The Around-the-World Cruise You Can't Afford to Miss
Any avid traveler would jump at the chance to sail across the world if money were no object. In reality though, many world cruise tickets cost more than $50,000 per person. That's an investment most can't afford, no matter their degree of wanderlust.
But one cruise line makes this bucket-list experience accessible. Traditional Britain-based line Cruise & Maritime Voyages is light on onboard frills (no water parks or race tracks on deck here), but keeps travelers happy with comfortable accommodations, good food, daily activities and an emphasis on awe-inspiring destinations.
The world cruise calls on 38 ports in 24 countries across the globe. And given the price tag—$100 per person, per day, including meals, taxes and fees—can you afford to let this ship sail without you on it?
The 120-night journey starts aboard Columbus on January 6, 2021 in London. The trip includes a pre-cruise hotel stay, so you have time to watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, salute Big Ben, take in Gothic grandeur at Westminster Abbey and savor a pint at one of the city's famed pubs before you embark on your epic adventure.
Your first stop is Rotterdam, Netherlands, where you can partake in some canalside shopping. Then, travel to Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for a stunning walk through the Azores—the exposed tips of massive mountains whose bases lie at the bottom of the ocean.
Two weeks into your journey, arrive in Bridgetown, Barbados, for a day at the beach (try a flying fish sandwich); followed by St. George's, Grenada, a postcard-worthy harbor town. Consider a day trip to the island's chocolate factory, which exports organic confections all over the world. Next up, Cartagena, Colombia, for a look at the soulful Spanish colonial walled city.
The following day you'll visit Colón, Panama; then cross the historic Panama Canal; then the equator. The next time you disembark, you'll celebrate your first month at sea with a tour of paradisiacal French Polynesia. See Nuku Hiva, Papeete, Bora Bora and Huahine, Maroe Bay. Witness cascading waterfalls and seemingly unreal plant life; bask in ocean water as warm as a bath and try to catch a fire dance before sailing onward.
See staggering volcanic peaks, coastal lagoons and rainforest in Rarotonga, Cook Islands; swim in underground caves a short ride from Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga; and see the iconic Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Now seven weeks into your cruise, you'll overnight in Sydney, Australia, and explore the Royal Botanic Gardens, bustling Darling Harbour and the famous opera house. You'll sail on to additional Australian hot spots: Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, the Barrier Reef and Darwin.
Tour impossibly ornate temples in Tanjung Benoa, Indonesia; view the otherworldly Gardens by the Bay in Singapore; stroll the vibrant night market in Malacca, Malaysia (you'll see Port Klang and Penang, Malaysia, too); and stretch out on the gorgeous sands of Phuket, Thailand. Colombo, Sri Lanka and Malé, Maldives, are next on the globe-trotting agenda (which is now more than halfway through).
Arrive in Victoria, Seychelles, the vibrant capital of this Indian Ocean island nation; overnight in Mombasa, Kenya, and take a larger-than-life safari day trip; then explore South Africa's Durban and East London. Next, kicking off your final month at sea, tour the wineries around Cape Town, where you'll overnight.
Tristan da Cunha—a remote group of volcanic islands in the south Atlantic Ocean—is next on your epic itinerary. Then you'll catch a view of the Christ the Redeemer statue and inevitably some samba in Rio de Janeiro, before you move on to Salvador de Bahia and Recife, Brazil. Don't forget to visit the world-famous beaches either.
With just over a week of your expedition left, spend a day in Mindelo, São Vicente, in the Cape Verde archipelago off the west African coast. Taste a grogue (the local rum-like drink) at a bar in the candy-colored city center and then head off to Casablanca, Morocco, for a view of the storied and soaring minaret at the Hassan II Mosque. Next, sail to Lisbon, Portugal, your final stop before the journey comes full circle in London on May 6.
After four transformative months at sea, you'll be on your way home with more than your fair share of jaw-dropping photos and mind-blowing memories—not to mention some priceless new friendships.
Ready to see the world? Call 855-206-4897 to speak with the experts at Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Use promo code TZSG21 and receive a pre-cruise hotel stay plus up to $3,000 in onboard credit per cabin.