A message from Cruise Critic: During this unprecedented time throughout the world and across the cruise industry, it is important to note that article information might be impacted by cruise line hiatuses and port closures due to COVID-19. For the latest information, please visit our regularly updated article on what cruisers need to know about coronavirus.
If a seven-night cruise doesn't seem long enough, would 100-odd nights of lavish galas, hobnobbing with interesting fellow passengers and visits to faraway lands be more your style? If so, it's time to get a world cruise on your 2021 or 2022 travel calendar.Around-the-world voyages have been around since Cunard's RMS Laconia sailed the first one nearly a century ago in 1922. Yet they remain popular today, thanks to continuing itinerary innovations by the cruise lines and modern technology that makes it easier than ever to stay in touch when you're spending 100-plus days at sea. You'll find sailings as long as 180 nights (on Oceania) while some lines -- like Cunard and, new for 2021, Silversea -- run two or more a year.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, you can often book one "segment" of the voyage, ranging from a week to more than a month. World cruises typically begin in January and end in April or May, but some lines change it up with departures in other seasons.Whether you want to dream big or live large, here's the rundown of upcoming 2021 and 2022 world cruises.2021 World Cruises
2022 World Cruises
2021 World Cruises
Costa Cruises
The Trip: Costa Deliziosa hosts Costa's annual world voyage again in 2021. The 125-night cruise sails round trip from Venice in early January (returning May 8, 2021). The sailing incorporates more than 45 stops in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia (at India), Indian Ocean isles (like the Maldives, the Seychelles and Madagascar), Africa, South and Central America, the East Coast of the U.S., Bermuda, Portugal and Spain.Departure Date: January 3, 2021Itinerary Segments: Savona to Savona, 115 nights; Marseille to Marseille, 113 nights; Rome to Rome, 114 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $14,449 to $34,225 per person; segments start from $14,449, double occupancy.Cruise & Maritime Voyages
The Trip: Sailing on Columbus, the 120-night "Grand Round the World Cruise" sails round trip from London (at Tilbury) on January 6, 2021 (concluding there on May 6, 2021). En route, uncover 38 ports of call in 24 countries, with stops scheduled in South America (including a Panama Canal transit), the South Pacific, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. There is also an option to sail round trip from Rotterdam (embarking January 7, 2021, returning May 8, 2021).Departure Date: January 6, 2021Itinerary Segments: London to Auckland, 45 nights; London to Sydney, 49 nights; London to Singapore, 64 nights; London to Cape Town, 90 nights; London to Mombasa (Kenya), 82 nights; Rotterdam to Sydney, 48 nights; Auckland to London, 75 nights; Auckland to Mombasa, 37 nights; Auckland to Singapore, 19 nights; Sydney to London, 71 nights; Sydney to Rotterdam, 73 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 15 nights; Sydney to Mombasa, 33 nights; Sydney to Cape Town, 41 nights; Singapore to London, 56 nights; Singapore to Mombasa, 18 nights; Singapore to Cape Town, 26 nights; Mombasa to London, 38 nights; Cape Town to London, 30 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $11,999 to $40,239 per person; segments start from $1,629, double occupancy.Crystal Cruises
The Trip: Crystal Serenity will run a 139-night "Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders" world voyage in 2021 between Miami and London. The cruise incorporates a Panama Canal transit, stops in Hawaii and the South Pacific, and calls throughout Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with noteworthy stops in more far-flung locales like Myanmar (Burma), India, the U.A.E. and Egypt. The ship disembarks in London on May 24, 2021.Departure Date: January 5, 2021Itinerary Segments: Miami to Los Angeles, 16 nights;Los Angeles to Brisbane, 20 nights;Brisbane to Hong Kong, 18 nights; Hong Kong to Tokyo, 12 nights; Tokyo to Shanghai, 12 nights; Shanghai to Singapore, 14 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 16 nights; Dubai to Rome, 18 nights; Rome to London, 12 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $59,199 to $295,599 per person; segment fares begin at $4,349 per person for a suite.Cunard Line
Cunard is running two round-the-world cruises in 2021: Choose from twoJanuary voyages aboard Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria.The Trip: Queen Mary 2 is running a 113-night world voyage from New York in January. The itinerary spans five continents, including Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Passengers can also opt for a shorter, 99-night world voyage that travels round trip from Southampton, England. The voyage features overnight stays in Cape Town, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, as well as a transit through the Suez Canal. Queen Mary 2 returns to New York on April 26, 2021.Departure Date: January 3, 2021Itinerary Segments: New York to Southampton, seven nights; New York to Sydney, 49 nights; Southampton to Hong Kong, 59 nights; Southampton to Sydney, 42 nights; Southampton to Fremantle, 32 nights; Southampton to Cape Town, 14 nights; Cape Town to Hong Kong, 45 nights; Cape Town to Sydney, 28 nights; Cape Town to Melbourne, 25 nights; Cape Town to Fremantle, 18 nights; Fremantle to Singapore, 34 nights; Fremantle to Hong Kong, 27 nights; Fremantle to Sydney, 10 nights; Melbourne to Singapore, 27 nights; Melbourne to Hong Kong, 20 nights; Sydney to New York, 64 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 57 nights; Sydney to Dubai, 36 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 24 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 17 nights; Hong Kong to Southampton, 40 nights; Hong Kong to Dubai, 19 nights; Singapore to Southampton, 33 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 12 nights; Dubai to New York, 28 nights; Dubai to Southampton, 21 nights; Southampton to New York, seven nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $16,789 to $183,509 per person; segments start from $1,299, double occupancy.The Trip: Cruising round-trip from Southampton, this 108-night world voyage aboard Queen Victoria visits 33 ports in 22 countries, with a transit through the Panama Canal and calls offering access to more than 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Plus, the cruise factors in overnight stays in major cities like San Francisco, Honolulu, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cape Town for even fuller destination immersion.The voyage ends April 29, 2021, back in Southampton.U.S.-based cruisers can alternately and conveniently opt to board the ship instead in Fort Lauderdale or San Francisco to experience just slightly shortened versions of the full world cruise itinerary.Departure Date: January 10, 2021Itinerary Segments: Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, 11 nights;Southampton to San Francisco, 27 nights;Southampton to Auckland, 44 nights;Southampton to Sydney, 48 nights;Fort Lauderdale to Sydney, 48 nights; San Francisco to Auckland, 17 nights; San Francisco to Sydney, 21 nights; San Francisco to Brisbane, 24 nights;Auckland to Sydney, four nights; Auckland to Southampton, 64 nights;Sydney to Hong Kong, 20 nights;Sydney to Singapore, 25 nights; Sydney to Cape Town, 45 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 60 nights;Brisbane to Singapore, 22 nights; Hong Kong to Singapore, five nights; Hong Kong to Cape Town, 25 nights; Hong Kong to Southampton, 40 nights; Singapore to Cape Town, 20 nights; Singapore to Southampton, 35 nights;Cape Town to Southampton, 15 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $17,499 to $72,799 per person; segments start from $969, double occupancy.
