Most world cruises last for around 90-100 days. Some are a bit longer at 120 days or so. Small ship cruise line Oceania Cruises has put all others to shame by once again unveiling its epic world cruise in 2019 will run for 180 days – that’s right, pretty much six whole months on one voyage.
The world cruise covers more than 45,000 nautical miles and two oceans, visits nearly 100 ports and sets sail from New York on 11 January 2019, from Miami on 14 January or from LA on 30 January. Guests joining the ship in either of the first two ports will enjoy a transit of the Panama Canal at the beginning of the voyage, while those joining from Los Angeles will have to wait until the end of the cruise to experience the man-made wonder.
Opportunities to join this cruise are extremely limited, with the ship – MS Insignia – catering to 684 passengers at full capacity.
In a rarity for world cruises and a new feature for the line, there are in fact three ports – New York, Miami and Los Angeles – from which travellers eager to join the ship can do so for the vast majority of the circumnavigation, which ends in Miami second time past. Travellers can sail either New York to London (158 days), Los Angeles to Miami (161 days), New York return (174 days), Miami to Miami (177 days) or New York to Miami for the full 180 days.
Heading west, the 180-day lap of the globe then heads to Hawaii and the South Pacific islands before reaching New Zealand and Australia. Insignia will then venture north and deep into Asia and the Middle-East, returning to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal for an extensive period of time and eventually back to America via Canada and Bermuda.
The ship will spend 14 full nights in selected ports including Benoa (Bali), Hong Kong, Yangon and the Egyptian port of Safaga, better known as the gateway to the temples of Luxor.
Guests booked on the entire six-month saga will also have access to a number of exclusive events onshore, such as a Kabuki and ninja performance in Tokyo; a dinner, cocktail event and tour of the ancient halls of Old Acre in Jerusalem and a wine tasting and farm-to-table dining event at an 18th century wine estate in Bordeaux, France.
If you book on the entire cruise, you’ll also receive free first-class round-trip airfare from Australia to your chosen port of embarkation. In addition, further perks include a one-night hotel stay prior to the cruise, paid gratuities for the crew, free medical care onboard the ship if you need it, unlimited internet access and free laundry services throughout the voyage.
Guests also receive their choice of either a US$7,200 onboard credit, a beverage package for the first two guests or 72 included shore excursions to take as the cruise progresses.
The world cruise is now on sale, with cabins for the shortest 158-day segment from New York to London priced from AUD$47,560 per person twin share, all the way up to the full 180-day adventure from New York to Miami (second time past), from $50,530pp twin share.