world cruise center reviews

Los Angeles World Cruise Center

Review Highlights

“ From entrance to exit, you receive guidance to the cruise ship you're on. ” in 7 reviews

“ Well, that and it's an ugly port , one that's surrounded by shipping containers, smog, and lots of big rigs. ” in 15 reviews

“ We were in the terminal and onto the ship in less than an hour including metal detectors and embarkation photos. ” in 5 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

100 Swinford St

Wilmington, CA 90744

You Might Also Consider

TravelStore-Palos Verdes

Moby M. said "Let me first give the biggest shout out to Nanci. She went above and beyond! She answered my phone call at 7am, after we spent a horrible night in the ER with my son, the night before our vacation. She helped us modify our flight,…" read more

in Travel Services

Del Rey Boating

Take a private cruise on a luxurious boat in Marina del Rey. Hourly charters available to celebrate any special occasion, holiday or have relaxing day on the water. Or choose a specialized tour crafted from spectacular days in our… read more

in Boat Tours

Ebird Express - Pedal Party Bike Tours

Crystal D. said "Oh my gosh, we did the ultimate express tour last night. It was AMAZING! I seriously want to tell everyone I know to do this! It was the best. And I love Chris and Michelle! I WILL be doing this again." read more

in Bus Tours, Bike Tours, Party Bike Rentals

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Are there vending machines after security?

Yes, they do. Next to the restrooms.

Is there any train line to get there?

No train. Look for a bus route. I used Uber.

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Left my car in the parking lot for two weeks so I would have transportation when I returned from a Panama cruise. Having a car waiting after a cruise is a luxurious convenience despite the cost. The lots were easily accessible from the freeway and there is plenty of parking. I just parked near the Royal Caribbean berths. The car was fine when I returned. This review is just for the parking. I did not enter the terminals when I returned because I had COVID and was escorted from the ship to a separate area in the parking lot during disembarkation. Port personnel could have been nicer to us but I was glad to be able to leave quickly since my car was already there.

This is my 2nd time going on a cruise out of this port (1st time was in 2017). Was going to park on site; however, at 19.00/day and unsure if parking would be available we decided to take a LYFT to and fr instead. Was pretty straight forward upon entering (just follow the signs) for the drop off area but a tad confusing once dropped off on where to go (we just followed everyone else). Was very easy going through security and then onto the boarding area where there were plenty of employees and no lines to board.

After the hassle of moving luggage from berth 91 to 93 with no porters to be found. And a long wait in line. There was a required routine scheduled customs check of all staff and crew before guests were allowed to embark. This only happens every few months. Things then proceeded rather smoothly. It was a festive filled party as we sailed out of America's busiest cargo port; 20 straight years running now. And the world's 32nd busiest cruise terminal. Our first time leaving from our home port. Sapphire Princess; destination? 8 ports, 32 days, October 30 - December 1 in the South Pacific. Hilo, Honolulu, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, Dravuni, Tahiti, and Moorea. Then back to Los Angeles. Kind of a bucket list knockout in one blow! Disembarking went a lot smoother. The first hour for drop off and pickup is free. Check the Los Angeles World Cruise Center website for additional fees if you plan to park and cruise. A celebration cruise of our 42nd anniversary!!!

Another easy boarding on to the Majestic Princess at Berth 51. It is much better to be dropped off from the circular drive. We are on a one-way cruise, so parking isn't an option. There were two ships in Port, but the traffic wasn't bad, and we were dropped off right at the security entrance. Security was quick and low-key, and before we knew it, we were boarding our ship and ordering our first cocktail.

We have sailed from this location numerous times. The sail out is quite fun, as you sail by the lighthouse, with Catalina on the horizon. The parking lot costs over $15 per day, so if you are on a long cruise, it is better to get a shuttle or a ride. GPS maps has a hard time getting you to the loop that takes you to the ship drop off spots, so it is better to follow the signs that spell out World Cruise Center with arrows pointing to parking or to drop off. Last time we walked to the maritime museum before our sail, or you can tour the USS Iowa, which is also an easy walk.

It was a bit confusing trying to get on the ship this afternoon to Go around the world, my AirTags still show our suitcases as sitting in the terminal and not on the ship so we sure hope that isn't not the case..

We had a great time celebrating our 33rd anniversary on a cruise. Super fun, Delicious food every day or night

Our Mexican Riviera cruise was sailing from San Pedro. If you Google it, you'll find it's located in Los Angeles. Not Long Beach. We decided to drive to Los Angeles from San Francisco as it's a six hour drive not counting comfort stops. There's a big outdoor parking lot adjacent to the ship terminal. Lately we've been traveling with carry on luggage. This was no different. We were sailing on Celebrity out of berth B93. Celebrity has evening chic which replaced formal nights awhile back. So no need for evening gowns and tuxedos. Hence another reason for a carry on. We entered the parking lot pulling a parking ticket from the kiosk. Hold on to it as you'll need it to pay & exit. $20 a day so we paid $140 for seven days. Pulling our luggage we entered the ship terminal. Many ushers guiding you to where you need to go. Although our check in time was 11am we checked in earlier with no issue. We provided our passports which were scanned with a handheld device. Our photos taken. Then we found a seat in the enormous waiting area. Hurry up & wait. Boarding was by Celebrity loyalty tier program. It was somewhat noisy to hear as it was a verbal call out. With all the ambient noise it caused a stir among us. We were the third group to board. Upon disembarking the ship seven days later we did our own carry off. We disembarked around 6:50am. Rolled our luggage down the ramp into the ship terminal. Took the escalator down (folks with larger luggage had to wait for the elevator). We followed the signs to US Customs. It was easy peasy as US Customs did a facial recognition. Look into the camera. Bingo. Done. No passports required. We headed back to the parking lot. We were going to pay at the machine but there's a paper sign instructing us to pay at the exit. So we drove to the exit. Slipped the parking ticket from seven days prior into the machine. Followed the prompts. Slipped our credit card to pay. Waited for our receipt to be dispensed. The arm raised up. We exited. Left at 7:20am.

