Long cruise FAQ: what to know before a voyage of 30 nights or more
Princess and Holland America both want full payment 120 days before a world cruise, and cancelling late costs more than on a short cruise. Voyages of 30 nights or more on this site start at $87 a night, with a median of $229, as of 7 November 2026.
By Andrew Budai · Last checked · Rules and prices change, so confirm with each source before you travel.
Every answer below comes from a cruise line's own pages or a government site, checked on 7 November 2026. Your booking confirmation overrides anything here.
How far ahead are world cruises released and booked?
About two years ahead. Princess's world cruise FAQ says its world cruises typically open for booking two years before they sail, and it recommends booking 12 to 18 months out.
Holland America opened its 2027 Grand Voyages for booking on 14 May 2025, according to its own news release. The 2027 Grand World Voyage leaves Fort Lauderdale on 5 January 2027. Cunard's world cruise page was already showing its 2029 world voyages when we checked.
How much deposit does a world cruise need, and when is final payment due?
Princess wants 10% at booking and 30% in total by 320 days out. Princess and Holland America both want the balance 120 days before departure. The published terms on 7 November 2026:
| Line | Deposit | Final payment |
|---|---|---|
| Princess, cruises of 45 days or more | 10% at booking, then another 20% at 320 days before departure | 120 days before departure |
| Holland America, Grand World Voyage, Grand Voyages and their segments | A "required deposit amount" the policy page does not state | 120 days before travel begins |
| Viking, cruises of more than 35 days | Set by the promotion you book, shown on your invoice | Shown on your invoice |
Viking's booking terms add that a reservation can be cancelled without notice if a payment arrives late.
What are the cancellation fees on a world cruise?
They are higher than on a short cruise, and they start earlier. Princess keeps only the deposit if you cancel a 14 to 24 day cruise 120 days out. On a cruise of 45 days or more, the same notice costs 15% of the total. The schedules on 7 November 2026:
| Line | What you lose by cancelling |
|---|---|
| Princess, 45 days or more | The deposit at 320 days or more; 15% at 120 to 319 days; 30% at 113 to 119; 50% at 61 to 112; 100% at 60 days or less |
| Holland America, Grand Voyages and segments | Nothing at 120 days or more; the deposit at 113 to 119; 50% at 76 to 112; everything at 75 days or less |
| Viking, more than 35 days | $1,000 per person at 180 days or more; 20% at 150 to 179; 40% at 120 to 149; 60% at 90 to 119; 80% at 60 to 89; 100% at 59 days or less |
Holland America's other cruises still refund 75% between 91 and 119 days out, so the Grand Voyage schedule is the stricter one. Its figures apply to bookings opened on or after 29 September 2026 for 2027 departures. Non-refundable promotional fares follow their own rules.
Can you book only part of a world cruise?
Yes. Lines sell world cruises in segments, which Cunard calls sectors. Princess says its world cruises run 110 to 131 days, with segments of 15 to 30 days. Each world cruise page on this site lists the segments you can book on their own: start at world cruises.
Check which cancellation rules apply to the piece you book. Princess files world cruise segments under the schedule for their own length, so a 25-day segment uses the 25 to 44 day rules. Holland America applies its stricter Grand Voyage schedule to segments too.
What is included in the fare on a long cruise?
It depends on the line. Princess and Holland America sell drinks and Wi-Fi as extras, Viking puts more into the fare, and Cunard adds events for full world voyage guests. From each line's pages on 7 November 2026:
| Line | What the line's page says |
|---|---|
| Princess | Drinks, specialty dining and Wi-Fi come in Princess Plus, $70 a person a day bought before the cruise, or Princess Premier, $105 a day (all ships but Sun Princess and Star Princess) |
| Holland America | Have It All bundles drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and a shore excursion credit for $65 a person a day; its 21-night-plus tier excludes Grand Voyages |
| Cunard, full world voyage | A welcome reception, a gift, cocktail parties, a gala dinner ashore, a World Voyage concierge, a private lounge and daily hotel charges |
| Viking | A shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, port taxes and fees, alternative restaurants and launderettes; not gratuities |
Princess Plus at the pre-cruise rate comes to $7,700 per person over 110 days.
