Step aboard the most exclusive private residential ship on the planet. In an exclusive interview for ELLEDGY, we explore life inside this floating city — home to the world’s elite. A haven reserved for the top 1%, where multimillionaires and billionaires sail across the globe in unmatched luxury.
Whose idea was it to build such a grandiose liner?
The vision behind The World was to create a way in which travellers never had to disembark. They could sail for as long as they wished from the comfort of their own private Residence.
Petter Yran and Bjørn Storbraaten designed The World. This Oslo-based team successfully combined nautical elements with clean, contemporary lines, imparting the aura of a private yacht to this magnificent 12-deck Ship, while enhancing an intimacy with the sea that is not available on land.
How much time has passed from the idea of creating a cruise liner to its launch? How much did the construction cost the company?
In 1997 a team of experienced professionals gathered and began working on the first ever vessel where people could travel the globe without leaving home. Construction of the vessel began in May 2000 in Rissa, Norway and in March 2002 the vision was realized when The World set sail from Oslo with its inaugural Residents and Crew on board. Her maiden voyage departed from Lisbon, Portugal on 2 May 2002 and on 17 May 2002 she was christened in Venice, Italy. On 30 September 2003, the Residents purchased the Ship, and in June 2006, the original inventory of Residences was sold out.
How many people can the liner accommodate in total and what services do passengers receive?
There are 165 residences on board and the average occupancy is 150 – 200 Residents & Guests
The Ship offers myriad services and amenities. A few of note include an art gallery, an award-winning wine list, Bali beds, biking, billiards, Call-a-Chef, Fitness Center offering group classes and personal training, children’s play area and hobby room with arts and crafts, conference center, diving, DVD collection, florist, game room, gourmet deli, hiking, housekeeping, In-Residence dining, kayaking, laundry/dry cleaning, library, Medical Center, nightclub, non-denominational chapel, physical therapist, telepsychiatry, pools, restaurants and cafes, snorkeling, sports center offering real and virtual golf excursions to the world’s top-ranked courses, tennis court, The World Boutique & Showroom, The World Concierge, The World Spa & Wellness Center, theater, video and board games, video-on-demand TV and movies, a youth program (Camp Caravel) and more. Average time spent onboard is 3-6 months of the year (not consecutively).
Who are the passengers who prefer permanent residence on the liner?
Residents are very active, entrepreneurial and philanthropic, and they have a thirst for knowledge, adventure and travel.
How is the route for the ‘World’ developed?
The World continuously circumnavigates the globe on an itinerary selected by the Resident community through a voting process. Itineraries are determined approximately three years in advance by a team comprised of a Resident Itinerary Committee, the two Captains and the Director, Itinerary Planning. Every corner of the globe is a possibility. The Ship visits more than 100 ports of call annually. Longer stays in port average three days and allow Residents to explore these destinations, all of which are chosen for their individuality, authenticity and allure.
What activities do passengers engage in during the cruise?
Expeditions amaze participants with a comprehensive exploration of an area. An expedition team of approximately 10 – 12 regional experts are brought on board. Their breadth of knowledge is unparalleled, and along with the onboard staff, create an extraordinary experience. Over the years, a wide variety of expeditions has taken Residents to the far corners of the globe.
- 2009: visited the Bering Sea and Russian Arctic sighting more Polar bears (119) than any other Ship of its type.
- 2010: completed a 10-day expedition to Greenland and sailed to the ice-encrusted desert of Antarctica.
- 2011: enjoyed an 18-day expedition to the exotic inner Seychelles and east coast of Madagascar.
- 2012: sojourned to Melanesia through its 80 islands; sailed across the Pacific to Polynesia to discover remote islands; and completed an historic and record-breaking voyage as the largest passenger vessel to sail Canada’s Northwest Passage, ocean to ocean (Pacific to Atlantic);
- 2013: took Residents through the natural treasures of the Barents Sea and the seldom visited Russian Arctic National Park in the White Sea Expedition.
- 2014: enjoyed a 17-day trek to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and a 17-day expedition to circumnavigate the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East.
- 2015: during the Namibia & Mid-Atlantic Expedition Residents swam across the equator joined unexpectedly by a pod of pilot whales. During expeditions to Greenland and Antarctica Residents uncovered ancient cultures.
- 2016: Residents kayaked and trekked alongside penguins, whales, seals, and indigenous birds during a two-week journey through Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. On a 12-day expedition to Borneo, Residents encountered orangutans, clouded leopards, and sun bears.
- 2017: The World broke the record for the furthest south sailed, reaching 78°43•997´S and 163°41•421´W at the Bay of Whales on a 22-day expedition of the Ross Sea, including 12 days in Antarctica.
- 2018: undertook an 11-day expedition through the Svalbard Archipelago to view spectacular arctic wildlife and the majestic polar bear.
- 2019: traversed 3,500 miles across the northern coastline of Canada and Alaska. Having been the largest passenger Ship to sail the Northwest Passage from west to east in 2012, The World returned to the High Arctic to accomplish a ‘double transit’ sailing from east to west. Residents also enjoyed the arid desert coasts, lush forests, and mangrove-lined rivers of Madagascar, one of the most biodiverse islands on the planet.
- 2020: Residents discovered West Papua in Indonesia and its incredible, vibrant green eco-systems.
How do passengers describe life on board the world’s only private residential ship?
The 150 families who call The World ‘home’ have chosen to discover the treasures and unique experiences of the planet together in an intimate setting. Their shared experiences of world cultures, whether it is watching in awe at a mesmerizing fire dance ceremony of a Papua New Guinea tribe or Pamplona’s spirited running of the bulls, enhance their lives to an immeasurable degree. The warm and welcoming sense of community is one of the greatest surprises – and one of the most cherished assets – of life on board The World. Residency is by invitation only and subject to security and financial vetting.
Discover more: aboardtheworld.com