ms The World

The 2002-built MS The World cruise ship is currently the world's largest privately-owned cruise vessel. The boat serves as a residential community and is owned by its residents. The relatively small group of very very rich passengers are from ~40 countries and most of them actually live on the ship.

The vessel (IMO number 9219331) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311213000) and registered in Nassau.

MS The World travels the globe, staying from 2 to 5 days in most ports of call. The Captain changes ports and destinations by vote. Some of the residents live full time while others board the ship periodically throughout the year. The ship's operator is ResidenSea (a company headquartered in Miramar, Florida USA).

Similar "residence cruise ship" concepts are Utopia (2022-built, managed by Utopia Residences), Narrative (2023-built, managed by Storylines Residences), Njord (2025-built, managed by Ocean Residences), Dark Island (2025-built, by Clydebuilt). You can also see CruiseMapper's articles about the residential boat Marquette (USA river cruise ship concept) and How to Buy a Cruise Ship.

MS The World cruise ship

The vessel carries between 100 and 300 residents and their guests. It is owned by 142 different families from 19 countries - approx 50% from North America, 35% from Europe, 15% from Asia-Australia-South America-South Africa. Ship residents plan the cruise itineraries and decide which destinations to visit. Since 2002, the liner is homeported in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, FL USA). In the period 2002-2018, it visited around 900 different ports and destinations in 140 countries - and each cruise was chosen by the residents.

The unique idea about ms The World ship belongs to Knut U. Kloster- his family has a long history in the cruise ship industry. The hull of the new vessel was built by Oresundsvarvet Shipyard (Landskrona, Sweden) and towed to Fosen Mekaniske Verksted (Rissa, Norway) for completion. Cruise ship The World was launched in the spring of 2002, and in October 2003 was delivered to the residents.

MS The World is environmentally friendly ship - the first of its size to burn marine diesel, not heavy bunker fuel, which allows the ship to call in areas banned for burning heavy fuel. The World ship is also the first to feature Scanship unique wastewater cleaning system - in it wastes are filtered by a flotation system.

In January 2016, Wartsila Corporation announced that the residential ship The World will be retrofitted with Wartsila Advanced Wastewater treatment system and Wartsila Nacos Platinum system for navigation and external communication purposes.

The Wartsila Advanced Wastewater solution replaces an existing system and keeps the vessel in full compliance with IMO's (International Maritime Organization) requirements concerning the prevention of pollution from ships.

Ship statistics

• Identification (IMO number): 9219331
• Flag-state (port of registry): Bahamas (Nassau)
• Shipowner: The World Resident Holdings Ltd (TWRH), with subsidiaries "The World of Residensea II Ltd" and "ROW Management Ltd". Since January 2022, the company's CEO is Thomas Wolber, the COO is Karl Muhlberger.
• Operator: ResidenSea (address: "14471 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33027, USA", tel: +1 (954) 416-3644). Original owner - Knut Kloster Jr (the former chairman of "Royal Viking Line" and NCL - "Norwegian Cruise Lines").
• Ordered in 2000
• Laid down in 2001
• Launched in March 2002
• Builder: Fosen Mek. Verksteder (Rissa, Norway)
• Cost to build: USD 266 million
• A total number of cabins: 198, with 165 apartments, types - from Studio to 3-Bedroom Suite.
• Weight/Tonnage: 43,524 GT
• Dimensions: Length: 196,35 m (644,2 ft), Width/Beam: 29,8 m (98 ft), Draft: 6,7 m (22 ft)
• Speed: 18,5 knots (34,3 kmh / 21,3 mph)
• Capacity: 150-200 passengers, 250 crew/staff

The ship has 12 decks (6 with apartments), Helideck (1x helicopter pad), 2 swimming pools, 1x Tennis Court, 2x Putting Greens (Mini-Golf Courses), 5x restaurants. The Helideck (deck 7 forward) is used in cases of emergencies and also for private helicopter landings (arrivals/departures of apartment owners and their guests).

The vessel is managed by the US company ROW Management Ltd (Fort Lauderdale FL).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The World ship has facilities that are similar to the ones onboard a regular vessel but also has some unique due to residential nature. As to its dining options, four are the main restaurants onboard: East (serving Asian delights), Marina (serving seafood, rotisserie specialities, prime steaks), Portraits (serving haute cuisine- menus reflect every culinary port flavours), Tides (serving Mediterranean cuisine, Northern Italian flair).

Six restaurants are available onboard the World cruise ship- they supplement the kitchens in most of the apartments and dining ashore. The World Ship restaurants offer different light options- these cater to special requests, vegetarian, or diabetic diets. Onboard dining is not complimentary (included in the apartment's annual fee)

Fredy's Deli (serving tea, coffee, salads, sandwiches, pastries, includes a gourmet market with fresh local products), Pool Grill (poolside venue, serving light meals, salads, burgers), The Garden (tea room and bar lounge).

