9 Tips For Planning A World Cruise

Most cruises that people book last for 1-2 weeks on average, but then there are still lots of people who prefer longer getaways too.

World cruises offer an amazing way to see the various cultures of the planet, and just enjoy the most relaxing sailing.

While it might be a pipe dream for now for many of us, it might be something you’re considering for your retirement (or if you get a nice lottery win!)

And there are some excellent tips from past world cruises on how to handle longer itineraries, that even experienced cruisers who only sail shorter itineraries might not have thought of!

1. Pack for different seasons

A cruise ship passenger packing her luggage,

One of the biggest tips for longer cruises is to remember to pack clothes for different seasons.

Even if your itinerary mainly sticks to places that are supposed to be warm, over the course of a couple of months anything can happen with the weather.

And conversely, you never know when a colder destination might have a heat wave.

You don’t want to be stuck indoors on your cruise ship on a port day because you’ve forgotten a suitable outfit for the weather, so make sure you’ve got a range of options to suit most conditions.

Suggested read: 9 Things You Should Never Wear On A Cruise

2. Pack for different sizes!

A smiling woman showing how elastic her leggings are

A recurring joke (that’s semi-serious, really) is that cruise guests should always pack clothes with an elasticated waist, or at least make sure you save your looser clothes until the latter part of your cruise.

On a world cruise that’s really no joke at all, because the amount of food and drink you can enjoy can definitely make your wardrobe fit a little tighter – and if you’re onboard for a couple of months, that’s a long time to be uncomfortable in your clothes.

Pack baggy items or make sure you’ve at least got a few options in a size up, just in case.

Remember that you don’t need to pack 70 outfits for a 70-night cruise. There are laundry facilities onboard that you will absolutely make use of during a world cruise.

So you can pack relatively light – use the extra suitcase space to make sure there are some comfier items to wear if you are likely to indulge.

Suggested read: 43 Best Cruise Packing Tips & Hacks

3. Consider your dining options

Cruise mummy and her family strikes a pose during a wonderful dinner

I’ve always said that there’s a cruise ship for everyone, but it does mean doing your research to find which one is the best for you. And part of that is your dining options – which matters even more on a longer cruise.

If you’re on a 7-night sailing, you’ll be fine with a couple of different restaurants that you like, since between those and the buffet, you’ll probably get plenty of variety.

But on world cruises, menu rotations can get pretty repetitive.

We went on Oceania Insignia for a month last year. Around 60-70% onboard were doing RTW and were in their 6th month when we started. They seemed to be having a great time and really bonded as a group. But with only several dining options to choose from - with the steakhouse and Italian menus never changing aside from a few daily specials - the limitations of a smaller ship begin to show. You need to bring elastic waist bottoms because the ice cream offered and the daily afternoon teas are irresistible. But it therefore becomes increasingly difficult to get into the tiny showers (concierge balcony cabin).Personally, the trip was good because we learned that our sweet spot is probably a 2-3 week cruise but to each their own.

That might not matter to you, but for those who want to avoid eating the same things every 2-3 weeks, try to choose a ship with more restaurants, so that you can mix things up throughout the voyage.

4. Find a bar you like

Royal caribbean bartender prepares a cool cocktail onboard

Cruise ships will have several bars onboard, with different themes and sometimes different menus.

Unlike restaurants, where you’re probably going to want to enjoy variety, with a bar it’s better to find one you like and then stick with it.

Pack for 2 seasons and probably 10 days worth of mix-&-match clothing. Spend the first week testing the bars. Once you find a favourite (you will) get to know the bar staff. Treat them well & they'll take care of you. Attend events hosted by cruise director staff. There's plenty to do onboard and they all have their areas of expertise & entertainment. Remember what goes on board stays on board, or in the realm of a private Facebook group; feel free to be a willing participant at karaoke or game shows. Make sure you've got enough prescription medicines and over-the-counter painkillers & lozenges. Paracetamol is expensive onboard, & you don't want to spend port days hunting down local pharmacies. Most of all, try to relax and make memories. Stuff will happen; there will be bad times, but hopefully 99% will be good.

Try a few out and see which one has the best vibe, and then that can be your go-to. Sticking to a bar means that you’ll get to know the bar staff better, and you’ll likely have an easier time making friends with the other regulars.

Plus you’ll know that your favourite drink is always available there – a useful advantage!

5. Build up to longer itineraries

A paper appearing to be a list of the trip itinerary slipped on a passport

A top tip from world cruise passengers is to build up to longer itineraries. Don’t jump straight from 7-night cruises to a really long itinerary.

Start with a two-week itinerary and then look for a 3-4 week one.

While I love cruising and much prefer longer and even back to back cruises, so far my longest stretch has been 20 days. I love sea days and prefer stretches of sea days over having more than two port days in a row. (It’s easy to spend a short time onshore or even just not leave the ship.)My next milestone will be something more up to 27-30 days. This is not so much as too many days on a ship but too many days from home. So far when travelling I’ve found that after 3 weeks something switches and I start to think about getting home, not exactly “homesickness” but a vague feeling of being not quite 100%.My general advice is to double what you’ve experienced (so try 40 days) before trying anything longer than that. The most difficult thing for me on a longer cruise would be the repetitive food and cruise cuisine as a whole, so having lunch in port would have to be a thing.Do explore what your options are if on day 60 you decide you’ve had it, and the thought of another 60 makes you look longingly over the balcony rail.

