euro getaway.

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Explore the globe on a week long cruise onboard memory-maxing ships that are as exciting as the destinations they visit. Like our larger-than-life Oasis Class® ships and ultra-innovative Quantum Class® ships.

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With so many onboard activities to choose from, our Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships are perfect for couples, families and first-time cruisers. The question is not what are you doing during your week long cruise but did you conquer everything?

Hang ten out at sea on the 40-foot-long FlowRider®* surf simulator. Grab a board and show off your skills or challenge your bestie to a round of max out thrills. Do you dare? Race down adrenaline-amping slides like The Perfect StormSM or the Ultimate AbyssSM, the tallest at sea.

Scope out unforgettable views from the North Star, the Guinness World Record holder for tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship. Get in an island state of mind at The Lime & Coconut® complete with poolside cocktails and good vibes around the clock.

And that’s just the beginning. In addition to all these exciting onboard activities and countless more , adventure awaits at brag-worthy destinations throughout the globe on any of these week long cruises you pick. Take a peek at our destination guides to help you start planning the perfect getaway today.

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If you love top-deck thrills, world-class dining and show-stopping entertainment — you’ll love a week long cruise on our groundbreaking Quantum Class ships. Take in unparalleled panoramic sights from 300 feet above sea level on the North Star, experience free-fall on RipCord by iFLY® skydiving simulator and level up your gametime at the largest indoor activity space at sea, SeaPlex®.

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  • child abandoned

Mom left her 6- and 8-year-old kids alone at their Memorial home to go on a cruise, records state

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A west Houston mother has been arrested on charges she allegedly left her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter home alone so that she could go on a cruise.

Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, is charged with abandoning a child with intent to return. ABC13 was at the jail Thursday evening as she was brought in for processing.

According to court records, neighbors at Williams' luxury high-rise apartment building in the Memorial area sounded the alarm. They said they saw the mother of two children leave with luggage and bags last Thursday, April 4, and she never returned.

STORY UPDATE: 29-year-old mother who left children alone while on a cruise has done it before, court records show

On Tuesday, deputy constables with Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap's Office responded to a welfare check at her apartment. They found the brother and sister home alone. The unit smelled of urine, records state, and was in disarray with trash and left-over food strewn about. The children told the deputies their mother left to vacation on a cruise.

"These children were left unattended for many days and put in harm's way," Keegan Childers, the chief prosecutor of the 209th District Court, said. "For them to provide for themselves, feed themselves, take care of themselves, as well as what if somebody breaks in? What if there's a bad neighbor? Any number of horror, nightmare scenarios that could come up."

Deputies reported finding a web camera and cell phone that the children said their mother used to check in on them.

Firefighters determined them to be in good health. Child Protective released them to their aunt, who declined to comment to ABC13 when reached by phone.

Precinct 5 said Williams flew to Miami last week to get on the cruise to Puerto Rico. The office said she returned home Wednesday night and initially lied about her identity.

For more on this story, follow Jessica Willey on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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  1. The Ultimate World Cruise

    The Ultimate World Cruise is a never-before-offered Royal Caribbean adventure that takes you on a 274-night journey around the world from December 10, 2023 - September 10, 2024. The adventure begins and ends in Miami, Florida, visiting all 7 continents, 65 countries, 150 ports of call, with 16 overnights and 8 World Wonders.

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  3. You can now book a year-long cruise that visits all 7 continents

    Would you go for an almost year-long cruise that starts at USD$54,000? Adventurers with means can now visit all seven continents, more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world in an epic 274-night cruise with Royal Caribbean International inaugural Ultimate World Cruise.. Starting from Miami on 10 December 2023 and through 10 September 2024, the Serenade of the ...

  4. Best World Cruises of 2024 and 2025

    The Trip: Azamara Onward will embark on a world cruise for a second year in 2025, after the first itinerary in 2024 on the new vessel sold out. The voyage will include 155 nights, including 46 ...

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    Regent Seven Seas Cruises ®. This ultra-luxury, all-inclusive World Cruise is in high demand every year. Dates: 2025,2026 2027. Length: 140 to 168 nights. From/To: Roundtrip Miami (2025 & 2026), Miami to San Francisco (2025), Miami to New York City (2027) Capacity:

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  7. 11 best around-the-world cruises

    For 2025, Princess offers two 116-day world cruise itinerary options on Island Princess, one round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and the other round-trip from Los Angeles. From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $16,225 per person. From Los Angeles: Departs Jan. 20, 2025.

  8. What To Expect From Ultimate World Cruise

    As you can imagine, this once-in-a-lifetime epic journey around the world is highly customizable. The ticket price for the 274-night journey ranges from $59,999 per person for an interior stateroom to $117,599 for a junior suite on the 2,476-passenger Serenade of the Seas®. You might think that if you travel the world for almost a year, you'll ...

  9. World Cruises 2024-2026

    Our longest voyage ever sets sails in January 2025 as Island Princess embarks on an epic 116-day roundtrip World Cruise from both Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles, visiting 51 destinations in 26 countries across 6 continents. This adventure includes our first ever visits to historic Bar, Montenegro, and Taranto, Italy.

  10. For $61,000, Spend Most of the Year on a Cruise Around the World

    The trip, billed as the longest ever offered by a major cruise company, will cost $61,000. The cruising industry suffered a crippling hit after Covid-19-related travel restrictions, which began in ...

