Luxury Living Aboard One-of-a-kind Residential Megayacht, The World, Residences at Sea

The History

The idea first started in 1997 when industry professionals joined forces to create a ship without the need for disembarkation. A vessel where you can have all your treasured belongings on board, and you never have to pack or unpack. Construction started in May 2000 in Rissa, Norway.

By March 2002, construction had already been completed, and they first set sail from Oslo with their inaugural group of intrepid residents and staff crew.

The ship was collectively purchased by the Residents on 30 September 2003, meaning the operations were no longer run for profit, and by June 2006, all the original residences were sold out. There have been frequent waiting lists ever since, as only a handful of residences are up for sale each year.

The Lowdown

As there are only 165 Residences aboard The World, with an average occupancy of 150-200 guests, it strikes the happy medium where the ship feels atmospheric yet intimate at the same time. Most guests spend on average three to four months on board each year.

They all get to vote on the itinerary a few years ahead of time. The World tends to have higher occupancy when visiting major travel hubs like Barcelona, or during expeditions to far-flung locations such as Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and Antarctica. It has lower occupancy when the ship is repositioning, for example, from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.

There are approximately 150 families from over 20 countries. The community spirit is one of the key selling points of purchasing a residence aboard The World. You develop life-long bonds, and everyone is respectful of each other's cultural and political views Some might have their own superyachts, wineries, or Picasso paintings displayed on board, but everyone is always extremely personable and never ostentatious. They often form their own social clubs based on their personal interests, with wine and golf being major focal points.

The decor is mostly understated, with a grand piano taking centre stage in the lobby area. Beyond this, if you stroll around the ship, you will encounter notable works of art, such as Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian art installation - a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall. Resale values tend to hold or appreciate for Residences. This is no doubt due to the exceptional maintenance of the ship, especially during dry docking. Maritime authority DNV recently carried out an evaluation of the ship and quoted a fatigue age of just 5.6 years.

The Dining

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining on board. There are four major restaurants: East, Marina, Portraits, and Tides. East will satisfy any pan-Asian food cravings, with the sushi offering a particular highlight. The restaurant also organises regular food tours to local markets alongside the head chef, so you can get a real feel for how incredibly fresh the raw fish is. Marina is the place to visit for seafood and steak lovers. If you like al fresco dining, they have unique over-the-water seating located on an open marina platform.

Tides is the ever-popular Mediterranean restaurant, where you can enjoy comforting dishes including poached Canadian lobster risotto. They always have a healthy cuisine option, such as grilled market fish with an orange and fennel salad. Portraits, meanwhile, is the go-to restaurant for dressing up and savouring Michelin-quality fine dining. The Art Deco design with jewel-embellished artwork adds an extra dose of glamour.

As part of the cultural immersion programme, Portraits is occasionally transformed into a more relaxed, bistro buffet-style experience, where you can sample the local cuisine at leisure. In Barcelona, for instance, the dining spot was transformed into Casa Portraits. Diners were served the finest of Jamón Ibérico, along with exceptional tapas dishes such as Spanish-style clams and smoked paprika octopus. All residents get a 15% discount on their restaurant bill.

The Amenities

The amenities on board are endless. Residents have access to biking, tennis, kayaking, billiards, an art gallery, a children's play area, a games room, and a library complete with an extensive collection of up-to-date travel beds. The World Spa & Wellness Center is the ideal place to soothe the mind, body, and soul.

The gym is not only spacious, but also has state-of-the-art fitness equipment to delight even the most discerning gym enthusiasts. To top it all off, there are regular exercise classes such as yoga and Pilates.

The spa offers the most extensive list of treatments on board any sailing ship I've ever seen. They have everything from Hollywood waxing to physiotherapy treatments like cryotherapy. All residents receive a 30% discount on their treatment bill. The World has developed such a loyal following that when residents visit countries like Thailand, where treatments are very well-priced, they still prefer to stay on board for treatments with their regular therapists.

The Excursions

The World’s expedition trips are world-renowned. Amongst their roster of adventures, they offer trips to Antarctica, exploring different regions of the breathtaking continent. Aside from hosting expert guest lecturers to provide Residents with an in-depth understanding of the region, The World also arranges for experienced guides to join certain expeditions. Even when you dock at major ports like Barcelona, they will have someone from the local tourism office working at the concierge desk.

Elsewhere, their Cultural Immersion Programme includes a plethora of special programmes and cultural experiences, such as visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Barcelona, for instance, guests were recently taken to the Palau de la Música Catalana to admire the Catalan Modernisme style closely associated with famed architect, Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

The building is flooded with natural daylight and boasts an array of mesmerising details such as intricate floral patterns, and countless Spanish and Arabic influences. Before returning to the ship, guests were also treated to a private concert from a resident pianist.

Cruising is a banned word on the ship. Sailing with The World is about community spirit, cultural enrichment, and forging life-long friends.

Prices range from approximately $2.5 million to $15 million USD, depending on size and location.

Dates: sails throughout the year, unless it's the triennial drydock cycle, when it goes for a major refit for 5-6 weeks.

Contact: https://aboardtheworld.com/contact/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldresidences/