10 Around-the-world Cruises for the Trip of a Lifetime (2024)

Want to island hop around French Polynesia, visit Africa's incredible cities, and cruise through Asia without ever switching hotels or repacking your bags? An around-the-world cruise provides the ultimate itinerary, packed with exciting international destinations (some even visit hard-to-reach destinations like Easter Island and Antarctica), and luxury cruise lines provide comfortable accommodations, specialty restaurants, and plenty to do on and off the ship.

There are two main things you need before booking a world cruise: plenty of time and some spare cash. Prices range from around $20,000 to upwards of $100,000 per person, and all our top picks are more than 100 days (one is even a whopping 275 days), so they're ideal for retired travelers looking for their next big adventure. Pack wisely for a range of destinations and climates, and get ready for the journey of a lifetime, filled with postcard-perfect destinations and new friends (because you're bound to meet a travel buddy or two after 100-plus days on a ship). If an around-the-world cruise is at the top of your travel list, you'll want to book sooner rather than later — these journeys frequently sell out because many cruise lines only offer a limited number of sailings.

Here are ten of the best around-the-world cruises you can take in 2023 and 2024.

Viking Ocean Cruises

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Viking World Cruise

See 28 countries on the 138-day Viking World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to London. After departing from Florida, the Viking Sky will sail the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, stopping in sunny destinations before crossing the Panama Canal to reach the Pacific. From there, the ship will visit destinations in Mexico and the continental United States, continuing on to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and Australia. Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and India are among the ports in Asia, then it's on to the Middle East before traveling to Europe, where final destinations include Italy, Spain, and Portugal en route to London. Fares start at $59,995.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Moments in Time: World Cruise 2024

Sail around the world in 132 nights aboard the Seven Seas Mariner on a round-trip journey from Miami. You'll spend the days at sea enjoying the luxury ship's amenities, including the spa and several restaurants and lounges, between stops in destinations like Costa Rica, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, UAE, Israel, and Italy, among others. This 2024 world cruise, with fares starting at $73,499, is officially sold out, but you can join a waitlist to be notified of cancellations.

The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Royal Caribbean

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The Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean pulls out all the stops — and there are more than 150 of them — on this 274-night cruise to all seven continents. The itinerary aboard the Serenade of the Seas begins in Miami on December 10, 2023, and visits more than 60 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, French Polynesia, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Romania, and Greenland, before ending in Miami on September 10, 2024. Travelers who don't want to commit to the entire cruise can book shorter segments. Fares start at $59,999 for this cruise that gives travelers the opportunity to visit 11 of the great wonders of the world, including the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and Chichen Itza.

Silversea

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World Cruise 2024

Enjoy 133 days on Silversea's Silver Shadow with this round-trip sailing from San Francisco. During that time, the ship will visit 65 ports in 14 countries, including Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, and Canada. Fares start at $66,000 for this 2024 sailing, which currently has waitlist availability.

Seabourn

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2024 World Cruise: Extraordinary Horizons

Climb aboard the Seabourn Sojourn for a 145-day world cruise from Los Angeles to Athens, visiting 72 ports in 28 countries. The cruise departs Los Angeles and goes to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Japan, and China — just to name a few places — before ending in Greece. Visit the website for booking details and shorter segments.

Oceania Cruises

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Around the World in 180 Days

Travelers on Oceania's 180-day round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to New York aboard the Insignia will see some of the world's most impressive sights. Highlights include stops in stunning French Polynesia, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Spain, France, and Iceland. Fares start at $48,499 for the 2024 sailing.

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MSC Cruises

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MSC World Cruise 2024

The MSC Poesia will take guests to 56 destinations on this 120-day cruise starting in Rome. Countries visited during this journey include Argentina, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and Jordan. When you're not exploring each port, you can relax in the swimming pools and hot tubs, visit the many restaurants, bars, and lounges, or go to the spa. Fares start at $17,199 per person; find booking details on the MSC website.

Princess Cruises

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111-day World Cruise

This round-trip cruise from Los Angeles on the Island Princess will visit 47 ports in beautiful places like New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Sri Lanka, UAE, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Bermuda, Mexico, and more. Fares for this 2024 sailing start at $19,497.