As many people know, the west coast doesn't offer a whole ton of options with cruise ship ports as they are scattered in major ocean cities such as San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Astoria OR, and this one in Los Angeles. This is more along the lines of the San Pedro/Long Beach area but nonetheless it is the main cruise terminal which is also known as the "Los Angeles World Cruise Center". The center itself is a hub for all the major cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Disney, and Princess. I've already been on several cruises in my time but this was my first time ever cruising out of California. Since I researched a ton of information (through Facebook groups and Yelp reviews), I already had a general idea of what to expect. My cruise which was Royal Caribbean's "Navigator of the Seas" was set to embark on Friday April 22, 2022 @ 4:00pm. Me being the early bird that I am, I ended up arriving here around 11:10am. The best way to get here (from LAX) is to take the 405 South (San Diego Freeway) to the 110 South, right on 47 East and exit on Harbor Blvd. The physical address is 100 Swinford Street Wilmington, CA so if you put that in your GPS, you should be good to go. If you plan on leaving your personal vehicle here, you are given a ticket. Make sure to HOLD ON to your ticket especially if you will be here for several days as this is a daily long-term lot. Parking rates (as of 2022) are free for the first hour and $2/hour thereafter with a maximum daily rate of $20/day). Since I would be leaving my vehicle here from 4/22/2022 to 4/27/2022, that would be a grand total of $100. Otherwise, there are shuttles that drop you off from nearby hotels. Or you could go the simple route and take an Uber or taxi here. After unloading all my luggage out of my car, an employee that works for cruise center approached me if I will be cruising. I specified to him my ship and he took my heavy carry-on bags, labeled them, and placed them on a cart. After tipping him, I proceeded to the inside of the terminal. During these times with all these safety protocols, everything here was absolutely painless. I provided the staff of Royal Caribbean my passport, proof of vaccination status, a negative COVID-19 test (48 hours or less is required by a proctored health professional), drivers license, and my SeaPass cards through my phone. If you bring all of these documents PRIOR to your arrival, this will expedite the entire process. When my cruise ship returned to the terminal during the morning of Wednesday April 27, 2022 @ 6:00am, the process was very simple as well. After enjoying a final breakfast buffet at 6:30am, checking out of the suite at 7:00am, I was off the ship by 7:15am. And finally I got back to my car at 7:30am! I must say this was a very painless process, at least from my experience as there were no hiccups. Best of all, you can assure that your vehicle will be safe as this is a private gated parking lot. All in all, I would have to give the "Los Angeles World Cruise Center" an above average four-star rating. I read many reviews of confusion of where to go, where to wait, what to provide to the staff, and so forth. That is why I highly recommend showing up as early as possible to avoid all the hassles involved; much like if you're flying out of the country. Now that I am familiar with this particular cruise terminal, I plan on making many future visits here.

Well this has to be the worst cruise port I've ever been to The main building was just a tent The rest was old and ugly TSA were rushing us and unclear as to instructions Upon our return trip we walked off the ship Navigator of the Seas so we had rolling suitcases but to get out of the port you have yo use an escalator which was difficult with luggage It looks like the port probably started as a freight port converted to passenger travel :-(

Very friendly staff. From entrance to exit, you receive guidance to the cruise ship you're on. Directions are easy to follow and the representatives are very attentive. They know how to keep traffic moving. Transition was smooth. Our luggage was taken and delivered on time. Check in was smooth, seeing that most of the process was computerized. In my opinion, I rather travel by sea than by plane. This process was much faster and smoother than the airport!!!

See all photos from Keyonda A. for Los Angeles World Cruise Center

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Dang N. said "I wasn't sure what to expect. I did some research and a lot of websites rated Away luggage among their best. So I took a drive up here to check them out. I'm headed to NZ and AU soon and don't really want to pay the $ for check-in…" read more

in Airlines, Travel Services, Luggage

Scottsdale Party Bus & Limo

Jason K. said "I have worked with this company for 2 different occasions. Both times I was very impressed with how professional the company was, especially working with me on such short notice. The bus arrived early to ensure that it was ready for…" read more

in Limos, Airport Shuttles, Party Bus Rentals

People Also Viewed

Long Beach Cruise Center

Catalina Express

Princess Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Princess Cruises - Golden Princess

Catalina Classic Cruises

Long Beach Airport - LGB

John Wayne Airport - Terminal A

Best of Wilmington

Things to do in Wilmington

People found Los Angeles World Cruise Center by searching for…

Boat Ride Wilmington

La Port For Cruise Wilmington

Must Do Wilmington

Port Of Angeles San Pedro Wilmington

San Pedro Cruise Dock Wilmington

San Pedro Cruise Terminal Parking Wilmington

Browse Nearby

Limo Service

Other Tours Nearby

Find more Tours near Los Angeles World Cruise Center

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

• san-pedro-la

San Pedro, Los Angeles California

Last updated on February 5th, 2024 at 09:32 am

Begin your cruise journey from San Pedro, California, a coastal gem located in the heart of the Los Angeles area. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views, explore the nearby attractions like the iconic Queen Mary, and soak in the laid-back California vibes before setting sail to exciting destinations.

World Cruise Center - San Pedro, 600 N Harbor Blvd , Los Angeles , California, 90731 ,

The World Cruise Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles is only a 20 minute drive from downtown L.A. Within a 5 mile radius of the terminal are many different things for passengers to see and do – the Battleship IOWA, Ports O’Call Village, the Los ...

Cruise Planning at this Port

Transportation

Park & Cruise Hotels

Hotels Close to the Port

Fly & Cruise Hotels

Food / Dining

Attractions

Tours & Excursions

Top Tours & Excursions In San Pedro, Los Angeles California

L.a. in a day by sunseeker tours.

See the most popular attractions around Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. On this small group tour, you'll travel in comfort and style in Mercedes-Benz buses, and still have lots of free time to experience the excitement of L.A. up close and personal!...

Duration : 8 Hours

Activity : Low

Wheelchair Accessibility : No

Tour Includes: Pick up from cruise port at 9am; Drop off at cruise port at 4:30 pm or LAX at 4pm

Warner Bros. Studio and Movie Stars' Homes Tour

Explore Warner Bros. back lot where show like Friends and Big Bang Theory were filmed, then visit the current or one-time homes of today's biggest stars, all while seeing the city's top landmarks....

Duration : 4-5 Hours

Activity : Medium

L.A. Hop-On-Hop-Off Double Decker Bus Tour

See the most popular sights of Los Angeles including Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, at your leisure. Hop on or off at more than 50 stops throughout the city providing a comprehensive overview for first time visitors....

