Crystal Symphony in Antarctica
Crystal Symphony in Antarctica / Crystal Cruises
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Cape Town and Table Mountain
Cape Town and Table Mountain / iStock.com / AndreaWillmore
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Hawker food stalls in Singapore
Hawker food stalls in Singapore / iStock.com / joyt
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Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth in Sydney
Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth in Sydney / Cunard Line
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East Asian Chili Crab
East Asian Chili Crab / iStock.com / Pipop_Boosarakumwadi
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Stellenbosch Vineyards in Franschhoek, South Africa
Stellenbosch Vineyards in Franschhoek, South Africa / iStock.com / Christopher Salerno
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Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro
Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro / iStock.com / MaFelipe
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World Cruises

Our Review
Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

It's the big kahuna, and cruising's holy grail. A World Cruise is a big time commitment: Book one, and you're basically running away to sea for three to four months. Around the world cruises cater to affluent travelers with plenty of time on their hands — though you can also book smaller segments in many cases. Southampton, England, is a popular departure point, but sailings also depart from U.S. ports like Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and San Francisco. You'll have plenty of sea days, as the ship continent-hops, and you'll often have more time in port than the typical cruise allows. 

What We Love

Mixing It Up: You'll get a little of everything on most world cruises — from tropical beaches to big-city buzz to exotic ports of call.

The Ship Becomes Your Home: Nary a dish to wash, a suitcase to unpack, or an airport to navigate. The whole world is at the end of your gangplank.

Best Known For

Long Voyages: A typical World Cruise lasts 100 days or more.

An Older Crowd: Let's face it, few folks below retirement age can spare the time or money to do a cruise like this.

Best Ports

Singapore: Shop 'til you drop, visit the boggling Gardens by the Bay, sample amazing hawker food, and enjoy the blend of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures — with a dash of British colonial architecture.

Cape Town, South Africa: Explore Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, sip the local wines, and take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain for great views. 

Sydney, Australia: Visit koalas in the outstanding zoo, tour the iconic opera house, slurp oysters on the Circular Quay, stroll the botanic gardens, or catch a wave at Bondi Beach.  

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Visit Sugarloaf Mountain for stunning views, tour the splendid Municipal Theater or revered Maracanã soccer stadium, groove to Brazilian jazz, and eat at a churrascaria, where a parade of sizzling meats arrives at your table. 

Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

It's Not Exactly Around the World: Despite the title, many cruises don't actually circumnavigate the globe.