Holland America Line

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128-day Grand World Voyage

Explore the world on this 128-day round-trip journey from Fort Lauderdale on the Zuiderdam. This cruise's itinerary includes a trip down the Amazon River, stops in the Caribbean, a Panama Canal crossing, and stops in cities like Honolulu, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and more. Fares start at $23,599 for this 2024 cruise.

Azamara

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Azamara World Cruise

This 155-night itinerary to more than 40 countries kicks off in Fort Lauderdale and finishes in Barcelona. The itinerary features ports for experiencing some of the great wonders of the world, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, as well as Petra in Jordan and the Colosseum in Rome. Travelers can also choose to join segments of the cruise aboard the Azamara Onward for as few as 10 nights. Fares for this 2024 sailing start at $36,379.

Visit the Great Barrier Reef, Petra, Taj Mahal, and More on This 5-month World Cruise

10 Around-the-world Cruises for the Trip of a Lifetime (2024)

FAQs

How much does the 3.5 year cruise cost? ›

Olsen Cruise Lines ship and plans to transform the ship in time to offer a 3.5-year cruise beginning May 2024. Prices for passage start at just under $33,000 per year. Organizers of the 1,301-day cruise say passengers will stop at 425 ports across 147 countries, spending between two and seven days in each port.

Discover More Details ›

How much is a residence on the World cruise ship? ›

If money's no problem and you're not prone to seasickness, the 43,524-ton MS The World residential cruise ship may be just the ticket. That ticket for one of its 165 luxurious shipboard condos, by the way, can cost from $825,000 to $7.3 million. First, though, you'll have to prove your net worth exceeds $5 million.

Can I live on a cruise ship year round? ›

While there are some Residents who choose to live on the Ship year-round, the majority spend three to four months on board – joining the Ship wherever and whenever they choose.

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How much is a 6 month cruise around the world? ›

Almost half of the bookings were made by travelers who had never sailed with the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings subsidiary, while a little over 40% were from guests on the then-ongoing 2022 world cruise. Prices ranged from $48,500 to $174,000 per person, depending on the cabin category.

Tell Me More ›

Is living on a cruise ship cheaper than rent? ›

A man who lives on a cruise ship for 300 days a year has explained how the costs aren't as pricey as people might assume – in fact, it pretty works out cheaper than renting with bills.

Can you live full time on a cruise ship? ›

Cruise lines offer many jobs that allow workers to travel the world and essentially live rent-free. Jack Nolan, a musician from England, lived for about seven years as a guitarist on cruise lines and shared his story with BI. "It's amazing to have the opportunity to travel and get paid for it as well," Nolan said.

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What is the longest cruise you can take? ›

The Ultimate World Cruise lasts 274 nights which you will touchdown in over 60 countries. This cruise also includes a visit to eleven wonders of the world, including the Great Wall of China, Iguaza Falls in Argentina, Petra in Jordan, and the Great Pyramids in Egypt.

What month is the cheapest to book a cruise? ›

What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find "a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year" during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.

Keep Reading ›

Which cruise ship says passengers can live on board for an entire year for just $30000? ›

You can live on this cruise ship for $30,000/year—less than the average cost of rent in NYC. The MV Gemini boasts 400 cabins and room for up to 1,074 passengers. If you're thinking about moving into a new home or just looking for a change of scenery, you might want to consider this cruise around the world.

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What happened to life at sea cruises? ›

Why did Life at Sea Cruises cancel their three-year world cruise just weeks before it was scheduled to set sail? They did not have enough money to buy the ship they were going to use for this cruise. They got outbidded by another company for an older ship that was being retired.

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Can you permanently buy a room on a cruise ship? ›

Buying a Permanent Cabin for Retirement

There are several cruise lines that allow travelers to purchase an apartment or condo onboard, with food and other amenities included. However, this could also be a much more expensive option depending on what type of cabin you're purchasing.

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How much does it cost to buy a condo on The World cruise ship? ›

The World is a residential cruise ship that's been circumnavigating the globe for the past 20 years. About 10 to 12 of its condos go on sale annually, and cost between $2 million and $15 million. In recent years, startups like Storylines and Victoria Cruises Line have announced similar concepts.