Fred. Olsen
Holland America Line
The Trip: Holland America runs a 128-night "Grand World Voyage" in January 2021 aboard Amsterdam. Sailing round trip from Fort Lauderdale,the cruise heads south to South America with an extended stay in Brazil (including sailing time on the Amazon River),before crossing the Panama Canal. It then makes way to Hawaii and the South Pacific, before visiting Asia (with several calls scheduled in Japan and China). Amsterdam then visits the Middle East and Mediterranean. A final transatlantic crossing brings the ship back to Fort Lauderdale on May 13, 2021.Departure Date: January 4, 2021Itinerary Segments: Segments have not yet been posted for booking as of press time.Price: Full world cruise fares range from $22,899 to $79,999 per person, double occupancy.MSC Cruises
The Trip: MSC Cruises' 2021 world cruise will take place onboard MSC Poesia. Sailing round trip from Rome on January 4, 2021, the 118-night voyage will visit 53 destinations in 33 countries, including stops in South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Cruisers can also embark from Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona on January 5, 6 and 7, respectively; the cruise concludes in Barcelona on May 5, 2021.Departure Date: January 4, 2021Itinerary Segments:Segments are unavailable for booking.Price: Full world cruise fares range from $15,349 to $45,175 per person, double occupancy.Oceania Cruises
The Trip: Insignia returns for its annual "Around the World in 180 Days" sailing in 2021. The full 43-country itinerary runs from Miami on January 9, returning to NYC in July.Cruisers can also hop aboard in Los Angeles on January 25 to join in the round-the-world fun.Following the NYC embarkation, the itinerary starts with visits to Key West and Cartagena, Colombia, before transiting the Panama Canal for exploration of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and a few ports in Mexico.A stop in L.A. for the second world cruise pickup point will then slingshot the ship to the Hawaiian Islands before heading to the South Pacific and Australia. A host of Asian ports of call follow suit, spanning Indonesia to India.The voyage ends with visits to the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Canada and New England before ending in New York in July.Departure Date: January 9, 2021Itinerary Segments: Miami to Los Angeles, 16 nights; Los Angeles to Sydney, 30 nights;Sydney to Hong Kong, 28 nights;Hong Kong to Singapore, 12 nights;Singapore to Dubai, 20 nights;Dubai to Istanbul, 22 nights;Istanbul to Barcelona, 15 nights; Barcelona to London, 15 nights; London to New York, 22 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $38,499 to $142,499 per person; segments start from $3,799, double occupancy.P&O Cruises
The Trip: P&O Cruises' Arcadia returns for its annual round-the-world voyage in January 2021. The 2021 itinerary sails round trip out of Southampton, bringing cruisers to 22 countries on a 99-night voyage.En route, the itinerary takes in a stop in Portugal and in a couple of Caribbean isles before transiting the Panama Canal and visiting Costa Rica, Cabo and San Francisco.Then it's on to Hawaii and more far-flung isles in the South Pacific, before hitting up New Zealand and Australia. Arcadia makes a good run of hopping about Asia, with a few additional stops in the Middle East, before heading back to Southampton for disembarkation on April 13, 2021.Departure Date: January 3, 2021Itinerary Segments:Southampton to San Francisco, 24 nights;Southampton to Auckland, 42 nights;Southampton to Sydney, 47 nights;San Francisco to Sydney, 23 nights; San Francisco to Hong Kong, 39 nights;Auckland to Southampton, 57 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 16 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 23 nights; Sydney to Southampton, 52 nights; Hong Kong to Dubai, 17 nights; Hong Kong to Southampton, 36 nights; Singapore to Southampton, 29 nights; Dubai to Southampton, 19 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from £10,299 (about $13,000) to £26,579 (about $32,000) per person; segments start at £2,149 (about $3,000), double occupancy.Princess Cruises