Do you pay gratuities on a world cruise?
Usually, and by the day. When we checked on 7 November 2026:
| Line | Daily amount per person |
|---|---|
| Princess | $18; $19 in mini-suites, cabanas and Club Class; $20 in suites; added automatically and adjustable on board |
| Holland America | $18 in non-suite staterooms, $20 in suites |
| Viking | $20 a night, its recommended rate |
| Cunard | Included for full world voyage guests and on selected sectors |
At $18 a day, a 110-day Princess voyage adds $1,980 per person.
How do you do laundry on a long cruise?
Cunard and Viking have free self-service launderettes, Princess charges a small amount, and Holland America has none.
| Line | Laundry, per the line |
|---|---|
| Cunard | Free launderettes with washers, washing powder, dryers and irons, open from around 7:30am to 9pm |
| Viking | Free self-service launderettes with irons and ironing boards, on Decks 3 to 6 |
| Princess | Self-service launderettes for a "negligible charge", with tokens bought on your Medallion; full suite guests get free laundry service |
| Holland America | No self-service laundry rooms; a paid laundry and dry cleaning service, laundry packages bought per room, and free service in Neptune and Pinnacle Suites |
Leave your iron at home. Princess and Holland America ban irons and steamers in cabins, and Cunard lists both as prohibited items.
Can you get prescriptions and medical care on board, and what does it cost?
Yes, there is a doctor on board, but you pay for each visit and the pharmacy is small. Princess says its medical centers hold office hours twice a day and answer emergencies around the clock. Charges go on your shipboard account, and Princess gives you an itemized receipt to claim from your insurer yourself. None of the pages we read publishes treatment prices.
For prescriptions, Princess asks you to bring enough for the whole trip plus 10 extra days. Its formulary is limited and it cannot special order a drug, and consultation and dispensing fees apply. Holland America's contract says guests may be charged for medical services and must pay any medical or evacuation costs incurred for them.
Medicare.gov says Medicare usually doesn't cover care outside the US, and Part B pays for care on a ship only in limited cases, such as when the ship is in a US port or no more than six hours from one.
Do you need travel insurance for a world cruise?
It depends where you book. Cunard makes insurance mandatory for every guest who books in the UK, whatever their nationality, and says guests without it may be denied boarding. The policy must cover the whole trip and include at least £2 million of medical and repatriation cover, with emergency evacuation and pre-existing conditions.
The US-facing terms recommend it rather than require it. Princess strongly recommends cover for medical emergencies, including evacuation, and Holland America's contract strongly recommends it too. Viking calls travel protection recommended, but its terms say you must carry proof of insurance where an itinerary requires it.
How do you stay connected on a world cruise?
Through the ship's Wi-Fi, which is free on Viking and paid on Princess and Holland America. Holland America's Wi-Fi runs on Starlink. When we checked on 7 November 2026, its Premium plan cost $26 a day and Stream $38 a day, priced on a 7-day package, with discounts possible on longer sailings and packages sold for up to 135 days.
Princess Plus includes Wi-Fi for one device and Princess Premier for up to four. Family at home can phone a Holland America ship through its Ship Dial service at $7.95 a minute.
Can you get mail on a world cruise?
The lines we checked describe sending mail, not receiving it. Holland America says you can post letters and postcards from the ship in ports of call, with stamps bought ashore or on board, and it mentions traditional mail on Grand Voyages. Princess's world cruise FAQ tells guests to arrange mail forwarding and set up auto-pay for bills before leaving home.
What happens if you miss the ship in a port?