Duration : Unlimited for 24 or 48 Hours

Wheelchair Accessibility : On Lower Level of Bus

© 2023 cruiseportadvisor All Rights Reserved.

• Book Excursions
• Anchorage, AK
• Baltimore, MD
• Cape Liberty, NJ
• Charleston, SC
• Ft Lauderdale, FL
• Galveston, TX
• Honolulu, HI
• Jacksonville, FL
• L.A. (San Pedro), CA
• Long Beach, CA
• Montreal, QC
• New Orleans, LA
• Norfolk, VA
• NYC – Brooklyn
• NYC – Manhattan
• Port Canaveral, FL
• Quebec City, QC
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• San Juan, PR
• Seattle, WA
• Vancouver, BC
• Whittier, AK
• Alaska & Pacific Northwest
• Central & South America
• Cruise Ports in Bermuda
• Dominican Republic
• Mexico & Mexican Riviera
• Eastern Canada & Quebec
• New England
• Los Angeles (San Pedro), CA
• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Cruise Blog
• Cruise FAQ’s

12 epic around-the-world cruises that will check off all your bucket list travel destinations

Imagine the joys of traveling seamlessly from one bucket list country to another without packing and unpacking, switching hotels, boarding countless flights or even doing laundry.

Think it's a fantasy? It's actually a world cruise, the nirvana of many ocean-going devotees. As a bonus, most of these around-the-world voyages include enviable perks, like pre-cruise hotel stays, alcohol, shipboard credit, exclusive-access shore excursions — and, yes, laundry service.

Retired, taking a job hiatus or working remotely? A world cruise is a safe, easy and exhilarating way to score a global adventure beyond compare. You might even make new lifelong friends sharing similar interests.

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

So, pull out your travel wish list and find an itinerary for those coveted destinations.

Here, you can learn more about what's involved in an around-the-world cruise and drool over 12 terrific choices across a range of fares for an incredible monthslong voyage at sea.

What is a world cruise?

Never mind the moniker, a world cruise may visit several continents but not circumnavigate the globe. Cruise lines usually designate one ship (a few offer two) to sail about 100 days or longer — some even sail more than 200 days — without repeating ports.

World cruises traditionally start in January and end around April or May. They sail round-trip from one American city, such as San Francisco or Miami, or offer a choice of starting points on both coasts, making access easy.

What to know about world cruises

With so few world cruises available, book far in advance. Bookings open roughly two years in advance, and some small-ship cruises sell out within hours. You'll need the extra time to make arrangements to leave your home for months. For that reason, this story will focus on 2025 world cruises.

Related: Hot cruises you'll need to book at least 1 year in advance — maybe even 2!

Around-the-world cruise cost

Such lengthy sailings cost plenty. The bigger ship lines offer the lowest fares, although extra fees for what's not included (such as shore excursions and alcohol) can add up quickly. If contemplating a big-ship voyage, read the inclusions carefully, as they vary among lines.

Luxury vessels bundle many costly amenities into the fare, like business- or first-class plane tickets and luxury hotel stays, and charge the most. They also deliver fine dining, pampering service, glam surroundings and impressive special events. (Silversea Cruises has previously rented out an entire island to entertain its world cruise guests.)

Thus, expect considerable price differences. Count on spending about $20,000 per person minimum to score an entry-level accommodation on the bigger ships and approximately $80,000 to $90,000 per person for an ultraluxury vessel.

Note that for the poshest lines, "entry-level" may mean a spacious, elegant suite with a veranda. For other lines, the most basic cabin is a small, windowless room.

Read on to discover where you can sail to in 2025 on a world cruise.

World Voyage

Thanks to an overwhelming response to its 2024 world cruise (which is currently waitlisted), Azamara announced itineraries for both 2025 and 2026, both aboard the 684-passenger Azamara Onward.

Azamara Onward is the newest ship to join the Miami-based line's four-vessel fleet. The ship's size provides an intimate experience and allows it to call on small towns bigger ships can't access.

For 2025, the 155-night, 37-country voyage begins in San Diego and ends in Southampton, England, with visits to exciting locales in French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Italy, France and others.

Along the way, world cruisers can sample authentic Hawaiian cuisine; explore the unspoiled beaches and the lush rainforest on Stewart Island, New Zealand; and visit the world's largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia.

The itinerary will include a pre-sailing welcome party, exclusive cultural events, concierge service and other upscale perks.

The 2026 world cruise sets sail from Miami and concludes in Barcelona. The itinerary for this 155-night expedition features some of the world's most iconic landmarks and sites.

Cruisers will have the opportunity to explore the great pyramid of Kukulcan and other ancient Mayan sites in Chichen Itza, Mexico; wander among Rio de Janeiro's architectural gems and experience the awe of Iguazu Falls in Brazil; sample Peruvian cuisine and soak in the landscape of Machu Picchu in Cusco; scale the Great Wall of China; and enjoy other bucket-list worthy adventures.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2025. Prices start from $89,001 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2026. Prices start from $85,141 per person.

World Cruise

If luxury and unparalleled personal service are important to you, consider Crystal 's 2025 world cruise aboard Crystal Serenity .

The beloved upscale line went bankrupt and stopped sailing in 2022. However, luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent acquired it and brought it back to life with a $150 million glow-up, starting with 740-passenger Crystal Serenity.

With newly renovated expansive suites, an array of social areas and nearly one staff member per guest, Crystal Serenity offers ultimate comfort, quality and personalization. Every cabin comes with a butler ready to assist with reservations, laundry and any other needs you have during your global odyssey.

Beginning in Fort Lauderdale and concluding in Barcelona, the sailing spans 123 nights with visits to 31 countries. The cruise kicks off with a welcome celebration, and guests can enjoy themed onboard and shoreside events and gala dinners throughout the sailing.

Exciting destinations along the way include Belize, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Jordan. Passengers can get a close-up look at Argentine tango through performances, enjoy street food in Sri Lanka's capital city and celebrate like a Greek god on Mount Olympus, among other events.

Custom excursions and pre- and post-cruise tours organized by Abercrombie & Kent are available along the way (for an additional cost).

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $66,200 per person.

Cunard Line

Be among the first to explore the world aboard Queen Anne, the line's first new ship in 12 years. Scheduled to launch in May 2024, the 2,996-passenger ship will take over Cunard 's world cruise duties in January 2025.

