• Seabourn is Carnival Corp's ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise line.
• Seabourn Quest is set to embark on a 145-day, around-the-world cruise to 67 ports in 2027.
• The vessel has high-end amenities like a marina, guest lectures, and caviar service.

Spending five months living in a 300-square-foot box doesn't have to be as miserable as it sounds — especially if it's on a luxury cruise ship with stops in Hawaii, Peru, and Australia.

In early January 2027, Carnival Corp's high-end, all-inclusive cruise brand, Seabourn, says its Seabourn Quest will embark on a 145-day voyage to 67 ports across 19 countries. The itinerary, sailing round-trip from Miami, primarily focuses on destinations throughout South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the Southern Pacific islands — from Peru to Easter Island to a 37-day circumnavigation of Australia.

Of course, like any world cruise, travelers are expected to see more than a month's worth of sea days throughout the almost 34,000-nautical-mile journey. But no need to worry about going stir crazy — Quest has plenty of onboard amenities to help keep boredom at bay.

Seabourn operates some of its parent company, Carnival Corp's, most luxurious and expensive vacations at sea.

Seabourn has six ships; 13-year-old Quest is its second-oldest and smallest with a 458-guest capacity — "just the right amount for a world cruise," Crystal Morgan, Seabourn's senior director of deployment and itinerary planning, told Business Insider.

Expect to pay luxury prices for the luxury cruise. Per-person fares for the 2027 voyage currently range from $81,000 for an oceanview suite to a cool $380,070 per person for the Grand Wintergarden suite. And "grand" it is — the deluxe apartment-like accommodation spans two decks and includes a solarium, a dining table, and two bedrooms.

At least the cost includes laundry, round-trip flights, WiFi, and up to $10,000 in onboard credit per suite.

The teenage-aged Quest isn't ancient, as far as industry standards go.

The oldest vessel of its sister cruise line, Carnival, is 26 years old. But Quest is still relatively dated compared to the rest of Seabourn's fleet, which averages eight years old.

As such, expect some small design details reflecting its 2011 birth year, such as lower ceilings and some less-than-modern furniture.

Seabourn Quest has eight food and beverage options, from sushi in the Club lounge to afternoon tea and cocktails in the Observation bar.

The Colonnade operates as a breakfast and lunch buffet until nightfall, when it becomes a table-service restaurant with rotating international themes.

The indoor-outdoor restaurant is more casual than Solis, the ship's upscale Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.

Solis launched in early 2024 to replace a restaurant co-developed by famed chef Thomas Keller.

The modern dining room marries the upscale playfulness of a Virgin Voyages dining room with the seriousness of a fine-dining menu, complete with branzino and 32-ounce Tuscan-style porterhouse steak (both prepared tableside).

In addition to the poolside buffet and observation lounge, the ship offers traditional cruise amenities such as a spa, gym, theater, and casino.

For the intellectual traveler, Seabourn invites guest speakers — such as Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak and King Charles III's former butler, Grant Harrold — to give lectures at the theater.

For travelers who prefer to lounge under the sun, Quest also has a traditional pool deck and an onboard marina that opens directly onto the water.

The latter has become a popular amenity on competing ultra-luxury cruise ships, such as Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collections' Evrima.

Look for some of Quest's hidden gems, like the smaller pool flanked by two hot tubs.

Walk toward the bow and past the guest cabins on deck six to find the ship's fifth hot tub.

Or, stroll five decks up to find the quiet, staggered rows of lounge chairs.

It's a great place to read a book or nap under the sun.

Head to Seabourn Square if you've already finished all the books you prepared for the monthslong journey.

There, you can pick from a selection of books, puzzles, or caffeinated pick-me-ups from the coffee shop.

When you've completed the puzzles, the card room's fully stocked board game cabinet is a short walk away.

However, don't expect more kid-friendly activities than the board games and upper-deck shuffleboard. After all, most around-the-world cruisers are folks who have time for a 145-day vacation: retirees.