The Trip: Sail aboard Princess's 111-night world cruise voyage round trip from Fort Lauderdale in early January, aboard Island Princess, which is making its world cruise debut in 2021. Cruisers also have the option to join the world cruise round trip from Los Angeles on January 17.The sailing will be the most destination-intensive world cruise itinerary the line has offered to date. Passengers for the full loop from Florida will get access to 50 ports of call, with stops in 32 countries across six continents. Cruisers can choose to take in 25 UNESCO sites en route, like Petra, Ephesus and the Great Barrier Reef, while crossing the equator twice and overnighting in Dubai and Venice.From Fort Lauderdale, the ship sails to Colombia before traversing the Panama Canal. Calls in Nicaragua and Mexico follow, before the ship reaches its second pickup point in Los Angeles. From there, it's on to Hawaii, French Polynesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, before a dip into Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka).The ship then sails the Middle East, with calls in the U.A.E., Oman, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. From late March through mid-April, it sails along the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, before making way for Morocco, the Canary Islands and the transatlantic crossing back to Fort Lauderdale in time for disembarkation on April 25. Cruisers that boarded in Los Angeles can also continue on for disembarkation in L.A., following a Panama Canal transit and a sprinkling of Latin American ports, on May 9.Departure Date: January 3, 2021, from Fort Lauderdale; January 17, 2021, from Los AngelesItinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, 14 nights; Fort Lauderdale to Singapore, 59 nights; Fort Lauderdale to Dubai, 70 nights; Fort Lauderdale to Venice, 87 nights; Los Angeles to Singapore, 45 nights; Los Angeles to Dubai, 56 nights; Los Angeles to Venice, 73 nights; Singapore to Venice, 28 nights; Singapore to Fort Lauderdale, 52 nights; Singapore to Los Angeles, 66 nights; Dubai to Fort Lauderdale, 41 nights; Dubai to Los Angeles, 55 nights; Venice to Los Angeles, 38 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $20,999 to $40,999 per person; segments start from $2,219, double occupancy.Regent Seven Seas Cruises
The Trip: Seven Seas Mariner sails around the world once again in 2021, on a 117-night voyage that embarks in Miami on January 5, 2021, and returns to Barcelona on May 3.The 30-country journey takes in more than 60 ports across six continents, hitting South America, French Polynesia, Australia, Asia and the Mediterranean. Plus, the itinerary incorporates overnight stays in nearly a dozen ports of call for even more shoreside immersion in locales, like Lima, Easter Island and Haifa, Israel.Bonus: More than 300 shore excursions are included with Regent's rates.Departure Date: January 5, 2021Itinerary Segments: Miami to Lima, 16 nights; Miami to Sydney, 51 nights; Lima to Auckland, 23 nights; Auckland to Sydney, 12 nights; Auckland to Singapore, 30 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 18 nights; Sydney to Istanbul, 56 nights; Singapore to Dubai, 18 nights; Dubai to Istanbul, 20 nights; Dubai to Barcelona, 30 nights; Istanbul to Barcelona, 10 nightsPrice:Full world cruise fares are all inclusive, covering airfare, and range from $62,999 to $166,999 per person;segments start from $9,699, double occupancy.Seabourn Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
For the first time in the line's history, Silversea is offering two round-the-world voyages in 2021, including an industry-first expedition-themed world cruise.The Trip: Silver Whisper's 2021 "The Finest World Tour" cruise is a 149-night voyage that calls on 54 destinations in 34 countries, with 28 overnight port calls. Embarking from Fort Lauderdale in January,the ship sails to Central America and through the Panama Canal, before continuing along the western coast of South America and on to Easter Island. It visitsSouth Pacific isles, New Zealand and Australia and then travelsto Asia, before passing through the Middle East. It lingers in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before making a transatlantic crossing back to New York, where it disembarks on June 6, 2021.Departure Date: January 7, 2021Itinerary Segments: Fort Lauderdale to Lima, 13 nights; Fort Lauderdale to Auckland, 36 nights; Lima to Auckland, 23 nights; Auckland to Bali, 18 nights; Auckland to Tokyo, 36 nights; Bali to Tokyo, 18 nights; Tokyo to Singapore, 18 nights; Singapore to Mumbai, 15 nights; Singapore to Athens, 32 nights; Mumbai to Athens, 17 