Queen Anne's maiden World Voyage in 2025 will span 111 nights, beginning and ending in Hamburg, Germany. Along the way, guests can explore historic churches in the Old Town of Lubeck, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site; visit the historic city of Antigua, Guatemala's original capital; and indulge in retail therapy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's bustling shopping hub.

Passengers will enjoy spectacular new elements on this ship. The vessel's main pool area, The Pavilion, is topped with a gorgeous retractable glass roof that will act as a showpiece and also a functional structure to keep poolgoers dry on rainy days.

If you're seeking the most luxurious accommodations and exclusive experiences on board, book Princess or Queens Grill suites. Fares include outstanding amenities such as private dining rooms, coffee and specialty tea service, priority boarding, and a private outdoor lounge area.

Queens Grill suite passengers receive butler service, too. However, many lovely inclusions, such as white-gloved servers presenting complimentary daily tea, are available for all guests.

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $17,799 per person.

Holland America

Grand World Voyage

Holland America 's 124-day Grand World Voyage on the 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam cruises round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. The enticing itinerary ventures far from Florida to must-visit cities such as Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore and Istanbul. The ship will also traverse the Panama Canal.

Many included overnights allow opportunities to dive deep into local cultures and experiences. Spend extra time in Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; and Singapore. As a bonus, Zuiderdam will take guests to incredibly remote locales, such as the Amazon.

On board, relish music venues like Billboard Onboard and BBC Earth in Concert, where a live orchestra plays before a huge backdrop of spectacular wildlife footage. Step One Dance Company presents works by noted choreographers. Count on a buzzy casino, fine dining at specialty restaurants and a professionally staffed fitness center.

Departs Jan. 4, 2025. Prices start from $24,999 per person.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is doing something a little different with its 2025 world cruise. It's offering a choice of four embarkation ports — Rome and Genoa in Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona. Passengers will return to the same port they left from.

The 2,550-passenger MSC Magnifica is the home base for the 116-night journey. The itinerary features port calls at 50 destinations across 21 countries in the Mediterranean, South America, the South Pacific, Australia and Asia. Among the cities you'll explore are Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro; Casablanca, Morocco; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Broome, Australia; and Auckland.

Spend your port days ogling at Genoa's majestic Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Lawrence and Doge's Palace; exploring the peaceful mountaintop monastery in Montserrat, Spain; and wandering through the restored ceremonial village of Orongo, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a World Heritage Site.

Departs Jan. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2025 (depending on your embarkation port). Prices start from $14,469 per person.

Oceania Cruises

Around the World Cruise

The lovely 656-passenger Insignia sails a whopping 200 days from Miami to New York for Oceania Cruises ' 2025 world cruise. It might seem a long way away, but inside cabins and some suites are already waitlisted for the sailing.

Prepare to tear up any bucket list on a cruise this long. The ship begins in the balmy Caribbean islands, ventures to the Brazilian Amazon, explores more of South America and then heads off to Africa and Asia. Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii and Latin America round out the itinerary before Insignia circles back to the Caribbean (different ports on this end) and sails triumphantly back to Miami.

Oceania Cruises is renowned for fine dining. Expect to eat and drink exceptionally well on board.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $54,099 per person.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises promises an unforgettable journey on its 116-day world cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale (or Los Angeles, as an alternative embarkation port) on the 2,200-passenger Island Princess.

This ship delivers many onboard activities like cooking and dance classes, trivia contests, enrichment programs and games of basketball, volleyball and tennis on the sports court. A putting green ensures golf games stay sharp.

You can also expect outdoor movies, original musical productions and onboard wellness features such as a spa and fitness center.

World cruisers can visit 26 countries with 51 destinations across six continents; the exciting port of call include Lisbon; Bali; Naples, Italy; Milan; and Haifa, Israel. With late-night stays in 11 ports of call and a Dubai overnight, you can relish multiple opportunities to wine, dine and enjoy the nightlife ashore.

For 2025, Princess offers two 116-day world cruise itinerary options on Island Princess, one round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and the other round-trip from Los Angeles.

From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $16,225 per person.

From Los Angeles: Departs Jan. 20, 2025. Prices start from $16,298 per person.

Related: Big vs. small cruise ships: Which will I like better?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Navigate the World

World cruises prove perpetually popular on this ultraluxe line. They often sell out in the blink of an eye.

Availability is limited on the 2025 150-night world cruise on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner, sailing round-trip from Miami to San Francisco. This itinerary includes cruising in Antarctica, the Chilean fjords, French Polynesia, Taipei and Bali.

Perhaps because its 2025 sailing is nearly sold out, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to announce its 2026 world voyage, also on Seven Seas Mariner.

This journey will be the line's longest, sailing for 154 nights and visiting 77 ports in 41 countries across six continents. The itinerary includes three new ports of call for Regent, including Lifou Island and Mare of the Loyalty Islands in the New Caledonia archipelago. Count on visiting 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Robben Island in South Africa.

For all its around-the-world cruises, Regent piles on primo inclusions — first-class flights, unlimited shore excursions, luggage service, an open bar and a visa package are among countless amenities.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $87,999 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 10, 2026. Prices start from $94,999 per person.

Related: The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Grand Africa Voyage

Wander the majestic Grandmaster's Palace in Malta. Snorkel the pristine waters along the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Ogle the tropical beauty of the 115-island archipelago of the Seychelles. Soak up the beauty of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain.

You'll find many pinch-me moments on Seabourn 's 90-day, 26-country Grand Africa cruise in late 2024 and early 2025. It takes place onboard the 450-passenger all-suite Seabourn Sojourn and sails round-trip from Barcelona. (The line is not currently offering a more traditional world cruise in 2025.)

On the ultraluxurious vessel, you can expect exclusive VIP celebrations, like a Caviar in the Surf party. (Note that complimentary Champagne and caviar flow freely on board, too, adding to the happy vibe.)

There's much to love about Seabourn Sojourn. Its intimate size allows truly personalized service from a polished, attentive crew. Seabourn Square, a living room-like venue, is a magnet for affable passengers who quickly make new friends. Count on superb dining and 24-hour room service among a slew of upscale amenities.

Departs Nov. 30, 2024. Prices start from $38,999 per person.

Related: 7 extremely decadent things you can do on a luxury cruise vacation

Silversea Cruises

Controtempo

Silversea Cruises ' 2025 world cruise aboard the ultraluxurious, 596-passenger Silver Dawn looks amazing. The around-the-world cruise is designed to visit far-flung and more remote ports, often out of season, to avoid the touristy crowds.

