Setting Sail on the 2026 Grand World Voyage
133 Days Around the World — Our 2026 Grand World Voyage
Setting Sail on the 2026 Grand World Voyage
Tomorrow, January 4, 2026, we board Volendam at Terminal 19 in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale — the start of our 133-day Grand World Voyage with Holland America Line.
By the time we return to Fort Lauderdale on May 17, we will have sailed around South America, experienced Antarctica, crossed the South Pacific to Australia, looped through Southeast Asia and Japan, continued north to Alaska, cruised down the West Coast of the United States, and finally returned east via a Pacific-to-Atlantic Panama Canal transit.
By the Numbers
- 133 days
- 51 ports
- 23 countries and territories
- 5 continents
When the World Changes, So Do Itineraries
The original 2026 cruise map is shown here.
Original 2026 Grand World Voyage transited the Red Sea
However, in October 2024, eight months after the cruise was announced, shipping routes through the Red Sea closed. As a result, Holland America decided to revise the second half of the voyage significantly. Everyone was offered $1000 of on-board credit as compensation for the revised itinerary, or you could cancel without penalty.
Rather than continuing west from Singapore, the ship would turn north and east, creating an entirely new Pacific-focused itinerary shown here.
Revised 2026 Grand World Voyage was the same thru Singapore
What “Planning a World Cruise” Really Means
Planning a world cruise isn’t one task — it’s three parallel projects running at the same time.
1. Planning for 51 Ports
This includes researching ports, identifying must-see sights, booking private tours, tracking visa requirements, and sometimes deciding not to do anything at all.
So far, I’ve booked excursions or reserved rental cars for 30 ports. Every port for the first two months is planned out — sometimes it’s a full tour, other times just an outline of where we plan to explore.
With today’s reliable shipboard internet and the ability to make calls and send texts while at sea, it’s easier than ever to plan activities en route.
We’ve been to every port before except those in Taiwan and Komodo Island, so I already have a good sense of what to do in most places.
2. Planning for Life in a Small Cabin for 133 Days
Packing for four months means planning for multiple climates, formal nights, themed events, medical contingencies, tech gear, and everyday life onboard.
I’ve written about this in detail elsewhere on the site — see my section on How to Pack for a World Cruise.
3. Planning for Life at Home While We’re Gone
Mail, bills, cars, taxes, maintenance — a thousand small things that still exist even when you’re halfway around the world.
We live in a condo, so home logistics are simple: turn off the water, lock the door, and go. No yard work or house-sitting required.
I’ll continue linking to related posts as the voyage unfolds.
The Cruise Started (Sorta) on December 11
One of the perks of booking early was being able to ship luggage ahead using Luggage Forward at no additional charge.
Normally, Luggage Forward charges about $160 per bag. They picked up four large suitcases on December 11, 2025, which have been sitting in a warehouse in Pompano Beach since December 18.
UPS guys taking our bags for Luggage Forward
Getting to Fort Lauderdale
Flying east from San Diego always comes down to a choice:
- Leave early with a 4:00 AM alarm, or
- Take the red-eye
We choose the red-eye every time — staying up late is far less stressful than getting up early.
To arrive a full day early for our January 4 sailing, we:
- Departed the evening of January 1
- Had a 3-hour layover in Atlanta
- Arrived in Fort Lauderdale around 10:30 AM on January 2
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- Ready to board our flight to Fort Lauderdale at sunrise
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- Tach Luggage connects to each other – I was able to pull 5 bags in a train
Why We Stay in Plantation (Not Near the Port)
Although there are plenty of hotels near Port Everglades, we always stay in Plantation, about 11 miles west, specifically at the Residence Inn.
- Lower room rates offset the higher Uber cost
- Convenient access to a large mall and a Target
- Close to our favorite yarn shop — Sheep Thrills
Our favorite yarn shop – a must stop before each cruise – Sheep Thrills
Embarkation Day Strategy
Holland America recommends guests not arrive before 10:30 AM and uses staggered arrival times by deck:
- 11:30 AM — Deck 6 (Verandah Deck)
- 12:30 PM — Decks 3 & 7 (Lower Promenade & Navigation Decks)
- 1:30 PM — Deck 2 (Main Deck)
- 2:30 PM — Deck 1 (Dolphin Deck)
Our plan:
- Leave the hotel around noon
- Aim to arrive at the terminal around 1:00 PM
- Let the first wave clear before checking in
Will it work? We’ll find out soon enough.
