Full World Cruises evoke a certain nostalgia for the golden age of cruising: taking extended journeys to far away, mysterious lands, and where the journey is as much a part of the experience as the destination.
The very prospect of spending months and months on a ship may delight or horrify but there is something to be said for taking longer trips - and ticking off a large chunk of the bucket list in one go - coupled with the ease of only having to unpack once. Plus, with a surprising variety in itinerary, cost, and length of voyage, you might find it an attractive holiday prospect. Here, we break down what to consider...
Itinerary
The first thing to note is that many World Cruises are not necessarily a full circumnavigation of the globe but may instead focus on an iconic route or particular region. Seabourn's 2026 World Cruise follows the Ring of Fire around the Pacific, highlighting natural wonders in Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Alaska.
The voyage also may be inspired by a particular theme, such as Silversea's 'Controtempo' 2025 World Cruise aboard Silver Dawn which is designed to visit destinations in their low season to offer guests a more authentic and unique experience.
Cunard's maiden World Voyage aboard the new Queen Anne does circle the globe and offers the convenience of a Southampton round-trip, beginning of course with a transatlantic crossing and spending overnights in vibrant cities such as San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Cost
There's no skirting around this, a cruise of several months is going to cost more than your average holiday. As with any voyage, this of course varies depending on the length of the itinerary, the cruise line and ship, and your category of accommodation. It is worth remembering that you will be on board for an extended period of time so you might consider upgrading your accommodation to give yourself valuable additional space, the services of a butler, or extra amenities.
At one end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay from £12,699 per person for an inside cabin aboard Queen Anne's maiden World Voyage in 2025. Alternatively, Oceania's epic 200-day voyage starts from £57,249 per person, or a Deluxe Veranda Suite on Regent's World Cruise 2026 is from £82,549 per person, all based on double occupancy.
Inclusions
This brings us onto what is included for the price. Of course, as with any cruise, it's essential to consider what the standard inclusions are; whether that be gratuities, speciality dining, or alcoholic drinks; in addition to the World Cruise Benefits which are a collection of bonus inclusions for those guests taking the full world voyage.
For luxury all-inclusive cruise lines such as Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, and Crystal, these benefits are often business class flights, a Bon Voyage celebration, exclusive events, and the ever-practical complimentary laundry service.
In the case of Crystal's 2025 World Cruise, you can also enjoy unlimited dining in Osteria d'Ovidio and Umi Uma, plus onboard spending credit; aboard Seabourn, full world cruisers will experience a special President's event; and on board Regent's 2025 World Cruise you'll enjoy exclusive shoreside experiences in Buenos Aires, Auckland and Bangkok as well as an incredible 465 included excursion options.
Advice
The best advice we can give if you're considering a World Voyage is to book early. These epic itineraries are often released over two years in advance, and as is the case with Regent's 2026 voyage, many of the suite categories are already sold out.
Booking early secures the best fares and ensures you are in your preferred accommodation - important for such a long voyage! Often cruise lines will stagger the release of their World Cruise, offering a priority booking window to loyal repeat guests so if there's an opportunity to then do pre-register your interest, and as always we are on hand to assist with every aspect of your World Cruise booking.