This 136-day voyage sails from Tokyo to New York and explores 59 ports in 30 countries. Count on visiting enchanting cities, including Istanbul, Naples and Stockholm. Wonderfully remote ports, like Cochin, India; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Nuuk, Greenland, tempt travelers to come aboard for the long haul.

Silversea's world cruises are known for showcasing exceptional special-access events, and this sailing is no different. On this cruise, applause goes to a private tour of Cairo's 500-room Abdeen Palace and an inimitable evening at Versailles in lavish Marie Antoinette style (pre-guillotine, of course).

Silver Dawn is a wowser with a game-changer spa , all-suite accommodations, tux-clad butlers for all passengers and complimentary caviar service anytime, anywhere. Expect many fare inclusions, such as business-class flights, shore excursions and private transfers.

Controtempo departs Jan. 13, 2025. Prices start from $81,900 per person.

The Three Oceans

Silversea recently announced a new 80-destination world cruise for 2027, also aboard Silver Dawn.

Departing from Los Angeles for a 149-night voyage, the ship will visit 35 countries and five continents before ending in Copenhagen. The itinerary features 80 port calls, more than any sailing in Silversea's history, and it will also include 20 new destinations for the line.

Passengers can enjoy extended time in select ports with 11 overnight calls in Honolulu; Cairns, Australia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cape Town, South Africa; and Bordeaux, France, among others.

The Three Oceans cruise departs Jan. 8, 2027. Prices will be available beginning from June 10, 2024.

Viking World Voyage II

Imagine the joy of ticking many bucket list boxes on Viking World Voyage II, Viking 's 163-day world cruise on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky in 2025. Book quickly; availability is extremely limited, with many suites and penthouses already sold out.

The Los Angeles-to-New York voyage visits 29 countries and 78 ports.

Palm-tree ports are plentiful, including Moorea, French Polynesia; Bay of Islands, New Zealand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You'll cross many seas, such as the Tasman, Arafura and Arabian, and take your pick of a plethora of possible excursions, including a visit to a Balinese Hindu temple in Indonesia and a tour of the ancient Elephanta Caves in India. You can pretty much do it all on this world cruise.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $74,995 per person.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Commonly Searched Topics

Board Agendas and Videos

How to do Business with the Port

Employment Opportunities

CARGO OPERATIONS DASHBOARD

Environmental Documents

Cargo Terminals

CRUISE SHIP SCHEDULE

LOS ANGELES PORT POLICE

Latest News

Los Angeles Cruise Terminal

Berths 92-93.

Have questions about your upcoming cruise? Get answers here.

About Ports America Cruise, Inc.

About Parking Concepts, Inc.

Includes upcoming regular and special meetings of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners and Harbor Commission Audit Committee.

Includes monthly container statistics and bunker fuel reports for the Port of Los Angeles.

Includes upcoming events hosted by the Port of Los Angeles, LA Waterfront development information, and biweekly Currents e-newsletter.

Includes all news stories from the Port of Los Angeles, covering a range of topics, including business, cargo, community, environment, public safety, and LA Waterfront.

Subscribe to receive all email notifications from the Port of Los Angeles.

Google Translate

Please review our Terms of Use , which changed on May 24, 2024.

Specialty Cruises

Fireworks cruise.

Fun for all ages, nighttime cruises provide the perfect opportunity to watch Luminous The Symphony of Us or Happily Ever After  right from the water. These brilliant fireworks spectaculars add an amazing "wow" factor to your cruise!

From the comfort of a chartered boat, your party can set sail for International Gateway near World Showcase Lagoon to watch the skies light up over EPCOT . Or, embark on the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake near  Magic Kingdom park —with synchronized audio onboard to fully immerse you in the moment. It’s an incredible finale to the festivities!

Departure Locations Depart from Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts to experience Luminous The Symphony of Us or sail from the following marinas to view Happily Ever After:

• Contemporary Marina
• Polynesian Marina
• Grand Floridian Marina
• Fort Wilderness Marina
• Wilderness Lodge Marina

What’s Included Each cruise is accompanied by a captain and includes assorted snacks and soft drinks. Festive banners and balloons are also included in the cost and can be requested at the time of booking.

Pricing Prices start at $449—plus tax. Prices vary by date. Boats seat up to 10 Guests.

Reservations To reserve a cruise, please call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Learn when advance reservations can be made .

Please note—in rare instances, fireworks shows may be rescheduled or canceled. Please refer to the entertainment schedule to confirm showtimes 2 weeks prior to your reservation and check again the day of your reservation.

Important Details Before you book, please be aware of the following information:

• Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to fireworks start time.
• Boats are not equipped with full-size dining tables. A cocktail table is provided.
• For Guests with limited mobility, wheelchair/ECV transfer is necessary.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged/forfeited if the Guest cancels within one day or fails to show up for the reservation.

Related Activities

Celebration at the top – sip, savor, sparkle, custom-designed celebrations & gatherings, disney private vip tours, safety, accessibility and guest policies.

NEPC Review: Spark & Sustain: How All the World’s School Systems Can Improve Learning at Scale (McKinsey & Company, February 2024)

A McKinsey & Company report aims to provide a toolbox for policymakers and other stakeholders on the policy reforms and governance strategies that can promote sustained improvement in students’ learning outcomes. Significant analytical and methodological shortcomings raise doubts about the report’s findings and conclusions, however. For instance, not considering counterfactual cases (i.e., countries that do not experience an improvement) limits the report’s capacity to establish causal links between the strategies identified and the improvement of learning outcomes. The report's usefulness is further weakened by the lack of specificity and universal scope of its recommendations and the superficial analysis of factors shaping implementation processes.

Suggested Citation : Fontdevila, C., Verger, A., & Zancajo, A. (2024). NEPC review: Spark & sustain: How all the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale . EdChoice. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved [date], from http://nepc.colorado.edu/review/learning

Document Reviewed:

Spark & sustain: how all the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale.

• World Cruising

World Cruise

By pmatawan , December 31, 2020 in World Cruising

Recommended Posts

Starting to plan a world cruise, probably for 2024. I would prefer to book on a cruise line like NCL because I enjoy the relaxed, anytime cruising experience.

