Full World Voyage: Southampton Return

Board Queen Elizabeth at Southampton, the home of Cunard, and set out on 115 nights around the world. Settle into your stateroom and raise a glass as England slips astern.

Out across the Bay of Biscay on your first sea day, with time to explore Queen Elizabeth’s Art Deco public rooms and settle into life on board.

Sailing south along the Iberian coast, a day for a book from the Library and a quiet corner to read it in.

Lisbon climbs seven hills above the Tagus, its streets lined with tiled facades and rattling yellow trams. Try a warm pastel de nata in Belém, visit the Jerónimos Monastery or wander the lanes of the Alfama.

Heading toward the Canary Islands, the weather warms and the Lido Pool deck is the place to be.

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, crowned by Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak. Ride the cable car up the volcano, or stay by the coast for black sand beaches and the Santa Cruz waterfront.

Croquet on the Games Deck is a distinctly Cunard way to spend a sunny afternoon at sea.

Take White Glove Afternoon Tea, then settle into the Commodore Club for an evening drink with the Atlantic outside the windows.

Praia is the capital of Cape Verde, on the island of Santiago. Wander the colonial Plateau district, then visit nearby Cidade Velha, the first European colonial settlement in the tropics and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cape Verde falls astern and the long Atlantic run to Cape Town begins, a leg that carries Queen Elizabeth across the equator. Eight sea days lie ahead, with guest lectures and classes to fill them.

A massage in the Royal Spa and a soak in the Whirlpool make a fine plan for a day at sea.

Find a quiet corner in The Courtyard with a book or a pot of tea.

Wind down in the Golden Lion Pub, the ship’s English-style pub, then find your voice at karaoke later on.

Finish the day in the Royal Court Theatre with an evening show.

Wander the Royal Arcade, the Boutique and the Bookshop for a souvenir or a good read.

A game of shuffleboard or deck quoits on deck, with the South Atlantic sparkling around you.

Work off a few miles with tennis or a session in the Fitness Center before Table Mountain comes into view tomorrow.

Sail into Cape Town beneath Table Mountain for an overnight stay, one of the great harbour arrivals. Ride the cable car to the summit, then stroll the V&A Waterfront as the evening lights come on.

A second day in Cape Town to drive the Cape Peninsula to the penguins at Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, or head into the Winelands around Stellenbosch.

Heading east along the South African coast, take a long lunch in the Lido Restaurant with the sea outside.

Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, sits on Algoa Bay and is known as the Friendly City. Beaches line the bay, and Addo Elephant National Park is within reach for a day among elephants and other wildlife.

On toward Durban, an easy day for coffee at Cafe Carinthia and a stroll around the decks.

Durban is South Africa’s Indian Ocean playground, with a long golden beachfront and a strong Indian influence. Try a bunny chow, browse the Victoria Street Market or head inland toward the Valley of a Thousand Hills.

Leaving Africa behind, the Indian Ocean opens up on the way to Réunion, a good day to catch a lecture or two.

Tropical sunshine arrives, so take lunch from the Lido Grill and claim a lounger by the pool.

Réunion is tomorrow, so get in the mood with a drink in the Midships Lounge.

Le Port opens onto Réunion, a French island of volcanic peaks and green cirques rising straight from the Indian Ocean. Creole food, mountain scenery and the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, are all within reach.

Port Louis is the lively capital of Mauritius, with the Central Market, the Caudan Waterfront and the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat close to the port. Beaches and lagoons are a short drive away.

Mauritius falls astern and seven sea days across the Indian Ocean begin, a stretch made for slowing down.

Learn a few steps in a dance class, then try them out in the Grand Ballroom.

Pick up a brush in an art class or take a slow walk through the Art Gallery.

Gather friends for a hand of cards in the Card Room.

Dress for dinner and start the evening with cocktails in the Yacht Club.

A morning in the Fitness Center followed by the Thermal Suite suits a long ocean crossing.

Malaysia is almost here, so enjoy a last sea day with afternoon tea and an evening in the Grand Lounge.

Port Klang is the way into Kuala Lumpur, within an hour or so by road. See the Petronas Towers and the Batu Caves, and eat your way through the street food.

Arrive in Singapore for an overnight stay and take in the Marina Bay skyline, the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay and the hawker centres where locals eat.

A second day for Little India, Chinatown and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a famous orchid collection.

Leaving Singapore behind, a day in the South China Sea with a lounger on deck and a cool drink.

