Rome and More Destinations Welcome Longer World Voyages as Azamara and Others Expand Global Cruise Routes

Rome and more destinations are becoming important stages for longer world voyages as Azamara and others expand global cruise routes. These longer world voyages are changing how travellers experience Rome and more destinations across the global cruise map. Meanwhile, Azamara and others are expanding global cruise routes to connect travellers with more remarkable places. From Europe to Asia and beyond, these world voyages offer time, variety and deeper destination experiences. Travel And Tour World explores how Rome and more destinations are becoming part of this evolving journey. Read the full story to discover where these longer voyages travel, which destinations feature, and what global travellers can expect.

The World’s Longest Cruise Begins a 371-Day Global Journey

A Year at Sea Across 62 Countries

The world’s longest cruise has officially begun from Rome, with the 371-day voyage aboard Regatta covering more than 220 ports across 62 countries and six continents. The ship departed on September 1, 2026, launching Explorations by Norwegian’s inaugural long-duration global sailing.

The 348-room Regatta offers travellers a continuous way to explore multiple regions without repeatedly changing hotels or flights. Passengers can experience destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas during the extended itinerary.

From Europe to Africa and Asia

The journey includes major destinations such as Santorini, Naples, Copenhagen and Helsinki before reaching African locations including Cape Verde, Cape Town and Zanzibar. Later sections extend toward Asian destinations including Hiroshima, Jeju Island, Colombo and Malé.

The itinerary eventually reaches the Americas, including Alaska and the Amazon, giving travellers dramatically different climates, cultures and landscapes within one extended journey.

Costs and Flexible Travel Options

The complete 371-day experience reportedly ranges from about A$99,000 to A$249,989, depending on accommodation. Travellers can also choose shorter eight-day segments instead of completing the entire voyage.

A further 367-day world cruise scheduled for 2027 is already available for bookings, with packages reportedly starting around A$119,990, including round-trip flights.

What Travellers Should Prepare

Such a multi-country journey requires careful preparation. The U.S. State Department recommends cruise passengers carry a passport book, even when a cruise itinerary may not require one, because emergencies could require travellers to return home by air.

Travellers should independently check passport validity, visas, health requirements and entry rules for every destination. With 62 countries involved, requirements can vary considerably.

The voyage also surpasses Royal Caribbean’s previous 274-night Ultimate World Cruise, establishing a significantly longer continuous scheduled cruise experience.

For global travellers, the record-setting itinerary offers a new model of slow travel, combining one floating home with more than a year of international exploration.

Long World Cruises Beyond the 371-Day Voyage: Five Cruise Lines Taking Travellers Around the Globe

The record-setting 371-day world cruise has pushed long-duration cruising into a new travel category. However, travellers who cannot spend more than a year at sea still have several substantial alternatives.

Major cruise lines now offer voyages lasting from roughly four months to more than six months. These itineraries combine multiple continents, long port calls, overnight stays and destinations that are difficult to connect during a conventional holiday.

The most interesting alternatives include Azamara, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea and Holland America Line. Their itineraries differ sharply in length, passenger experience, destination density and style of exploration.

Long-Cruise Comparison at a Glance

The figures demonstrate that the 371-day Regatta itinerary is substantially longer than the established world-cruise programmes. Azamara comes closest among the five alternatives at 188 nights, while Oceania offers 180 days. Regent’s 2027 World Cruise runs for about 140/141 nights, Silversea’s reaches 149 days, and Holland America offers 129 days.

