I cannot believe what I saw..!!!!

[ASIWISH]

On the Travel Channel yesterday, I saw a show about The World... a cruise ship that sells cabins, like condos... couldn't believe it!

 

Does anyone know what the costs are? Are any other companies, like HAL thinking of starting this concept (condo's, timeshares)?

 

It does sound interesting... doesn't it?

[Host Walt]

Cruise Critic has a forum for The World of ResidenSea. Check it out.

[budamom]

I'm not sure about the cost - but I know some of the condos sold for 7+ figures. My best friend is an executive chef, and she was a private chef for a family for 6 years that owned a condo on the ship. They bought in while the ship was being built - a 3 bedroom condo. My friend got to work with the designers on the kitchen - she actually travelled extensively with them - they rarely went anywhere without their private chef. What a life!!!! That show included some footage that was shot in their condo.

 

I almost forgot to add - last time I heard (which was several years ago) - the owners fees were almost $200,000 per year in addition to the cost of the condo!

[jhannah]

This show has been on several times. I find it fascinating that there are people who can afford it. Six or seven figures for the buy-in, plus a monthly maintenance charge. A tad out of my range! :)

[cruz chic]

This show has been on several times. I find it fascinating that there are people who can afford it. Six or seven figures for the buy-in, plus a monthly maintenance charge. A tad out of my range! :)

Me too:D.

[cruisequeen10]

This ship is a few years old. If you wanted in, you had to purchase when it was being built. No one can afford it now. Maybe if I win the lottery.

[ASIWISH]

This show has been on several times. I find it fascinating that there are people who can afford it. Six or seven figures for the buy-in, plus a monthly maintenance charge. A tad out of my range! :)

Jim: You seem to be an expert on HAL... Has HAL ever considered this concept? Timeshares, maybe?

[jimgev]

As the old saying goes: "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it"

I looked at the price a few months ago. I definitely cannot afford it.

[AlohaPride]

I saw that show a few times. DH and I watch it whenever we can and dream about doing THAT someday.

 

lol

[RuthC]

Has HAL ever considered this concept? Timeshares, maybe?

Who knows what they toss around the boardroom in Seattle. :D

However, HAL is a cruise line, and The World is a floating apartment house/condo. They are very different concepts.

The World is a place where people live. They might go out to dinner once in a while, just as the folks in your town do. But the residents of The World don't eat in a ship's dining room every night; they eat in their condo dining room.

The same is true of the entertainment, and the other facets of what you expect in life aboard ship.

The World is more like a small town than a cruise ship.

[AlohaPride]

There are a few cruisers on HAL who just never get off. They continue to book the next cruise and the next and the next and so forth. Now, I think THEY have the right idea ;)

[RuthC]

There are a few cruisers on HAL who just never get off. They continue to book the next cruise and the next and the next and so forth. Now, I think THEY have the right idea ;)

Right. That's a whole lot closer to the way I would want to do it.

 

There was such a woman on the Royal Viking ship I sailed on. It was her home. Once in a while her family would come aboard and sail with her for a bit. A family reunion like all of us have! Sort of.

I felt so sorry when the line sold the ship---she had lost her home.

[garydm]

We were fortunate to spend 13 days on The World several years ago, at the time the current owners were purchasing the ship from the original owners. It was all inclusive with excellent dining options, nice wines, etc. To make it even better, we got an incredible deal of about $175 per person per day as I recall. If you want to book it now, the price is much, much higher.

 

Gary

[kenish]

I almost forgot to add - last time I heard (which was several years ago) - the owners fees were almost $200,000 per year in addition to the cost of the condo!

 

That's about $548 per day which is a lot more per diem than most cruises and doesn't include the original purchase price. Of course a residence ship doesn't have much (if any) revenue from booze, casinos, shore excursions, and shops and there are far fewer passengers.

 

Since I did the math that means I can't afford it. :eek:

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have seen that show several times.

They are having a hard time keeping the condos sold. A couple of years I read here where a CC person was able to book one of the guest cabins for a cruise.

You need REALLY BIG bucks to buy one of them and be able to keep up with the maintenance fees.

About 3 or 4 years ago we saw here when we were in Nassau -- she was docked there for a few days before moving onto her port.

I don't see any cruise line building a ship like that and for that purpose only.

[jhannah]

Jim: You seem to be an expert on HAL... Has HAL ever considered this concept? Timeshares, maybe?

I'm not an expert by any means (but thanks for the compliment.) I would echo RuthC's comments. Such a residence ship isn't a fit with HAL's overall marketing plan. But who's to say? If things ever really seriously drop off, it might make sense to take one ship out of inventory and try to "sell" it for residential use.

[babyher]

I guess different strokes for different folks . But if I had the kind of money it takes to afford one of those condos. I would just rather buy my own private yacht.

 

I am sure these floating condos have rules and laws and regulations like any other condo.

 

If I was throwing down that kind of money, It's gonna be my ship , my own crew working for me, and I don't have to worry about neighbors.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

I always thought it was a great concerpt until DH burst that bubble! The question he asked that got me thinking was, what is the life expectancy of the ship? Which new laws and regulations being enforced every year, what happens is one day the ship is not up to code? Where do you go if the ship needs refurbishment?? All good and interesting questions!

[hammybee]

Here's a link to the home page :

 

http://www.aboardtheworld.com/

 

The original plan was for the ship to be owner occupied and not rentals. That has flip-flopped many times, in its brief history. I am not sure of its current status, given the few agencies that represented them, no longer do.