As you get used to longer sailings, you’ll know whether you’re comfortable on long itineraries away from home, or if actually it’s not for you.

And it’s so much better to find this out on a 3 or 4-week cruise than it is when you spent tens of thousands on a world cruise that you’re stuck on.

Suggested read: The Perfect Cruise Length: Revealed

6. Mingle with others

A smiling woman with short silver hair, joyfully toasting with a colorful cocktail on the deck of a ship, sharing a relaxed moment with companions against a clear blue sky. She is casually dressed, indicative of a leisurely cruise atmosphere.

Often world cruises will be sold in segments, so not everyone onboard is going to be sailing the entire journey with you.

But there will usually be some people who are on the ship for the full duration, and it’s worth getting to know them if you’re sharing a ship with them for a long time.

Even if you’re not someone who tends to mingle and chat with others on holiday, a world cruise is different.

Getting to know the other guests will help keep your evenings varied, as you can chat to people outside your travelling party swap stories of your adventures in port, or your lives back home.

If you’re someone who’s typically shy, it’s a good idea to overcome that on a world cruise because it’s a long time to spend with people and not say hi!

7. Make the most of onboard events

Women cruise passengers partake on the sarong tying, a part of Hawaii regional activities onboard

Every day on your cruise, there’ll be a range of events and activities held, and on a world cruise it’s a great idea to try as many as possible.

On a shorter cruise, it might be that you aren’t too fussed – you’d rather spend the time relaxing by the pool, or you’ll be too busy off the ship exploring the ports.

With longer itineraries, the scheduled events will help to make each day nice and varied, and you might be surprised by the types of event you end up enjoying, even if it’s something you’d never normally be interested in.

Use the events to fill your free time, and you can always ditch them if you find they’re not to your liking.

8. Pack plenty of medication

The image captures a young man on a boat, gazing thoughtfully at the ocean. He is wearing a white t-shirt and is holding onto a rope, with the expansive blue sea in the background, suggesting a moment of introspection or seasickness.

Balancing everything in your suitcase is important on a world cruise, but one thing that you will want to over-pack on is any medication you might need.

Not just prescription stuff, but even things like allergy tablets or painkillers that you might use. Paracetamol costs a lot more at sea than it does down the supermarket!

Some friends of mine did a world cruise. They said they brought way too many clothes. You will be able to do laundry on board, so you don’t need tons of clothing. I would definitely bring lots of over-the-counter meds because they will be expensive or unavailable in certain parts of the world. Think of any type of meds you would use at home in half a year, and bring enough to last you. Bring extra chargers for your devices if possible, and download a bunch of books you want to read.

It’s not like it’ll take up much space in your luggage either, so being prepared for longer itineraries and having everything you ‘might’ need in advance, even if you end up taking it all back home with you at the end of your cruise, is the better option.

9. Pack your own entertainment

A family enjoying a relaxed time on a yacht, with a smiling woman showing a tablet to a young boy while a teenager uses a tablet on the side. They are surrounded by a luxurious setting with snacks and drinks on the table, indicating a leisurely day on the water.

While cruise lines will put on varied entertainment for you, you might get a little bored of it in the latter stages of a world cruise.

Or there might be those nights where you just want to take it easy in your cabin, or in a quiet corner of a bar.

While many cruise ships do have libraries onboard, the quality and quantity of books available might leave a lot to be desired.

Take a couple of good, longer books with you, and if you’re an avid reader, pack a Kindle or other e-reader and load it up in advance.

Suggested read: The Best Books to Read on a Cruise

E-reader, with the ability to download books as you need them. Good quality headphones, and enough downloaded songs you won’t get bored. Extra charger for your electronics. Personal business cards to share with the people you meet. Copies of your prescriptions if you happen to run out. I had friends who went on a world cruise with 10 suitcases!!! They admitted they didn’t wear most of the stuff.

Portable games consoles such as a Nintendo Switch could also be a good idea if you’re into that kind of thing at all, though it’s certainly not the typical accessory for your average world cruiser!

Have a think about what you can take that doesn’t fill your suitcase, but will ensure you don’t have to worry too much about downtime during the cruise.

Suggested read: The Best Games to Bring on a Cruise

Final word

I’m sure nobody books a world cruise and then turns up expecting the same kind of holiday as a shorter itinerary. You’ll no doubt plan a little differently, and think about what you need to take with you for the longer trip.

Spend some time researching more tips like these from experienced world cruise guests, and get online on cruise forums or social media pages to ask others about their own experiences.

The more prepared you can be, the better a cruise you’ll have! And even if a world cruise feels like something you’re a long way from achieving, due to work or budget constraints, then you can at least enjoy the stories that guests are sharing about their own experiences.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.