Grand voyages

World Cruises

Embark on the ultimate travel milestone. Spanning 70 to 120 days, these grand voyages unlock rare, remote ports across the globe that shorter itineraries simply cannot reach. Because you will call this ship home for months, we meticulously review the inclusions, the routing, and the onboard culture before you commit to the journey of a lifetime.

A world cruise is a marathon of discovery, blending long stretches of relaxing sea days with carefully selected port calls. While short daytime stops are perfect for exploring the streets right near the pier, the true value lies in the overnight stays. When your ship docks overnight in a major global city like Singapore or Sydney, take advantage of the rare opportunity to book private guides, secure exclusive dinner reservations, and experience the culture long after the sun goes down.

Request a quote What you can do in port

Compare cruise lines Departure ports

Cunard, Regent, Silversea, and Holland America run full and partial world cruises. Other large lines run the transatlantic crossings and the season-long loops. Compare routes, port lists, and inclusions side-by-side. For a voyage of ninety days or more, understanding exactly what your fare covers is essential for a seamless journey.

Sydney Harbour and the Opera House — Sydney is a city where a long voyage often stays overnight.

The voyage mixes long, easy days at sea with the ports you came for. A short stop is the streets nearest the pier. An overnight in a city such as Singapore or Sydney is the evening: time for a guide if you want one, and a dinner reservation after dark. Tell us the months you can be away and the places you do not want to miss.

Marina Bay in Singapore — Singapore is another overnight, with the bay lit after dark.

The routes

Full round the world: Embark on a 90 to 120-day grand circle of global ports.
Half the voyage: Spend 45 to 70 days covering a curated segment of the route.
Transatlantic crossings: Sail classic oceanliner routes between the Americas and Europe.
The Indian Ocean loop: Explore exotic ports of call across the Indian Ocean.
The Pacific loop: Island-hop through the diverse cultures and landscapes of the Pacific.
Mediterranean to Africa: Journey from historic European shores to the coasts of Africa.

How it works

The ship is in a port on most days, and the ocean crossings are part of the route
One ship, one crew, for the whole run
You can join in the middle of the voyage on most of the long routes
On the inclusive lines, the dining, the drinks, and the shore excursions come with the fare
An agent reachable at 3 a.m. in whatever time zone you are in

A world cruise spends many days at sea. On a short stop you can walk the streets nearest the pier. On an overnight you have the evening in that city. Southampton, Sydney, and Singapore, where many of these voyages start or end, are the places to add nights.

When to go

World cruises sell by route and by year. The better sailings are usually chosen twelve to eighteen months ahead.

A round porthole framing open ocean from a wood-paneled cabin

In port

What to expect in port

A world cruise has more sea days than port days. On a short stop you can walk the streets nearest the pier. On an overnight you have the evening in that city.

Time in port: A few overnights matter. Many stops give you only a short look from the pier. Sea days make up most of the voyage.
Worth the time: If the ship stays the night, pick one building and one good meal. A two-hour stop by tender is not enough time for a stadium or a big museum.
Travelers: This suits people who like the ship, and who do not need a new city every morning.
Also: If the ship stays overnight, you can stay in the city into the evening. On a short tender you see the area around the landing.

In port

Where the ship docks, and what you can do there

A world cruise spends many days at sea. The ports below are ones these voyages often use. The ship does not stop in all of them on one sailing.

See the ports

Sample itineraries

These are typical routings and ports. Ships, dates, and fares change.

The Dubai waterfront — Dubai is a stop on the longer voyages through the Arabian Gulf.

Full circle

90–120 days

Book 12–18 months ahead

One ship, one crew, the long way around

Cunard, Regent, Silversea, or Holland America

A published world-cruise port list
The stops long enough to leave the ship

Cape Town and the coast — A voyage that rounds Africa usually calls at Cape Town.

Half the map

45–70 days

Book 12 to 18 months ahead

An arc — Med to Asia, or Pacific to the Atlantic

Often a segment of the full world cruise

You can board in the middle of the voyage and leave before it ends
Flights on both ends, which we can arrange

Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong — Hong Kong is one of the cities worth an overnight, with the harbor between the lights.

Transatlantic crossing

7–14 nights

Eastbound in fall, westbound in spring

New York or Southampton, ocean in between

Cunard crosses the Atlantic, and other lines do too

Most of the crossing has no ports
You spend the crossing on the ocean
A sensible first long voyage

Planning World Cruises?

A world cruise lasts about three to four months, not seven nights. Tell us the months you can be away and the ports you will not skip.