A NEW 101 night cruise around the world is to set sail from Southampton.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has today unveiled the first sailing from its 2024 programme – an epic 101-night Around the World adventure taking in the USA, Australasia, Asia and Europe.

The cruise, which is setting sail from Southampton in January 2024, offers a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from calls into the historic cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to visits to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the chance to step ashore in the rarely-visited Alotau in Papau New Guinea.

Fred. Olsen’s team of Journey Planners has hand-crafted this sailing to allow plenty of time ashore in each port of call, made possible by the faster sailing speeds, with extended overnight stays in Charleston, Aukland, Sydney, Australia and Dubai.

Guests will also have the opportunity to venture to the famous Taj Mahal in an extended, three-day overland tour from Mumbai in India.

Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experience at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Our new ship Borealis is a fantastic addition to the fleet, and it is her impressive sailing speeds that have made this special sailing possible.

“For us, it’s not just the destinations we visit, but the way we help our guests to experience them. Of course, that includes visits to famous sites such as the Sydney Opera House and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. But we delve much deeper too. In Mumbai, guests can spend time with a Dabawalla as they are doing their rounds, or learn to dance the Charleston in the city it originated.

“For nature lovers, there are some real opportunities to capture wildlife at its very best. From calls into Lahaina in Hawaii, said to be one of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales, to chances to walk the canopies of Costa Rican rainforests, or witness the world’s largest lizards on Komodo Island.

“We have designed this cruise to make the most of some of the planets most spectacular scenery too, from the memorable vistas offered in Hawaii, to scenic sailings of New Zealand’s Dusky Sound Fjords.

“It has been a real pleasure to craft this cruise. I can’t wait to welcome our guests on board for this very special sailing.”

Prices start from £11,499 per person, with up to £600 per person to spend on board.