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A new contender for the title of world’s longest cruise has departed from Rome, launching a 370-day voyage that will carry Australian and New Zealand travellers through 220 ports, 62 countries and six continents on a continuously scheduled global itinerary.
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A Record-Breaking Year at Sea
The voyage is operated under the Explorations by Norwegian program using the 684-guest Regatta, a mid-sized ship best known from the Oceania Cruises fleet. Publicly available information indicates that the ship sailed from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, in early September 2026 to begin what organisers are marketing as a 370 to 371 day continuous journey, the longest scheduled cruise currently on offer worldwide.
Coverage from travel outlets notes that the itinerary eclipses previous marathon sailings, including Royal Caribbean’s 274-night Ultimate World Cruise, by knitting together back-to-back segments into one overarching schedule that keeps the same vessel at sea for more than a year. Reports describe the sailing as a continuous cruise product, even though most guests will join for selected legs rather than the full circumnavigation.
According to reports detailing the program, Regatta is scheduled to visit around 220 ports in 62 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas and the South Pacific. The schedule has been structured to follow favorable seasons, with highlights such as Mediterranean late summer, cherry blossom time in Japan and opportunities to view the northern lights in northern Europe later in the voyage.
Industry commentary points out that the launch comes amid strong demand for extended voyages and world cruises, with several major lines expanding their long-haul offerings. However, the Explorations by Norwegian itinerary stands out for both its length and its focus on Australian and New Zealand source markets, which have traditionally been enthusiastic adopters of long cruise holidays.
Strong Australian and New Zealand Take-Up
The program behind the voyage has been developed by Australian-based tour operator My Cruises, part of Ignite Travel within Flight Centre Travel Group. Company updates and trade press coverage describe the sailing as a flagship product for the business, designed primarily for travellers from Australia and New Zealand who are willing to commit to several weeks or months at sea.
Reports indicate that more than 10,000 Australians and New Zealanders are expected to travel on various segments of the 2026 to 2027 schedule, either embarking in Rome or joining the ship later in regions closer to home. Rather than selling solely a single year-long world cruise, My Cruises has packaged the deployment into a series of shorter itineraries that can be combined, allowing guests to choose anything from a few weeks in the Mediterranean to an almost year-long global odyssey.
Public information from Flight Centre Group suggests that demand for the initial program has been sufficiently strong that My Cruises has already secured Regatta for a similar extended deployment in 2027. That second year-long charter is expected to follow the same broad concept, again heavily targeting the Australasian market with bundled cruise-and-stay packages and hosted group departures.
Travel trade coverage highlights that the model allows Australian and New Zealand guests to treat different legs as standalone holidays while still being part of a larger, record-setting journey. For those who do choose to remain on board for the majority of the schedule, the result is effectively a sabbatical at sea, with the same cabin serving as a home base for nearly 12 months.
From Rome to the World: Inside the Itinerary
According to published itineraries, the voyage begins with an extended exploration of the Mediterranean, calling at Italian, Greek and Turkish ports before heading towards the Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles. From there, Regatta is scheduled to reach north into Scandinavia, offering the chance of late-season northern lights viewing, before turning south for the Canary Islands and West Africa.
Subsequent stages take the ship along the coast of southern and eastern Africa before it crosses the Indian Ocean towards the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. Reports note that the ship will then continue through Southeast Asia, visiting destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, followed by calls in East Asia that include Japan and South Korea during popular seasonal windows.
The itinerary then tracks across the Pacific with a focus on Australasia and the South Pacific, where Australian and New Zealand guests are expected to make up a particularly high share of passengers. Ports in Australia and New Zealand are scheduled alongside calls in island nations of the Pacific, before Regatta turns towards North and South America for the final months of the voyage.
Collectively, the route is designed so that the ship lingers in each region rather than making a single rapid lap of the globe. Travel writers observing the launch have noted that this slower-paced approach is intended to appeal to guests who see the cruise as an alternative form of long-term travel or even temporary relocation, rather than a once-off checklist of world landmarks.
Cost, Comfort and Life on Board
Pricing details published by partners show that the full year-long itinerary carries a six-figure price tag in Australian or New Zealand dollars for most cabin categories, reflecting the sheer length of the voyage. However, organisers emphasize that guests booking shorter segments can access the experience at far lower entry points, with options ranging from sub-20-night samplers to multi-month regional journeys.
Regatta’s relatively small size compared with the latest mega-ships is central to the marketing of the voyage. With around 348 cabins, the ship is being promoted as offering a more intimate experience, with passengers and crew likely to get to know each other over the course of the longer legs. Promotional material highlights features such as a choice of dining venues, spacious decks and a focus on culinary quality, consistent with the ship’s premium positioning.
Commentary from travel publications suggests that life on board a year-long cruise requires careful planning from guests, from managing visas and travel insurance to arranging remote work or extended leave. At the same time, the model can provide a predictable base for those who prefer unpacking once and letting the world come to them, with shore excursions and independent touring providing variety at each port.
Industry analysts note that the concept also allows the cruise line and charter partners to test demand for ultra-long deployments in different regions. If the first year-long Explorations by Norwegian schedule proves successful, similar itineraries may become a more regular feature of the long-cruise landscape, potentially reshaping expectations of what a world voyage can be.
What Comes Next for Ultra-Long Voyages
The Rome departure takes place against a backdrop of growing experimentation with extended cruising, including multi-month world voyages and residential-style ships offering multi-year itineraries. In this context, the Explorations by Norwegian schedule is being closely watched as a test of whether a mainstream premium ship can sustain a year-long continuous program while maintaining strong occupancy across different source markets.
Reports already point to follow-up deployments, with My Cruises confirming an additional year-long charter of Regatta from 2027 that is expected to continue the focus on Australia and New Zealand. Further afield, other operators are developing long-duration and residential-style products, which could ultimately provide competition or complementary options for travellers considering months at sea.
For now, attention remains on the ship that has just sailed from Rome and the thousands of cruisers booked to join it somewhere along its route. Over the coming year, Regatta is set to trace a path that few other vessels have attempted in a single continuous schedule, setting a new benchmark for how long and how far a cruise holiday can reasonably go.
As the voyage unfolds, travel audiences in Australia, New Zealand and around the world are likely to see regular updates from different legs, showcasing destinations from Mediterranean villages to polar latitudes and tropical islands. The success of this inaugural 370-day journey may help determine how quickly ultra-long cruising evolves from curiosity to established travel niche.
Travel Daily Media: World’s longest cruise embarks on epic journey
Euronews Travel: 371 days, 220 ports and 62 countries
Flight Centre Travel Group investor presentation
TheTraveler.org: My Cruises locks in second year-long Regatta charter