The diverse selection of bars and cocktail lounges onboard ms The World includes:

Cigar Club (English-style cognac and smoking bar), Lobby Bar (serving wine and champagne, bourbons, signature cocktails), Marina Bar (full-service bar offering wines and signature cocktails), Pool Bar (serving light and fresh lunch/dinner), Quantum Night Club (offering international liquors and alcoholic beverages), Regatta Bar (with a spectacular view!).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

All you can wish onboard The World cruise ship: two swimming pools, water sports retractable marina, jogging track, full-size tennis court, paddle tennis court, golf facilities (with golf simulator), driving ranges, full-service fitness centre (exercise classes, personal trainers, saunas).

The World ship Spa "Clinique La Prairie" is spacious (7000 ft2 / 650 m2) following Asian traditions which date back centuries. The Spa offers an ambience and luxury for the ultimate escape. Guests and residents can be pampered with a menu of relaxation treatments including aqua spa, body massages and scrubs, hair treatments, aesthetics, facials, make-up services, hand-, nail- and foot treatments, tropical rain mist and waxing.

The World Ship offers countless services and amenities- expeditions and land programs, unique art gallery, chapel, library, concierge, Medical Center, theatre, night club, video-on-demand. For onboard entertainment, there are also classes offered in topics such as navigation, dance, language, cooking, music, computers, arts and crafts, photography. There is also a boutique, a small grocery store and delicatessen.

The World provides each residence with Internet access! Passengers are able to stay connected in their "Office Away From Home" with no need to interrupt exploring the Globe. The World ship residents are able to "stay connected" through phone and Internet capabilities in their shipboard home offices, to conduct business effectively from the comfort of own residences while exploring numerous cultures and destinations on the continuous global journeys. Telephone and internet services on The World cruise ship allow resident owners to go on with their businesses efficiently from wherever the World ship happens to be.

ms The World cruise ship apartments (cabins)

The World ship's 165 Residences ranging in types from Studios to 3-Bedroom Penthouses and 6-Bedroom Penthouse Suite (for up to 12 passengers). All staterooms have been sold, but there are a number of Residences which are available for resale and some for rental. In 2020 was announced that Residence 801 (3-bedroom, 3-bathroom, wraparound balcony apartment aft on deck 8) is for sale.

There are also additional annual maintenance fees based on apartments' square footage. The cruise ship provides 40x studios, 19x 1-Bedroom and 2-Bedroom Studio Apartments, 106x 2-Bedroom and 3-Bedroom Apartments, 88x Suites. Prices vary and are based on size, deck location, decor, market conditions.

Four of the world's most renowned interior design companies have been contracted to shape styles and design The World ship's 2- and 3-bedroom apartments and public rooms. Names list includes Nina Campbell (UK), Juan Pablo Molyneux (JP Molyneux Studio), Di Pilla (TMT Design), Yran & Storbraaten (maritime design).

ms The World ship prices - apartment cost, rentals, fees

First of all, this is a modern big cruise ship you can actually live on. Well, you and me probably not, but celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Madonna, for example, own suites on it. So if you can afford the below apartment prices, you'll buy yourself the pleasure to enjoy a celebrity company - once and awhile. The choice includes 165 top-luxury apartments, ranging in category from studios to 3-bedroom suites.

Studios cost - USD 600,000 (initially sold at USD 90,000). Two-Bedroom (Ocean Residence) apartments cost - USD 2-3 million. Suites cost ~USD 12-13 million (initially sold at USD 6 million).

Short-term rentals - you can rent some of MS The World's apartments (depending on category) for between ~USD 550 Studio (per person per night, min for 5 days) and ~USD 20,000 (Suite rentals, per month). Some Ocean Residences are also available for rent - at ~USD 2100 a day. Discounts are available for repeat customers.

Future apartment owners on The World should also know that ship service fees (depending on the property) start from USD 60,000 and go up to USD 300,000 a year. These fees cover onboard service staff/crew, fuel, maintenance (including drydocking), port charges, food and beverages. USD 8 million is the entry fee. This amount of money buys you a lease expiring in the distant 2052. As to the maintenance fees mentioned above - they are ~5-6% of the Apartment's sale price. As to the ship's occupancy - it rarely goes above 200 passengers (owners and their guests).

The ResidenSea company has the policy of not revealing who the clients/buyers are, but they assure that MS The World doesn't have residents with criminal records. Latest news confirms that all the ship's Studios and 3-Bedroom apartments are sold out. But there's always a chance some owner to decide to sell, right? And to sweeten the deal, they advertise that you can enjoy on The World ship - for absolutely free - Spa treatments at "Clinique La Prairie", to shop at the Graff's Boutique or to leisurely play at the ship's Mini-Golf Course. If you are a prospective buyer, you also must submit a list of your assets, which will be duly verified by the ResidenSea's accountants and lawyers.

The World ship is a tax haven - for everybody willing to spend most of the year at sea, away from home. Living on this vessel has tax implications because you're absent for a certain time in a year in your country (tax laws in your home country still apply).

