The Hindu Business Line : <I>The World </I>anchors at Kochi

FLOATING LUXURY: The World, a cruise ship with over 100 designer apartments and amenities of a luxury resort onboard, anchored at Kochi on Friday for a two-day stopover. - K.K. Mustafah

Kochi , April 1

THE largest private yacht with over 100 custom-designed residences and amenities of a luxury resort on board, The World, has anchored at Kochi Port on Friday for a two-day stopover.

The vessel, arrived for the first time in India, will spend three-days at Kochi before leaving for Goa and Mumbai.

Travel Corporation of India, the travel agents for passengers on board, has arranged sightseeing tours, backwater cruises and village visits for them.

The World is a ship that carries luxury vacation homes to the four corners of the earth. It cruises around the world, stopping for a night or two at ports, according to information available on its web site.

The ship offers a unique opportunity and extra ordinary lifestyle ideally suited for those "who live to travel", it says. Passengers will get personalise service as in a private yacht, seaside villa or exclusive country club.

Conceived by a member of a Norwegian maritime family, The World is the only resort community circumnavigating the globe. You can either own a home on board the vessel or enjoy a vacation at sea by renting an apartment, provided your pockets are deep enough.

The ship has apartment residences of 1,600 square feet, studio residences of 300 sq feet, a medical centre, house of worship and other facilities. It has a total of 150 such apartments. It also houses four restaurants of international cuisine.

The Miami-based F.L. Residensea Ltd, an independent management company, is looking after the sales, marketing, operations and administration of the World.

Travel the world without leaving home was the inspiration behind construction of the ship that started in 1995. The unique concept was a vision of a luxury residential ship that would continually sail around the world. The vision became a reality eight years later in October 2003 when the residents took the ownership of the World. The original plan was to construct a ship approximately 80,000 tonnes with over 200 customs designed residences and all on board amenities of a luxury resort.

Considering that people were asked to buy just a concept, interest was impressive and many of the earliest buyers were residents of the ship today. It began its maiden journey from Oslo with over 60 per cent of the apartments sold. Currently, 90 per cent of the apartments are sold.

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