Azamara: 188 Nights of Small-Ship Global Exploration

Azamara’s 2027 World Cruise aboard Azamara Quest is one of the closest alternatives to the 371-day voyage. The 188-night itinerary begins in San Francisco on January 5, 2027, and finishes in Copenhagen on July 12. The voyage covers 103 destinations across 37 countries and five continents. Its route includes Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Alaska, Canada and Northern Europe. Major cities include Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Amsterdam and Stockholm. The itinerary also features 50 late-night stays and 15 overnight stays, while the cruise line promotes 12 exclusive AzAmazing Evenings. The small-ship format is particularly useful for travellers interested in smaller ports and longer destination experiences. Highlights include Bora Bora, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Bali, Bangkok, Shanghai and the Panama Canal. Travellers should use Sydney for harbour views, museums, coastal walks and Australian food, while Tokyo is ideal for neighbourhood exploration, temples, markets and Japanese cuisine. In Bangkok, combine historic temples with street-food districts and river experiences. In Shanghai, the Bund provides an efficient first look at the city’s historic waterfront. Travellers should build a personal port calendar because 188 nights create very different weather conditions across the route. Pack lightweight tropical clothing alongside cold-weather layers for Alaska and Northern Europe. The cruise also includes substantial inclusions for full-voyage guests, including onboard credit, exclusive events, laundry and pre-cruise benefits. For travellers who prefer smaller ports, longer calls and cultural immersion rather than simply collecting countries, Azamara is arguably the strongest alternative to the record-setting voyage.

Azamara Route Planning Table

Oceania Cruises: 180 Days, 46 Countries and More Than 100 Ports

Oceania’s 2027 Around the World cruise aboard Vista is another major alternative. The 180-day itinerary departs Miami on January 6, 2027, and ends in London on July 5. The programme reaches six continents, 46 countries and 106 ports, with more than 150 UNESCO World Heritage sites promoted across the wider world-cruise programme. The route begins through the Caribbean and Panama Canal before moving along the Pacific coast and through French Polynesia. It then reaches Australia and spends more than two months exploring Asia. Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and other Asian destinations form a major part of the journey before the ship crosses toward the Arabian Peninsula and Mediterranean. Travellers can expect Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain and France before the European finale. The cruise line positions the journey around food, culture and destination discovery. For travellers, Singapore is particularly practical because its compact urban geography makes a port day efficient. Hawker centres provide an affordable introduction to local cuisine, while Marina Bay and historic neighbourhoods offer contrasting experiences. In Japan, travellers should prioritise one or two districts rather than attempting too many attractions in a single call. Mediterranean ports are better suited to food, architecture and museum visits. Oceania also offers different journey lengths, including a 244-day Epic Global Adventure, making the line particularly attractive to travellers who want something longer than its standard 180-day global route. The 180-day voyage starts at about US$76,199 per person according to the cruise line’s published fare information. The itinerary therefore sits firmly in the luxury long-cruise segment while providing a substantial geographical footprint.

Oceania’s Route by Region

Regent Seven Seas: 140 Nights of Ultra-Luxury Travel

Regent Seven Seas Cruises takes a different approach to long-duration travel. Its 2027 World Cruise aboard Seven Seas Splendor sails from Miami to New York for approximately 140/141 nights and calls at 71 destinations. The itinerary moves through the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. Regent’s positioning is strongly focused on all-inclusive luxury, including spacious suites, dining, beverages and shore experiences. The published launch information placed starting fares at US$91,499 per guest, while the highest category reached an extraordinary US$839,999 per guest. The route is attractive for travellers who prioritise service and depth rather than the highest possible port count. Regent also highlights overnight experiences and extended time in destination. Travellers can use this itinerary to combine tropical island experiences with major cultural centres. Australia and New Zealand provide opportunities for wildlife, coastal landscapes and culinary exploration. Asian calls can be structured around temples, markets, gardens and local food. African ports introduce a different travel rhythm, particularly for passengers combining urban sightseeing with wildlife or cultural excursions. The practical advantage is that travellers can treat the ship as a luxury base while excursions handle much of the logistical complexity. Regent’s wider 2026–27 programme also includes long voyages of 60 to 82 nights, showing how the line is expanding the long-voyage category beyond a single world cruise. For travellers considering Regent, the major question is not simply duration. It is whether the premium all-inclusive model provides sufficient value over four and a half months at sea. This voyage is best suited to travellers seeking an extended luxury lifestyle rather than simply the cheapest method of visiting multiple countries.