Or, spend your afternoon lounging around your private balcony. There's a good chance you'll have one, after all.

Quest has 229 cabins, ranging from 295 to 1,182 square feet. Most have balconies, which can add hundreds of additional square feet to the space.

The floating hotel rooms feature little touches of luxury, from the personalized in-suite bar to the walk-in closet.

It's certainly more luxurious than its parent company's eponymous cruise line, where paying for the cheapest accommodation means vacationing in a compact windowless cabin.

• Carnival Corp's luxury cruise line, Seabourn, announced a 2027 world cruise to 67 ports.
• A senior itinerary planning director explains what it takes to ideate these extended voyages.
• Her team considers factors such as weather patterns, geopolitical tensions, and fleetwide itineraries.

If you think planning a weeklong family vacation is hard, try organizing a five-month, around-the-world trip for 458 people.

For the everyday traveler, it may seem logistically impossible.

For Crystal Morgan, Seabourn's senior director of deployment and itinerary planning, it's just another day at work.

Morgan and her team are the driving force behind the luxury cruise line's annual around-the-world voyages. And as you might expect, ideating them is no easy feat.

Seabourn's recently announced 2027 world cruise is one of its most ambitious yet, spanning 145 days and almost 34,000 nautical miles. It plans to stop at 67 ports in 19 countries, with bucketlist destinations like Honolulu, Machu Picchu, and Bora Bora.

These voyages offer a convenient and comfortable way for travelers to see the world. But behind the scenes, designing them can be anything but smooth sailing.

"I think of itinerary planning as baking a cake," Morgan told Business Insider. "It's one part science, one part finesse. There have to be the right ingredients to go in, but how you decorate the cake is the kind of finesse when it comes to itinerary planning."

The framework

World cruises ideally commence in early January, when the industry is in a post-holiday lull and retired snowbirds become heat-seeking missiles. They're generally more than 100 days long — but they can't be too lengthy, or risk cutting into the peak summer season.

As for the ship, Seabourn plans to deploy its smallest ocean vessel, Seabourn Quest. Its 458-guest capacity is "just the right amount for a world cruise," Morgan said.

The floating resort is scheduled for several Caribbean cruises from Miami during the preceding holiday season. The world voyage will therefore sail round-trip from the popular Florida port, with fares currently ranging from $81,000 to $380,070 per person.

After setting the timing and ship framework, designing the rest of the itinerary becomes, to a certain extent, a plug-and-play game — with more limitations than you might expect.

The destinations

Deciding which destinations to visit isn't as simple as throwing darts at a map or checking #TravelTok for trending cities. Instead, Morgan's team considers factors such as weather patterns, Seabourn's global deployments, competing itineraries, and consumer surveys.

Ideally, the extended itinerary has a sensible geographic flow that balances sea days and ports that don't feel too repetitive or are only accessible to smaller ships like Seabourn's.

As such, the global voyage is scheduled to sail south and westward to South America, Australia, and New Zealand before returning through Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Mexico. Throughout its transoceanic crossings, Quest is also scheduled to visit several South Pacific islands.

None of Seabourn's ships are set to be stationed in Australia and New Zealand in early 2027 — two "extremely popular" destinations, according to Morgan. To fill this demand, the global voyage plans to spend 35 days circumnavigating Australia.

Other ports, especially those in larger cities, are as desirable as necessary. Take Papeete, French Polynesia, for example. It's a hot destination, but more than that, it's also where the ship can restock its fuel and food supply, according to Morgan.

If an attractive town doesn't make geographic sense or cuts into the time needed to reach a restocking port, it'll be nixed. As such, to ensure safety and feasibility, internal teams that oversee marine operations and supply chains also have a say in the long-haul itinerary.

"Everything's like a big puzzle," Morgan said. "The hardest part is crossing all the T's when it comes to the full operation and getting everyone to agree that operationally, what we're pushing through is the best experience."

