If you love cruises and take a lot of them, but haven’t taken a world cruise yet – why not? Assuming that you have the time and resources to cruise when and where you like, what’s holding you back from enjoying everything a world cruise has to offer?

Let’s start by defining what a world cruise is.

These special cruises almost always depart in January, not only because it’s a great way to start a New Year, but to take advantage of favorable weather in the Southern Hemisphere. They cross the equator at least twice, sailing 30,000 miles or more, visiting dozens of ports over about 100 days. Several premium and luxury lines offer world cruises, so the ships, service and amenities are all top-notch.

Sounds like a wonderful voyage, right?

If you aren’t already calling your cruise travel professional, maybe one of the concerns below is on your mind. Read on:

You’re worried that you can’t be away from home and/or work for 12 weeks or more.
It’s true that a world cruise takes you away from home for an extended time. But, what a wonderful break it will be from your usual routine (and customary stressors). Perhaps you can ask for help with your responsibilities at work or home, which would make it possible for you to be away that long. Also, more cruise ships are offering satellite Wi-Fi service, so you can bring a computer and check in with work and/or home a regular basis.

You don’t want to be away from your family/friends/pets for that long.
The answer above applies here, too. You can email loved ones at home on a regular basis and check in with whoever is caring for your pets. Some ships restrict the use of video chat services, such as Skype or FaceTime, because they use too much of the available Wi-Fi bandwidth – but, you can email photos back and forth. And, while pets can’t make the voyage, you could invite a family member or friend to come with you!

You’ve heard that passengers don’t always get along.
A world cruise creates an onboard community of like-minded people: you’re all there because you enjoy cruising and have a desire to see the world, learn new things and enjoy new experiences. So, you’re likely to have something in common with everyone on board, which makes for good conversation.

You may meet certain people that you prefer to spend your time with, and that’s fine: lots of lasting friendships are forged on world cruises. Also, most world cruises are organized in segments that can be purchased as stand-alone cruises; so, in several ports, some passengers will leave the ship and new guests will board, refreshing the mix of personalities.

With all the delicious cruise ship dining, you’re worried that you’ll gain too much weight.
Cruises are well known for their delicious and plentiful cuisine, and world cruises are no exception. However, every dining venue offers healthy choices; you can also ask for dishes to be prepared in a less-caloric way (broiled instead of fried, sauces on the side, etc.).

Also, keep in mind that a cruise ship invites a more active lifestyle than you may have at home. You can make use of the fitness center, play deck games, and stroll the promenade deck every day, not to mention the shore excursions that will keep you moving.

You’ve been on a lot of cruises in different regions of the world, and are aren’t sure a world cruise will show you anything new. A big difference between world cruises and other types of voyages is that the extended schedule of a world cruise allows time to reach remote (and fascinating) destinations: places like Easter Island, Micronesia’s Yap Islands, the Sandwich Islands or Tristan da Cunha in the southern Atlantic. You will probably visit some ports that you’ve called on before, but that can provide an opportunity to discover something that’s a bit off the usual path.

There’s one more thing you should know about world cruises: they can be addictive.

Some cruise lines estimate that at least 50% of people who take a world cruise will do it again. To get started, talk with a Cruise Specialists today.