If you’re wanting a vacation home but don’t want to experience the same town every holiday and you have the means, then The World cruise ship is made for you.
This 196m, 12 deck ship is essentially a private estate on the sea. Unlike commercial cruise liners which operate like hotels, residents of this ship own their rooms, called residences, much like you would own a house or apartment.
The ship launched in 2002 and cost $226 million to build at the time, which is around $322 million (R5 billion) today. By 2006 all the 165 suites have been sold, with 142 families from 19 countries, including South Africa.
While some stay on board all year round, most who own a place on the ship spend around 3 or 4 months aboard, picking their time depending on which area of the world they would like to cruise through.
Life on board
Unlike standard cruise ships, residents on the World have a say in what goes into the ships itinerary.
In addition to the expected amenities such as a spa, theatre, gym and swimming pools, residents are also entertained with cultural experiences, musical performances, lectures and workshops.
In 2017, The World introduced it’s The World Nobel Laureate Lecture Series, which invites Nobel Prize Laureates aboard to conduct lectures in their field.
Food is also a major priority, with residents able to dine at one of the six restaurants, or have food delivered to their apartment. When in port, the culinary team make dishes inspired by the local cuisine with ingredients bought fresh from the markets.
These meals are enjoyed with the over 1,100 hand-picked wines from 19 countries. The ship’s wine cellar holds over 14,000 bottles.
Big spenders
This lifestyle does not come cheap. While The World only offers current pricing on request, Cruisemapper has some idea of what these rooms, and lifestyle cost.
Studio suites cost around $600,000 (R10 million), two bedroom apartments go for $2-3 million (R33-R50 million) and suites for around $12-13 million (R200 million).
Currently all the state suites are sold out but there are some apartments and studios up for resale. If you have the cash to purchase, the service fees may put you back a bit. They start at $60,000 (R1 million) and peak at $300,000 (R5 million) a year depending on the room.
Image credit: @baxlex/Twitter