Regent Traveller Priorities

Silversea: 149 Days, 80 Destinations and 50 UNESCO Sites

Silversea’s 2027 Three Oceans World Cruise is shorter than the record-setting voyage but remains one of the industry’s most destination-intensive luxury options. The 149-day journey starts in Los Angeles on January 8, 2027, and ends in Copenhagen on June 7. Silversea states that the voyage visits 80 destinations in 35 countries across five continents and includes 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The route is designed around three major ocean regions and combines cultural capitals with smaller destinations. The itinerary is particularly appealing to travellers who value guided discovery and high-end shore experiences. The long duration allows passengers to combine multiple regions without turning every destination into an independent hotel-and-flight booking. For food travellers, this format creates opportunities to move between Asian street-food traditions, Mediterranean cuisine, Middle Eastern specialities and European dining cultures. Travellers should avoid planning every port around major landmarks. Instead, select one signature attraction, one food experience and one local neighbourhood per call. This creates a more sustainable pace during a five-month journey. Japan is particularly valuable for heritage and food experiences, while Mediterranean destinations are suited to museums, archaeological sites and local markets. Silversea’s wider Grand Voyage programme also places emphasis on spending longer in regions rather than rapidly moving between ports. For travellers who want a world cruise but prefer a more intimate luxury atmosphere, the 149-day itinerary offers a strong middle ground between traditional world cruises and the extreme 371-day model.

Silversea’s Core Statistics

Holland America: 129 Days With Rare Ports and Six Continents

Holland America Line’s 2027 Grand World Voyage offers a very different interpretation of a long world cruise. The 129-day sailing aboard Volendam departs Fort Lauderdale on January 5, 2027, and returns to the same city. The voyage visits 53 ports in 28 countries across six continents and includes seven overnight destinations. These include Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Cape Town, Bali, Sydney, Papeete and Callao near Lima. Holland America also highlights 19 ports exclusive to its Grand Voyages, including Jamestown on St Helena and Georgetown on Ascension Island. The route travels down South America’s western coast, crosses the equator and reaches Easter Island before continuing through the South Pacific and Australia. It then moves through Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka before crossing toward southern Africa and Europe. For travellers, the seven overnight stops are particularly valuable. They allow more time for city exploration, dinner experiences and evening excursions. In Cape Town, visitors can combine Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and local cuisine. In Sydney, harbour attractions, beaches and Australian seafood can fill a longer call. Bali works well for temples, rice landscapes and Indonesian cuisine. The itinerary also provides access to 81 UNESCO sites, including the Taj Mahal, Westminster Abbey, Mont-Saint-Michel and the Great Barrier Reef. Holland America’s food programme adds regional dishes and local ingredients to the onboard experience. The voyage therefore suits travellers who want a long global itinerary without committing to five or six months at sea. Its rare-port strategy also makes it particularly attractive to repeat cruisers who have already visited the major world-cruise capitals.

Holland America Route Data

Five-Year Visitor Recovery Shows Why These Routes Matter

Long world cruises are moving through destinations that have experienced dramatically different tourism recoveries since the pandemic. The following statistics provide useful context for travellers.

*Australia figures in this row are financial-year measures for 2021–22 through 2024–25, rather than calendar years.

Japan’s recovery is particularly striking. JNTO recorded only 245,862 international arrivals in 2021, rising to 3.83 million in 2022, 25.07 million in 2023, 36.87 million in 2024 and a record 42.68 million in 2025.

Singapore moved from 330,000 international arrivals in 2021 to 6.31 million in 2022, 13.6 million in 2023, 16.5 million in 2024 and 16.9 million in 2025. Tourism receipts reached S$23.9 billion during the first three quarters of 2025.

New Zealand recorded about 210,000 overseas visitor arrivals in 2021, followed by 1.43 million in 2022, 2.96 million in 2023, 3.31 million in 2024 and 3.51 million in 2025. The 2025 figure represented a six-percent increase over 2024.

Spain recorded 31.2 million international tourists in 2021, 71.7 million in 2022, 85.2 million in 2023, 93.8 million in 2024 and 96.8 million in 2025. The 2025 figure established a new historical record.

Australia’s recovery also shows the scale of post-pandemic demand. Short-term visitor arrivals rose from 245,770 in calendar 2021 to 1.19 million in financial year 2021–22, 5.86 million in 2022–23, 7.97 million in 2023–24, 8.40 million in 2024–25 and 9.10 million in 2025–26.