Looks like most of the cruise lines that do world cruises are a bit more formal than NCL.

These are the cruise lines doing world cruises:

Holland American

What are your thoughts and recommendations? 

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

BirdTravels

We have done a partial world on Cunard in the past. Definitely more formal, but it brought back fond memories of the golden age cruising on true ocean liners. Not a party ship. 

We have done part of a world cruise on Princess, just like normal Princess cruising, no more formal than usual.

SargassoPirate

A world cruise has been on my bucket list for several years.  She Who Must Be Obeyed has no interest in being on a ship that long, so I'm going it alone.  That being said, a cruise line's single supplement figured into my matrix, as well as ports that I have not been to before.  As part of my research, I read a book written by a world cruiser "Chasing The Dawn - Traveling The World With P&O".

Having cruised on RCI, Celebrity, HAL, Princess, NCL, and Viking, I figured I would subscribe to conventional wisdom that says never do a world cruise on a line with which you have never cruised on.  However, being a tight-fisted Scotch-Irish hillbilly, the prices on those lines put me off - even with the loyalty program perks.

I finally settled on P&O - the price was within my budget, a good mix of ports, lots of sea days between ports,  tips included, a real promenade deck, self-serve laundries, low deposit, and a reasonable single supplement.

I guess my one piece of advice would be to make a chart of your wants and needs for an extended voyage  with all the factors that will help you narrow it down. 

On 12/31/2020 at 9:55 AM, pmatawan said: Starting to plan a world cruise, probably for 2024. I would prefer to book on a cruise line like NCL because I enjoy the relaxed, anytime cruising experience. Looks like most of the cruise lines that do world cruises are a bit more formal than NCL. These are the cruise lines doing world cruises: Oceania Viking Holland American P & O Cunard MSC Princess Regent Crystal Costa Seabourn What are your thoughts and recommendations?   

Your list of cruise lines includes everything from Luxury through to mega ship mass market lines. In selecting a World Cruise, may I suggest starting with a similar process we completed on completion of our first WC on Princess. We had sailed with Princess for almost 40 yrs, but vowed the 2015 WC was the last, as their standards and quality had dropped below our minimum expectations.

We created a detailed list of what we wanted in a new WC:

• Ship size - we certainly didn't want mega ships, or something too small, as really small has less entertainment options. We settled on about 750 to 1,250
• Ship type - we were looking for classic but newer ships that were specious, having excellent pax/space ratios.
• Ship amenities - we were not interested in glitzy pool games, wave riders, water slides, etc. Nor are we interested in casinos, photogs, art auctions, shops overflowing into alleyways peddling inches of gold, etc.
• Formal nights - we have always enjoyed formal nights, even when every night was formal. However, the trend for standards slipping and cruise lines not enforcing their standards have made it less enjoyable. Therefore, we opted for a preference of no formal nights, with the standard of smart casual being enforced.
• Dining options - our preference is always traditional dining, but we had experienced anytime once, where it almost became a traditional experience. Also wanted a few alternative dining options other than buffet and MDR. Wasn't interested in nickle and diming charges for alternative restaurants. We also expect quality meals.
• Kids - while World Cruises are generally an older demographic, we definitely didn't want kids aboard for the duration, or even a segment.
• All-inclusive - our preference was to have almost everything included with the basic cruise fare - gratuities, drinks, dining, room service, ports fees & taxes, etc.
• Entertainment - looking for a good selection of shows and guest entertainers, with quality lectures. Daily trivia - yes, but not interested in the plethora of pax participation games, where the winners get ultra-cheap bubbly.
• Itinerary - must be Westbound, as we prefer clox going back most of the time, not ahead
• Ports - lots of ports with multiple days alongside.

Once we developed our criteria, we knew mass market was of no interest, so we researched each of the Luxury/Premium Lines, short-listing to Viking & Oceania. We selected Viking, who met all requirements, except the traditional dining. However, on our 2020 WC with Viking we got the best of both, requesting the same waiters each evening, but sharing with different table mates.

Of the cruise lines you listed, the closest to NCL are probably Princess, Costa and possibly MSC. However, you can also get the relaxed cruising experience with considerably higher quality at minimal additional cost.

While premium/luxury lines have higher base fares, you need to consider the total spend, as on mass market ships, in 4 months, you can experience a significant onboard spend. After completing a Princess and Viking World Cruise, the Viking base fare was about 50% higher than Princess, but once all costs were included, the Viking per diem cost was marginally cheaper.

Enjoy the planning and hope you find a WC that meets your expectations.

On 1/6/2021 at 7:36 AM, SargassoPirate said: She Who Must Be Obeyed has no interest in being on a ship that long, so I'm going it alone. 

Maybe she would consider joining you for a segment or two?  I have known couples who have done that and found that it worked for them.  

15 hours ago, rkacruiser said:   Maybe she would consider joining you for a segment or two?  I have known couples who have done that and found that it worked for them.  

That's a good idea and one that we considered, but it would require her to fly solo to and from the ports, etc, etc and she said it was too much work for a conjugal visit.  We survived when I did a 49 night  Around The Horn cruise several years ago, but she did fly to SF to meet the ship and we spent some time there before flying home together.  And to tell you the truth, we both value our alone time and do so without being lonely. If one of us wants to do something, we don't let the other hold us back.  

There will be no regrets here when it's time to take up the rockin' chair.

Can anyone give me an idea of what percentage of world cruisers travel as a solo?

I’m a fairly young widower. I’ve travelled on many cruises as a solo, one for 24 days and want to do a WC.  Just don’t want to be the only one without a dance partner.

11 hours ago, JoePatNYCT said: Can anyone give me an idea of what percentage of world cruisers travel as a solo?   I’m a fairly young widower. I’ve travelled on many cruises as a solo, one for 24 days and want to do a WC.  Just don’t want to be the only one without a dance partner.   Joe

Can't remember about solos on our first WC in 2015, as with over 2,000 pax and segments we never did meet everyone, however I do recall seeing numerous solo meetings on the schedule.

On our 2020 Viking WC we probably had about 6 to 10 solos with 930 pax.

Thanks Heidi.  Not too many.  The Viking WC looks fabulous.  Do you know if they charge a 200% single supplement?

20 hours ago, JoePatNYCT said: Thanks Heidi.  Not too many.  The Viking WC looks fabulous.  Do you know if they charge a 200% single supplement?

