Around the World Cruise Vacations

For those who love adventure, there is a huge appeal to achieving the ultimate. Climbing Mount Everest or reaching the North or South Pole tickle the imagination of adventurers because they achieve an ultimate. While Everest or the Poles are beyond the abilities of most of us, the allure of circumnavigating the entire planet Earth is not only very possible, several luxury cruise lines are there to help make it a reality.

Imagine a single trip in which you experience many of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world. A trip where each day brings new sights, new experiences, new adventures. A trip in which you learn more about how people live then you may have learned previously in your entire life . No other trip you could imagine can match the variety and depth of experience you will achieve on a cruise around the world.

Every night a sunset, and every morning a sunrise bringing to life this planet we inhabit, and which you on a World Cruise are uniquely privileged to experience to the fullest.

Things To Do

The activities, excursions, sights, and peoples one will experience on a World Cruise are too expansive to list. Just about anything you would like to do from scuba diving to mountain climbing, from whale watching to bungee jumping, from sightseeing to shopping, from a luau to an art museum is possible.

To mention coral reefs in the Caribbean, rain forests in Central America, volcanoes in Hawaii, white sand beaches in Tahiti, waterfalls in New Zealand, the symphony in Sydney, shopping in Hong Kong, Hindu Temples in India, elephants in East Africa, pyramids in Egypt, ancient ruins on a Greek Island, gambling in Monte Carlo, a café along the Champs Elysee, and a stroll in Central Park is to just scratch the surface.

But more than all the things you’ll see and do, life onboard a World Cruise ship is quite special. Generally, those who can afford the investment necessary for such a cruise are wealthy, educated, well-traveled, and adventurous. As guests spend so much time together, a very special social environment develops. Your nights will be spent seeing and doing, and evenings spent sharing your experiences with others while enjoying the finest in cuisine and atmosphere.

Ports of Call

World Cruises generally begin on the East Coast of the US and sail west. Itineraries will vary from cruise line to cruise line, but a typical itinerary would sail:

- Along the US East Coast into the Caribbean
- South through the Panama Canal and up along the Central American and Mexican coast
- West to Hawaii and then to the South Pacific islands
- On to New Zealand and Australia
- Over to Indonesia and up to Southeast Asia and on to India
- Across the Indian Ocean to the Arab peninsula and possibly to east Africa
- Up through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal
- Through the Mediterranean and up along Western Europe
- Back across the Atlantic to the US

There are also partial World Cruises, that take in a good swath of the world, like India to Florida, or Cape Town South Africa to New York.

Other shorter itineraries that follow an unconventional stretch of ports (e.g. Chile to Philadelphia) are often also categorized as World Cruises, since they don’t really fit in another category.

Season / Trip Lengths / Departure Ports

World Cruises that circumnavigate the globe generally are offered once a year and depart in winter. The entire trip takes 3 to 4 months. They are popular and often sold out a year in advance.

One can also take segments of a world cruise, generally 3 to 4 weeks long. These segments can be combined as you choose, though note that passengers purchasing a full world cruise have priority in booking and segments may be unavailable.

Other cruises categorized as World Cruises (partial world cruises or cruises with unconventional itineraries) are offered at various times through the year.