Ferdinand Magellan is one of the most famous names in World History for a reason: he was the first to circumnavigate the globe in the 16th century, though he did not see the end of it - passing away a year before his officer Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the quest.
Five hundred years later, countless people have experienced the same feat, but that does not diminish its appeal. Many avid travelers have made it their goal to circumnavigate the globe at least once in their lives, gaining an appreciation for the differences and similarities on this earth. And, as was the case 500 years ago, the best way to do so remains via ship.
Of course, the ships are quite different from the galleon Magellan and Elcano used in their quest. Still, important considerations remain. These tips will help you choose an Around the World Cruise.
1) The Right Time
First, it's absolutely crucial to know exactly how much time you have to accomplish this feat. Depending on ship size and itineraries, around the world cruises can take anywhere from 90 to 120 days - a significant difference if you have to plan your free time. As a result, the first thing you should do when looking into around the world cruises is how long they take. Most of these cruises take place during the Winter and Spring, from January to June.
2) The Right Ship
All cruise ships going around the world now have certain luxuries, from restaurants and bars to plenty of entertainment space. But differences still remain: larger, luxurious ships are ideal for the first-time traveler or those not intimately familiar with cruises. They are less susceptible to the whims of the open oceans, and offer additional luxuries such as movie theaters etc. to distract those threatening to get sea-sick. On the other hand, they also can't dock in smaller ports, which may make some attractive destinations off-limits. Some cruise lines to consider include Cunard, Costa Cruises, Crystal and Silversea.
3) The Right Itinerary
Your choice of ship may have limited your itinerary, but a plethora of options still remain. No less than 71 percent of the world is covered by water, all of it just waiting to be explored. If you're an experienced traveler, you may want to avoid ports that you already know. It also helps to make sure that you have some longer stays at ports: on a 3-4 month cruise, you'll want to get off the ship for a few days every now and then. Finally, sea days are an important consideration. If you're prone to getting seasick, a week on the open Pacific is probably not your best choice.
Once you've evaluated these possibilities, it's time to look into the cruise line and your preferred destinations! And that's where we come in to help. As travel experts, we can help you figure out how to choose an around the world cruise that you will love.
