One of the most striking changes in the way we book cruises in the last couple of years has been the change in booking patterns. Travellers are planning further and further ahead, and it really is a case of ‘the early bird catches the worm’ for World and Long Cruisers, as the best accommodation is snapped up months, and sometimes years in advance.

The second trend is to booking long cruises – if not a full World Cruise, then sometimes sectors of 50 days or more. It seems that the misery of travelling by air is such that once we have taken the plunge and made the journey, we want to make the most of it by staying away as long as we can.

If you are ready to plan a long cruise for early 2009, now is the time to do it.

Seven Seas Voyager
In 116 nights you can sail all the way around the world from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, crossing the Pacific to New Zealand and on to Australia before travelling northwards to China. Proceed westwards to South East Asia, India and the Persian Gulf, sailing through the Mediterranean in April and arriving back in Fort Lauderdale in early May.
Departs 12 January 2009
Sectors from £4131 per person (12 nights Shanghai to Singapore)

Seven Seas Mariner
This 121 night voyage takes you around the Pacific from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver, transitting the Panama Canal and following the South American coastline to Valparaiso before setting course across the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia. Discover the Orient in April and May, with an in-depth exploration of Vietnam , then on to China and Japan before returning across the Pacific via Russia and the Aleutian Islands, arriving in late May
Departs 26 January 2009
Sectors from £1902 per person (7 nights Seward to Vancouver)

Crystal Serenity
This 106 days sailing is a round trip from Los Angeles, crossing the Pacific via French Polynesia to New Zealand, then on to Australia. Following the south and west coast you reach the islands of Indonesia, visiting Vietnam on the way to China and Japan, before crossing back to North America via the northerly route, visiting Russia and the Aleutian Islands. You arrive back in Los Angeles on May 7th.
Departs 21 January 2009
Sectors from £3100 per person (12 nights Los Angeles to Papeete)

Queen Mary 2
This 85 day sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton sets course southwards for South America, rounding the Horn and following the coast back up to Los Angeles. Sail via Hong Kong to Auckland and Sydney, then back up to Tokyo before following a westwards route through South East Asia to India, the Red Sea and Mediterranean, arriving back in Southampton on April 8th.
Departs 13th January 2009
Sectors from £2199 per person (14 nights Hong Kong to Dubai)

Queen Victoria
The latest addition to the Cunard fleet sails from Southampton back to Southampton, crossing the Atlantic to New York, then on through the Panama Canal and onwards to Honolulu before setting course southwards for Australia and New Zealand. Her return voyage takes you to Japan before turning for home on a route which includes south East Asia, India and the Persian Gulf, followed by the Mediterranean and a safe arrival back in Southampton on April 20th.
Departs 2nd January 2009
Sectors from £899 per person (9 nights Southampton to New York)

Balmoral
Fred. Olsen newcomer gives a later departure option from Dover back to Dover travelling in an easterly direction. Travel first to the Mediterranean then on to India and South East Asia before visiting China and Japan. Cross the Pacific by the northerly route followed by a fascinating exploration of North America’s west coast. Transit the Panama Canal to cross the Atlantic , arriving back in Dover on May 29th
Departs 14th February 2009
Sectors from £3248 per person (31 nights Dover to Singapore)

Call for details of other 2009 World Cruises, and look out for our dedicated World Cruise brochure early next year.