Cruises are a wonderful and enriching experience. There is something so timeless and thrilling about hopping on board for an adventure.
You can explore a new part of the country or sail across the sea to a new part of the world. But what if you want to see the whole world in one cruise? It’s possible.
World cruises offer the best of the best when it comes to the cruise experience. Check out our list of the best world cruises available in 2020.
What Is a “World” Cruise?
World cruises take the traditional idea of a cruise vacation and turn it up a few notches. They take you to multiple countries and/or continents. Cruise lengths vary.
While some only last three weeks and take you to a handful of island nations, others last up to 245 days. You read that right – that’s close to nine months at sea, sailing through every ocean and visiting four (or more) continents.
Spending so many days onboard certainly increases the price of the trip. That said, when you hop on board, you’ll know where your money went.
World cruises aren’t filled with gimmicks. They focus more on the experience of traveling the world in luxury. The ships are usually smaller than traditional cruise ships and fit fewer passengers.
With fewer passengers and a longer time onboard, expect to make deeper connections and even find some lifelong friends.
Top World Cruises in 2020
Not sure which world cruise to take? Here are our recommendations.
New York to New York (Cunard Cruises)
Want to start 2020 off with the adventure of a lifetime? Cunard’s New York to New York cruise sets sail on January 3.
This cruise takes you through five continents. You’ll explore every major city in Australia, visiting spots in Africa and Europe pre- and post-journey down under. The trip lasts 113 days.
With this cruise, you can a lifetime’s worth of traveling into the first few months of the new decade.
27-Night New York to Dubai (Cunard Cruises)
Don’t have 113 days to spare, but still want to see the world on the Queen Mary 2? Cunard offers a smaller version of their world cruise that lasts throughout the month of January. This itinerary includes:
- Southampton, England
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Naples, Italy
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Suez Canal, Egypt
- Aqaba, Jordan
- Dubai, UAE
Start the year off by opening your eyes to a new part of the world. Prices start under $5,000 but may not include airfare from New York or Dubai.
2020 World Cruise (Princess Cruises)
Most world cruises are run by smaller, boutique brands; however, Princess Cruises and MSC also offer this once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. Princess offers a 112-night cruise that can also be broken up into different segments, to include:
- South Atlantic and Panama Canal
- Africa, South America, and South Atlantic Crossing
- Indian Ocean and Africa
- South Pacific and Indian Ocean
- Hawaii, Tahiti, and South Pacific Crossing
The full world cruise starts and ends in Los Angeles, visiting 26 countries on five different continents. Each major spot offers bucket-list activities, including riding on a camel in Cabo San Lucas and visiting ancient temples in Tahiti.
Bridgeway to Exploration (Oceania Cruises)
Want to stop at ports that are off the beaten track? Oceania Cruises offers a 164-night cruise that begins and ends in San Francisco. Visit exciting cities on four continents, including:
- Ushuaia, Argentina (“The End of the World”)
- Banjul, Gambia
- Yangon, Myanmar
- Busan, South Korea
- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Prices begin around $40,000, but exclusive packages include free laundry throughout your time at sea, a free stay in a luxury hotel the night before the cruise, and even free roundtrip transfers. This really is the cruise of a lifetime.
Viking Ultimate World Cruise (Viking Cruises)
This is the mother of all world cruises. If you have never traveled before, you will be able to tick everything off of your bucket list. For those of you who have, you will likely visit some familiar sites.
This 245-day cruise visits a whopping six continents and over 110 different cities. The cruise starts and ends in London, visiting:
- Qaqortoq, Greenland
- New York City, USA
- Quito, Ecuador
- Tahiti and Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- Tasmania, Australia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Luxor, Egypt
In order to determine dates and pricing, you will have to request a quote from Viking Cruises.
There are so many opportunities for you and your family to see the world with a world cruise. Just remember to do your research and read the reviews.
Your best resource can be a representative from the cruise line you choose before booking your once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2017 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – and was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite” and as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
