It’s clear that cruise lines expect the Suez Canal, Red Sea and the Holy Land to be too conflicted to risk sailing around for a long time to come. How long? Even newly announced 2027 World Cruises are steering far away from the entire Middle East.
Winter world circuits that traditionally cross the Pacific to Asia and then to the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal to get to Europe are shifting focus to South America, the Pacific and Africa. Meanwhile other globe-spanning itineraries that can last for months without repeating a port are setting sights on the Arctic and even the Great Lakes.
Here’s a look at the World without the Middle East:
131-day intensive Pacific on Princess
Princess Cruises has re-plotted its previously announced 2026 World Cruise into a Circle Pacific cruise to bypass the Middle East. “The decision to avoid the Red Sea even in 2026 follows extensive consultations with global security experts and government authorities to ensure Princess upholds the highest standards of safety,” the company explained. It’s a first for Princess, whose world cruise segments from Suez to Cyprus were always among their most popular itineraries.
Coral Princess departs Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2026, and sails to Hawaii, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, Destinations include Auckland, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Fiji, Osaka, Singapore, Sydney and Tahiti. The cruise continues to Asia with an extensive journey around Japan, followed by a Pacific crossing to ports in Alaska. Finally, after cruising southbound along the Pacific Coast, the adventure ends in Los Angeles on May 16, 2026.
Oceania Vista plans a half-year odyssey
Oceania Cruises’ 2026 Around the World Cruise on Vista is still scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt with a transit of the Suez Canal, but that is subject to change. “Oceania is constantly monitoring the situation and will make itinerary changes as we see necessary, the safety of our crew and guests is our top priority,” the company says.
The voyage visits 43 countries on six continents during a 180-day journey departing Miami on Jan. 6 2026. The 101 ports of call include Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America, It features nine ports in Brazil and two in Uruguay and then heads for the Falkland Islands and then Chile’s Patagonia region. For those who would prefer a shorter voyage, there is a shorter 120-day segment starting in San Diego in March for the South Pacific, Australia, Asia and then Europe, Iceland and North America.
Other Oceania cruises in 2026 have already opted to take the long way around Africa. Regatta’s 54-Day sailing from Singapore to Lisbon, departing May 1, 2026, includes seldom-visited ports including Langkawi, Malé, Maputo, and Mindela; plus an overnight stay in Phuket and a two-night stay in Cape Town. Meanwhile, Sirena is sailing around Africa, with an East African Majesty cruise from Mumbai to Cape Town departing March 11, 2026.
Cunard routes around the Cape
Cunard Line planned a unique route for its 2026 World Cruise aboard the new Queen Anne that’s a 117-day round trip from Hamburg. It does Africa first. Heading south from the Canary Islands and Madeira, it visits Namibia and Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in South Africa and Mauritius before heading to Asia across the Indian Ocean via Sri Lanka.
The newly announced 2027 World Voyage of Cunard’s Queen Victoria is planning the same ports around Africa on its 109-day voyage, but is travelling east to west on its round trip from Southampton.
Pole to pole and a new World on Holland America
Holland America Line previously re-routed its 2025 world circuit and added a 133-day Pole to Pole cruise. The long cruises have proved so popular Holland America is planning another 133-day south to north World Cruise in 2026. This time, Volendam starts from Fort Lauderdale Jan. 4, 2026 down the east coast of South America, then spends 42 days in the South Pacific islands and intensive explorations of New Zealand and Australia on the way to Singapore. The final leg of the cruise goes to Alaska, through the Panama Canal and back to Fort Lauderdale in mid-May.
Seabourn circles the Ring of Fire
Seabourn Sojourn is turning its World Cruise into a 129-day Ring of Fire circuit of the Pacific. It starts Jan. 6, 2026 from Los Angeles to Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia and the Far East and then it crosses to Alaska in the spring. The voyage visits 63 destinations in 14 countries and ends in Vancouver in May. Special treats for guests who book the full cruise are a Gala Bon Voyage Dinner in Los Angeles, a private Māori performance in Aukland; an exclusive dinner with regional cuisine at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, and a traditional Japanese dinner in Kanazawa.
Silversea steers a southern course
Silversea’s Three Ocean World Cruise 2027 on Silver Dawn is plotting a course across the South Pacific from Los Angeles then heading to Southeast Asia from Australia. It’s steering far away from the Middle East and instead slicing across the Indian Ocean to South and West Africa. From there it heads to Europe and the Norwegian fjords.
There’s also a 50-day Grand Voyage on Silver Spirit departing Lisbon on Sept. 18, 2025 on an intensive loop of the Mediterranean, visiting 48 UNESCO-listed sites in 12 countries. The cruise first visits Casablanca and Tangier before journeying along the coast of Spain then crossing to Majorca. The coasts of France, Italy and the Adriatic follow, including Venice. Then Silver Spirit visits Istanbul and the Greek Isles before ending in Piraeus on Nov. 7.
Regent aims across the Indian Ocean
Seven Seas Mariner’s A Sense of Adventure world circumnavigation in 2026 from Miami includes a circuit of Africa on a 154-night trip through three oceans and six continents. It heads directly from India across the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles and Madagascar then up Africa’s west coast to Lisbon and back to Miami.
Viking takes a long view
From Iguazu Falls to Niagara Falls, Viking Cruises has found a niche with world tours that go north and south rather than east and west. The fifth and sixth Longitudinal World Cruises are happening in 2026 and 2027. The cruises start in late winter in Buenos Aires on Viking Octantis and end 69 days later in Milwaukee.
The route of the ice-rated ship explores the Falkland Islands and Antarctica and then heads up the west coast of South America. Through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean the cruises heads north up the East Coast to Halifax. From there, its more than two weeks of exploring the Great Lakes including two days in Toronto as well as Port Colborne for Niagara and Point Pelee.
It’s a new perspective on the world. Pity the Middle East can’t be included.
Story by Wallace Immen, The Cruisington Times