  11. The Ultimate World Cruise

    Cherbourg, France. Tuesday, July 23rd. Get to know the expeditions, destinations, and cities part of the Ultimate World Cruise. America, Antarctica, Asia, the South Pacific, and the Capitals of Culture.

  12. You can now live on a cruise ship for $30,000 per year

    Cabins run the gamut from 130 square feet "Virtual Inside" staterooms - which start at $29,999 per person per year, coming out at $179,994 for the three-year trip for two people - to ...

  13. Longest Cruises in 2024 and 2025

    Princess Cruises. Princess Cruises kicks off its World Cruise on January 20, 2025, with the Island Princess embarking on a 116-night sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles. The voyage heads directly to Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand before spending time in Australia. The Island Princess then heads to Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Oman, and Jordan before transiting the Suez Canal.

  14. Everything You Need to Know About Long Cruises

    Some cruisers think anything longer than a seven-night itinerary is long, while the most seasoned sailors will think a voyage less than a 60-night world cruise is a short sailing. We tend to consider anything longer than a 10-night cruise to be "long," although many European travelers consider a 14-night sailing fairly standard.

  15. See seven continents in 357 days on the world's longest cruise

    Machu Picchu in Peru. The "World of Travel" cruise hits seven continents on seven different cruise lines, in a 357-day trip around the world.. The cruise, organised by Mundy Cruising, brings travellers from South America to Asia by way of Europe, North America, Australia, Africa and Antarctica.But guests won't be confined to just one ship on their long adventure - they will take ...

  16. Life at Sea Cruises

    The first reasonably priced, all-inclusive world cruise starting from only $77,026 per year based on double-occupancy that will cover over 130,000 miles across all 7 continents and 140 countries, 382 ports . Experience the World, One Country at a Time. The Art of Adventure.

  17. This 3-year Cruise Visits 135 Countries on 7 Continents

    Courtesy of Life at Sea. The three-year voyage departs from Istanbul on Nov. 1, 2023, with additional pick-ups in Barcelona and Miami later in 2023.

  18. Long Duration Cruises

    Or for an adventure with Mother Nature, you could cruise north to the remote and breathtaking wilds of Norway and Iceland for up to 21 nights. With a long cruise holiday, you can explore the part of the globe that excites you the most, or even discover it all on a 99-night World Cruise. View holidays 16 nights+.

  19. How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship For a Year

    That comes out to a little less than $1,300 a month. Gratuities: One of the perks of being on a cruise is that you are waited on hand and foot. But it doesn't come free. Carnival charges $16.00 per person, per day for automatic gratuities. Over the course of a year, that adds up to $11,648 in tips paid to staff.

  20. Royal Caribbean announces nine-month world cruise

    Royal Caribbean told CNN Travel the price range for the full excursion is between $66,000 to $112,000 per person, plus taxes and fees. World cruises were a staple of the cruise scene pre-pandemic ...

  21. The World's Longest Cruise Is 245 Days, Costs $93,000

    The 2019-2020 itinerary will be aboard the Viking Sun, the newest ship from one of the world's top-rated cruise lines, according to Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards.The 930 ...

  22. Short vs long cruises: Here's how they compare

    Those can range from around 10 days to more than six months. Royal Caribbean is operating a nine-month world cruise to more than 60 countries. While short cruises "can feel like a bit of a ...

  23. One year long cruise : r/Cruise

    One year long cruise. I know about "The World" where those people literally live on the ship but I was comparing some prices and it seems the average price is $1,000 for 7 days, which is around 52k a year. Is there like a discount if you want to spend a whole year on the ship ? Possibly consider "subletting" one of those World cruisers staterooms?

  24. Want To Cruise Around The World? Here's How Much A ...

    World cruises start from around $10,000 per person and can cost as much as $839,999 per person if you choose the best suite on the most luxurious cruise line. Expect to pay around $15,000 to $25,000 on a mainstream cruise line, and between $60,000 and $100,000 on a luxury cruise line, on average.

  25. See Four Seasons' Ultra-Luxury Yacht Cruise Line Starting at $20,000

    See Four Seasons' upcoming ultra-luxury cruise with a $350,000-a-week suite bigger than most homes. Brittany Chang. Apr 14, 2024, 3:58 AM PDT. Four Seasons says its Four Seasons I yacht cruise ...

  26. Introducing the world's longest cruise

    274 nights: Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise - the longest ever offered by a mainstream line - will start on December 10 in Miami and visit more than 150 destinations ...

  27. Inside an $11,000-Per-Night Cruise Ship Suite

    Travel. Inside an $11,000-Per-Night Cruise Ship Suite. In 2023, 31.5 million vacationers boarded massive cruise ships teeming with all-you-can-drink piña coladas (if you got the beverage package ...

  28. Alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season

    April 15, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Alaska is home to more than 30,000 grizzlies, but the state's cruise industry is experiencing anything but a bear market as momentum of last year's record-breaking ...

  29. 7 Night Week Long Cruises

    WEEK LONG CRUISES. Revel in adventure like never before on a 7 night cruise to the world's most captivating destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and Mexican Riviera. Flex your sense of wonder during a week long exploration of majestic sights and cultural discoveries. Our upcoming sailings are packed with countless exciting options ...

  30. Mom left her 6- and 8-year-old kids alone at their Memorial home to go

    A 29-year-old mother of two kids, 8 years old and younger, is accused of leaving them home alone in the Memorial area while she took a cruise.