Taste the luxury of a world cruise without the long-term stay on board

For many travellers, a round-the-world cruise sits in the “maybe one day” category.

The Holland America Grand World Voyage is a four-month journey spanning 51 ports in 23 countries and territories, across five continents, tracing a roundtrip route clockwise from Fort Lauderdale in Florida following the coast of South America to Antarctica, across the Pacific to Asia and back via Alaska and the Panama Canal. It is an attractive itinerary that demands 133 days at sea, and so not an obvious fit for everyday schedules.

“We’re seeing the world in comfort and convenience and we only unpack once,” as one guest sailing the full voyage put it. “It’s a lifetime thing, a tick on the bucket list. We live as a resident community and welcome newcomers as visitors to our home at sea.” It’s an appealing idea. The reality, of course, is that few of us can step away for so many days. The alternative is to take a slice of it. Holland America allows passengers to join for individual segments, offering a way to experience the rhythm of a world cruise without committing to the full itinerary. I joined part of the Asian section, aboard the MS Volendam, sailing alongside long-haul travellers and those, like me, dropping in for part of the journey.

It doesn’t take long to settle into life on board. Favoured bars become regular haunts, shared interests form easy social circles while newcomers are quickly absorbed into what feels like a small, floating neighbourhood. I joined a ukulele group, the instrument loaned by the ship, and within an hour felt part of the furniture. Bridge and mahjong sessions slotted neatly around port days, while sea days offered time for ballroom dancing practice, enrichment talks or simply watching the horizon in the distance.

One morning, I found myself painting a scene that might have been lifted from a Japanese watercolour: a faint trickle of colour drifting south, a soft red smudge and a fine horizon line. Around me, fellow passengers were equally intent, brushes poised as we sailed towards Japan. It felt quietly fitting, learning to capture a view from an artistic perspective while heading towards a culture defined by precision.

That sense of immersion drifted ashore. In Vietnam, Halong Bay unfolded in layers of mist and limestone as I drifted past fishing communities on a traditional junk boat, the setting instantly recognisable from its role in the film Tomorrow Never Dies. Hong Kong delivered contrast from crowded street markets, sweeping views from the Peak, the clang of the “ding ding” trams and the nightly light show over Victoria Harbour viewed from the ship’s deck. Taiwan offered thoughtful moments, from releasing a wish lantern on Shifen Old Street to watching the meticulous changing of the guard at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.

Back on board, the pace rarely dipped. The social calendar ranged from deck parties and barn dances to themed dinners and formal evenings, with passengers well briefed in advance for everything from masquerade balls to Great Gatsby nights. Packing for this type of journey is a skill in itself, formalwear alongside hiking boots, layers for cooler climates, lighter pieces for the tropics.

Food takes centre stage and offers everchanging gastronomic experiences. Guest chefs and culinary ambassadors join along the route, hosting demonstrations, tastings and small-scale events, while menus reflect each destination through locally sourced ingredients. It is a subtle but effective way of extending the journey and personality of the culture beyond the ports themselves.

Naturally there is time to retreat. The spa, fitness classes and even a lipstick blending bar cater to personal wellbeing while onboard tailoring ensures wardrobes keep pace with the occasion. For one evening, I borrowed an eye wateringly priced diamond ring from the onboard jeweller to wear for the captain’s dinner, a fleeting indulgence that seemed entirely in keeping with life at sea. A unique service, and yes, it was returned before midnight, reluctantly.

Taking a single segment of a world cruise offers flexibility. You step into an established rhythm, share in it briefly, then step away again. The journey feels unhurried but never slow as destinations link sea days. Choosing a world cruise does not have to take four months, it can be experienced in segments, a form of pick and mix to suit timings, budgets and preferred holiday destinations. I boarded in Halong Bay in Vietnam and disembarked in Taiwan staying at the centrally located Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, www.grandhyatttaipei.com, which has a link path to the top attraction, Taipei 101. Here I spent two days exploring Taipei and further afield with Edison Tours edisontours.com

The Volendam, one of Holland America’s smaller classed ships, accommodates up to 1,432 guests in spacious cabins with a choice of restaurants, lounges, bars, a casino, theatres, library and a spa. Next year Holland America is sailing two Grand Voyages, offering guests the option to embark on the 129-day Grand World Voyage or a 70-day Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage. Details of segments from www.hollandamerica.com.

 Jane Wilson was a guest of Holland America Line www.hollandamerica.com