When it comes to embarking on a world cruise, there’s no cruise line that does it quite like Cunard. With incredible White Star Service, enriching entertainment experiences, and some of the finest food available at sea, sailing to incredible destinations around the world has never been more enjoyable; or, more comfortable, with Cunard cruise ships offering guests stylish staterooms well-equipped with modern amenities and elegant interiors.
If the idea of embarking on an adventure around the world excites you, but you’re not sure what a world voyage with Cunard entails and what you should expect when you actually start one, we’re here to help with information on everything you need to know about Cunard’s world voyages. Below, we’ll touch upon your onboard experience, some of the destinations you’ll visit on a Cunard world voyage, and other important things you need to consider before booking yourself onto the adventure of a lifetime.
If that sounds like something you’re interested in, keep reading for more information on some of the most exciting and elegant sailings available.
Contents:
- What is a Cunard World Voyage?
- Upcoming Cunard World Voyages
- Benefits of a Full Cunard World Voyage
- Why Should You Choose Cunard?
- Preparing for a Cunard World Voyage
What is a Cunard World Voyage?
As the name ‘world voyage’ suggests, a Cunard world voyage will whisk you away to several destinations around the world – with ports of call in Africa and Asia alongside stops in South America and city breaks in Europe. Departing from Southampton, Cunard world voyages often last from 100 nights to 110 nights, with around 30 unique ports of call on each itinerary and multiple overnight stays in major cities; these give you even more chance to enjoy everything these incredible places have to offer.
Upcoming Cunard World Voyages
In 2026, both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne will be embarking on sensational world voyages; you can find out more about each itinerary below.
Sailing far and wide with maiden port calls to sun-drenched destinations like Kona in Hawaii and Manzanillo in Mexico, the 2026 world voyage aboard Queen Mary 2 will start in Southampton with a transatlantic voyage to New York City. After some time in the Big Apple, you’ll head south to explore destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean alongside overnight stays in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. While sailing South America, you’ll also cruise through the Panama Canal, an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience to marvel at this incredible feat of human engineering first-hand.
You’ll then continue to explore the southern hemisphere with several ports of call across Australasia before sailing through Asia and Africa; Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur are all on the agenda here. Then, after you’ve enjoyed visiting Cape Town, Walvis Bay, and Dakar, you’ll stop off in Tenerife on your way back to Southampton – concluding your Cunard world voyage and completing this incredible globetrotting adventure.
Meanwhile, the exciting 2026 world voyage aboard Queen Anne will start by sailing south from Southampton to destinations in Portugal and Spain – Madeira and Tenerife, to be exact. Your adventure will then continue along the west coast of Africa, with stops at Cape Verde and Namibia, before taking you to Reunion and Mauritius. Then, Southeast Asia awaits; you’ll call at ports in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong before the Australasian leg of your world voyage.
Crossing the Pacific Ocean after ports of call in Brisbane, Sydney, and more, you’ll have the chance to visit several sensational destinations in the Americas. From Honolulu in Hawaii and Oranjestad in Aruba to Los Angeles and Miami, you’ll return to Southampton via the Azores – a stunning archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.
In 2027, Queen Victoria is among the Cunard cruise ships embarking on a world voyage.
An exciting world voyage with destinations fresh and familiar on the itinerary, this is one globetrotting adventure you won’t want to miss. Starting from Southampton with a transatlantic voyage to New York City, this cruise will visit Aruba, El Salvador, and Mexico alongside Los Angeles and Honolulu in Hawaii before traveling to Australasia. Once you’ve spent a couple of weeks exploring the stunning scenery here, you’ll sail north to Southeast Asia; the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia are all among the countries you’ll visit in this incredible part of the world.
The final month of this world voyage will see you visit several exciting ports in Africa, with an overnight stay in Cape Town among the highlights. On your return to Southampton, you’ll stop off in both Tenerife and Madeira – a final opportunity to soak up some sunshine and savour the incredible sailing you’ve been on.
Benefits of a Full Cunard World Voyage
While every Cunard cruise is a fantastic experience, guests embarking on a full Cunard world voyage will receive exclusive benefits – something that makes this already-remarkable experience even more memorable.
When you embark and start your world voyage, you’ll have the chance to enjoy an exclusive welcome reception and receive thoughtful gifts to commemorate your world voyage with Cunard. Then, throughout your voyage, you’ll find a schedule of exclusive event evenings and parties – both onboard and ashore – for you to attend alongside other guests on a full Cunard world voyage. These events include an incredible World Voyage Cocktail event onboard, and a World Voyage Celebration event in one of the stunning destinations on your itinerary. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the services of a world voyage concierge, and enjoy access to the World Voyage Hospitality Lounge – a space onboard reserved exclusively for other world voyage guests.
Beyond this, you’ll find a variety of shore excursions available at an additional cost through Cunard at each destination; although, you can always organise your own through third parties if you prefer. Or, of course, you can disembark your Cunard cruise ship and explore all these exciting destinations at your own leisure. When it comes to a Cunard world voyage, the choice really is yours.
