If you’re the type that loves to explore the world by cruise ship visiting exotic ports 365 days a year, The World may be just the ticket for you – provided you’re rich of course. The World Residences at Sea (http://www.aboardtheworld.com) is the first floating condominium in, well, the world. First launched in 2002, its 165 deluxe residences sold out within three years, and it has a continuing successful sales story to tell. The unique opportunity to own a home in every port is an attractive idea to many who want the freedom of travel while having a familiar place to lay their head at night at a place they call home.
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The owners tend to be very rich and very private, with this being just one of their many homes. Residences range in size from studios to large three bedroom units, up to luxurious six bedroom penthouse suites which sleep up to 12. A 350 square foot studio goes for about $750,000 with the penthouses selling for about $10 million. Vacancy rates run about 10% and they sell quickly, and in 2010, 18 units sold for a total of $41 million. Monthly maintenance fees are extra, priced according to square footage. At 644 feet long with 12 decks, residents are not likely to stumble over each other, with an average of only 200 residents on board at any given time. Thinking about it, that’s the equivalent of about 10 residents per space the size of a football field. Some residents live on board year round while others come and go as they would on any cruise ship, with an average length of stay of about four months.
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But what do you get for all of this money? You have the comfort of coming “home” after visiting each port. The ship continually travels the world, staying in ports an average of two to five days with an itinerary that is chosen collectively by the residents. There are six dining options on board, ranging from a pastry café to a handful of fine dining restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world. A personal chef is even available to cook in the resident’s apartment on request. The ship’s six bars include a cognac and smoking lounge, and they all serve a selection of top shelf liquors from around the world.
Residents can keep in shape with two swimming pools, a tennis court, a golf driving range, personal trainers, masseuses and state of the art exercise equipment. And a wide variety of amenities complete the village atmosphere with a movie theater, a library, an art gallery, a chapel, an award winning spa and a state of the art medical center.
For those who love the freedom of the sea, The World truly allows them to become citizens of the world. At Private Jets Charter, we understand. Let us give you a quote you on your next dream destination.
