Source : the age
This week eight lucky Australians left their troubles behind to board the world’s longest cruise: a 371-day odyssey that takes them … well, almost everywhere.
Those into bucket lists will be ticking off Alaskan glaciers and tropical Caribbean islands, the Amazon River and Greenland. Among dozens of cities the cruise visits are New York, Vancouver, Tokyo, Mumbai, Barcelona and Dublin, as well as lesser-known destinations such as Cartagena in Colombia and Banjul, capital of Gambia.
The world-circling itinerary is the crown jewel of My Cruises under its exclusive Explorations by Norwegian offering. Guests are sailing on Oceania’s 670-guest ship Regatta, which departed Rome on September 1 and will visit more than 230 ports across every continent except Antarctica before concluding in Southampton in a year’s time.
“There’s a growing appetite among Australians for world cruises,” says Michael Middleton, global head of cruise at My Cruises. “We’re a travelling nation, and the itineraries play to that. From the Norwegian coast to an African safari and the Amazon rainforest, the combination is something else.”
If a world cruise seems too much, then Explorations by Norwegian has more modest alternatives in 2027, such as a 24-night cruise from Southampton to Cape Town in October or eight nights return from Singapore in December 2027 to Thailand and Cambodia.
You can explore classic cruise destinations such as the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, or get more adventurous with Iceland, West Africa or the Indian Ocean.
But why not think big? “The extra time and Regatta’s ability to go where the big ships can’t, builds a stronger sense of place than a typical short cruise allows,” says Middleton. “Travellers want deeper immersion, more meaningful experiences and the convenience of one seamless journey.”
My Cruises has another full world cruise return from Sydney in February 2027. Although slightly shorter than the current one at 367 days, it will be the world’s longest cruise ever offered from Australia.
The itinerary to more than 200 ports is cleverly designed to take in destinations in optimum season, so guests can see cherry blossoms in Japan, the Northern Lights in Norway and the Mediterranean before summer crowds and heatwaves hit.
My Cruises has split it into 24 distinct sailings, so guests can join for a few weeks, months or the full year. “That also opens who you travel with,” adds Middleton. “You might do Europe with a partner, then come back for the Amazon later with a sibling or friend.”
Prices start from $119,990 a person twin share, which is of course a small fortune, but at $326 a day a hard-to-beat rate for seeing the world. Return domestic flights, airport transfers, speciality dining, beverages, shore-excursion credits, Wi-Fi and gratuities are all included.
No long-haul flights. No traipsing around hotels and unpacking daily. A familiar home base from which to wake up to somewhere new every day. Small wonder world cruises are tempting. They’re the ultimate escape, effort free.
EVERYONE ASKS
What is cabotage?
Cabotage is the right of foreign transport operators to carry passengers on domestic routes. Cabotage is often restricted for security, safety or economic reasons. Singapore Airlines, for example, isn’t allowed to operate domestic routes in Australia.
The same applies to foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing between Australian ports. In America, cabotage has notably restricted international companies from operating on rivers.
Cabotage laws are varied. For example, large foreign ships can sail domestic Chilean cruises, but those carrying fewer than 400 passengers can’t.
Although cabotage might seem esoteric, it’s worth knowing about because it affects itineraries on some cruises. A foreign ship beginning and ending a cruise in the same country will at some point have to detour to a second country.
Of course, you might be happy to call at Bermuda or the Bahamas on an American cruise. In other places, however, cabotage creates wasted time.
If you visit Hawaii on a foreign-flagged ship, for example, you’ll have to start or finish in Mexico or Canada, which means far more time at sea.
And if you visit the Kimberley, you’ll waste time sailing to Ashmore Reef (an external territory of Australia) or an Indonesian island, in order, to satisfy cabotage regulations. You’ll see more of the Kimberley on an Australian-flagged vessel.
Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.