Often confirmed a couple of years in advance, you’ll have plenty of time to book yourself onto a Cunard world voyage. However, if you’re not sure you’ll want to spend quite so much time aboard a cruise ship, Cunard also offers world voyage sector sailings. This is a great way to get a taste of what a full world voyage entails, while also giving you the chance to enjoy a sensational cruise experience. With itineraries including sailings from Southampton to Cape Town, or all the South American stops on a world voyage, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
Why Should You Choose Cunard?
We know this is a big question to ask, but there are a lot of reasons why Cunard should be your first choice when it comes to choosing a cruise line to sail with – especially when it comes to round-the-world voyages.
Not only will you be afforded the opportunity to travel to a stunning selection of destinations around the world with White Star Service, but Cunard world voyages are also fantastic value for money when you consider the luxury cruising experience available onboard.
On a Cunard world voyage, your fare includes all your travel costs, your accommodation, all your food, and exciting entertainment for over 100 days of incredible adventure. It’s also inclusive of all your hotel and dining charges during any overnight stays on the itinerary, so you really won’t have to worry about anything while exploring the remarkable destinations you’ll be visiting.
If you’re a fan of Broadway-style stage productions or intimate live music performances, you’ll be able to enjoy these as often as you like onboard; and that’s without the worry of buying tickets to shows, finding parking outside busy venues, or any of the other stresses that come with an evening enjoying live entertainment onshore. You’ll also have the chance to indulge in sensational food from around the world each and every day, with different cuisines and dining experiences just a short walk away from one another. And, with the incredible White Star Service from the Cunard crew elevating your experience, each mealtime is as memorable as the last.
If you want to pamper yourself, you’ll find a fantastic range of sumptuous spa treatments available throughout your voyage too – treatments that you’ll enjoy just a stone’s throw from a poolside sun lounger, meaning you can continue to relax long after you’re finished in the spa itself.
On top of all this, you’ll also be able to enjoy an incredible day in a stunning holiday destination, unwind in a stylish stateroom without having to worry about booking hotels or forgetting any of your luggage, and then wake up somewhere brand new. Of course, there are more ways to travel the world, but cruising takes the stress out of the experience, giving you more effort and energy to focus on enjoying yourself while abroad.
Preparing for a Cunard World Voyage
If you’re ready to book yourself on an adventure around the world with Cunard, there are a few things worth keeping in mind when it comes to preparing for such an incredible experience.
Like any other cruise getaway, you’re going to need to make sure your travel documents are organised; this includes any relevant visas, vaccinations, and travel insurance for all the destinations on your itinerary. With so many more different destinations on a world voyage, this is going to take a lot more planning than island-hopping in the Mediterranean or a cruise to the Canary Islands. You may even be denied boarding if you’re missing just one of the visas required, so making sure everything is in order ahead of time is vital.
Miami, Hong Kong, and Tahiti
It’s also worth taking a moment to think about your spending money, as you’ll want to have some to hand when you disembark during your world voyage. US Dollars is the currency accepted onboard during a world voyage, and you won’t have to worry about buying any food – unless you want to dine in one of the specialty restaurants onboard, that is. However, the currencies accepted while you’re ashore will vary dramatically from destination to destination. So, if you’re someone who wants to avoid worrying about withdrawing funds every time you disembark, or if you want to avoid travelling with multiple currencies, it might be worth organising a pre-paid debit card for your world voyage. This will let you pay in the local currency of each destination you visit on your world voyage from one payment card – at least, in the places where a card is accepted, anyway.
It’s also important to pack for a range of climates when embarking on a world voyage, as you’ll be visiting a variety of destinations around the world in quick succession. For example, packing for a transatlantic cruise is going to be different from packing for a Mediterranean break, but you'll need to consider both for a world voyage. You will be able to get a sense of what the weather will be like when you set sail, but some destinations will be several months away on your sailing; that, and there’s a chance the weather will change while you’re at sea. So, with weather reports less accurate the further ahead you look, it’s always worth making sure you’re packed for all kinds of weather.
Warm clothing and waterproofs are just as useful as shorts and swimwear on a Cunard world voyage. You will also want to bring a formal outfit or two, as you’ll find yourself with plenty of opportunities to dress up during a sailing of this length, thanks to Cunard’s famous Gala Evenings and popular themed nights.
During a Cunard cruise, Gala Evenings follow one of four themes: Black and White, Red and Gold, Masquerade, and Roaring Twenties. With nods to these themes found in the decorations onboard, the live music performances, and both the signature cocktails and dishes available in the bars and restaurants onboard, you can expect an evening to remember when they roll around. You will find an average of two Gala Evening events a week on a world voyage, but participation isn’t mandatory, if you’d rather enjoy an evening another way.
Book Your Next Incredible Adventure with Iglu Cruise Today!
Ready to embark on an exciting voyage somewhere breathtaking? Well, Cunard isn’t the only cruise line with sailings worth considering. From last-minute deals and family cruises to all-inclusive packages, short breaks, and more, there are cruises of all shapes and sizes to choose from with Iglu Cruise. You’ll find the latest cruise deals here, and more from the Iglu Cruise team below:
