An around-the-world cruise will let travelers live on a small cruise ship for 155 nights see what it'll be like aboard
Brittany Chang
- Miami-based Azamara has unveiled a 155-night 2026 world cruise to 36 countries.
- The itinerary starts at $39,000 for an interior stateroom on the 684-guest Azamara Onward.
Miami-based Azamara is giving travelers the opportunity to live on a cruise ship for 155 nights as it sails around the world in 2026. But if it ends up being as popular as its soon-to-depart 2024 counterpart, this sailing could sell out.
Azamara isn't like other cruise giant-backed companies that operate around-the-world sailings. For starters, its previous parent company Royal Caribbean Group sold the brand for $201 million to private-equity firm Sycamore Partners in 2021. And the premium cruise line — which specializes in smaller vessels — has a more compact fleet of four vessels that each only carry up to 700 passengers.
The vessel that'll be deployed for this 2026 global vacation, the Azamara Onward, can accommodate up to 684 guests.
To compare, the upcoming world's largest cruise ship will sail with up to 7,600 guests.
The boom in interest for extended and world cruises has been a windfall for both small and legacy cruise lines, including Azamara.
The company's 2024 world cruise is now sold out ahead of its departure in early January.
Following the first week of bookings, Azamara expects this 2026 itinerary to sell out as well, Andrew Smith, its assistant vice president of revenue optimization and business intelligence, told Insider in a statement.
However, there are still several suites and staterooms available on its 2025 world cruise.
On January 6, 2026, the Onward and its passengers will embark from PortMiami.
After 155 nights and 36 countries, the journey will conclude in Barcelona on June 11, according to the small cruise company.
The itinerary is broken down into 10 segments that hit destinations across Central America, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
This includes the opportunity to see the "Seven Wonders of the World."
Of the 155 nights, 55 will either be late departures or overnight stays at ports like Bangkok, Thailand; Athens, Greece; and Progreso, Mexico.
An additional 60 stops will be extended stops, giving guests at least 10 hours at the port.
Five months at sea is a big commitment. For travelers who need a break from the ocean, there are several on-land overnight excursion opportunities.
This includes hopping on a flight to Beijing for a three-night trip to tour the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.
If you've been keeping up with Azamara's world cruises, you'll recognize the Onward.
It's the same ship the cruise line is using for its 2024 and 2025 world cruises.
The 592-foot-long vessel has 278 guest staterooms.
Along with these guests, the ship can accommodate 408 crew members.
During the months-long voyage, guests can dine at one of the ship's five restaurants, take a dip on the pool deck, and relax at the spa.
The floating hotel is also home to eight bars and lounges.
For dinner, travelers can indulge in filet mignon with a black truffle sauce in the primary dining room.
And for dessert, well it wouldn't be a cruise without the self-serve frozen yogurt post on the pool deck.
A ticket for this 2026 sailing ranges from $39,000 per person for an interior stateroom to $157,000 for the owner's suite.
This starting price is less expensive than competitor Oceania Cruises' 2025 world cruise, although Oceania's itinerary is longer by more than three weeks.
This cost also covers WiFi, airfare credit, laundry service, and one night at a hotel before the trip commences, among other conveniences.
But you might want to consider traveling with someone else: Solo travelers will have to pay a 200% "single supplement."
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