The history of cruises can be traced back to the 19th century. Earlier, ships were the only way of traveling across continents. However, with the introduction of luxurious cabins, the elite started going on cruises for the experience itself. These cruises would last anywhere between several weeks and several months. Cruises have grown in popularity since the beginning, thanks to the luxurious and technologically advanced upgrades that cruise lines have introduced over the years. Over time, cruise lines have also tweaked their itineraries to provide shorter trips that last from a few days to a week. While these have become popular, there is something charming about going on a long-haul cruise that lasts for weeks or months. If you have the time and inclination for a long cruise holiday, here are some of the top long-haul cruise lines you can try.
What are Long-Haul Cruises?
Long-haul cruises are those that travel long distances, usually across oceans, traversing more than a thousand nautical miles. These cruises cover different continents and a range of time zones and climates. This includes transatlantic sailings from New York to Southampton, Miami to Rome, Boston to Amsterdam, and more. The Middle East and Southeast Asia have also become popular cruise destinations, and you will find cruises from Dubai to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. There are also expedition cruise vacation packages that take you from South America to Antarctica. Apart from this, there are also round-the-world cruises, which are equivalent to a world tour. A long-haul cruise can be anywhere from 14 days to 180 days.
Best Long-Haul Cruise Lines
The best thing about a long-haul cruise is that you can visit multiple countries, sometimes across continents, without the headache of catching frequent flights and packing and unpacking numerous times. Take a look at some of the best long-haul cruise lines and what they offer.
Costa Cruises
Belonging to Carnival Corporation, Costa Cruises is one of the oldest cruise lines in the world. This Italy based cruise company was established in 1854. The company has cruises in Europe, America, Asia, Scandinavia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. The reason why Costa has been a favorite among cruises for centuries is that it makes luxury affordable. A staycation with Costa Cruises is what you can experience if you choose this cruise line. From elegant interior cabins to lavish balcony rooms and plush suites, Costa promises the most comfortable accommodations for a long cruise journey.
Best Features: Costa Cruises offers Italian hospitality, a grand suite Jacuzzi veranda, teen zone activities, gourmet dining, shore excursions, and plenty of entertainment shows.
Signature Ships: Costa Cruises has nine fleets, which include Costa Smeralda, Costa Toscana, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema, Costa Favolosa, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Fortuna, Costa Pacifica, and Costa Serena. You will find itineraries ranging from 2-days to 22 days and more, including world tours for all the ships mentioned here.
Best for: Families with kids, the elderly population, and honeymooning couples
MSC Cruises
A Switzerland-based cruise company, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) Cruises is known for its massive fleets, with the capacity to hold anywhere between 5000 and 6000 passengers. Founded in 1988, MSC cruises offers cruises to almost all parts of the world. You can sail to Northern Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Panama Canal, South America, Asia, the Canary Islands, and more. While the cruise ships of MSC have all the regular cruise cabins, the MSC Yacht Club is the one that offers exclusivity, privacy, and ultimate luxury.
Best Features: Apart from MSC Yacht Club, which offers private suites, private butler service, and exclusive amenities like a restaurant, pool, and more, there is much more to MSC Cruises. Get ready for Broadway-style shows, kids’ clubs, sports and recreational facilities, spas, specialty dining, and more.
Signature Ships: MSC Cruises has 24 fleets, the most popular being MSC Euribia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Lirica, MSC Preziosa, MSC Poeria, MSC Seashore, MSC Virtousa, MSC World Europa, and more. MSC Cruises are available throughout the year. You will find MSC Euribia from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other Middle Eastern countries during the winter, while most other ships sail in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer months.
Best For: Multigenerational families, large groups, honeymooners, etc. It is a good place to host a wedding or other such celebrations.
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Featured Norwegian Cruises
An American-based cruise line, Norwegian Cruises, was founded in 1966 and has its headquarters in Miami. Apart from owning luxurious fleets that offer all kinds of modern amenities and facilities, what makes Norwegian Cruises truly unique is its “freestyle cruising” style. If you are someone who does not like to follow a timetable while on a holiday, Norwegian Cruises would impress you. The cruise line offers a lot of flexibility in terms of entertainment, meal times, dress code, and more. If you are looking for exclusive accommodation while sailing on Norwegian Cruises, The Haven by Norwegian is the one for you. It is a premium section, which looks like a ‘ship-within-a-ship,’ and has its own luxury rooms, lounges, pools, 24/7 butler service, etc.
Best Features: Norwegian Cruises has some of the best onboard amenities and facilities. There is a large activity zone named ThrillPlex, where you will find rope courses, racetracks, and a laser tag arena. Some of the cruises of this cruise line do not just have swimming pools but also a water park, complete with all kinds of slides and other activities. Another unique aspect of Norwegian Cruises is that some of its fleets feature casinos, where you can try your luck.
