Ocean cruising: what you need to know

There’s a WORLD of exploration to be had when ocean cruising, and once you’ve settled into your cabin the old cliché that ‘you only have to unpack once!’ rings gloriously true.

How long is an ocean cruise?

The French have a wonderful expression for the high seas: ‘le grand large’. Everything about it expresses that stunningly vast expanse of ocean, the horizon ever distant, as you head off on a seabound adventure.

It’s a concept that is hard to grasp for those who’ve never travelled by sea, but that incredible feeling of ‘scale’ – of being so small, setting out on an ocean so large – can be enormously addictive. Particularly when you feel the power of a supership eating up the kilometres beneath you.

245 Days

It’s little wonder, then, that there are lots of dyed-in-the-wool cruise-goers whose journeys stretch longer and longer each year, some over 100 days and more. In August 2019, the purported longest-ever continuous world cruise set sail on a 245-day circumnavigation of the world. Viking’s Ultimate World Cruise is taking in six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports, including 22 in-port overnights (to prevent cabin fever, we’re thinking) aboard the 465-stateroom Viking Sun.

167 Days

With super-long itineraries and expedition cruising both clearly a ‘thing’, Silversea made some quite serious waves of its own in 2019 as it announced a ‘world-first’ Expedition World Cruise in 2021. Described as an ‘Uncharted World Tour’, the 167-day epic journey aboard the luxe Silver Cloud glues together the line’s more immersive, experiential bits as it crosses the globe from Ushuaia across to Tromsø via the ultimate adventure destination wishlist, including Antarctica, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and India, Iceland and the Arctic Svalbard region.

12-17 Days

While longer cruises are seeing a surge in popularity, some cruise lines are best suited, by their very nature, to a less lengthy epic journey. The boutique nature of Star Clippers’ tall ships, for example, means its version of an epic voyage is one of its 15- to 16-night ocean crossings. If shorter and closer to home is more appealing, then its just-announced 11-night itinerary out of Ko Samui and calling on Cambodia on the luxury Star Clipper, is set to sail in April 2020.

Where can you go on an ocean cruise?

You’re not lugging around heavy backpacks, or wrestling luggage into overhead compartments to see the best of the world. Plus most cruise ships allow 32 kilos, so you can bring along your creature comforts and buy souvenirs along the way!

Depending on your itinerary, you could be waking up every day in a new destination.

Sure, sometimes you could only spend half a day in a port, but you also get to experience multiple destinations in a shorter amount of time – ideal if you have limited holiday leave. And the organised tours and activities keep things running smoothly around some of the most popular sights on the planet, enabling you to see and learn things you normally wouldn’t travelling alone.

And, of course, cruise ships are famous for their onboard activities to keep you entertained at sea too: think putt-putt golf on a real lawn (Celebrity Edge), 3D cinema (Explorer of the Seas), a waterslide with 65-kilometre-per-hour turns (Carnival Legend), wine tasting in a 35,000-bottle cellar (Queen Mary 2), even the Rijksmuseum at Sea (ms Westerdam).

Then there are kids’ clubs, luxury spas, rock walls, yoga classes, lectures, and Broadway-style shows including We Will Rock You (Anthem of the Seas) and Jersey Boys (Norwegian Bliss). Indeed, there’s so much to do on land and sea, that while it’s true you only have to unpack once, you’ll certainly find it tough packing to leave.

The famed pine trees on the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

The Pacific

Tropical, relaxing, friendly and fun, the Pacific is an ever-popular ocean to cruise, particularly for Australians with cruises departing from the East Coast and New Zealand. It’s a top choice for people who love the sun, the great outdoors, snorkelling and diving, and chilling out.

Ports include the famous South Pacific islands of Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and Tahiti. The quick trip across the Tasman to New Zealand around the north and south islands with  special stop off in the wondrous Milford Sound is another popular itinerary.The most not miss destination is the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

Hawai‘i, Tahiti and the far flung Pitcairn Island are less often visited by the large cruise lines, typically on a relocation cruise.

Pride of America is the only ship home ported in Hawai’i and her seven day itineraries are very very popular.

In Tahiti, the Aranui 5 is a cargo ship with very comfortable accommodation.

View on Napali Coast on Kauai island on Hawaii, USA

The Atlantic (& Mediterranean)

From the East Coast of the USA and Canada, to the Caribbean and Bahamas, from Mexico, Brazil and Argentina to South Africa, Morocco, Spain and the UK, this ocean is home to such a unique mix of destinations.

And pass through the Strait of Gibraltar and you hit the wonders of the Mediterranean.

Quantum of the Seas – 1st arrival in New York November 10, 2014

But perhaps the most iconic cruise in these waters is the Transatlantic, which occurs when ships are repositioning from Europe to the Americas, or vice versa (the classic is between Southampton and New York).

If doing a Transatlantic cruise, be sure to pick a ship that you’ll be happy to spend up to five consecutive days at sea on.

The Indian ocean

If you’re after exotic lands and luxury destinations, the Indian Ocean is a fabulous place to cruise. Ports include the east coast of Africa (Cape Town, Zanzibar, Madagascar), breathtaking islands such as the Maldives, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, as well as Asian destinations that formed part of the ancient ‘Spice Route’ like India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

Cruising the Antarctic, ranked #16 in our countdown of ‘100 Ultimate Travel Experiences of a Lifetime’.

The Southern & Arctic oceans

Not many can say they’ve ventured to these remote seas, and not many will. Antarctica voyages are singularly spectacular. Lucky cruisers to the great southern continent are treated to an overwhelming array of fauna. The birdllife is immense. the penguins beguiling and in the later months of the southern summer, whales and killer whales are wondrous.

There is no denying crossing the Drake passage, known as the ‘drake shake’ can be a little uncomfortable if not a lot frightening but the pay off is worth it. Aurora Expeditions do offer some sailings where you can avoid the ‘shake’ with flights to and from Antarctica.

The do not miss destination is South Georgia, teeming with penguins, birds and seals. Although few cruise itineraries will include it as it is an additional week cruising.

Panoramic view over glaciers and icebergs in Neko Harbour, Antarctica.