[Copper10-8]

 

 

The World of ResidenSea (2002-present) Built by Fosen Mek. Verksteder A/S, Rissa, Norway for the World of ResindenSea II Ltd. The World flies a Bahamas flag and has a gross tonnage of 43,188 tons. The vessel is 644 feet long, 98 feet wide, and has a 22 foot draft, 12 decks, and a maximum speed of 18.5 knots. The crew numbers 250. The ship has 165 residential units (106 apartments, 19 studio apartments, and 40 studios), all owned by the ship's residents. The ship carries between 100 and 300 residents and their guests.

 

In October 2003, the residents of the vessel purchased The World. ResidenSea in Miramar, Fla, remained the management company responsible for operations and administration of the ship, including hiring the hundreds of employees that offer services such as housekeeping, beauty treatments, photography and other amenities on board. The residents, through their elected board of directors and a network of committees, provide guidance to the management about the ship's itinerary, finances and lifestyle.

 

The World has many facilities similar to those on board a regular cruise ship but are unique due to the residential nature of the vessel. Her amenities include a small grocery store and delicatessen, a boutique, complete athletic facilities that include a golf simulator, putting green, a Clinique La Prairie spa, casino, cigar room, full-sized tennis court, jogging track and fully equipped gym.

 

The World has four restaurants, each with its own visual style, character and cuisine. Unlike traditional cruise ships, dining is a la carte, and there are neither set menus nor timed seatings. residents and guests dine where they want, when they want. Inspired by the best restaurants from around the world, the ship's many dining opportunities include: contemporary French fusion cuisine at the upscale Portraits; seafood, steak and rotisserie specialties at The Marina; Mediterranean cuisine with a Northern Italian flair at the buffet-style Tides; and oriental delights at the East sushi bar and restaurant. All restaurants offer a variety of light options and cater to special requests, including kosher, vegetarian and diabetic diets.

 

Residents and guests can also go to Fredy's Deli, the delicatessen and gourmet market on board. Also functioning as a street cafe, the market features an array of freshly prepared dishes and breads; produce and cheeses; pastries and take-out party snacks; gourmet coffees and specialty beverages; selected vintages; and other general provisions. Such items comes in handy when passengers are in the mood to spend a quiet evening at home, perhaps cooking their favorite recipes in their fully equipped kitchens. The delicatessen offers a 24-hour delivery service for in-room dining.

 

For on-board entertainment there is a movie theatre, library and music performances. In addition to shore excursions, classes have been offered on board in dance, navigation, language, cooking, arts and crafts, music, computers, and photography. In addition, The World provides high-speed Internet access in each residence.

Studio Apartment

 

 

1 Bedroom Apartment

 

2 Bedroom Apartments

 

 

 

3 Bedroom Apartments

 

 

 

As a side note: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has signed a contract with Finland's Kvaerner Masa-Yards to build a 42,000-ton "residential ship." The ms Four Seasons to operate under a similar plan as that of ResidenSea, a condos-at-sea vessel. Only all the cabins will be sold as residences instead of having a mix of residents and cruise vacationers as The Worl does. The ship will be comprised of 100 "residences," according to a release from Kvaerner Masa-Yards, "ranging in size from 125 to 320 square meters." Also, the conditional contract includes an option to contract a similar vessel as soon as the sales targets for residences have been reached for the second vessel.

[mamadot]

We were docked next to this ship several years and it was amazing. All the verandas had what you have on your deck at home. Even tricycles! I will just take my cruises 14 days at a time!

[ASIWISH]

I always thought it was a great concerpt until DH burst that bubble! The question he asked that got me thinking was, what is the life expectancy of the ship? Which new laws and regulations being enforced every year, what happens is one day the ship is not up to code? Where do you go if the ship needs refurbishment?? All good and interesting questions!

I never thought about that... a building could last for hundreds of years... a boat? Who knows?

 

Smart Hubby!

[crusinbanjo]

I'm not sure about the cost - but I know some of the condos sold for 7+ figures. My best friend is an executive chef, and she was a private chef for a family for 6 years that owned a condo on the ship. They bought in while the ship was being built - a 3 bedroom condo. My friend got to work with the designers on the kitchen - she actually travelled extensively with them - they rarely went anywhere without their private chef. What a life!!!! That show included some footage that was shot in their condo.

 

I almost forgot to add - last time I heard (which was several years ago) - the owners fees were almost $200,000 per year in addition to the cost of the condo!

 

We were offered a suite on this ship during the initial build out for $2.1 million plus, (if my memory is correct), $14,000.oo per year in maintanance fees. They bought us, and a handful of other prospective buyers, a fantastic dinner at the Four Seasons Restaurant in Boston for the presentation.

 

Anyway, Mrs Banjo & I politely declined to "Buy In" at the "Pre Sailing" price. We decided that buying part of a ship that has a limited useful life is not a good investment for our future. And, not only that, I just could not seem to find that extra $2,000,000.oo hanging arround anywhere! But I did look in the mattress, just in case, LOL

 

We can do a lot of really HIGH PRICE cruising for that kind of $$ and never see the same cabin twice, so.... ....we would have declined anyway, even if we had the $$ to make a purchase like that.

 

Also, BTW, I had read somplace that the people who bought in were not so happy to be living next door to suites that were rented out as Cruise cabins, because they were unsold. Seems the clientell was not up to their standards, HMMMMMMM????:o I think that part has now been resolved.

[ASIWISH]

Terrific Report, John!!!!

 

I'll bet you were an "A" student!

 

Just what I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time!

[cccole]

I looked at the website a couple of months ago because I thought it might be a fun way to travel. Besides the $ amount to purchase a cabin, you have to have a SUBSTANTIAL amount of net worth. I assume that is because they never know what costs will come up and they need owners who can contribute funds when needed. And, even though you can use it 12 months, you needed to have one or two other residential properties. The ship looks beautiful and very quiet for those who are looking for that. I thinks it is a great concept but booking various cruises throughout the year is also a great alternative.

 

Cherie