Floating apartments. Residential yachts. Vacation homes for traveling the world.
There are many adjectives that can be used to describe the luxury cruise ship “The World,” but “cruise ship” isn't one of them, resident Jim Minarik said.
“The only thing the world has in common with a cruise ship is that it's a ship floating on water,” he said. “If our ship was a cruise ship, it would probably have about 1,500 passengers. When it's really busy, it's probably 200 to 300.”
The World features 165 privately owned apartments ranging from 290-square-foot studios to 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom residences.
Minarik and his wife bought an apartment in 2020 with the plan to spend one to two months a year on the ship, but now they spend half the year on board.
Many residents bring their own furniture and hire interior designers to decorate their apartments.
Source: World
“We've found that we really love this community and the way we travel. It's very laid back and comfortable,” he said. “There's always something new to see.”
Minarik said the couple were so enthralled with their experience on board that they ended up purchasing a second, larger apartment on The World, saving their first one for family and friends.
Life on board
Like many cruise ships, The World offers multiple restaurants and bars, yoga classes, a gym, two swimming pools, a medical center and 24-hour room service.
But that's where the similarities mainly end. Firstly, on this boat, the owner has a lot of the decision-making power.
“It's a democratic society on board,” says Resident Director Eddie Wong, “They vote on things like the route, they vote on upgrades to the ship,” as does the ship's board of directors.
The outdoor pool sat quietly while The World was docked in Singapore in May 2024. About 150 residents live on board year-round, according to residence director Eddie Wong, but that number typically doubles during expedition trips and the year-end holidays.
Source: CNBC
Wong said the itinerary changes each year, but the 2026 schedule is confirmed, with stops in Antarctica, French Polynesia and Easter Island, which he called “one of the most popular destinations in the world.”
The World stops at about 100 ports a year, staying for two to five days instead of just a few hours.
“We'll be stopping in ports like the Amalfi Coast,” Minarik said, “We'll be there for three or four days, so we might not even get off the ship on the first day. We might just go for dinner.”
Wong said The World is producing photo books after its expeditions, which in 2024 will include trips to Antarctica, Australia's Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Source: CNBC
Some of the ship owners live on board full time, but most are free to come and go as they please.
After cruising from South America to South Africa, Minarik said he and his wife disembarked in Cape Town and went on a two-week safari before returning to their home in Orange County, Calif. Friends who were traveling with them caught up with the ship, which was then heading north up the west coast of Africa.
Inhabitants of the World
Wong said most of the owners are North American, “but we have residents from about 20 countries, and we have a lot of Australians as well,” he said.
Mr. Minarik, the former CEO of a major home appliance manufacturer, said the executives all had some level of financial success.
“Those are just facts, but what's really interesting is that everyone has a great story,” he said.
Purchase prices for the homes range from $2.4 million to $15 million, but that figure doesn't include quarterly maintenance fees, which can be about 10% of the purchase price per year.
The maintenance fee includes $33,000 in food and beverage credits on board, but also covers crew, renovations and the upkeep of the ship, which is outfitted with a full-size tennis court.
Source: World
But money isn't a big topic on The World, Minarik said.
“Even if you're multi-millionaire, there are plenty of billionaires out there, so you don't really have to compete with your neighbor,” he says, “so it's really about the love of travel and the experience.”
One of the boat's friends, Minarik said, is an 82-year-old man who donates “unimaginable amounts of money” to charity. What are they talking about? “About diving,” Minarik said.
A champagne bar built in Penola Strait, Antarctica.
Source: World
Wong said potential buyers would be vetted: As well as financial and criminal background checks, buyers would also need two letters of reference from current residents.
A company representative told CNBC Travel that about 10% of homes are sold each year.
Wong said the average owner stays with a pet for seven to eight years, by which time they've visited most parts of the world multiple times, some leaving home to seek specialized medical care or to spend more time with family.
Minarik agreed that the biggest downside to life on a ship is the time spent away from their children and grandchildren, and said he and his wife have planned their lives to balance their love of family with their love of exploration.
Another drawback is that Minarik cannot bring his dog on board.
But, he said, “If I came up with anything other than that you can't bring your pets and your family, that would be a myth.”
Is this the only ship of its kind?
Wong said other companies have tried, but The World remains the only ship of its kind.
Residents can cook in their apartments using groceries purchased from produce and gourmet stores on shore or on board.
Source: World
The MV Narrative, a luxury residential ship being built by Storylines, has faced multiple delays. It was originally scheduled to depart in 2024 but is now scheduled to begin cruising in 2027. The ship will be larger than The World and is planned to accommodate around 1,000 guests in 500 staterooms.
Another residential cruise ship, Life at Sea, was canceled in the same month it was scheduled to first sail in November 2023. Some travelers reportedly sold businesses and homes before learning that Mirei Cruises, which operates the cruise, had canceled three years of voyages because it could not secure the ship.
Clarification: CNBC Travel has updated this story to reflect the number of rooms on The World, which differs from the number the company previously told CNBC Travel.
