When it comes to luxury, there are few better holidays than world cruises. Sailing the seven seas and visiting far-flung and exotic destinations are all part of the appeal of this kind of break.

And if you are looking for a luxury holiday then you will find numerous cruise ships that provide everything you could ever want - and then a bit more.

If you are tempted to book a world cruise next year then you should make sure that you take a few factors into consideration before you make your decision about your holiday.

One of the first things to look at is the price of the world cruise you want to go on. You should ensure that you shop around and don't just book the first one you come across as you could find that savings can be made elsewhere.

It is also vital that you look at everything that is included in the price of your world cruise because this can vary between liners.

For example, you may find that the cheapest option does not cover the cost of food, drink or excursions, which may mean you will need to spend considerably more during the course of your break than on a slightly more expensive cruise that includes all these things.

The next consideration should be the destinations that your world cruise visits - there may be a country or landmark that you've always wanted to see, so it is important that you look at the itinerary closely before you book.

As well as the ports your ship will drop anchor in, you should also take into account any excursions that your cruise operator runs, as this may enable you to reach destinations further inland and see even more of a particular country.

Finally, you will need to think about the departure point of your cruise - and plan how you intend to travel there.

Many world cruises do not take a circular route, which means you will need to either fly to your starting point or fly home once your cruise finishes.

The option you choose will largely depend on your own preference, but you will not be short of choices, with luxury cruises departing from destinations such as Sydney, Dubai, Southampton and Singapore.