In the beginning...

In the summer of 2013, Clay was preparing to retire on his 65th birthday in October. (That didn't happen, but that's another story...) He thought that he needed to find a BIG trip to celebrate and mark the occasion of the end of his working life. In July 2013, I heard about Oceania Cruises 1st World Cruise. It sounded like an epic trip for a once in a lifetime event and I shared it with Clay and we decided to do it in celebration of his retirement. We missed the opening booking window when all the cabin categories we were interested in sold out. But, those preliminary bookings were no deposit holds. When the 20% or so deposit had to be made within 7 business days to keep those bookings, there were cabins available again and this cycle was repeated. We got booked in cabin 6054 by the end of July 2013. (We didn't learn until October 2013 that Clay wouldn't actually be retiring, but going to half-time. We decided to keep the celebratory retirement trip in place anyway. Now, it is a semi-retirement/pre-retirement/30th anniversary celebratory trip.)

An interesting fact is that Oceania's Insignia is the former Renaissance R1. This is the first ship that Clay & I ever cruised on together. That was in the summer of 1999. So, this 6-month cruise will be a strange return. This will be a return to one of the smallest cabins we've ever sailed in for the longest cruise we've ever taken. Not a happy intersection, but there it is. You can follow along if you like to see how we fare!

Below is a list of our scheduled ports.

Around the World in 180 Days

Miami to Miami
180 Days aboard Insignia
Departs on January 10, 2015

Cruise Ports:

1. Miami, United States	31. Male, Maldives	61. Brisbane, Australia
2. Santa Marta, Colombia	32. Mangalore, India	62. Sydney, Australia
3. Oranjestad, Aruba	33. Cochin, India	63. Hobart, Australia
4. Kralendijk, Bonaire	34. Rangoon, Myanmar	64. Picton, New Zealand
5. El Guamache, Venezuela	35. Langkawi, Malaysia	65. Napier, New Zealand
6. St. George's, Grenada	36. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	66. Rotorua, New Zealand
7. Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe	37. Singapore, Singapore	67. Auckland, New Zealand
8. Fort de France, Martinique	38. Ko Samui, Thailand	68. Nuku'alofa, Tonga
9. Bridgetown, Barbados	39. Sihanoukville, Cambodia	69. Pago Pago, American Samoa
10. Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago	40. Bangkok, Thailand	70. Raiatea, French Polynesia
11. Devil's Island, French Guiana	41. Saigon, Vietnam	71. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
12. Belem, Brazil	42. Hanoi, Vietnam	72. Moorea, French Polynesia
13. Fortaleza, Brazil	43. Hong Kong, China	73. Papeete, French Polynesia
14. Natal, Brazil	44. Xiamen, China	74. Huahine, French Polynesia
15. Recife, Brazil	45. Shanghai, China	75. Rangiroa, French Polynesia
16. Lome, Togo	46. Beijing, China	76. Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia
17. Cotonou, Benin	47. Seoul, South Korea	77. Hilo, United States
18. Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe	48. Nagasaki, Japan	78. Honolulu, United States
19. Walvis Bay, Namibia	49. Kagoshima, Japan	79. Lahaina, United States
20. Cape Town, South Africa	50. Taipei, Taiwan	80. Nawiliwili, United States
21. Port Elizabeth, South Africa	51. Kaohsiung, Taiwan	81. Los Angeles, United States
22. East London, South Africa	52. Manila, Philippines	82. San Diego, United States
23. Durban, South Africa	53. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia	83. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
24. Richards Bay, South Africa	54. Muara, Darussalam	84. Huatulco, Mexico
25. Maputo, Mozambique	55. Kuching, Malaysia	85. Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
26. Nosy Be, Madagascar	56. Bali, Indonesia	86. Corinto, Nicaragua
27. Zanzibar, Tanzania	57. Komodo, Indonesia	87. Puntarenas, Costa Rica
28. Mombasa, Kenya	58. Darwin, Australia	88. Cartagena, Colombia
29. Mahe, Seychelles	59. Cairns, Australia	89. Key West, United States
30. La Digue, Seychelles	60. Whitsunday Island, Australia	90. Miami, United States