- Premium cruise line Oceania Cruises announced three new one-to-two-month extended cruises.
- The Riviera itineraries are set to sail to Africa and Asia, starting at $4,400 per person for the one-month option.
Travelers who've dreamt of living on a cruise ship could soon try out the lifestyle with a two-month sailing aboard Oceania Cruises' upscale 1,250-guest Riviera.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' premium brand this week announced its 12-year-old ship is set to embark on three new 2024 and 2025 itineraries in Africa and Asia. They range from 27 to 59 days.
And because it's Oceania, travelers will get to spend these one to two months at sea luxuriating in complimentary Champagne and specialty foods.
Giant cruise ships like Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas have captivated mass-market cruisegoers.
But these mega vessels' most astounding feature, their size, could also be their biggest limitation: Many are too large to fit into some ports.
This is where smaller cruise ships like Oceania's 785-foot-long Riviera fit in — literally
Instead of sailing to common cruise destinations like those in the Caribbean and Mexico, Oceania's three new itineraries are set to sail to less frequented ports in Africa and Asia.
The longest of the three itineraries, the 59-day Grand Voyage, is set to start in Barcelona on November 14. From there, the vessel is set to sail down West and South Africa, back north through Southeast Africa and its neighboring islands, east to South and Southeast Asia, and conclude in Singapore on January 12, 2025.
This two-month itinerary, which starts at $15,700 per person, is also set to include overnight stays in destinations like Walvis Bay, Namibia; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Male, Maldives.
If two months at sea sounds too long, the itinerary can also be booked in two segments.
The shortest 27-day "West Africa Rhythms" would follow the first half of the Grand Voyage's itinerary from Barcelona to Cape Town, South Africa.
The 32-day "Colonial Crowns" cruise would then sail the final leg from Cape Town to Singapore.
The former starts at $4,400 per person, while the latter will set travelers back $4,900.
These are lofty prices compared to itineraries with its parent company's more popular Norwegian Cruise Line.
But unlike the average cruise, guests on this one-to-two-month journey have access to Oceania's high-end complimentary amenities: alcohol, seven specialty dining venues, Bulgari toiletries, and, most importantly, WiFi.
Oceania will even book travelers' roundtrip flights at an additional cost.
Extended cruises have been skyrocketing in popularity, both in bookings and internet lore
Demand for longer cruises has been so prominent, that even ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas' pricey monthslong world cruises had sold out in "record time" for five years in a row, the operator said in 2022.
(There are still several cabins left on its most recently announced 154-night 2026 itinerary, starting at a cool $96,600 per person.)
One ongoing extended cruise has even become an internet sensation: Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise.
Since the sailing embarked on December 10, 2023, "TravelTok" has been alight with videos about the nine-month cruise — and all of the onboard drama that could ensue.