A floating apartment. House yacht. A vacation home that travels the globe.
The World, a luxury liner, has many descriptions, but “cruise ship” is not one of them, said resident Jim Minarik.
“The only thing in common between the world and a cruise ship is that it floats on water,” he said. “If our ship was a cruise ship, there would be 1,500 passengers. When we’re really busy, it’s 200 to 300.”
The World has 167 private apartments, ranging from 290-square-foot studios to 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom homes.
Minarik and his wife bought an apartment in 2020 with plans to spend one to two months a year on the boat. However, he said, he now spends up to half a year on board.
Many residents bring their own furniture and use interior designers to decorate their apartments.
Source: The World
“We just found that we really liked the community, the way we traveled — it was relaxed and comfortable,” he said. “You’re constantly seeing something new.”
Minarik said the couple enjoyed their onboard experience so much that they ended up buying a larger apartment at The World, keeping their first apartment for family and friends.
Life on a ship
Like many cruise ships, The World has a variety of restaurants and bars, yoga classes and a gym, two swimming pools, a medical center and round-the-clock room service.
But the similarities mainly end there. For starters, on this ship, the owner calls most of the shots.
“This is a democratic society,” said Housing Director Eddie Wong. “They choose things like the itinerary, they choose renovations on the ship,” as well as the board of directors.
The outdoor pool is quiet when The World docks in Singapore in May 2024. About 150 residents live on board year-round, although this number usually doubles during expedition trips and year-end holidays, said Residential Director Eddie Wong.
Source: CNBC
The schedule changes every year, Wong said. The schedule for 2026 has been finalized, he said, and includes stops in Antarctica, French Polynesia and Easter Island, the latter called “one of the most sought-after locations in the world.”
The world docks at about 100 ports a year, stopping for two to five days, instead of a few hours.
“We will pull into the harbor, like the Amalfi Coast,” Minarik said. “We’re staying for three or four days, so we might not leave on the first day…
The world is creating a photo book following the expedition’s journey, which in 2024 will include trips to Antarctica, Australia’s Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Wong said.
Source: CNBC
Some owners live on board full time, but most come and go as they please, he said.
After traveling from South America to South Africa, Minarik said, he and his wife landed in Cape Town and went on safari for two weeks, before returning to Orange County, California. The traveling companions were caught up again with the ship, which by then had moved to the west coast of Africa, he said.
Population of the World
Many of them are North American, Wong said. “But we have residents from about 20 different nationalities … we also have a lot of Australians,” he said.
Minarik, former CEO of a large consumer electronics business, said that all owners have some level of financial success.
“It’s just a fact, but the most interesting thing is that everyone has a good story,” he said.
Home purchase prices range from $2.4 million to $15 million – a figure that doesn’t include monthly maintenance fees, which can be around 10% of the purchase price each year.
Maintenance fees come with $ 33,000 food and beverage credits on the ship, but also pay the crew, repairs and upkeep for the ship, which has a full-size tennis court.
Source: The World
But money is not a big topic at The World, Minarik said.
“There’s definitely no keeping-up-with-the-Joneses because whether you’re a multi-millionaire, there are a lot of billionaires,” he said. “So what you’re talking about is the love of travel and experience.”
He said one of his shipmates was an 82-year-old man who gave “more money than I could ever imagine” to charity. What did they say? “Dive,” said Minarik.
A Champagne bar anchored in Antarctica’s Penola Strait.
Source: The World
Potential buyers are being investigated, Wong said. In addition to financial and criminal checks, he said, buyers need two letters of recommendation from existing residents.
Each year, about 10% of homes are sold, a company representative told CNBC Travel.
The average length of ownership is seven to eight years, Wong said. In that time, the owners have seen most of the world many times, he said. Others leave to seek specialized medical care or spend more time with family.
Minarik agreed that the biggest weakness of ship life was the time away from his children and grandchildren. She said she and her husband plan to live a life that balances their love for family and exploration.
Another drawback? Minarik says he can’t bring dogs on board.
But “if I’m going to make something unless you can’t have pets and a family, I’m going to make something,” he said.
Only ships of one type?
People say that while other companies have tried, The World is still the only ship of its kind.
Residents can cook in their apartments using groceries purchased at the port or at the on-site store that stocks and supplies gourmet items.
Source: The World
The MV Narrative, an upscale settlement ship built by a company called Storylines, has been hit by several departure delays. Originally planned to sail in 2024, it is now scheduled to begin cruising in 2027. The ship is larger than The World, with plans for 500 rooms to accommodate around 1,000 people.
Another houseboat, Life at Sea, was canceled in November 2023, the same month it was scheduled to set sail. Some travelers reportedly sold their businesses and homes before learning that the company behind the cruise, Miray Cruises, had canceled the cruise three years after it failed to secure a ship.
