Think replacing your 6 a.m. wakeup call and dishes in the sink with up to 157 nights of lavish galas, hobnobbing with celebrities and visits to faraway lands is more a dream than a reality? Well, it's no dream for a lot of folks who are making the concept of cruising around the world one of the most popular itineraries on the annual cruise calendar.
It's been nearly a century since the first world cruise sailed, on Cunard's RMS Laconia in 1922. The phenomenon, which has sagged a bit in popularity some years hence, was long considered a viable travel option only for the most senior of seniors.
Nowadays, it's still a great draw for seniors -- how many others have the time, not to mention the cash, to take off for 105 days or more? -- but we're also seeing a new spark of energy in this traditional cruise milieu. More lines keep announcing world voyages, and some even run two or more a year.
One irony about world cruises is that most actually don't really sail fully around the world. But these third-of-a-year voyages, lasting from 80 to 157 nights, do offer passengers a chance to see a widely varied portfolio of diverse cultures -- all wrapped into one voyage. And even those folks who can't commit to the full trip can participate through an increasingly popular option in which you can buy a "segment" ranging from a week to over a month.
Also worth mentioning is that although world cruises typically begin in January and end around March or April, some world cruises start early (in November or December) or late (in February or March). And with Australia becoming a hot cruising destination, some lines are beginning to offer roundtrip Sydney world cruises that begin in May.
Highlights of the 2011 world cruise season include round-the-world offerings from Costa and Silversea, which didn't offer circumnavigations in 2010. Cruise West's Spirit of Oceanus will take only a brief hiatus before launching into its second-ever 335-night world cruise. And Cunard is putting a new spin on the world cruise concept with a global sailing that combines cruises on all three of its "queens."
Following is a roundup of some world sailings that pique our interest.
2010 Cruises
Cruise West
The Trip: The Spirit of Oceanus will sail its first ever circumnavigation of the world -- a whopping 335-night cruise (broken down into 24 stand-alone segments)!
The Dates: March 5, 2010 - February 3, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Singapore to Alexandria (four voyage segments), 68 nights; Alexandria to Honfleur (six voyage segments), 88 nights; Honfleur to St. John's (three voyage segments), 56 nights; St. John's to Guayaquil (four voyage segments), 55 nights; Guayaquil to Darwin (six voyage segments), 98 nights; Darwin to Singapore, 17 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from $233,995 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $7,195 and include a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay.
P&O Cruises
The Trip: P&O's Oriana is making its 14th world voyage, which will span 19 countries in 84 nights. Departing from Southampton and sailing to the west, the ship will call at ports in the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, the Far East and Austrailia. Specifically, Acapulco, San Francisco, Kahalui, Phu My, Singapore and Mumbai are just a few of the 28 ports that will be called upon.
The Dates:
September 23 – December 17, 2010
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Sydney, 41 nights; Southampton to Auckland, 35 nights; Southampton to Brisbane, 43 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 43 nights; Auckland to Southampton, 49 nights; Brisbane to Southampton, 41 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £6,899 per person; segments start from £3,598, double occupancy.
Princess Cruises
The Trip: If you miss the window on January departures, Dawn Princess offers a 104-night cruise roundtrip from Sydney, departing in late May.
The Dates: May 21 - September 3, 2010
Itinerary Segments: Princess does not sell world cruise segments.
Price: Fares range from $17,989 to $51,990 per person, double occupancy.
2011 Cruises
Costa
The Trip:Costa Deliziosa will sail a 100-night, 37-port voyage touching on five continents, at the end of 2011. The voyage sails roundtrip from Savona, Costa's built-to-order port facility just west of Genoa, Italy.
The Dates: December 28, 2011 - April 6, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Savona to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to Singapore; Singapore to Savona.
Price: Full world cruise fares begin at 9,900 euros (segment prices have not yet been announced).
Cruise West
The Trip: The Spirit of Oceanus will sail its second ever circumnavigation of the world just weeks after it returns from its first. The 335-night cruise will be broken into 25 stand-alone segments.
The Dates: February 22, 2011 - January 24, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Singapore to Chennai, 16 nights; Chennai to Mumbai, 15 nights; Mumbai to Muscat, 14 nights; Muscat to Alexandria, 18 nights; Alexandria to Istanbul, 15 nights; Istanbul to Venice, 14 nights; Venice to Rome, 14 nights; Rome to Barcelona, 13 nights; Barcelona to Lisbon, 13 nights; Lisbon to Amsterdam, 16 nights; Amsterdam to Copenhagen, 18 nights; Copenhagen to London, 14 nights; London to Edinburgh, 14 nights; Edinburgh to Reykjavik, 12 nights; Reykjavik to Halifax, 16 nights; Halifax to Palm Beach, 13 nights; Palm Beach to Panama City, 13 nights; Panama City to Lima, 13 nights; Lima to Easter Island, 9 nights; Easter Island to Papeete, 17 nights; Papeete to Lautoka, 15 nights; Lautoka to Cairns, 15 nights; Cairns to Bali, 15 nights; Bali to Ho Chi Minh City, 14 nights; Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong, 13 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from $223,695 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $6,545.