Affirmative, Viking mostly charges the full singles supplement, except some TA's that aren't selling well. The 2022 WC only has 1 cabin remaining and the 2023 WC has about 12 to 15 cabins remaining.

Therefore, unfortunately they have no incentive to reduce prices closer to departure. On the 2020 WC, prices actually increased and perks decreased after we booked.

On 1/10/2021 at 5:53 AM, SargassoPirate said:   That's a good idea and one that we considered, but it would require her to fly solo to and from the ports, etc, etc and she said it was too much work for a conjugal visit.  We survived when I did a 49 night  Around The Horn cruise several years ago, but she did fly to SF to meet the ship and we spent some time there before flying home together.  And to tell you the truth, we both value our alone time and do so without being lonely. If one of us wants to do something, we don't let the other hold us back.     There will be no regrets here when it's time to take up the rockin' chair.

If she joins you on the last segment, I'll fly her out and take care of all the details.  Small nominal fee of course 😉

On 1/17/2021 at 10:44 PM, JoePatNYCT said: Can anyone give me an idea of what percentage of world cruisers travel as a solo?

No idea as to percentages, but on my world cruise on the Amsterdam as well as on the last segment of the previous world cruise, there were many solos.  More women than men is what I recall.  

On 1/17/2021 at 10:44 PM, JoePatNYCT said:  Just don’t want to be the only one without a dance partner.

Will one find a dance partner?  Your guess is as good as mine.  In fact, the most fun dancing I have had is dancing with women whose husbands prefer not to do so.  

Holland used to have dance hosts . Not sure if they do anymore. we met two different couples that loved to do a world cruise because the wife liked to dance and the husband did not, and the wives could find partners on the cruise.I do know that the 2023 Holland has several singles already booked and there are several who go every year, so HAL does do quite a few 'events' for singles.

wishIweretravelling

Crystal tends to have a fair number of solos on its world cruise. Mostly women.  It has a fairly reasonable single supplement (I think it's 40%), which explains why so many.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 3 hours ago

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 09:33 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 04:47 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 02:09 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 11:07 AM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

The state of AI in early 2024: Gen AI adoption spikes and starts to generate value

If 2023 was the year the world discovered generative AI (gen AI) , 2024 is the year organizations truly began using—and deriving business value from—this new technology. In the latest McKinsey Global Survey  on AI, 65 percent of respondents report that their organizations are regularly using gen AI, nearly double the percentage from our previous survey just ten months ago. Respondents’ expectations for gen AI’s impact remain as high as they were last year , with three-quarters predicting that gen AI will lead to significant or disruptive change in their industries in the years ahead.

About the authors

This article is a collaborative effort by Alex Singla , Alexander Sukharevsky , Lareina Yee , and Michael Chui , with Bryce Hall , representing views from QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, and McKinsey Digital.

Organizations are already seeing material benefits from gen AI use, reporting both cost decreases and revenue jumps in the business units deploying the technology. The survey also provides insights into the kinds of risks presented by gen AI—most notably, inaccuracy—as well as the emerging practices of top performers to mitigate those challenges and capture value.

AI adoption surges

Interest in generative AI has also brightened the spotlight on a broader set of AI capabilities. For the past six years, AI adoption by respondents’ organizations has hovered at about 50 percent. This year, the survey finds that adoption has jumped to 72 percent (Exhibit 1). And the interest is truly global in scope. Our 2023 survey found that AI adoption did not reach 66 percent in any region; however, this year more than two-thirds of respondents in nearly every region say their organizations are using AI. 1 Organizations based in Central and South America are the exception, with 58 percent of respondents working for organizations based in Central and South America reporting AI adoption. Looking by industry, the biggest increase in adoption can be found in professional services. 2 Includes respondents working for organizations focused on human resources, legal services, management consulting, market research, R&D, tax preparation, and training.

Also, responses suggest that companies are now using AI in more parts of the business. Half of respondents say their organizations have adopted AI in two or more business functions, up from less than a third of respondents in 2023 (Exhibit 2).

Gen AI adoption is most common in the functions where it can create the most value

Most respondents now report that their organizations—and they as individuals—are using gen AI. Sixty-five percent of respondents say their organizations are regularly using gen AI in at least one business function, up from one-third last year. The average organization using gen AI is doing so in two functions, most often in marketing and sales and in product and service development—two functions in which previous research  determined that gen AI adoption could generate the most value 3 “ The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier ,” McKinsey, June 14, 2023. —as well as in IT (Exhibit 3). The biggest increase from 2023 is found in marketing and sales, where reported adoption has more than doubled. Yet across functions, only two use cases, both within marketing and sales, are reported by 15 percent or more of respondents.

Gen AI also is weaving its way into respondents’ personal lives. Compared with 2023, respondents are much more likely to be using gen AI at work and even more likely to be using gen AI both at work and in their personal lives (Exhibit 4). The survey finds upticks in gen AI use across all regions, with the largest increases in Asia–Pacific and Greater China. Respondents at the highest seniority levels, meanwhile, show larger jumps in the use of gen Al tools for work and outside of work compared with their midlevel-management peers. Looking at specific industries, respondents working in energy and materials and in professional services report the largest increase in gen AI use.

Investments in gen AI and analytical AI are beginning to create value

The latest survey also shows how different industries are budgeting for gen AI. Responses suggest that, in many industries, organizations are about equally as likely to be investing more than 5 percent of their digital budgets in gen AI as they are in nongenerative, analytical-AI solutions (Exhibit 5). Yet in most industries, larger shares of respondents report that their organizations spend more than 20 percent on analytical AI than on gen AI. Looking ahead, most respondents—67 percent—expect their organizations to invest more in AI over the next three years.

Where are those investments paying off? For the first time, our latest survey explored the value created by gen AI use by business function. The function in which the largest share of respondents report seeing cost decreases is human resources. Respondents most commonly report meaningful revenue increases (of more than 5 percent) in supply chain and inventory management (Exhibit 6). For analytical AI, respondents most often report seeing cost benefits in service operations—in line with what we found last year —as well as meaningful revenue increases from AI use in marketing and sales.

Inaccuracy: The most recognized and experienced risk of gen AI use

As businesses begin to see the benefits of gen AI, they’re also recognizing the diverse risks associated with the technology. These can range from data management risks such as data privacy, bias, or intellectual property (IP) infringement to model management risks, which tend to focus on inaccurate output or lack of explainability. A third big risk category is security and incorrect use.