External factors, such as predicted weather conditions and port availability, also impact the route. Small variables, like current trends, can even dictate the ship's speed and when it arrives and departs a particular port.

So too do geopolitical tensions — Seaboun's reason for skipping the Suez Canal.

"It's measuring that risk versus reward," Morgan said. "We've seen our competitors publish itineraries that do transit the Suez Canal, but as a company, right now, we're choosing not to."

With all these layers, it should be no surprise that creating and approving the itinerary took 1½ years, with several months spent on itinerary ideation and review alone, according to Morgan.

Yet, believe it or not, she does think planning a family vacation is more difficult.

• My mom and I went on a 21-day expedition cruise aboard the Seabourn Pursuit for $26,000 each.
• We went on excursions and saw wildlife throughout Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and Georgia.
• Overall, the bucket-list experience was incredible and felt like a nice value.

Antarctica is truly a bucket-list destination, as the beautiful continent can be difficult and expensive to get to.

Most Antarctic cruises cost thousands of dollars a person and many only sail through the region — I wanted to be on a ship that actually got me on the continent.

So, after a lot of research, I booked a 21-day expedition on the Seabourn Pursuit. It begins in and departs from Argentina, and its itinerary includes excursions in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.

I traveled with my mom, and we initially paid $22,500 per person for an entry-level cabin. Our fare included food, drinks, and most excursions.

Here's what it was like.

We spent more money on upgrades and travel essentials before we even boarded.

We had booked our cruise about a year before its departure date and were fine with the lowest-tier room available.

About a month before we left, we received an offer to upgrade to a panoramic penthouse for $8,500 more per person. When that upgrade price later dropped to $3,500 per person, we decided to do it.

Lastly, before we left, we bought waterproof outer layers, thermals, and other items that were essential for our upcoming cold landings.

Our journey began in Buenos Aires.

We flew from the Northeastern US to Buenos Aires a day early since we were concerned about potential flight delays due to storms.

We spent a night at the Faena Hotel, which felt chic and offered fantastic service. The next day, we headed to the luxurious Avelar Palace for a one-night stay, which was included in our cruise fare.

After checking in, we visited the Seabourn hospitality room, where a representative handed us our boarding passes and told us to leave our tagged luggage outside our rooms before bed.

From there, we flew to Ushuaia to board the ship.

The next morning, we boarded an early bus to the charter flight to our ship in Ushuaia, Argentina.

This flight was also included in our cruise fare, and a Seabourn representative accompanied us on the journey. Our tagged luggage was already en route, so we didn't have to lug it with us.

The service was fine, though legroom on the plane was limited.

After a short walk around the small town of Ushuaia, it was time to board Seabourn Pursuit.

Our panoramic suite felt fairly spacious.

Our panoramic suite featured plenty of storage space, heated floors, and incredible floor-to-ceiling windows.

It also came stocked with thoughtful touches like umbrellas and Swarovski Optik binoculars for us to use throughout our trip.

Our bathroom also seemed very large.

We had a more sizable shower than we've had on other cruises and a jacuzzi tub.

There was a double vanity with a large mirror above it and, again, plenty of storage space.

Overall, the ship's food was pretty good.

Most days, we had breakfast and lunch at onboard restaurant The Colonnade. These meals were served buffet-style, though we could also order eggs or daily specials from the waitstaff.

The main dining room, The Restaurant, offered waiter service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For the most part, the food on our trip was quite good — especially considering we were essentially on a floating base camp for three weeks.

Room service was also available 24/7, which we often took advantage of during rough seas. I loved that we could order caviar anytime and anywhere.

We also spent time at the onboard lounge The Club, where we could listen to live music and order a selection of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls.

However, the real highlight of the cruise was all of the adventure.

The main reason to embark on an expedition cruise like this is to witness awe-inspiring landscapes and encounter wildlife.