Signature Ships: Norwegian Cruises has 21 modern fleets, some of which include the Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Star, etc. Norwegian Encore is considered one of the best of its fleet.
Best For: Families with kids, couples on a romantic holiday, and even solo travelers (most of the cruise ships have solo cabins and other facilities).
Royal Caribbean Cruises
One of the largest cruise lines in the world, Royal Caribbean Cruises, is headquartered in Miami, USA. Apart from being enormous, its ships are also known for being innovative and technologically advanced. Royal Caribbean Cruises offers a variety of cruise options, including short cruises that last for a week or so, as well as transatlantic, long-haul, and repositioning cruises, and extended Asia-Pacific cruises as well. With Royal Caribbean Cruises, you can cruise to different continents around the world, including Europe, North America, Asia, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, and the South Pacific. Different varieties of Royal Caribbean Cruises cabins and suites are available.
Best Features: The Royal Caribbean is a treasure trove of activities, adventures, and attractions. One of the most special attractions you can find in some of its fleets is the FlowRider, which is a surf simulator. Apart from this, there is RIPCORD by iFly, which gives you the chance to enjoy indoor skydiving while at sea. Trapeze School, Bionic Bar, pool parties, infinity pool at sea, sports court, zipline, arcade, carousel, swimming pools, a play area, mini golf, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, bumper cars, escape rooms, etc., are a few of the activities that await you while cruising on one of the Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Signature Ships: The Royal Caribbean Cruises has 24 ships, and these are divided into seven classes: Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class, Freedom Class, Voyager Class, Vision Class, and Radiance Class. These classes are based on factors like size, theme, technology, adventure, and more. Some of the signature ships of Royal Caribbean Cruises are Anthem of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, etc.
Best For: Adventure lovers, families, and retirees
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Featured Havila Cruises
A family-owned cruise line based in Norway, Havila Cruises is your window to the dramatic and gorgeous landscapes of Norway. The Havila Cruises are perfect for those who enjoy slow travel and want to relax on a cruise without any of the typical cruise activities, entertainment, or noise. Instead, you stand on the deck or relax at one of the lounges and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Norway, right from the fjords to the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun. The itineraries offered by this cruise line include places like Bergen, North Cape, Tromso, the Arctic Circle, Kirkenes, the Atlantic Road, Trondheim, Lofoten, Helgeland, etc. Both short and long cruises are available.
Best Features: The decor of the ship, including its spacious cabins, has a Nordic influence, intended for rest. One of the reasons people prefer this cruise is its eco-innovation, which allows for zero emission for four hours. Another highlight of this cruise line is its food. Unlike other cruises, Havila Cruises does not have a buffet system. Instead, you get to enjoy a la carte meals, where the food is made using fresh, local ingredients. Instead of typical cruise entertainment activities, you will get to participate in workshops, talks, and more.
Signature Ships: Havila Cruises has four cruise ships: Havila Castor, Havila Capella, Havila Pollux, and Havila Polaris. While the ships are smaller in size, they are perfect for enjoying the heritage and scenic tour of Norway.
Best For: Eco-conscious travelers, adventure lovers, nature photographers, solo travelers, mature couples, etc. Havila Cruises may not be suitable for families with young kids.
Holland America
Established in 1873, Holland America served as a passenger ship between America and the Netherlands before it became a cruise ship. Today, Holland America has cruises to North America, South America, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. The cruise ships of Holland America are medium-sized but packed with all kinds of comforts, activities, and attractions. This cruise line is known for its epic long-haul cruises, some of which last more than 100 days. However, you will also find shorter cruises here. Apart from sailing on this cruise for longer days, Holland Cruises’ itineraries include overnight stays at ports.
Best Features: A spectrum of day and night activities awaits you on the cruises of Holland America. Right from kids to adults, there is something for everyone here. There are game shows, trivia nights, bongo, board games, and more. There are Arts & Crafts workshops for the young and old on the cruise. Holland America Cruises also has casinos where you can enjoy table games, slot machines, etc. Pools and hot tubs, libraries, retail stores, art auctions, etc., are all part of Holland America Cruises.
Signature Ships: Holland America has 11 cruises, which include Noordam, Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam, Eurodam, Rotterdam, etc.
Best For: Retirees, cultural enthusiasts, mature travelers, cruise veterans, and families with kids.
Conclusion
If you want to enjoy a long holiday while visiting multiple places, but without worrying about the logistics of traveling from one place to another, a long-haul cruise would be perfect for you.
