PHOTO: The Insignia will operate the 180-day global cruise in 2017. (Courtesy of Oceania Cruises)
Do people want to take six-month-long cruises? You bet they do. Oceania Cruises, which pioneered the idea, has scheduled its fourth 180-day cruise for 2017 to meet "overwhelming demand."
Cleverly called "Around the World in 180 Days," the voyage will depart Miami on Jan. 6, 2017, aboard the 684-passenger Insignia.
"This revolutionary approach to world cruising has generated an extremely positive response from our guests, and the fact we are now preparing a fourth iteration of this epic 180-day voyage is a testament to its appeal," said Oceania President and COO Jason Montague.
The 2017 voyage will visit 98 ports of call in 36 countries on six continents. The itinerary includes 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and stops in Ireland, Spain and Turkey not offered during previous world cruises.
Insignia will set sail for the Caribbean before continuing on a southern course to South America, passing through the Panama Canal and making several calls on the Pacific coast of Central America. After departing San Diego, Insignia will cruise the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
After numerous stops throughout Australia and New Zealand, passengers will cross the Timor Sea to Indonesia and explore the Java Sea before passing through the Karimata Strait to Malaysia. Cruising the South China Sea, Insignia will call on Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand and India. From there the ship will cross the Arabian Sea to the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Next, the ship cruises the Red Sea to Jordan and Egypt before passing through the Suez Canal to Israel and southern Turkey. The ship will spend an extensive period of time in the Mediterranean, visiting coastal cities in Greece, Italy and Spain before reaching Gibraltar and re-entering the Atlantic Ocean.
It will continue sailing the Atlantic coast of Spain and call on cities in Portugal and France before cruising the Celtic and Irish Seas with several stops in Ireland. From there Insignia will cross the Atlantic to Newfoundland before cruising up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec. Insignia will visit the New England coast, New York City and overnight in historic Charleston, S.C., before returning to Miami on July 6.
Sixteen overnight calls are planned in places such as Bali, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Saigon Singapore, Bangkok, Rangoon, Mumbai, Luxor, Jerusalem, Seville, Lisbon, Bordeaux, New York, Bermuda and Charleston.
Bookings for the 2017 six-month-long world cruise open at 8:30 a.m. ET July 29. Those who book by Sept. 30 will receive 2-for-1 cruise fares, free first-class roundtrip airfare and the Exclusive Prestige Package, which includes pre-paid gratuities, free onboard medical care, unlimited Internet, free laundry services, exclusive shoreside events, free visa package, luggage delivery, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, and free round-trip transfers.
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