Five-Year Tourism Comparison: What the Numbers Mean for Cruise Travellers

The figures should not be interpreted as direct cruise demand. A visitor arriving by air and a cruise passenger completing a port call can be counted differently by national statistical systems.

New Zealand is a particularly important example. Stats NZ notes that many cruise passengers are transit passengers and therefore do not necessarily enter the international visitor-arrival statistics. That distinction is essential when comparing cruise destinations with conventional tourism arrivals.

Detailed Traveller Planning Guide for Long World Cruises

How to Build a 100-Day-Plus Cruise Travel Plan

Travellers should divide the voyage into geographical chapters rather than treating it as one continuous holiday.

The first chapter should cover pre-cruise preparation. Complete visa research, medical planning, insurance arrangements and passport checks several months before sailing.

The second chapter should focus on packing. A world cruise can move from tropical islands to temperate cities and colder northern destinations. Layering is therefore more practical than carrying separate wardrobes.

The third chapter should involve excursion selection. Travellers should identify three priorities for every important destination: one major attraction, one local cultural experience and one food experience.

The fourth chapter should focus on rest.

Long cruises can create excursion fatigue. Not every port needs a full-day tour. Some days should be used for slower walks, local cafés, museums or simply recovering onboard.

Where Food Becomes Part of the Journey

Food can become one of the strongest reasons to choose a long world cruise.

Travellers can use Southeast Asia for noodles, curries, seafood and street-food experiences. Japan offers sushi, ramen, regional seafood and traditional dining. Australia provides seafood, modern Australian cuisine and multicultural food districts.

The Mediterranean introduces Greek, Italian, Spanish and French traditions. Africa adds Cape Malay, Indian Ocean and regional African influences.

The best strategy is to eat one signature local dish in port rather than attempting a full restaurant itinerary during every call.

Longer overnight stays create more opportunities for evening dining. Holland America’s overnight destinations, for example, include Bordeaux, Cape Town, Bali and Sydney, giving travellers more flexibility than a standard daytime port call.

Cape Town Shows the Value of a Longer Port Stay

Cape Town demonstrates why overnight calls matter for world cruisers. In 2025, the city recorded 1.44 million foreign overnight visitors, who stayed an average of 9.5 nights and generated R19 billion in foreign direct tourism spending. Table Mountain recorded 1.19 million visits, while Chapman’s Peak Drive recorded 1.05 million.

For a cruise passenger, the practical plan is to prioritise Table Mountain or the Cape Peninsula during daylight, then reserve additional time for food and neighbourhood exploration.

A longer stay can also allow travellers to experience Cape Town beyond its best-known attractions.

Which Long Cruise Is Best for Which Traveller?

The choice ultimately depends on how a traveller defines a world cruise.

The 371-day Regatta voyage is the clear leader in duration and geographical scale. Azamara provides the strongest small-ship alternative. Oceania combines long duration with an exceptionally large UNESCO footprint. Regent focuses on ultra-luxury. Silversea emphasises destination depth and luxury. Holland America combines a shorter duration with rare ports and six-continent coverage.

For travellers unable to spend a full year at sea, these programmes demonstrate that global cruising does not require a 371-day commitment.

The broader trend is clear: world cruising is evolving from a single long vacation into a flexible form of slow international travel. Travellers can now choose between extreme duration, destination density, luxury, small-ship access or rare-port discovery while still experiencing several continents during one continuous journey.

Conclusion

Rome and more destinations are entering a new chapter as longer world voyages reshape global cruise routes. Azamara and others are expanding itineraries that give travellers more time to explore cities, islands and cultural destinations across continents. These longer voyages also make slow travel more attractive for tourists seeking deeper experiences rather than quick port visits. From Rome to Asia, Africa and the Americas, every route offers a different travel story. Travel And Tour World will continue tracking how these global cruise routes evolve. For travellers, the expanding choice of longer world voyages creates new opportunities to discover more destinations in one extraordinary journey.