nights; Athens to Lisbon, 15 nights; Athens to New York, 27 nights; Lisbon to New York, 12 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $65,000 to $228,000 per person; segments start from $4,410, double occupancy.The Trip: For something entirely new for the industry, 2021 will mark the debut of an expedition-themed world cruise, courtesy of Silversea. Dubbed the "Uncharted World Tour," the Silver Cloud voyage embarks Ushuaia, Argentina, on January 30 for a 166-night immersive adventure that makes way from the Antarctic to the Arctic over five-and-a-half months, with stops in Antarctica, South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.Spanning 30 countries across six continents, cruisers will have the chance to explore Antarctica by Zodiac boat, swim with rays in Bora Bora, encounter orangutans in Borneo and contemplate the history and mystery of Easter Island during a two-day stay. Special exclusive events include access to Robert Louis Stevenson's former home in the Samoa Islands or a dining event in Iceland's Kjarnaskogur Forest.Seventy rotating members of the Silversea expedition team, as well as more than 20 featured guest speakers, with scientists, explorers, historians and writers among them, will host onboard workshops, lectures and guided shore tours. The ship disembarks in Tromso, Norway, on July 16, 2021.Departure Date: January 30, 2021Itinerary Segments: Ushuaia to Valparaiso (Chile), 18 nights;Valparaiso to Papeete, 22 nights; Papeete to Lautoka (Fiji), 11 nights; Lautoka to Cairns (Australia), 14 nights; Cairns to Singapore, 22 nights; Singapore to Cochin (India), 16 nights; Cochin to Athens, 19 nights; Athens to Lisbon, 14 nights; Lisbon to Reykjavik, 17 nights; Reykjavik to Tromso, 13 nightsPrice:Full world cruise fares range from $99,000 to $400,000 per person; segments start from $8,910, double occupancy.
Viking Ocean Cruises
The Trip:Viking Sun will sail a 161-night world voyage that actually embarks from Miami in December 2020 and continues on to London, where it concludes in May 2021.The entire five-month journey visits 33 countries on six continents, with an included-in-the-fare excursion in every port of call; several destinations will additionally feature overnight calls.The full voyage explores the Caribbean, Latin America (with a Panama Canal transit) and California, before making way to Hawaii, the South Pacific and New Zealand/Australia.Finally, the ship heads to Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The sailing ends in London on May 24, 2021.Departure Date: December 14, 2020Itinerary Segments: Miami to Los Angeles, 22 nights; Los Angeles to London, 140 nights; Los Angeles to Sydney, 40 nights; Sydney to Hong Kong, 27 nights; Sydney to Singapore, 41 nights; Hong Kong to Mumbai, 28 nights; Singapore to Venice, 40 nights; Mumbai to Venice, 27 nights; Venice to London, 22 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $59,995 to $169,995 per person; segmentfares start from $8,499 per person, double occupancy.2022 World Cruises
Crystal Cruises
The Trip: In 2022, Crystal Serenity sets off on a 116-night "Myths, Marvels & Monuments: A Cultural Mosaic" world cruise (its 27th annual world voyage offering), sailing round trip from Miami or Los Angeles. (Slightly shorter variations of the world cruise can be booked from Miami to Monte Carlo, or from L.A. to Monte Carlo or Miami.)The journey circumnavigates the globe, either beginning or ending with a Panama Canal transit (depending on the embarkation point), and continues on to explore Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. It's then on to Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, where cruisers can opt to disembark in Monte Carlo in late April or to continue on to traverse the Atlantic to return to Miami (May 13, 2022) or Los Angeles (May 29, 2022).Departure Date: January 17, 2022, from Miami; February 2, 2022, from Los AngelesItinerary Segments: Miami to Los Angeles, 16 nights;Los Angeles to Auckland, 19 nights;Auckland to Perth, 18 nights; Perth to Mumbai, 18 nights; Mumbai to Istanbul, 18 nights; Istanbul to Monte Carlo, 16 nights; Monte Carlo to Miami, 14 nights; Monte Carlo to Los Angeles, 16 nightsPrice: Full world cruise fares range from $49,049 to $246,799 per person; segment fares begin at $3,999 per person, double occupancy.Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Updated April 14, 2020
How was this article?