It's not too late to start planning a world cruse for 2016. Besides the obvious considerations of budget and time, you should also consider the number of ports and sea days in selecting your world cruise. If you are easily bored on long stretches at sea, you should look for an itinerary with frequent port calls.
Although some sailings are sold out or have limited availability, here are some of your options:
Queen Mary 2, Southampton to Southampton, January 10 - May 9, 2016
Fares start at $19,998 per person in an inside stateroom, and $29,450 for a balcony. This 120-day itinerary starts in Southampton, crosses the Atlantic to New York and follows the Eastern coast of the US to South America. The Queen Mary 2 sails around the Cape Horn to Valparaiso before completing the circumnavigation and visiting Australia, Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and returning to Southampton. For full details, click here.
Number of Ports Visited: 43
Number of Sea Days: 70
Queen Elizabeth, Southamton to Southampton, January 10 to May 10, 2016
Fares start at $21,656 per person in an inside stateroom, and $30,098 in a balcony. This 121-day itinerary visits Africa, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. For more details, click here.
Number of Ports Visited: 49
Number of Sea Days: 67
Queen Victoria, Southampton to Southampton, January 10-May 9, 2016
Fares start at $19,999 per person for an inside cabin, and $30,099 for a balcony. This 120-day itinerary circumnavigates the globe and includes a transatlantic cruise and passage through the Panama Canal before going on to Australia, Asia and Africa.
Number of Ports Visited: 44
Number of Days at Sea: 73
Oceania Cruises offers a 180-day world cruise in 2016 from Miami to Miami on the Oceania Insignia. Fares start at $38,999 for an interior stateroom. Balconies and Suites are on wait list status as of the date of this blog. Oceania is known for its port-intensive itineraries. If you don't like to spend long stretches at sea this is a good option for your. If you can't do 180 days at sea, Oceania offers shorter segments of 30-90 days where you can get the experience of a world cruise is a shorter itinerary.
Number of Ports Visited: 102
Number of Days at Sea: 74
Pacific Princes, January 3 to April 23, 2016, Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale
Fares start at $19,999 for an interior cabin and $28,999 for a balcony. Click here for full details.
Princess Sea Princess, May 23- September 13, 2016, Perth to Perth (Australia)
Fares start at $20,609 for an inside cabin, and $35,009 for a balcony. This 113-night cruise circumnavigates the globe and starts and ends in Perth, Australia.
Once you choose your itinerary and cruise line, you will want to choose your cabin category and your travel companion.
Because you will be at sea for months at a time, selecting a cabin takes on great importance. While you may be fine in an interior cabin on a 10-day cruise, when you travel for an extended period you will probably want a balcony. If your budget permits, a suite might be a lovely option.
Location on the ship is also important, with mid-ship cabins being the most stable. You also may want to avoid being close to the elevators, which could be noisy.
Your travel agent will not only help you choose the right cruise for you, he or she will also be in a position to offer you the best deal possible. At Roux Luxury Travel, our VIP Members get up to 5% back in onboard credit or rebates when they book a cruise with one of our preferred partners. On a world cruise, this can be significant savings. Your travel agent can also help you coordinate flights, pre and post-cruise hotels, and other details for your vacation.
Packing for a world cruise can be a challenge. You need to prepared for anything! You will have to deal with differing weather conditions, so planning a wardrobe that can be adjusted for weather is key. Most ships have laundry service and laundry facilities where you can wash clothes yourself if you need to. Also, don't forget that you will have the opportunity to shop in port and can replenish your wardrobe that way.
My advice is to bring basic pieces that can be used to create several different outfits, along with accessories (such as scarves, jewelry and ties) that you can use to mix things up.
Most cruise lines offer internet service on board, and this can be a great way to stay in touch with everything going on at home. Most bills can be paid online now, so banking should not be difficult.
As far as your home goes, you will want to arrange for someone to check on your house while you are away and take care of your mail, plants and other household maintenance.