Crystal Cruises
The Trip:Crystal Serenity will sail a 110-night world cruise from Los Angeles to London, visiting 41 ports in 19 countries, including six overnight stays and two double overnights.
The Dates: January 17 - May 8, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Los Angeles to Papeete, 13 nights; Papeete to Auckland, 12 nights; Auckland to Sydney, 16 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 15 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 14 nights; Dubai to Cape Town, 19 nights; Cape Town to London, 21 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from $53,240 to $279,895 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $6,500.
Cunard Line
The Trip: The newest ship in the Cunard fleet, Queen Elizabeth, will depart her homeport of Southampton for a 103-night voyage in which the ship makes 35 maiden calls, including a first-ever call in Port Denarau for Cunard. Sailing westward around the globe, transits of both the Panama and Suez Canals, calls in Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singaport Dubai and Liston are on this itinerary.
The Dates: January 5 - April 19, 2011
Itinerary Segments: New York to Sydney; 39 nights; New York to Singapore, 64 nights; New York to Dubai, 76 nights; Los Angeles to Singapore, 48 nights; Los Angeles to Dubai, 60 nights; Sydney to Dubai, 37 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 56 nights; Singapore to Southampton, 31 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from $19,995 per person; segments start from $6,114 per person, double occupancy.
The Trip: For the first time, guests have an opportunity to sail three Queens in one full world voyage. Queen Victoria embarks from Southampton for a tandem crossing with Queen Elizabeth to New York. From there, passengers can switch to Queen Elizabeth for a sailing from New York to Sydney, where the voyage continues and guests join Queen Mary 2 for the voyage back to Southampton. This "Three Queens" world cruise is a total of 103 nights.
The Dates: January 5 - April 19, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to New York, 8 nights; New York to Sydney, 39 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 23 nights; Bangkok to Southampton, 32 nights; Sydney to Dubai, 57 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from £10,317 to £119,317 per person, double occupancy.
The Trip:Queen Mary 2 will depart from New York in January 2011 for a 96-night journey. Heading to South America first, the ship will then take an eastbound route via South Africa to Australia. From there the ship heads north through the Far East, transiting the Suez Canal, and home to Southampton. Maiden calls include Xingang and Sharm El Sheikh. Extend the cruise to 103 nights by making the transatlantic journey, and come full circle back in New York.
The Dates: January 13 - April 26, 2011
Itinerary Segments: New York to Sydney, 40 nights; New York to Hong Kong, 65 nights; New York to Dubai, 80 nights; Cape Town to Hong Kong, 42 nights; Cape Town to Dubai, 57 nights; Cape Town to New York, 80 nights; Sydney to Dubai, 40 nights; Sydney to New York, 63 nights; Hong Kong to New York, 38 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start at $19,995 per person, double occupancy.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
The Trip: Fred.Olsen's Balmoral travels to the cruise ports of the Canaries, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, India and Egypt on its 108-night voyage in 2011. Offbeat ports on this world cruise include visits to Manta, Ecuador; Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands; and Akoroa, New Zealand. Plus, enjoy two nights spent in Sydney to get a good look at the city.
The Dates:
January 5 – April 23, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Peru, 22 nights; Peru to Sydney, 31 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 27 nights; Sydney to Dubai, 40 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from £8,799 to £29,329 per person; segments start from £1,899, double occupancy.
Holland America
The Trip:Amsterdam will sail a 110-night world cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
The Dates: January 5, 2011 - April 26, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Auckland, 32 nights; Auckland to Hong Kong, 29 nights; Hong Kong to Athens, 33 nights; Athens to Fort Lauderdale, 16 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from $16,999 to $62,399 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $2,449 per person.
P&O Cruises
The Trip: Setting its sights east, P&O's Artemis is embarking on a port intensive world voyage that explores the compelling cruise regions of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia before heading back toward its homeport, Southampton, via the Phillippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Seychelles and South Africa. Exciting visits to new ports like Pusan in Korea and Ujung Pandang and Semarang in Indonesia are scheduled.
The Dates: January 4 – April 12, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Hong Kong, 49 nights; Hong Kong to Southampton, 49 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £7,899 per person; segments start from £3,949, double occupancy.