We frequently saw whales and birds from the boat, but the true highlights of our trip were the excursions and Zodiac cruises, where we boarded a small boat called a Zodiac to explore more remote locations.

Most days, the expedition team offered both a morning and afternoon activity.

Our itinerary stayed flexible, and we got to learn about our stops.

Every day was truly an adventure, as the weather frequently changed, so too did our plans.

Our captain and expedition leader emphasized the need for flexibility throughout the trip and later reported that we'd deviated from our planned itinerary 86 times during the 21-day journey.

It didn't bother me. The Antarctic was truly breathtaking.

Each evening, we had a briefing about the plan for the following day.

Our first landing was on the Falkland Islands.

Our first landing was on New Island in the Falklands.

We hiked about 5 miles through stunning terrain and saw rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, elephant seals, and other wildlife.

We also had our only "dry landing" of the trip in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. I particularly enjoyed our visit to Bluff Cove, where we saw several King Penguins.

Eventually, we set sail for South Georgia.

After three days in the Falklands, we set sail for South Georgia. Here, we saw countless fur seals amid the ruins of old whaling stations.

We also visited Salisbury Plain, home to tens of thousands of breeding pairs of King Penguins. We visited by Zodiac but did not land in order to take precautions against avian flu.

During downtime, I'd head to the spa or onboard lectures.

In between activities and excursions, I often headed to the cruise's onboard spa (an added cost) to indulge in a massage or enjoy the sauna.

The ship had multiple jacuzzis and a small pool, too. Most of them had incredible views of the landscape and waters surrounding us.

I also spent some of our time at sea attending talks and lectures from members of the expedition team, who spoke about a range of topics, such as marine biology, geology, history, and oceanography.

One of the trip's highlights was an excursion involving a submersible.

Perhaps the most incredible part of the trip was peering below the ocean floor in one of the ship's two submersibles.

After hearing about the OceanGate submersible disaster in 2024, I was nervous to set foot in one of these vehicles. However, our pilots thoroughly explained the submersible technology and how it was tested.

They also noted we were descending only 300 meters — OceanGate's vessel had attempted to go thousands of meters underwater.

Reassured, I took a Zodiac to the sub, then climbed down a short, three-rung ladder into the craft, which holds up to six guests and a pilot. I found it surprisingly easy to navigate getting in and out.

Once under the water, the experience felt otherworldly. We observed a variety of invertebrates on the seafloor, and the phenomenon of polar gigantism, where animals living in the poles are far bigger than their counterparts near the equator

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

The Seabourn Pursuit felt more like a luxury basecamp than a cruise ship, with a dedicated team of marine biologists, geologists, historians, kayak guides, and even submarine pilots.

Each day at sea was truly an adventure. I saw colonies of chinstrap and Adélie penguins, countless whales, and striking geological formations. I got to go under the water and explore a continent I'd long dreamed of seeing.

The trip was expensive but felt like a worthwhile investment considering our journey was long and included multiple incredible stops and excursions.

I had such a good time on this cruise that I booked another expedition trip on the Seabourn Pursuit to Australia's Kimberley region while still on board.

• Cruise lines advertise several promotions from January through March, known as wave season.
• Many premium cruise lines are promoting discounted fares and complimentary credits.
• This article is part of "Well Charted," a series for travelers planning cruise-bound adventures.

If you want affordable cruise fares and enough onboard credit to indulge in a spa day, consider wave season your vacation-at-sea Black Friday.

The cruise industry rolls out several promotions from January to March, known as wave season. Depending on the cruise line, these offers could involve discounts, free cabin upgrades, or hundreds of dollars' worth of credit.

The potential savings have become catnip for seafaring travelers, especially as strong demand raises cruise fares. Jason Liberty, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said on Tuesday that the company already had its strongest-ever wave-season booking week.

