IF YOU’VE EVER REACHED the end of a wonderful cruise and wished it could stretch on forever, then a complete circumnavigation of the globe is your dream ticket. You’ll need considerable resources ($35,000–255,000 per guest, depending on stateroom) and ample time (four months, minimum), but for those who relish cruising, an around-the-world voyage is the ultimate splurge.
Around-the-world cruises usually depart in January, and despite their exhaustive itineraries, they are in exceptionally high demand. Holland America Line’s annual 113-day Grand World Voyage on the ms Amsterdam, for example, which starts its roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale Jan. 4, 2018, sold out more than six months ago.
It’s best, therefore, to plan on a circumnavigation in 2019. The obvious choice is Cunard Line, which originated these long voyages nearly a century ago. Two of Cunard’s modern ocean liners, each carrying slightly more than 2,000 pampered passengers, continue the tradition to this day. The Queen Victoria undertakes a 107-night, Southampton-to-Southampton roundtrip Jan. 10–April 27, 2019, with a westward sailing that incorporates an Atlantic crossing and a Panama Canal transit on its way to ports in Australia, Indonesia, China and Africa. Not to be outdone, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 strikes a contrary course, sailing eastward on its round-the-world roundtrip from New York City (108 nights, Jan. 3–April 21, 2019) as well as from Southampton, England (94 nights, Jan. 10–April 14, 2019). The voyages will focus on exotic ports of the Far East.
Oceania Cruises offers another 2019 circumnavigation, a Miami-to-Miami roundtrip encompassing 177 days (Jan. 14–July 11, 2019). Oceania’s itinerary is worthy of the nearly six months at sea, with calls in Cuba, Bermuda, Panama, Australia, Polynesia, China, Egypt, Israel, France, Ireland and Canada. Maritime merrymakers can begin this once-in-a-lifetime around-the-world cruise in either New York or Los Angeles on the 684-passenger Insignia.
Complete circumnavigations like those Cunard and Oceania offer are becoming rare, as extended but not fully complete world voyages gain momentum. Silversea Cruises’ all-inclusive world cruise in 2019 (Jan. 6–May 19) takes 132 days to visit 52 ports in 31 countries. It sets off from San Francisco and circles the Earth, going as far as London, although the fare includes business-class air travel to complete the circumnavigation. Well-traveled authors Paul Theroux and Pico Iyer will mesmerize passengers aboard the 388-passenger Silver Whisper on this long voyage. Crystal Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will launch similarly luxurious world cruises in January 2019, both from Los Angeles, but neither is a complete around-the-world experience. Crystal ventures as far as Monte Carlo in 85 days, and Regent winds up after 131 days in New York City.
Circumnavigations do make for a long vacation at sea, but with a ship and itinerary conforming to your travel dreams, a complete global cruise is the ultimate way to travel the entire world in a single splash.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Mar 18, 2024Noble House Hotels & Resorts Acquires Chatham Inn Relais & Châteaux
Noble House Hotels & Resorts, the family-owned boutique hotel brand, welcomes Chatham Inn Relais & Châteaux to its portfolio of unique properties. The previous owner and now co-owner of this award-winning property, Jeff Ippoliti, selected Noble House to co-own and manage the property, bringing the total number of North American luxury hotels, resorts and experiences for the brand to 24.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
Daily
Mar 18, 2024A New Six Senses Comes to the Caribbean This May
Designed to reflect the look and atmosphere of a Caribbean village, the new Six Senses La Sagesse on the Spice Island of Grenada will offer 56 pool suites with open-plan bedrooms, each with an outdoor terrace leading to a private plunge pool, when it opens this May. The property marks the first Six Senses resort in the Caribbean.
March 2024
Mar 18, 2024Women Hoteliers Share Their Stories of Accomplishment in Rising to the Top
The hospitality workforce is more than 50 percent female (according to the 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics), but the top tier remains very much male-dominated. The Penn State School of Hospitality Management’s 2023 Women in Hospitality research report finds that for every female chief officer, four men hold that title. Global Traveler had the privilege of speaking with several women in leadership roles to gain their insights and personal stories and to learn what it takes for a woman to reach a top position in hospitality today.
Sponsored Content
Briggs & Riley: Elevate Your Journey with Quality Luggage
Embracing a life well lived often means embracing a life well-traveled. Every journey becomes a canvas for experiences that shape our lives and at the heart of every adventure lies the indispensable companion: quality luggage.
Daily
Mar 18, 2024Miami International Airport Reaches Unprecedented Heights in Passenger, Cargo Numbers
2023 marked a historic year for Miami International Airport. Recent reports show MIA achieved its highest-ever annual passenger total, seeing 52.3 million travelers in 2023, which marked a 3.2 percent increase over the previous year’s record. International travel surged 8.5 percent, with 23.2 million passengers. Domestic traffic was just slightly down, at 0.5 percent and 29.1 million.
Saint James Paris Welcomes New Chef
Daily
Mar 15, 2024March 2024
Mar 14, 2024San Antonio Preserves Its Past While Envisioning What Lies Ahead
The most historic city in Texas is refurbishing, renovating and reimagining heritage sites, old buildings and whole neighborhoods, bridging the centuries of this Lone Star treasure.
Sponsored Content
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills: A Discreet Hideaway Awaits
Nestled between the palm-lined boulevards of residential Beverly Hills, L'Ermitage evokes a sense of refined elegance and unparalleled service. This Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond haven continues to captivate discerning travelers and Angelenos with its unwavering dedication to personalized hospitality.
Daily
Mar 14, 2024Coco Collection Introduces New Villa Designs and Features
Coco Collection debuts updated offerings at its two resorts in the Maldives, with remodeled villas at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and a new infinity pool at Coco Bodu Hithi.
ShareThis