Following Along
- The final itinerary and voyage map are linked on every post
- Updates to each port page as entertainment, menus, and Daily Programs are released
- Real-time updates on X, Instagram, Facebook, and the occasional YouTube video
- Longer posts every few days
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Today’s the day – see you onboard!
Thanks – can’t wait – see you soon!
Great planning as always. Thank you for sharing. Hope to see you today!
Thanks – We will be around the Lido for the “sail away” at 4 PM or so
Great checking in passengers and fans of your blog on the world cruise in Fort Lauderdale today! Have a safe as wonderful voyage everyone!
Thanks for following
Looking forward to following y’all around the world, or at least the circle, again! Thank you for sharing so graciously.!
Thanks for following!
Have a wonderful voyage!🚢
Will enjoy your posts from Punta Gorda, FL.
Thanks for following! I will be posting more live updates from X, Instagram and Facebook….follow me there…
Looking forward to sailing virtually with you half way around the “world”. Safe travels.
Thanks, I appreciate the follow!
Can’t wait to be reading your blogs as you travel the world. What fun !! Very happy for you and Judy. We board the Zaandam today, here in San Diego for the 93 day Grand Pacific. We can’t wait to see you in Sydney for the 2:00 pm Tea.
Have fun – see you in Sydney!
Have a great cruise. As always, I look forward to virtually sailing with you.
I’m so excited to be sailing virtually with you again and so appreciate your detailed posts!
Enjoy your posts….where to you store all your suitcases? Do you have space to empty them all?
Yes – we have room under the bed – they all nest – plus we are in a Neptune suite so we have plenty of space
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!
Thanks Larry !
I’m so very pleased to read you’re going on the World Cruise again, and letting those of us at home join in virtually! Thanks in advance for all the posts I’m going to enjoy.
Have a grand trip!
Thanks Ruth – appreciate your checking in !
Thanks for once again providing such a detailed report of the cruise. It’s fun to relive the places we’ve been and exciting to read about the places we’d like to visit. But I am disappointed with my Tach luggage. The “handle” spaces at the base of all three bags have now ripped. I tried the glue and patch but it didn’t last long. Sure hope you’ve had better luck. Have a fantastic voyage and stay well-and safe.
Mine are holding up OK, but I wish they were sturdier.
Pete and Judy, have a wonderful time. Wish Bob and I were sailing with you. Looking forward to following your wonderful journey.
Hugs
Sandy and Bob
🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thanks – we miss you guys here on the ship!
Hey, Pete and Judy. Have a great trip, and I’m looking forward to following your adventures. I hope you don’t get stuck in the back of any small sightseeing vans, ala Nuku Hiva. LOL!
Thanks Doug – let’s hope not!
Wow, you’re off again! Looking forward to following your adventures.
Taiwan has a lot to offer. I’m sure that you’ll find something interesting.
Wishing you calm seas and safe travels!
Thanks – We are looking forward to Taiwan. This will be a new port for us
I hope that your crossing of the North Pacific from Japan to Alaska is better than ours was in October/November 2025 (in the opposite direction.) Out of the eight days of the crossing, maybe two had decent weather, the rest of the time, huge swells and it was tough getting around the ship.
Let’s hope we get better weather!
Hello Peter.
Glad to see that you are posting! Jean and I will look forward to following along. Hope to see you two on the next World in 2027.
Hello! Nice to hear from you. Looking forward to seeing you on 2027!
Pete
So glad I found your FB page and blog! We booked in Oct for our SYD-SEA adventure on our first HAL cruise, but have received next to nothing from the TA regarding the cruise, and won’t until 30 days prior. Your blog is the first time I’ve seen the HAL Grand Voyage brochures!
I am feeling ill-prepared, especially for tours. Is there a spot onboard where people post or gather to join others for non-ship excursions?
Looking forward to keeping up with you until we board in SYD and and find you at the meet & greet.
Hi Susan,
There isn’t a spot onboard to post where you can solicit other people to join excursions – soliciting other passengers while onboard is forbidden. You must post on the Cruise Critic or Facebook Pages for this cruise and post your request there.
Have a great trip. I’ll be enjoying your blog.
We hope to see you again on the ‘27.
Thanks – We should be there
I always enjoy following your voyages. However, I am not receiving your daily post, even though I subscribed and received confirmation doing so.
Hoping you’re having a wonderful time.
I don’t post daily – you should have received 2 posts so far on this cruise – check your spam folder – send me an email if you are not getting them and I will make sure you are on the list – connect@theinsidecabin.com