Deals such as 50% off Norwegian voyages and 60% off a second Royal Caribbean guest have already ended (though a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Business Insider it would have more wave-season promotions through March). But there are still plenty of discounts to choose from on higher-end cruise lines.

Which cruise lines are offering wave-season deals?

Holland America and Princess, Carnival's premium brands, are advertising discounts, complimentary cabin upgrades, and free fares for third or fourth guests in the same cabin (though Holland America requires they be under 18).

Royal Caribbean Group's Celebrity Cruises is promoting discounted itineraries and a discount of up to 75% on a second guest.

If you prefer higher-end cruise lines, Azamara, Cunard, and Explora are offering hundreds of dollars' worth of onboard credits.

Seabourn is promoting up to $1,000 worth of credit in conjunction with 15% off select sailings, while Regent Seven Seas is advertising a 20% discount on certain itineraries, complimentary suite upgrades, and discounted deposits.

Other ways to save on your next cruise vacation

There are other ways to find a bargain if you couldn't surf this year's early wave-season deals (or are too impatient to wait for more).

Holland America's standby cruise deal starts at $100 per person per day — though your sailing won't be confirmed until two to seven days before departure.

Companies such as Costco Travel, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean also offer discounted last-minute voyages year-round.

Finally, you could use a travel agent who might be privy to promotions you don't know about.

• The CDC randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses.
• 27 cruise ships received a perfect score in 2024.
• Norovirus can spread quickly on packed vessels.

Not all cruise ships are created — or operated — equally.

In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 13 bacterial and viral outbreaks (mostly norovirus) on ships. However, not every floating resort is damned to become a floating petri dish.

Quite the opposite — in 2024, the public health agency awarded perfect sanitation scores to 27 vessels.

Norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, is the most common virus to afflict cruises. Crowded ships provide an ideal setting for the highly contagious bug to spread fast, often through contaminated water, food, surfaces, and people.

Just as quickly, it can ruin your vacation — the four predominant symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.

To help mitigate these incidents, the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program regularly inspects cruise liners and scores them from zero to 100.

The reviews — which include checking heavily trafficked areas like pools and children's activity centers — are random and unannounced.

Vermin and improperly stored food are big no-nos. In addition to the obvious, inspectors also look behind the scenes for more nuanced details, such as the dishwasher's water temperature and the frequency at which the pool's hair and lint strainer is disinfected.

The CDC has performed 151 inspections in 2024, including repeat inspections on 23 ships. The majority scored above 95, and 27 (listed below) have received perfect marks:

• Celebrity Apex — Celebrity Cruises (inspected November 10)
• Seven Seas Grandeur — Regent Seven Seas Cruises (inspected October 23)
• Norwegian Jade — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected October 21)
• Carnival Magic — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected October 13)
• Star Pride — Windstar Cruises (inspected September 29)
• Jewel of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 28)
• Serenade of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 10)
• Carnival Spirit — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected September 3)
• Zuiderdam — Holland America Line (inspected August 24)
• Viking Orion — Viking Ocean Cruises (inspected August 18)
• Seabourn Odyssey — Seabourn Cruise Line (inspected August 16)
• Norwegian Jewel — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected July 24)
• Oceania Regatta — Oceania Cruises (inspected July 24)
• Radiance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected July 21)
• MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises (inspected July 9)
• Norwegian Bliss — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected June 22)
• MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises (inspected May 26)
• Norwegian Sky — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected May 23)
• Brilliance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected May 16)
• Viking Polaris — Viking (inspected April 2)
• Celebrity Equinox — Celebrity Cruises (inspected February 25)
• Norwegian Breakaway — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected September 22)
• Norwegian Escape — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 27)
• Explora I — MSC Cruises (inspected January 25)
• Disney Fantasy — Disney Cruise Line (inspected January 24)
• Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises (inspected January 7)
• Norwegian Gem — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 2)

In 2023, 24 vessels racked a perfect score.