The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Nicole Carmichael
Ann Swann and her husband Grant from the Sunshine Coast in Australia are currently on board Norwegian’s Regatta for the longest commercial cruise in history, which began in Rome and will end in Southampton after 371 days and visits to over 220 ports across 62 countries. The couple chose a 169-night segment of this extensive voyage, one of five couples opting for such an extended stay on board. Ann emphasizes the cruise’s value, noting that included amenities like meals, tours, and personal services make it worth considering as a cost-effective retirement lifestyle compared to their previous expenses at home.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ann Swann and her husband Grant, both from the Sunshine Coast in Australia, are currently on board the Norwegian Regatta for a 371-day global cruise. This is history's longest commercial cruise, scheduled to visit over 220 ports across 62 countries, from Rome to Southampton via Europe, Africa, India, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. The full itinerary costs a hefty $106,000 per cabin, but many passengers opt for shorter legs of varying lengths; only two couples are doing the entire journey. Ann sees it as an "incredible value," noting that savings on groceries, utilities, and car expenses back home make the cruise cost-effective. She is celebrating her 67th birthday in Zanzibar at Freddie Mercury's former residence. Facebook groups have formed to help passengers connect before boarding and navigate their long-term stay aboard the ship.
Written for “Longest Cruise In History” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
“We’re going to Freddie Mercury’s house in Zanzibar for my 67th birthday,” Ann Swann from the Sunshine Coast tells me when we speak.
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we → go → me
She is currently on a cruise with her husband Grant, 68 – but not just any cruise: they are now about a month into history’s longest commercial cruise, Explorations by Norwegian’s Regatta’s 371-day sailing, scheduled to visit more than 220 ports across 62 countries, from Rome to Southampton via Europe, Africa, India, Asia, Australasia and the Americas.
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they → schedule → Europe
That’s only if you’re planning to do the full 53-week itinerary, however – which only two couples are.
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couples → ’ → itinerary
The rest of the ship’s 680 passengers have opted for shorter legs of the voyage (such as the eight-night Singapore round trip to Thailand and Cambodia, and the New York to Reykjavik 19-night crossing), or for longer partial sections.
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rest → opt → sections
Ann and Grant are one of five couples who have opted for a 169-night (24-week) stint.
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who → opt → stint
Filling in the blanks
“It’s incredible value for a small-ship experience as everything is included,” Ann says.
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Ann → fill → experience
“What we save in groceries, utility bills and vehicle expenses back home makes the cruise even more attractive, and having our own chef, cleaners, chauffeur and tour guide looking after us on board is priceless!”
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chef → save → board
Ann and Grant have been going on cruise holidays since 1997 and now have 69 voyages under their belts, including a World Cruise with Princess Cruises in 2024.
“Back then we went around the bottom of Africa, up the Baltic coast to Iceland, across to New York and down to South America.
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we → go → America
With this cruise we’re filling in the blanks where we haven’t yet been.
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we → fill → blanks
For example we’ve never seen the Northern Lights, so we’re very excited about that, and last week we actually touched a pyramid in Egypt which fulfilled a lifelong dream.”
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which → see → dream
Ann and Grant took two years to plan this cruise, having downsized from their family home when they retired just before the pandemic hit.
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pandemic → take → home
“We started our retirement dreams in September 2022 with a trip to cruise Alaska and the Inside Passage, then cruised back from Vancouver to Sydney, and that was the start of the best job we’ve ever had – retirement!
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we → start → job
We’re barely at home now and a couple of weeks after Grant’s birthday in March we’re off on another cruise to Hawaii.
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we → ’re → Hawaii
Filling the hours
Making the most of all their time away, Ann and Grant always attend onboard talks about upcoming destinations and meticulously plan each port stop to maximise their time on land.
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Ann → fill → land
Usually they explore independently or hire a guide from a company like Viator.
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they → explore → Viator
As soon as the ship is cleared for disembarkation, they’re ready to set off, easily clocking up at least 10,000 steps a day.
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they → clear → steps
Having rather over-indulged on their first round-the-world cruise, they are determined not to be a cruise cliche and pile on the weight this time.
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they → indulge → weight
As always on cruise ships, food is plentiful, and there is a range of accommodation, from a basic 19-square-metre interior rooms to the 92-square-metre Owners Suite, complete with teak balcony and luxurious interiors.
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food → be → balcony
Ann and Grant chose a generous-sized interior cabin.
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Ann → choose → cabin
“We’re hardly ever in the cabin anyway – we like to be out on the terrace in the fresh air, plus there’s loads to do on the ship.
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we → ’re → ship
We haven’t tried the spa yet, but there
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We → try → spa
’s plenty of time for that, and anyway, that’s what sea days are for.”
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days → ’ → what
Gossip, cocktails and Facebook friends
They regularly keep up with their two daughters, grandchildren and friends and family on FaceTime and WhatsApp, and also have a Facebook group where they post pictures of their travels.
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they → keep → travels
Social media and messaging services have also helped to create a sense of community on the ship.
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services → help → ship
There are even Facebook groups (like that run by New Zealander Karen Thorp, for passengers who’ll be joining the ship in October for the 24-night Southampton to Cape Town leg) intended to help people meet digitally and find their feet before they’re on board.
“I’ve created a photo itinerary of the places we’ll be visiting to welcome new guests to the group,” says Karen.
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Karen → be → group
“People ask questions such as where there’s a kettle in the cabin and what’s included in the beverage package?”
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what → ask → package
Related Article
Having been a keen cruiser with her husband Bob since 2000, Karen loves how Facebook has helped connect people and is looking forward to meeting her new shipmates when they arrive in a few weeks.
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they → love → weeks
Ann and Grant say they already have a close-knit social group onboard, with Grant preferring to eschew digital platforms and instead pick up cruise gossip in the ship’s launderette – an essential facility for any long cruise.
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Grant → say → cruise
“There will always be people that moan about this and that,” he says.
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he → moan → this
“But you make the cruise as good as you want it to be – and we don’t have a single complaint so far.
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we → make → complaint
Regatta by Norwegian is part of the Flight Centre Travel Group and multi-award-winning Ignite Travel.
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Regatta → win → Group
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