A world cruise sounds incredible… but should you actually take one? A few years ago, we spent 118 days sailing around the world visiting 55 destinations in 33 countries. And while it was one of the greatest experiences of our lives, we also learned that a world cruise is VERY different from a normal vacation. In this video, we walk through the biggest decisions you need to make before booking your first world cruise: • Can you realistically be away for 3–6 months? • How many sea days vs port days should you want? • Circumnavigation vs Grand Voyage itineraries • Eastbound vs westbound routes • Cruise line differences (MSC, Princess, Holland America, Viking, Regent, Silversea & more) • Hidden costs nobody talks about • Travel insurance considerations • Why choosing the wrong cruise line could ruin the experience We also share what it was actually like sailing around the world ourselves on a 118-day MSC World Cruise. If you’re considering a world cruise for 2027, 2028, or beyond, this video should help you decide whether this lifestyle — not just vacation — is right for you. #WorldCruise #CruiseTips #CruisePlanningOur Recommended Cruise Gear OREI American to European Plug Adapters—Many cruise ships are equipped with 220 European plugs, which are useless unless you have the correct adapter. These are the essentials we pack in our bags every time we cruise or travel to Europe. They come in an affordable six-pack which you can find at this link: https://amzn.to/44ixS0U Strongman Tools Strong Magnetic Hooks—A couple of these 6-pack sets of hooks are always with us when we cruise. Each individual hook can hold up to 30 lbs of weight and is ideal for hanging coats, hats, and the shelves described below. Get your set of these useful magnetic hooks at this link: https://amzn.to/3UDrVbJ Whitmor 5 Section Closet Organizer—Unfortunately, drawer and shelf space are sometimes limited in some cruise cabins. That’s why we always bring at least one of these inexpensive closet organizers, which gives us plenty of room for our folded clothes. We typically use a couple of magnetic hooks, as described above, to hang these from the ceiling in the corner of our room. Here’s the link where you can get yours: https://amzn.to/3w3GvQn Our Recommended Camera Gear DJI Osmo Pocket 3--You’ll usually see Tracey using this in almost all of our videos. Love this wonderful, small, and versatile camera. Basic Camera: https://amzn.to/3UDJJDF Creators Combo: https://amzn.to/4beP6OP GoPro Hero12—This is the best action camera we’ve ever used. Whether taking videos on the Zodiacs in Antarctica, snorkeling in Papua New Guinea, or scuba diving in Bonaire, this camera is always in our hands. Find the link to get yours here: https://amzn.to/3UkTcy1 Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap—If you still carry a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, as Jan does, this is the perfect strap to use. What's great is that this fully adjustable strap can be configured to be worn across your body, distributing the weight of your camera across your back rather than your neck. Additionally, it provides a bit more security when traveling through high-risk pickpocket areas. Get your Slide Lite Strap here: https://amzn.to/3xW6pWR As Amazon Affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Great call out to assess the culture of the cruise line!
71 days and counting until Jewel 💎 of the Seas. Going to Nassau, Bahamas 🇧🇸 Royal Caribbean private beach Island and looking forward to snorkeling again at CoCo Cay.
We are taking a grand voyage cruise circling the Pacific next year. We can afford the money ($120k+) and time, and our retirement community home will be looked after in our absence. A BIG plus is that we can do this with just one relatively short domestic flight at the beginning and at the end. We've cruised on Viking for 60 straight days before and enjoyed that. We are low key and don't need or want a large ship with lots of activities and crowds. We don't feel compelled to go ashore at every port if we aren't especially interested or if we are tired. Getting a larger cabin makes a big difference in the comfort level as the time passes.
On the surface it sounds amazing, but I think I would quickly become miserable. It would be like returning to college dorms. That’s not a good thing. I would get claustrophobic on the ship and wish for more time in each port. To me, the worst thing about a cruise is time on the ship.
Thank you for this video. i would very much like to do a world cruise, but the itineraries all pretty much follow the equator. I understand why — duration, pretty much same climate which makes packing much easier, and cost. The itineraries that go around South America and Africa as part of the voyage are very long 150-180+ days and VERY expensive. As it turns out, I have pretty much done a world cruise in segments, but a full round the world would be awesome. And as a solo traveler, the extra-long very pricey companies are beyond my budget.
How to n prepare and book....YES! THANKS
I enjoyed this video very much. Thanks. We have booked a 60-day Pacific grand voyage for 2028 on Princess. We would be very interested in seeing a video on preparing for a world cruise or a grand voyage. Such topics as mail, prescription meds, home maintenance, etc.
I would like to know how you and your doctors worked together. How did you keep up with your prescriptions?