Why an epic world cruise is one of the easiest ways to see the planet

As far as I know the longest world cruise ever devised is offered by My Cruises on Oceania’s ship Regatta, which departs on September 1 from Rome and arrives in Southampton 371 days later – the long way round.

Demand for this style of travel is growing, and more varied cruise lines are creating journeys of increasing length. Royal Caribbean’s inaugural world cruise from late 2023 lasted 274 days.

World cruising is also loosely defined, and seldom circumnavigate the globe, but there’s no easier way to see a significant chunk of it and slash your bucket list. Oceania’s 2027 cruise on Vista, for example, visits 125 ports in 53 countries over 244 days.

From Miami the ship will pass through the Caribbean and Panama Canal, cross the Pacific, sail up Australia’s east coast and into Asia, the Middle East, Mediterranean and northern Europe before concluding in New York.

Meanwhile, Viking’s world cruise on Viking Vesta, which departs Fort Lauderdale in December 2027, lasts 142 days, although visits fewer countries (31) across six continents. The fanatical can extend it to 170 days by adding Northern Europe and finishing in Stockholm rather than London.

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World cruises generally depart in January, most from America. Azamara Onward, for example, will sail out of Miami on January 5, 2028 and arrive in Piraeus (Athens) 175 days later, having visited six continents and 40 countries.

Azamara is a destination-focused cruise line with numerous overnight port stays. If you want to see even more, you can take multi-day shore excursions to inland destinations such as Xian and Beijing in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and a safari lodge in South Africa.

Some world cruises depart from Europe. An example is MSC Magnifica’s 121-night sailing to 25 countries from Civitavecchia (Rome) in 2027 that focuses mainly on South America and the Pacific and includes visits to Hobart and Sydney.

It doesn’t visit Asia and the only stop in mainland Africa is Casablanca, but at fares from $500 a day per couple it shows world cruises aren’t only for the deepest-pocketed cruisers. It’s hard to see how you could replicate such a journey on land for that price.

One world cruise on luxury line Explora Journeys is unusual for two reasons: it will start in Dubai and sail east (most world cruises go west) to finish in Barcelona. It takes in 63 destinations on four continents over 128 days, including the cruise line’s inaugural visit to Australia.

You’ll have to wait until 2029 for the pleasure, but thinking ahead is key to world cruises, which are often booked out well in advance.

Also unusual is Seabourn Quest’s 2028 world cruise which doesn’t attempt to circle the world at all but is nevertheless an impressive 120-day journey between Miami and Dover that takes in 50 destinations in South America, Africa and Europe, and includes Easter Island and Antarctica too.

Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.