Respondents to the latest survey are more likely than they were last year to say their organizations consider inaccuracy and IP infringement to be relevant to their use of gen AI, and about half continue to view cybersecurity as a risk (Exhibit 7).

Conversely, respondents are less likely than they were last year to say their organizations consider workforce and labor displacement to be relevant risks and are not increasing efforts to mitigate them.

In fact, inaccuracy— which can affect use cases across the gen AI value chain , ranging from customer journeys and summarization to coding and creative content—is the only risk that respondents are significantly more likely than last year to say their organizations are actively working to mitigate.

Some organizations have already experienced negative consequences from the use of gen AI, with 44 percent of respondents saying their organizations have experienced at least one consequence (Exhibit 8). Respondents most often report inaccuracy as a risk that has affected their organizations, followed by cybersecurity and explainability.

Our previous research has found that there are several elements of governance that can help in scaling gen AI use responsibly, yet few respondents report having these risk-related practices in place. 4 “ Implementing generative AI with speed and safety ,” McKinsey Quarterly , March 13, 2024. For example, just 18 percent say their organizations have an enterprise-wide council or board with the authority to make decisions involving responsible AI governance, and only one-third say gen AI risk awareness and risk mitigation controls are required skill sets for technical talent.

Bringing gen AI capabilities to bear

The latest survey also sought to understand how, and how quickly, organizations are deploying these new gen AI tools. We have found three archetypes for implementing gen AI solutions : takers use off-the-shelf, publicly available solutions; shapers customize those tools with proprietary data and systems; and makers develop their own foundation models from scratch. 5 “ Technology’s generational moment with generative AI: A CIO and CTO guide ,” McKinsey, July 11, 2023. Across most industries, the survey results suggest that organizations are finding off-the-shelf offerings applicable to their business needs—though many are pursuing opportunities to customize models or even develop their own (Exhibit 9). About half of reported gen AI uses within respondents’ business functions are utilizing off-the-shelf, publicly available models or tools, with little or no customization. Respondents in energy and materials, technology, and media and telecommunications are more likely to report significant customization or tuning of publicly available models or developing their own proprietary models to address specific business needs.

Respondents most often report that their organizations required one to four months from the start of a project to put gen AI into production, though the time it takes varies by business function (Exhibit 10). It also depends upon the approach for acquiring those capabilities. Not surprisingly, reported uses of highly customized or proprietary models are 1.5 times more likely than off-the-shelf, publicly available models to take five months or more to implement.

Gen AI high performers are excelling despite facing challenges

Gen AI is a new technology, and organizations are still early in the journey of pursuing its opportunities and scaling it across functions. So it’s little surprise that only a small subset of respondents (46 out of 876) report that a meaningful share of their organizations’ EBIT can be attributed to their deployment of gen AI. Still, these gen AI leaders are worth examining closely. These, after all, are the early movers, who already attribute more than 10 percent of their organizations’ EBIT to their use of gen AI. Forty-two percent of these high performers say more than 20 percent of their EBIT is attributable to their use of nongenerative, analytical AI, and they span industries and regions—though most are at organizations with less than $1 billion in annual revenue. The AI-related practices at these organizations can offer guidance to those looking to create value from gen AI adoption at their own organizations.

To start, gen AI high performers are using gen AI in more business functions—an average of three functions, while others average two. They, like other organizations, are most likely to use gen AI in marketing and sales and product or service development, but they’re much more likely than others to use gen AI solutions in risk, legal, and compliance; in strategy and corporate finance; and in supply chain and inventory management. They’re more than three times as likely as others to be using gen AI in activities ranging from processing of accounting documents and risk assessment to R&D testing and pricing and promotions. While, overall, about half of reported gen AI applications within business functions are utilizing publicly available models or tools, gen AI high performers are less likely to use those off-the-shelf options than to either implement significantly customized versions of those tools or to develop their own proprietary foundation models.

What else are these high performers doing differently? For one thing, they are paying more attention to gen-AI-related risks. Perhaps because they are further along on their journeys, they are more likely than others to say their organizations have experienced every negative consequence from gen AI we asked about, from cybersecurity and personal privacy to explainability and IP infringement. Given that, they are more likely than others to report that their organizations consider those risks, as well as regulatory compliance, environmental impacts, and political stability, to be relevant to their gen AI use, and they say they take steps to mitigate more risks than others do.

Gen AI high performers are also much more likely to say their organizations follow a set of risk-related best practices (Exhibit 11). For example, they are nearly twice as likely as others to involve the legal function and embed risk reviews early on in the development of gen AI solutions—that is, to “ shift left .” They’re also much more likely than others to employ a wide range of other best practices, from strategy-related practices to those related to scaling.

In addition to experiencing the risks of gen AI adoption, high performers have encountered other challenges that can serve as warnings to others (Exhibit 12). Seventy percent say they have experienced difficulties with data, including defining processes for data governance, developing the ability to quickly integrate data into AI models, and an insufficient amount of training data, highlighting the essential role that data play in capturing value. High performers are also more likely than others to report experiencing challenges with their operating models, such as implementing agile ways of working and effective sprint performance management.

About the research

The online survey was in the field from February 22 to March 5, 2024, and garnered responses from 1,363 participants representing the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, functional specialties, and tenures. Of those respondents, 981 said their organizations had adopted AI in at least one business function, and 878 said their organizations were regularly using gen AI in at least one function. To adjust for differences in response rates, the data are weighted by the contribution of each respondent’s nation to global GDP.

Alex Singla and Alexander Sukharevsky  are global coleaders of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, and senior partners in McKinsey’s Chicago and London offices, respectively; Lareina Yee  is a senior partner in the Bay Area office, where Michael Chui , a McKinsey Global Institute partner, is a partner; and Bryce Hall  is an associate partner in the Washington, DC, office.

They wish to thank Kaitlin Noe, Larry Kanter, Mallika Jhamb, and Shinjini Srivastava for their contributions to this work.

This article was edited by Heather Hanselman, a senior editor in McKinsey’s Atlanta office.

Explore a career with us

Related articles.

Moving past gen AI’s honeymoon phase: Seven hard truths for CIOs to get from pilot to scale

A generative AI reset: Rewiring to turn potential into value in 2024

Implementing generative AI with speed and safety