This epic new luxury cruise costs up to $550,000 per cabin — and might be worth it

19.03.2024 - 20:31 / thepointsguy.com / Crystal Serenity

Uber-luxury line Crystal is out with a new world cruise itinerary that might be its most epic ever. It comes with an epic price tag, too.

The recently relaunched brand on Tuesday began taking reservations for a 135-night voyage from Los Angeles to Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome), that will bring the wealthy set to a stunning 72 destinations in 27 countries across five continents.

Kicking off Jan. 11, 2026, and taking place on Crystal's 740-passenger Crystal Serenity, the sailing starts at a sky-high $168,000 per cabin for two people.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

Top suites on the ship will cost up to $550,000 for two passengers.

For that lofty price, well-heeled travelers can experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip that includes visits to many of the world's most famous destinations, from Bora Bora in French Polynesia to the pyramids of Egypt — all while living in the lap of luxury.

Crystal Serenity, which TPG has called the queen of luxury cruising, underwent a massive overhaul in 2023 that gave it more space per passenger than any other luxury ship afloat. The overhaul included a significant enlargement of many of its accommodations and a reduction in the number of passengers that will sail on any given voyage.

Additionally, Crystal's crew-to-passenger ratio — a top measure of luxury on any ship — was increased to roughly 1:1, an astounding level.

The net result makes Crystal Serenity one of the most luxurious cruise vessels afloat.

Related: Luxury line Crystal is back

Crystal typically offers one world cruise a year, and it's always lengthy and destination-packed. But the newly announced 2026 world sailing is longer than those the line has offered in recent years, coming in at 135 days long.

In comparison, the single world cruise Crystal offers this year is 125 nights long, while a world cruise planned for 2025 will be 123 nights long.

The new sailing for 2026 is also pricier than Crystal world cruises in the past. Starting rates are $35,000 more per couple than the starting rates for Crystal's 2025 world cruise. That sailing starts at $133,000 per cabin for two.

Crystal Serenity's most luxurious accommodation, the Penthouse Suite, costs $71,600 more on the 2026 world cruise than it costs on the 2025 world cruise.

The 135-night world cruise for 2026 will begin with a westward crossing of the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii and French Polynesia on the way to New Zealand and Australia.

From there, the vessel will head to various countries across Asia, including Indonesia and India, before sailing through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.

In the Mediterranean, the ship will visit multiple ports in Greece, Italy and France before the