The World has just revealed that a rare 286 sq m sub-penthouse has come on the market for a cheeky $US12.5m ($18.45m).
Of course, The World isn’t your average luxury liner; it’s a mobile mansion for the one percenters, with 165 residences (106 apartments, 19 studio apartments, and 40 studios) housing 130 owners from 20 countries, it’s like a floating United Nations of affluence.
Interested parties need an invitation, a seconding endorsement, and a minimum net worth — rumoured to be around AU$15million — before you have the pleasure of purchasing.
After the initial investment, there are also annual ownership fees to be paid quarterly for fuel, administrative and operational expenses, as well as food and beverages and a capital reserves contribution to keep the ship at the standard of a luxury offering.
The largest privately owned residential yacht, which docked in the small town of Wyndham, in the Kimberley region last week, launched in 2002.
While owners can’t live onboard full-time due to taxation reasons, the majority are in residence for five to six months a year.
Americans make up about 45-50 per cent of the apartments, but global ambassador for The World Residences at Sea, Craig Bowen, says on a per capita basis, Australians are the biggest owners of The World’s apartments.
He told Cruise Passenger: “We have had the usual activity with the ship heading our way with quite a few solid ship inspections locked in for Brisbane & Sydney.
“Australians who have the financial capability to own on The World love the unique lifestyle that it offers and not only is it the only Residential ship in operation, but its unique commercial model makes it almost impossible to replicate.
“We have always had a very strong number of Australian owners and this visit to Australia will hopefully add a few more to the community.”
There are about 24 Australian families among the 130 family owners. “Someone from Australia had a two-bedder which they upsized to a penthouse,” he said. “There’s an Australian who was an owner for six years. He sold it. And then he called me this week and wanted to get back into it.”
The ship may be on the small end of the scale for cruise ships, but with far fewer guests, the full-size tennis court, boutiques, deli, gym, golf simulator and putting greens, running track, spa, swimming pool, and cocktail lounges are never overcrowded.
Your $18.5 Million will secure you a three-bedroom, 3 1⁄2-bathroom apartment with multiple living areas, a dining area and large flowing balcony on the starboard side of the ship. There’s a crew of over 285, plus 25-30 expedition professionals depending on the destinations.
Unlike on an ordinary cruise ship, residents are able to make renovations and decorate according to personal taste. Every three years the ship is renovated in a dry dock, where owners can also undertake major refurbishments of their apartments with advice from The World’s elite interior designers located at the Fort Lauderdale headquarters.
The ship’s itinerary is decided two to three years in advance by an itinerary committee, made up of residents, then the ship’s itinerary director looks at things like fuel prices, crew changes, visa requirements and docking fees. Using this information, three potential itineraries are proposed to residents, who then vote on their preferred adventures.
Those on board when the floating fortress docked in Wyndham last week were taken on to Kununurra by coach to either do a cruise of the Ord River or a flight over the Bungle Bungles. After returning to the ship and heading to Darwin, The World is set to multiple stops along the Australian coast including in Brisbane, and Sydney.
Superyacht or Secret Society?
Owning a penthouse on The World is less about the physical space and more about the exclusivity, the lifestyle, and the social status. It’s about being part of an elite club where your neighbors are mining magnates, tech tycoons, and Bond villains.
For those wondering about the vibe onboard, former resident Peter Antonucci — who has gone on to write three steamy novels set onboard a world cruise — described it to CNN as a cross between a “country club and a sorority house.”
“There are a lot of wealthy people doing playful things, sometimes naughty things, sometimes scandalous things,” he said. “When I first got on, I thought it was ridiculously expensive. I couldn’t believe the apartments cost so much. I couldn’t believe the maintenance costs were so much and couldn’t imagine why anybody would do this,” said Antonucci. “But the second day, I was saying, ‘How many apartments do you have available and when can I sign up?’”
Mr Antonucci would go on to own four separate apartments during his six years as a resident, but sold up in 2029. “Once you’ve circumnavigated the globe a few times, you’ve seen it. I had seen what I wanted to see, I was ready to do something new.”
