Australia has put a distinctly local stamp on one of cruising’s most ambitious itineraries, with Explorations by Norwegian beginning its inaugural 371-day world voyage aboard Regatta from Civitavecchia, the port serving Rome.
The voyage departed on 1 September 2026 and is scheduled to visit more than 220 ports in 62 countries across six continents. Its creators market it as the world’s longest cruise, while other reporting has more specifically described it as the world’s longest continuous scheduled cruise a useful distinction in an era when residential ships and extended stay-at-sea concepts are making the record books rather more complicated.
Either way, 371 days is not exactly a long weekend with a drinks package.
The itinerary sends Regatta through the Mediterranean and Scandinavia before reaching Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, then continuing through North America, the Caribbean and South America.
Along the way are opportunities to see the Northern Lights, explore Greenland and Iceland, transit the Panama Canal, journey along the Amazon, experience safari country in southern Africa and visit destinations including Madagascar and Zanzibar.
An Australian idea with some heavyweight backing
Australian travel company My Cruises developed Explorations by Norwegian in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line. My Cruises sits within Gold Coast-based Ignite Travel Group, part of Flight Centre Travel Group.
Regatta ordinarily sails for Oceania Cruises, while both Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are brands within Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, alongside Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
That corporate family tree may require a strong coffee, but the proposition for passengers is considerably simpler: one small ship, a very large map and the freedom to join for anything from a short sector to almost an entire year.
My Cruises Global Head of Cruise Michael Middleton said Regatta’s departure represented the culmination of years of planning.
“Seeing Regatta set sail on this incredible journey is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved,” Middleton said.
The original full-voyage package started at $99,990 per person, rising to $249,989 for the highest-priced accommodation.
Cruise Passenger reported that the original package included return business-class flights to Europe, a two-night hotel stay in Rome, the same cabin throughout the voyage, drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, onboard gratuities and a US$50 shore-experience credit at every port.
Small ship, enormous itinerary
Regatta offers the sort of scale increasingly attractive to travellers who want extensive destination access without the floating-city experience.
Oceania Cruises lists the ship as carrying up to 670 guests, making it considerably more intimate than the megaships now carrying several thousand passengers. The vessel offers restaurants, lounges, a pool deck, a spa, fitness facilities and a library, among its onboard amenities.
It even offers complimentary self-service laundry, a seemingly modest detail that becomes more important when the packing list has to survive four seasons.
The Explorations concept combines elements of boutique ocean cruising, destination-focused river cruising and expedition-style discovery. Instead of making the ship the only attraction, the model puts considerable emphasis on what happens ashore, including longer stays and more immersive destination experiences.
Historian, author and lecturer Dr Dean Allen has joined the inaugural program as resident Explorations Ambassador, providing destination context through presentations, conversations and briefings.
Allen is intended to help passengers understand the history, culture and stories behind the places they visit, useful when your holiday itinerary is considerably thicker than some telephone books used to be.
Shore experiences range from traditional sightseeing and local discovery to more active options such as walking, hiking and kayaking.
You don’t need 371 days to join the party
The scale of the full voyage may grab the headlines, but travellers do not need to vanish from home for more than a year to participate.
The world itinerary has been divided into individual sectors, with journeys available from as little as eight days. Passengers can combine several regions or, for those with the time, money and a remarkably understanding collection of houseplants, remain aboard for the entire circumnavigation.
Cruise Passenger reports that more than 10,000 Australian and New Zealand passengers are expected to travel aboard Regatta during the inaugural season as guests join and leave the ship at different ports.
If achieved, that figure would demonstrate why the sector-based model matters commercially. The potential market is not merely those travellers able to spend a full year at sea, but a much broader audience wanting a slice of a world voyage.
Current My Cruises advertising reinforces that flexibility.
A 23-night Sydney-to-Bangkok package departing in February 2027 is advertised from $5,990 per person, with return flights, a city stay and $4,000 in bonus onboard value among the advertised inclusions.
Other advertised options include California Vineyards and the Panama Canal from $14,990, New York to Paris via Greenland and Iceland from $14,990, and a Machu Picchu and Amazon adventure from $19,990. Prices are generally quoted per person, twin share, and remain subject to availability, currency movements, and individual package conditions.
A new identity for Regatta
Regatta has also received a visible Explorations makeover.
Cruise Passenger reports that Explorations branding has been applied to the ship’s hull and funnel, a new production show has been introduced, and the entertainment program has been reshaped with Australian, New Zealand and British passengers in mind.
That may prove more important than it sounds.
A voyage of this length cannot survive on itinerary alone. Passengers need a ship that feels sufficiently like home without becoming too familiar, entertainment that works for an international audience and enough variety ashore to keep the passport busy.
For Australia’s cruise industry, the launch is notable not because another giant vessel has arrived for a summer season, but because an Australian travel business has helped create, package and market an unusually ambitious global cruising product.
Whether Explorations by Norwegian should ultimately be labelled a new Australian cruise line, a cruise brand or a new cruising concept remains partly a matter of industry definition. Flight Centre itself describes it as a “new style of cruise holiday”, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings continues to identify Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises as its principal cruise brands.
What is beyond argument is the scale of the undertaking.
Regatta has left Rome with more than a year of ports ahead. For passengers aboard the full voyage, there will be birthdays, Christmas, New Year and an extraordinary number of laundry days before the journey is done.
In cruising terms, that is not merely a holiday.
It is practically a change of address.
By: John Alwyn-Jones – © 2026.
Read Time: 5 minutes.
Author Bio:
John Alwyn-Jones is one of those rare figures who can make the business of travel sound positively adventurous.
A lifelong communicator with the polish of a broadcaster and the curiosity of a journalist, he’s spent decades shaping stories and strategies across tourism, aviation, and the cruise world. He’s led from the front as CEO, director, mentor, and advisor, and still brings warmth and wit to every boardroom and microphone.
Known for his sharp insight into global cruise lines and destinations, John has an old-school belief in professionalism, tempered with the sparkle of someone who’s genuinely seen the world. He’s not just in the business of travel; he’s made it an art form.