Next table shows ResidenSea brochure (source) pricing on apartments for sale in 2016-2018 and the property's annual maintenance fee.

Nest are shown rental prices (per night in USD, rates 2018) for:

• Studio (sized 290-330 ft2 / 27-31 m2) - $1850
• Studio (sized 330-335 ft2 / 31 m2) - $1800
• Studio (sized 620-845 ft2 / 58-79 m2) - $2400
• 1-bedroom apartment (sized 580-675 ft2 / 54-63 m2) - $2,200
• 2-bedroom apartment (sized 870-1010 ft2 / 81-94 m2) - $2,800
• 2-bedroom apartment (sized 1105 ft2 / 103 m2) - $3100
• 2-bedroom apartment (sized 1135-1390 ft2 / 105-129 m2) - $3300
• Penthouse Suite (sized 2470-3240 ft2 / 229-301 m2) - $6,100

Keep in mind that the owners actually purchase a property with a finite lifetime (the projected lifespan for passenger ships is between 30-40 years) and eventually, this vessel will be dismantled (scrapped). This means that The World ship's apartments are in reality leased for 30-40 years.

MS The World itinerary

How is the cruise ship The World itinerary decided upon? The itinerary route is selected through a voting process by the Resident community and it is based on the personal interests of residents and the best sea routes. The World ship itinerary is usually determined two years in advance by the Captains, Resident Itinerary Committee, and the Director of Itinerary and Destination Planning.

Cruise ship The World sails to various destinations and all kinds of regions- and these are continuous and worldwide! The World cruise ship journeys focus on extended stays- of average three days in each port, thus ensuring that residents and guests have enough time to explore destinations. Unlike most cruise ships, ms The World spends twice as many days in call ports as at sea.

From the Canary Islands and Madeira, you will cross the Atlantic ocean and enjoy the Caribbean warmth, feel the excitement of passing through the Panama Canal! Then you can enjoy the way along the west coast of South America and island-hop across the Pacific to New Zealand. Papua, New Guinea and Solomon Islands are next on the expert-led expedition. The most exotic Asian spots are waiting for you to discover. The Sea of Okhotsk wildlife expedition is also rare. Another interesting experience while aboard The World cruise ship is visiting not only South Korea- you will be able to visit North Korea as well!

ms The World ship itinerary as ports, countries, destinations

• Europe, Transatlantic, Caribbean
• Funchal, Madeira - Portugal, Los Cristianos, Tenerife and Las Palmas, Canary Islands- Spain, Guadeloupe, Iles de Saintes and St. Barts- France, San Juan- Puerto Rico, New Orleans- USA.
• Caribbean, South America
• Tampa- USA, Progreso- Mexico, Belize City- Belize, Bocas del Toro- Panama, Panama Canal Transit, Flamenco Island (Panama City), Isla Saboga- Panama, Esmeraldas and Guayaquil- Ecuador.
• Pacific Islands
• Callao- Peru, Easter Island- Chile, Raivavae, Papeete, Moorea, Huahine and Bora Bora- French Polynesia.
• South Pacific
• Aitutaki and Rarotonga- Cook Islands, Norfolk Island- Australia, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Kaikoura, Lyttelton and Akaroa- New Zealand.
• Australia New England
• Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Stewart Island and Fjord Cruising- New Zealand, Sydney, Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Port Douglas andCairns- Australia.
• Asia
• Solomon Islands Expedition, Port Moresby- New Guinea, Dili- East Timor, Kupang, West Timor, Benoa, Bali, Surabaya and Palau Karimunjawa- Indonesia.
• Semarang (Borobudur), Jakarta, Krakatoa- Indonesia, Singapore, Tioman Island- Malaysia, Kuching- Malaysia, Muara- Brunei, Labuan Island, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan- Malaysia, Boracay Island and Manila- Philippines.
• Keelung (Taipei)- Taiwan, Naha, Okinawa, Amami, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Kanazawa, Hakodate and Otaru (Sapporo)- Japan, Sea of Okhotsk Expedition- Russia.
• Otaru (Sapporo)- Japan, Vladivostok- Russia, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Shingu and Kobe- Japan.
• Takamatsu and Hiroshima- Japan, Busan, Sanji, Cheju and Incheon- South Korea, Dalian and Tianjin (Beijing)- China, Nampo- North Korea, Nanjing and Shanghai- China.
• Zhenhai (Ningbo), Hong Kong and Sanya, Hainan Island- China, Ha Long bay (Hanoi), Chan May (Hue and Da Nang), Nha Trang and Saigon - Vietnam.
• Phu Quoc- Vietnam, Sihanoukville (Phnom Penh)- Cambodia, Ko Samui- Thailand, Pattaya and Bangkok- Thailand, Redang Island and Kuantan- Malaysia, Phuket and Phi Phi Island- Thailand, Malacca- Malaysia, Singapore.