The Trip: P&O's Aurora sails a 95-night South America and Pacific Grand Voyage heading out across the Atlantic to the coastline of South America, featuring a two-day bonus port call in Buenos Aires. Beyond that, this voyage includes travels in Australia, the South Pacific, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
The Dates:
January 9 – April 14, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Sydney, 51 nights; Southampton to Auckland, 59 nights; Southampton to Brisbane, 48 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 44 nights; Auckland to Southampton, 36 nights; Brisbane to Southampton, 47 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £7,549 per person; segments start from £2,949, double occupancy.
The Trip: P&O's Arcadia sails its third circumnavigation of the world in 2011. Starting out heading west from Southampton, a highlight of this cruise is transit through the Panama Canal. Continuing on throught the Pacific toward New Zealand, Australia and the Far East is on the itinerary before sailing through the Mediterranean for the final leg of the the voyage.
The Dates:
January 5 – March 29, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Sydney, 38 nights; Southampton to Auckland, 34 nights; Southampton to Brisbane, 40 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 44 nights; Auckland to Southampton, 48 nights; Brisbane to Southampton, 42 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £6,999 per person; segments start from £2,899, double occupancy.
Princess Cruises
The Trip:Pacific Princess will embark on a 107-night journey that spans the globe and features sailings through some of the most dramatic locations in the world like Australia, the southern tip of Africa and more. Overnights in both Sydney and Cape Town are scheduled. Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome, this cruise covers many regions such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific and the Far East.
The Dates: January 19 - April 30, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Segments ranging from 19 to 33 nights in length are available for those who'd prefer a shorter voyage.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from $21, 494 to $38,894 per person, double occupancy.
The Trip: For a world cruise with an Australian flair and timing, Dawn Princess offers a 104-night cruise roundtrip from Sydney, departing in late May. The itinerary includes visits to 43 ports on six continents
The Dates: May 25 - September 7, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Sydney to Dubai, 23 nights; Dubai to London, 30 nights; London to Fort Lauderdale, 16 nights; Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, 13 nights; Los Angeles to Sydney, 22 nights
Price: Fares range from $18,529 to $53,550 per person, double occupancy; segments start at $2,495, based on double occupancy
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
The Trip:Seven Seas Voyager will sail a 145-night cruise from San Francisco to Southampton. Guests can also choose slightly shorter world cruises, including a 131-night cruise from San Francisco to Rome, 111 nights to Dubai and 86 nights to Bangkok.
The Dates: January 13 - June 7, 2011
Itinerary Segments: San Francisco to Sydney, 41 nights; Sydney to Beijing, 25 nights; Beijing to Bangkok, 20 nights; Bangkok to Dubai, 25 nights; Dubai to Rome, 20 nights; Rome to Southampton, 14 nights.
Prices: Full cruise fares range from $75,999 to $289,999 per person, double occupancy; segment fares begin at $9,999 per person.
Saga Holidays
The Trip:Saga Ruby will circumnavigate the globe on a 110-night voyage that sails roundtrip from Southampton.
The Dates: January 5, 2011 - April 24, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Dubai, 24 nights; Dubai to Fremantle, 27 nights; Fremantle to Auckland, 20 nights; Auckland to Southampton, 44 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start at £13,866 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at £5,424 per person.
Seabourn
The Trip:Seabourn Sojourn will sail a 111-night cruise from Los Angeles to London, visiting 46 ports. Exclusive shoreside events in Tahiti, Melbourne, Singapore, Dubai and Bordeaux will be offered to passengers sailing 99 or more nights; additional complimentary shore experiences will be available to all world cruise travelers.
The Dates: January 5 - April 27, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Los Angeles to Sydney, 32 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 20 nights; Hong Kong to Singapore, 14 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 14 nights; Dubai to Rome, 20 nights; Rome to Southampton, 12 nights.
Prices: Full cruise fares range from $49,995 to $233,285 per person, double occupancy; segment fares begin at $5,050 per person.
Silversea Cruises
The Trip:Silver Spirit will visit 60 destinations in 25 countries, with 11 overnight calls, on a 119-night voyage from Los Angeles to Southampton.
The Dates: January 20 - May 19, 2011
Itinerary Segments: Los Angeles to Papeete, 12 nights; Papeete to Auckland, 10 nights; Auckland to Sydney, 17 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 21 nights; Hong Kong to Singapore, 12 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 15 nights; Dubai to Athens, 15 nights; Athens to Southampton, 15 nights.
Prices: Full world cruise fares range from $61,924 to $187,590 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $4,358 per person.
2012 Cruises
Crystal Cruises
The Trip:Crystal Serenity will sail a 94-night world cruise sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles, visiting 35 ports throughout Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, China Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia and California. The trip will include eight overnight stays, three double overnights and three nights in Beijing.
