11 best round-the-world cruises for an unforgettable holiday (2024)

1. Princess Cruises, round trip from Los Angeles or Fort Lauderdale

Best for maiden ports of call
This 115-night voyage is the longest-ever cruise offered by Princess and include maiden ports of call including Bar in Montenegro, Italy’s Taranto and — for the line’s sailings starting in North America — the Greek islands of Patmos and Volos. The 26-country cruise across six continents is on the 2,214-passenger Island Princess. You can join the ship on January 5, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale or January 20 in Los Angeles.

2. Cunard, round trip from Southampton

Best for a world first
Become part of history on the first-ever world voyage aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne and experience the ship being welcomed for the first time in ports all over the world. In between sunbathing in the South Pacific and enjoying Cunard’s legendary service, there’s plenty of time to make the most of cities such as New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Honolulu, Hong Kong and Dubai, where there are overnight stops for nights on the town. The 107-night sailing departs on January 9, 2025.

3. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, round trip from Southampton

Best for cosy atmosphere
The friendly mid-size Bolette will follow in the wake of famous explorers, starting in Lisbon, from where Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese voyagers set sail. You’ll cross Chile’s Magellan Strait and explore lesser-known hideaways such as Robinson Crusoe Island, as well as visiting South Africa’s Table Mountain and Easter Island’s mysterious Moai statues. The 1,338-passenger vessel is geared for British passengers and provides plenty of home comforts including tea and coffee-making facilities in all cabins. The 106-night trip departs on January 6, 2025.

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4. Regent Seven Seas, Miami to San Francisco

Best for balcony brags
Scan the horizon in comfort on the all-suite Seven Seas Mariner, where every stateroom comes with a private balcony. Alternatively, while away sea days by practising your swing and honing your short game at the golf net and putting green on the top deck. This is a full world cruise, starting in Miami and ending in San Francisco, covering a whopping six continents with over 400 shore excursions included. This sailing departs on January 7, 2025 and lasts 150 nights.

5. Holland America Line, round trip from Fort Lauderdale

Best for wildlife fans
Travel from pole to pole on a sailing that takes in the dramatic natural scenery of Antarctica, South America, Canada and Norway, including a sailing into the biodiverse Amazon. The naturalists on Volendam will point out birds and wildlife along the way, and passing Antarctica’s rocky Cuverville Island you’ll see some of the 6,500 pairs of gentoo penguins that make up the world’s largest colony. The 133-day Fort Lauderdale round trip departs on January 25, 2025.

6. Azamara, San Diego to Southampton

Best for bucket-list sights
After the 2024 world voyage on Azamara’s newest ship sold out, the line arranged another 155-night worldwide journey on the 670-passenger Azamara Onward. Setting off from San Diego on January 6, 2025, it conveniently finishes in Southampton, making it an ideal choice for globetrotting Brits. Azamara focuses on destination immersion and the ship will have 46 late nights and overnights in ports as it traverses the globe through French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia before tracing ancient trade routes through Asia then heading back through the Aegean and Mediterranean.

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7. P&O Cruises, round trip from Southampton

Best for adult-only sailings
P&O Cruises’ 2,094-passenger ship Arcadia provides a stylish 100-day cruise experience for adults. Food and drink is ained at UK tastes and includes Champion’s pub, a “local at sea” with its thirst-quenching range of craft beers, and Sindhu, serving Indian dishes with a British twist. The 99-night Southampton round trip departs on January 3, 2025, and takes in the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, with a Panama Canal transit.

8. Oceania, Miami to New York

Best for spending most of the year at sea
Sail around the world for 200 days, starting in Miami on January 25, 2025, and ending in New York after a daytime Panama Canal transit. Contrasts on this epic voyage include getting acquainted with the world’s largest population in China and its smallest — just over 230 — in remote Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. You’ll be transported to 32 countries on five continents aboard the elegant Oceania Insignia, which carries just 680 passengers.

9. MSC, round trip from the Mediterranean

Best for departure points
Sail around the world for 116 days and visit 50 destinations, 21 countries and five continents aboard the bright 2,550-passenger MSC Magnifica. The 116-night sailing begins with a grand Mediterranean voyage that provides the option to join and leave the ship in Italy, France or Spain. The first embarkation point is Civitavecchia on January 5, 2025, followed by Genoa, Marseilles and Barcelona.

msccruises.co.uk

10. Viking, Fort Lauderdale to London

Best for complimentary excursions
Perks with Viking include a free excursion in every port and no fees for dining in any of the restaurants. This new world cruise itinerary is on the stylish 930-passenger Viking Sky and you won’t miss any of the passing scenery as all cabins have balconies. You’ll travel from the US and visit the Caribbean, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe. The sailing departs from Fort Lauderdale on December 19, 2024, and will have UK passengers back on home territory on May 6, 2025.

11. Crystal, Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona

Best for reimagined style
Luxury cruise line Crystal has been relaunched after its two ocean ships were acquired by the A&K Travel Group. Visit 62 destinations in 31 countries on the spacious new-look Crystal Serenity where cabins have been enlarged and the passenger capacity has dropped from 1,040 to 740. Setting off from Fort Lauderdale you’ll sail through the Caribbean and circle South America before the 125-night voyage takes you to Africa, Asia and beyond. The cruise departs on January 7, 2025.

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