Adventurous cruisers set off around the world on a four-month itinerary aboard the Costa Deliziosa last week.
The ship sailed out of Savona in Italy on Tuesday, carrying some 2,500 passengers who will eventually cross the Atlantic and follow the coastline of South America before heading to Oceania and southern Africa.
Passengers from 35 countries have booked to travel on the first voyage of 2015, which will come to an end on May 1. There is a second round-the-world itinerary scheduled to begin in September, for 98 days, this time aboard sister ship Costa Luminosa.
This holiday will focus on the northern hemisphere, calling at ports in the US, Mexico, China, India and the UAE.
Excursions available for guests are inspired by the great exploration voyages of old, with examples including a trip to the Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia.
Costa is planning a similar 108-day trip for early 2016.