Sailing the seven seas
If you have the time – and the finances, of course – a world cruise really is the holiday of a lifetime. You need to book well ahead though, as these special voyages sell out very quickly and also you’ll need to make a lot of arrangements if you’re going to be away for so long – not least, all the packing. But it’ll be worth it.
Here are a few offerings to whet your appetite…
Cunard offers three World Voyages in 2014, calling at a total of 78 destinations on six continents, with durations of 116 to 119 nights, and fares from £10,999 to £132,799 per person.
Queen Mary 2 starts her 10thanniversary season with a thrilling 119-night itinerary, focusing on Africa and the East and featuring a chance to circle Australia, calling at eight ports en route. Departing 10 January 2014, fares start from £11,999 for an inside room and range up to £132,799 for the Grand Duplex Suite.
Queen Elizabeth’s 118-night voyage departing 10 January 2014, offers 40 destinations in 23 countries with maiden calls including Shanghai, Pusan (South Korea) and Aqaba, Jordan, for Petra. The ship will also make her first visit to Japan, with calls at Kochi, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki. Fares range from £11,899 for an inside room to £109,999 for the Grand Suite.
Finally, a 116-night voyage on the Queen Victoria, with 33 ports in 17 countries, departing 2 January 2014, will take you around South America from Brazil to Chile via Cape Horn and along the east coast of New Zealand, before returning to the UK via the Panama Canal. Her eight maiden calls will include Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Easter Island and Moorea in French Polynesia. Fares range from £10,999 for an inside room to £99,999 for the Grand Suite on the full World Voyage.
Cunard: 0843-374 2224, www.cunard.co.uk
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises is offering three world cruises in 2014. All sail round-trip from Southampton.
At 92 nights with lead-in fares of £7,899, on the newly refurbished Arcadia, departing 10 January 2014, the liner heads west via the Caribbean and west coast USA before sailing to Australasia via French Polynesia, then on to Indonesia, India, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This option is shorter than many other full world circumnavigations, offering a more cost-effective way to travel the globe, while still calling at the main highlight ports, with 28 destinations in 20 countries. Arcadia will be particularly appealing to passengers whose aim is to travel the world on a ship exclusively for adults.
Aurora, a family-friendly ship, offers a 109-night cruise, with more time spent in Asia and Africa. With prices from £8,899, the cruise departs on 4 January 2014, and visits 33 destinations in 22 countries. It cruises west via the Caribbean and San Francisco before sailing to Asia via Honolulu, New Zealand and Australia, then on to India and South Africa.
Finally, Adonia, the smallest ship in the fleet, embarks on a 112-night cruise exploring Asia in depth. Also exclusively for adults, this cruise is priced from £10,499. The departure point is Southampton on 7 January 2014, and there are 44 destinations in 23 countries. The voyage cruises east via the Mediterranean and Middle East, before making an extensive exploration of Asia.
P&O Cruises: 0843-374 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
All cruise prices are per
Here are a few offerings to whet your appetite…
Cunard offers three World Voyages in 2014, calling at a total of 78 destinations on six continents, with durations of 116 to 119 nights, and fares from £10,999 to £132,799 per person.
Queen Mary 2 starts her 10thanniversary season with a thrilling 119-night itinerary, focusing on Africa and the East and featuring a chance to circle Australia, calling at eight ports en route. Departing 10 January 2014, fares start from £11,999 for an inside room and range up to £132,799 for the Grand Duplex Suite.
Queen Elizabeth’s 118-night voyage departing 10 January 2014, offers 40 destinations in 23 countries with maiden calls including Shanghai, Pusan (South Korea) and Aqaba, Jordan, for Petra. The ship will also make her first visit to Japan, with calls at Kochi, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki. Fares range from £11,899 for an inside room to £109,999 for the Grand Suite.
Finally, a 116-night voyage on the Queen Victoria, with 33 ports in 17 countries, departing 2 January 2014, will take you around South America from Brazil to Chile via Cape Horn and along the east coast of New Zealand, before returning to the UK via the Panama Canal. Her eight maiden calls will include Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Easter Island and Moorea in French Polynesia. Fares range from £10,999 for an inside room to £99,999 for the Grand Suite on the full World Voyage.
Cunard: 0843-374 2224, www.cunard.co.uk
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises is offering three world cruises in 2014. All sail round-trip from Southampton.
At 92 nights with lead-in fares of £7,899, on the newly refurbished Arcadia, departing 10 January 2014, the liner heads west via the Caribbean and west coast USA before sailing to Australasia via French Polynesia, then on to Indonesia, India, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This option is shorter than many other full world circumnavigations, offering a more cost-effective way to travel the globe, while still calling at the main highlight ports, with 28 destinations in 20 countries. Arcadia will be particularly appealing to passengers whose aim is to travel the world on a ship exclusively for adults.
Aurora, a family-friendly ship, offers a 109-night cruise, with more time spent in Asia and Africa. With prices from £8,899, the cruise departs on 4 January 2014, and visits 33 destinations in 22 countries. It cruises west via the Caribbean and San Francisco before sailing to Asia via Honolulu, New Zealand and Australia, then on to India and South Africa.
Finally, Adonia, the smallest ship in the fleet, embarks on a 112-night cruise exploring Asia in depth. Also exclusively for adults, this cruise is priced from £10,499. The departure point is Southampton on 7 January 2014, and there are 44 destinations in 23 countries. The voyage cruises east via the Mediterranean and Middle East, before making an extensive exploration of Asia.
P&O Cruises: 0843-374 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
All cruise prices are per