The Dates: January 18 - April 21, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Los Angeles to Sydney, 19 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 19 nights; Singapore to Hong Kong, 16 nights; Hong Kong to Yokohama, 18 nights; Yokohama to Los Angeles, 22 nights.
Price: Fares will be announced in Fall 2010.
Cunard Line
The Trip: The newest ship in the Cunard fleet, Queen Elizabeth, will once again circumnavigate the globe on a 107-night voyage from Southampton. North Americans can opt for a slightly shorter cruise and sail instead from New York, Fort Lauderdale or San Francisco (and if they wish, switch to Queen Mary 2 for a final ride home from Southampton back to New York).
The Dates: January 10 - April 27, 2012
Itinerary Segments: New York to San Francisco, 17 nights; San Francisco to Sydney, 24 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 24 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 12 nights; Dubai to Southampton, 22 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from $20,995 per person; segments start from $2,775 per person, double occupancy.
The Trip:Queen Mary 2 will also sail roundtrip from Southampton to begin the ship's fifth world cruise. The 107-night itinerary includes overnights in Cape Town, Hong Kong and Dubai, as well as the ship's first circumnavigation of Australia round-trip from Sydney.
The Dates: January 10 - April 27, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Cape Town, 15 nights; Cape Town to Sydney, 20 nights; Sydney round-trip, 22 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 19 nights; Hong Kong to Dubai, 16 nights; Dubai to Southampton, 16 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start at $20,995 per person, double occupancy; segments start from $2,995 per person, double occupancy.
Holland America
The Trip:Amsterdam will sail a 113-night world cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
The Dates: January 6, 2012 - April 28, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires, 18 nights; Buenos Aires to Sydney, 32 nights; Sydney to Mumbai, 32 nights; Mumbai to Fort Lauderdale, 30 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares range from $18,999 to $66,999 per person, double occupancy. Segment fares begin at $3,049 per person.
P&O Cruises
The Trip: Setting its sights east, P&O's Oriana will sail a 97-night full circumnavigation, visiting 32 ports in 20 countries. Itinerary highlights include visits to the North and South Islands of New Zealand, four Australian ports and visits to French Polynesia and the Far East.
The Dates: January 5 – April 10, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Dubai, 18 nights; Dubai to Hong Kong, 17 nights; Hong Kong to Sydney, 20 nights; Sydney to San Francisco, 28 nights; San Francisco to Southampton, 22 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £7,999 per person; segments start from £1,444, double occupancy.
The Trip: P&O's Aurora sails a 98-night full circumnavigation of the world. The westward cruise visits the U.S., Caribbean, Far East, Australasia, Middle East and Europe.
The Dates: January 4 – April 13, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to San Francisco, 23 nights; San Francisco to Sydney, 22 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 24 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 15 nights; Dubai to Southampton, 22 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £8,199 per person; segments start from £2,049, double occupancy.
The Trip: P&O's Arcadia sails its fourth circumnavigation of the world in 2012. The 109-night "Grand Odyssey" will visit 41 ports in 24 countries, including visits to Cape Town, Beijing and Aqaba.
The Dates: January 9 – April 27 2012
Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Dubai, 19 nights; Dubai to Hong Kong, 22 nights; Hong Kong to Fremantle, 31 nights; Fremantle to Cape Town, 29 nights; Cape Town to Southampton, 17 nights.
Price: Full world cruise fares start from £9,449 per person; segments start from £1,399, double occupancy.
Princess Cruises
The Trip:Pacific Princess will embark on a 107-night one-way journey from Fort Lauderdale to Venice, which will visit 38 destinations in 28 countries. Highlights include a Panama Canal transit, a journey through the South Pacific and around Australia and New Zealand, and visits to Asia, the Middle East and Europe
The Dates: January 13 - April 30, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Segments ranging from ranging from 15 to 32 nights in length are available for those who'd prefer a shorter voyage.
Price: Full world cruise fares begin at $21,995 per person, double occupancy; segment fares start at $2,495, based on double occupancy.
Seabourn
The Trip:Seabourn Quest will sail a 108-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Venice.
The Dates: January 5 - April 23, 2012
Itinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Cape Town, 28 nights; Cape Town to Singapore, 25 nights; Singapore to Hong Kong, 15 nights; Hong Kong to Dubai, 20 nights; Dubai to Venice, 21 nights.
Prices: Full cruise fares range from $53,850 to $236,850 per person, double occupancy; segment fares begin at $9,120 per person.
Think replacing your 6 a.m. wakeup call and dishes in the sink with up to 157 nights of lavish galas, hobnobbing with celebrities and visits to faraway lands is more a dream than a reality? Well, it's no dream for a lot of folks who are making the concept of cruising around the world one of the most popular itineraries on the annual cruise calendar.
Priority Access to Members-Only Deals