Slip into the Thermal Suite or book a treatment in the Royal Spa while the ship makes her way north.

Hong Kong is a day away, so join an activity run by the Entertainment Team.

Arrive in Hong Kong for an overnight stay with the Victoria Harbour skyline ahead of you. Take the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, cross the harbour on the Star Ferry and finish at the Temple Street night market.

A second day to ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, or to explore the city’s markets before the harbour lights come on.

Sailing toward the Philippines, an unhurried afternoon in the Queens Room suits the pace.

Manila’s walled city of Intramuros holds Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a calesa horse carriage around the cobbled streets and pass through Rizal Park.

Manila falls astern and three sea days lead to Bali, so end the evening in the Royal Court Theatre.

Settle by the Lido Pool with something new from the Bookshop.

Join the Entertainment Team for deck games, or look in at the Art Gallery.

Bali is known for its terraced rice fields, temples and beaches. Visit the artists’ town of Ubud, the sea temple at Tanah Lot or the clifftop temple at Uluwatu.

Three sea days lead from Bali to Fremantle, a gentle start with coffee at Cafe Carinthia and a walk around the decks.

Tennis, deck quoits or a session in the Fitness Center, whichever suits the mood.

Australia is nearly in sight, so catch a guest lecture on what lies ahead.

Fremantle is Perth’s port and a handsome historic town in its own right, home to the convict-built Fremantle Prison, part of Australia’s UNESCO-listed convict sites. Browse Fremantle Markets, sit on the Cappuccino Strip or take the train to Perth in around half an hour.

Three days along the Great Australian Bight begin, a stretch where the Library and a deck chair do very well.

Try a dance class or an art class, then finish the day in the Grand Lounge.

Dress up, dine and see a show in the Royal Court Theatre before Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is South Australia’s wildlife island, where sea lions rest on the sand at Seal Bay and the granite boulders of Remarkable Rocks stand over the Southern Ocean. Koalas, kangaroos, local honey and seafood fill out the day.

Sailing east along Australia’s southern coast toward Melbourne, take afternoon tea and watch the coastline from the deck.

Melbourne rewards wandering, with laneways of street art and coffee, the Queen Victoria Market and gardens along the Yarra. Catch a tram into the centre and take your pick of the city’s restaurants.

Burnie sits on Tasmania’s north-west coast, with the island’s farms, beaches and fresh produce close by. The Makers’ Workshop is a good local stop, and Cradle Mountain National Park is a longer scenic drive away.

Sydney is next, so book a last spa treatment or lounge by the pool before another city day.

Sail past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge into Sydney for an overnight stay. Explore Circular Quay and The Rocks, then watch the harbour light up at night.

A second day in Sydney for a ferry to Manly, the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee or the Royal Botanic Garden beside the harbour.

Leaving Australia behind, three sea days across the Tasman Sea lead to New Zealand. Start with a treatment in the Royal Spa.

Look in on the Card Room or settle into a book in the Library.

New Zealand is close, so make it cocktails in the Yacht Club before Lyttelton.

Lyttelton is the harbour town for Christchurch, about 25 minutes away. Punt on the Avon, visit the Botanic Gardens or head to Banks Peninsula and the bays around Akaroa.

Wellington is New Zealand’s compact, hilly capital. Ride the cable car up to the Botanic Garden, spend an hour in Te Papa, the national museum, and find a coffee on Cuba Street.

Sailing up New Zealand’s east coast, a quiet day between Wellington and Tauranga with coffee at Cafe Carinthia.

Tauranga sits on the Bay of Plenty. Climb Mauao (Mount Maunganui) for the views, or head inland to Rotorua’s geothermal landscapes.

Auckland, the City of Sails, wraps around two harbours. Head up the Sky Tower, take the ferry to the vineyards of Waiheke Island or stroll Viaduct Harbour.

Auckland falls behind as you sail north into the tropical Pacific, a good day to spend by the Lido Pool.

A second day at sea toward Fiji, with the Whirlpool and a cold drink.

Suva is the capital of Fiji, a harbour city of colonial buildings and green hills. Browse the municipal market, see the Fiji Museum in Thurston Gardens or head into the rainforest at Colo-i-Suva.

A short hop from Fiji to Samoa, with time for the Library and an afternoon in the Queens Room.