You pay to catch up, and the line can refuse to let you back on. Princess and Holland America use almost the same wording in section 11 of their contracts. Missing a sailing at any port is at your own risk and expense, you may be denied boarding later, and you get no refund for the days you lose. Reaching the next port, by flight or otherwise, is your cost.
How much luggage can you bring on a world cruise?
Cunard sets no limit beyond 23kg (about 50 lb) per case. Its luggage guide, dated 29 October 2026, says cases over 23kg are not allowed on board, and its Cruise Connect coaches take three medium cases per person. Everything has to fit in your cabin for the whole voyage, a point Viking's FAQ makes as well.
Holland America's FAQ points to airline and transfer limits on number and weight, which you are responsible for. If you fly, your airline's allowance is the real cap.
What is the dress code on a long voyage?
Smart casual most nights, with formal evenings on Princess and Cunard and none on Viking. Princess lists at least five formal nights on cruises of 29 days or more: evening gowns, cocktail dresses or elegant pant suits for women, and a tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket for men.
Cunard asks for smart attire on most evenings and holds at least one Gala Evening on voyages of three nights or more, which it says is optional. Viking has no formal nights. Its evening dress is elegant casual.
How much does a long cruise cost per night?
Across every voyage of 30 nights or more on this site, the median starting fare is $229 per person per night as of 7 November 2026, and the lowest is $87. For full world cruises the median is $252.
These fares are per person, two sharing, for the cheapest cabin, with taxes and port fees included. Gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks come on top at most lines. The price per night page ranks every voyage by its nightly fare.
What is the longest cruise on sale, and the cheapest world cruise?
As of 7 November 2026, the longest voyage on sale is 244 nights on Oceania Vista (Oceania Cruises), leaving Miami on 6 January 2027. The lowest starting fare for a full world cruise is $12,499. See the longest cruises and the cheapest long cruises for the full lists.
Do you need visas for a world cruise?
Usually for some ports, depending on your passport. Princess's FAQ says guests are responsible for getting a visa for every country on the itinerary. Our world cruise visas and documents guide covers what to check.
Are there long cruises from the US, the UK and Australia?
Yes. This site lists voyages of 30 nights or more from 59 departure ports, all on the departure ports page. Princess names Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and New York City in North America, Dover for London, and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, Adelaide and Auckland among its usual world cruise starting points. Cunard's full world voyages start in Southampton, and Holland America's 2028 Grand World Voyage sails round trip from Fort Lauderdale.
Sources
- Princess Cruises, Standard policy for guest cancellations, refunds and final payment
- Princess Cruises, Around the world cruise (World Cruises FAQs)
- Princess Cruises, FAQs: onboard experience
- Princess Cruises, Pre-cruise FAQs
- Princess Cruises, Plus and Premier cruise packages
- Princess Cruises, Passage contract
- Holland America Line, Cruise cancellation policy
- Holland America Line, Cruise contract
- Holland America Line, 2027 Grand Voyages officially open for booking (14 May 2025)
- Holland America Line, 2028 Grand World Voyage
- Holland America Line, Cruise Wi-Fi plans and internet packages
- Holland America Line, Have It All cruise package
- Holland America Line, Crew Appreciation rates and charges
- Holland America Line, Can I do my own laundry on board the ship?
- Holland America Line, Laundry and dry cleaning on your cruise
- Holland America Line, Telephone, fax and mail on board
- Holland America Line, Communication at sea: phone and Wi-Fi
- Holland America Line, Are there restrictions on how much luggage I can bring?
- Cunard, World cruises (UK site)
- Cunard, Cruise travel insurance (UK site)
- Cunard, What to pack (dress code and laundry FAQ)
- Cunard, Luggage guide (29 October 2026)
- Viking, Booking and Sale Terms and Conditions (last updated 8 October 2026)
- Viking, Viking Inclusive Value (ocean cruises)
- Viking, Ocean cruises frequently asked questions
- Medicare.gov, Travel outside the U.S.
