5 things to ask yourself before going on a long cruise
It sounds ideal – three months (or more) sailing around the world, visiting incredible ports and only unpacking once. But is a world cruise really right for you?
1. Pick your itinerary
The term “world cruise” applies to a few different itineraries. The traditional world cruise is a full circumnavigation that will visit five or six continents and cross all the major oceans. Shorter world cruises will focus on particular sections of the globe, like the Pacific and Asia, or Europe and the Americas. These cruises will spend more time in certain regions so can call at different ports, giving a more in depth experience. Before you book, check the list of ports carefully and make sure that you’re spending your time wisely.
2. Know who will be onboard
Because of the length of these cruises, passengers are generally restricted to older, retired couples that can afford to be away from home for months at a time. It’s unlikely that there will be many children or families onboard. Many lines however will sell shorter segments of the overall world cruise, typically 10 to 21 days at a time. That means that there will be a high passenger turnover, so you’ll get to meet new people every couple of weeks.
3. Choose the right cabin
Once you step onboard, you’ll be spending anywhere up to 180 days living in your cabin. So you need to choose the right one. Being stuck in a tiny cabin for a week is one thing, but months on end may make you want to jump overboard. . If you can afford it, it’s worth paying more for a balcony cabin or suite so that you have your own space to retreat. Many lines that specialise in world cruises, like Holland America, offer larger cabins as standard so you’ll have more space.
4. Embrace the sea day
There’s a lot of ocean in the world, so taking on a full world cruise means that you’ll be spending a lot of days at sea. This could be single sea days or multiple consecutive days when you don’t call at a port and sometimes make up more than half of the overall voyage. You’ll need to be happy spending plenty of time on the ship, participating in onboard activities, sunning by the pool or reading a good book. Also be aware that the open ocean can be rough so seasickness may be a problem – come prepared.
5. Make the most of the perks
Cruise lines treat their world cruisers with extra care. Many will offer extra perks like complimentary laundry service, included gratuities, free medical care or internet or satellite phone minutes. You could be invited to exclusive cocktail parties with the ship’s officers, taken special shore excursions or transferred to and from the ship by limousine. Essentially, you’ll be treated like a VIP at all times. When booking, make sure your agent takes advantages of these special perks.
Would you be open to the idea of an extended cruise? Let us know in the comments.
Related links:
My first ever solo trip since my husband passed away
5 reasons not to stay onboard when in port
Meet the retiree cruising the world as a ballroom dancer