Apia, the capital of Samoa, looks out over the Pacific. Visit Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home at Vailima, now a museum, or head for the island’s swimming holes and beaches.

Sailing east, you cross the International Date Line and relive 8 April. Spend the second one in the Royal Spa, by the pool or at the theatre.

Four sea days lead north toward Hawaii, a stretch that carries Queen Elizabeth back across the equator.

A dance class this afternoon and an evening in the Grand Ballroom.

Browse the Royal Arcade and the Art Gallery at an easy pace.

Hawaii is a day away, so book a massage in the Royal Spa and take it slowly.

Kahului is the way into Maui and Haleakalā, the volcano whose crater is among the island’s great sights. Drive the winding Road to Hāna or head for the green peaks of ʻĪao Valley.

Nawiliwili is the port for Kauaʻi, the Garden Island. Wailua Falls, the Wailua River and the drive out to Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, are the highlights.

Honolulu pairs Waikīkī’s beach with the crater walk up Diamond Head. Add the history of Pearl Harbor and ʻIolani Palace.

Honolulu is behind you and five sea days lead across the Pacific to Los Angeles, a good time to start a new book from the Library.

Join in with the Entertainment Team or take on a game of shuffleboard.

Afternoon tea, then a walk around the decks as the Pacific rolls by.

Croquet on the Games Deck, or a few laps of the pool.

Los Angeles is close, so spend the evening at the Commodore Club.

Los Angeles stretches from the Hollywood sign to the sands at Santa Monica. Visit the Getty Center, the Griffith Observatory or Venice Beach, or take a movie studio tour.

Leaving Los Angeles, two sea days down the Pacific coast lead to Mexico, a good time for a session in the Royal Spa.

Warmer weather returns, so head to the Lido Pool and have lunch on deck.

Puerto Vallarta lies along Banderas Bay beneath the Sierra Madre, with cobbled streets in the old town and a seafront Malecón dotted with sculptures. Try fresh ceviche, tacos and a margarita.

Two days sailing south along Mexico’s Pacific coast, starting with an afternoon in the Golden Lion Pub.

Guatemala is tomorrow, so catch the show in the Royal Court Theatre or try karaoke.

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala’s Pacific port, and the road leads inland to Antigua, a UNESCO-listed colonial city set beneath three volcanoes. Wander its cobbled streets and baroque ruins and try Guatemalan coffee.

A day at sea to Costa Rica, ideal for the Thermal Suite and a long soak.

Puntarenas, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, opens onto rainforest, volcano country and some of the country’s best wildlife. Look for sloths, toucans and monkeys in the national parks, or head up to the Monteverde cloud forest.

The Panama Canal is tomorrow, so settle into the Grand Lounge and plan an early morning on deck.

Transit the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Caribbean. Pass through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, cross Gatun Lake and descend through the Gatun Locks, a full day best watched from the deck.

Out of the canal and into the Caribbean Sea, with a coffee at Cafe Carinthia and a lounger in the sun.

Oranjestad has Dutch colonial buildings in sherbet colours, and Aruba’s white sand beaches at Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. Add Arikok National Park’s rugged coast for a change of scene.

Leaving Aruba, two Caribbean sea days lead to Miami, so find a lounger by the Lido Pool.

Dress up and spend the evening in the Grand Ballroom.

Miami’s South Beach is lined with Art Deco buildings, a fitting match for Queen Elizabeth’s own Art Deco style. Add Little Havana for Cuban coffee and Wynwood for street art.

Miami is behind you and six Atlantic sea days lead to the Azores, with plenty of time for guest lectures and classes.

A day for the Library, the Bookshop and nothing else.

Browse the Art Gallery, then take afternoon tea in the Queens Room.

Watch the Atlantic from the Commodore Club with a drink before dinner.

Gather the Card Room regulars for a hand of cards, or challenge someone to deck quoits.

The Azores are tomorrow, so finish with a massage in the Royal Spa.

Praia da Vitória is a port on Terceira, one of the Azores. Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage town, is a short drive away, and the island’s green pastures and volcanic caves round out a coastal day.

Leaving the Azores, three sea days lead back to Southampton, starting with a last round of afternoon tea in the Queens Room.

Last-minute shopping in the Royal Arcade and the Boutique.

Raise a glass in the Commodore Club on your final night at sea.

Queen Elizabeth returns to Southampton and your 115 night world voyage comes to an end. Speak to your Cruise Travel Advisor about adding a stay in the UK before you head home.