Feeling "Welcome" on the World?

[msu]

Greetings to the World Gang;

I have been thinking about testing The World out to see how the shoe will fit ships experience would fit me long term. It is a sizable investment even for people of means. Probably will take 2 or 3 rentals different times of year varying itineraries to fully decide if the first try seems to feel like a good fit.

Although different it is like joining a country club or social club even if you may or may not have a whole lot of contact with other residents.

Most likely at least for me I would be doing this for the opportunity in my now semi and retirement years to see more of the world / travel more and share it with family and friends and have a home base verses packing and unpacking I am a solo traveler at this point in my life would invite family , friends and business cohorts to join me some times. So a 1 bedroom allows 2 in the bedroom 1 on small sofa bed or pop for the bigger priced unit with 2 bedrooms so total of 4. I picture myself living on board about 8 - 10 months of the year. I would think long term it might get a bit tiring so it might end up about 6 - 8 months on board spread out and dependent on the years itinerary.

I see a couple of things that could be issues or inconveniences:

Eating most of your food in restaurants gets old hat over time

Coordinating flights and on and off the ship and transfers were does it dock

Dealing with ones finances, health care and so on

Big question how does one handle visas with so many ports / countries? I hate filling out those forms

Happy cruising






I

[seabreezer]

I don't know if there are many World owners lurking or posting on these boards but I can perhaps answer a few questions after having been on the ship a couple of times. On my most recent visit I noticed a marked increase in the "clubbiness" of the residents. There is much more of a neighborhood feel and many of them seem very social. There are frequent parties, dinners, outings, etc. Many of the owners live aboard for a few months at a time but not that many live year round. Many of the owners have multiple residences.

As for dining, each unit has at least a small kitchen and the 2 bedroom units have a full kitchen so you always have the option of eating in. I do seem to recall that the annual maintenance fee includes food so you should check into that further.

You can always have the ship arrange transportation to and from the airport so you would just have to decide where you'd like to join the ship and make the air arrangements.

If you can afford the ship then I would assume you have a lawyer or accountant who can take care of your finances while you are out of the country.

There is a small medical clinic on board but I don't know how it is staffed. If you have any ongoing health issues then you really need to plan you medical care carefully.

Keep in mind, there are limits on the number of guests you can have staying in your unit.

Your plan to take a few trips on board is a good one. That will really give you an idea of what life would be like. Be sure to book one trip with several sea days so you can see how it feels to be confined to the ship for an extended period ... it's very quiet aboard.

Hope this helps.

[msu]

Okay did my full pre research called the sales office had a fairly open chat also have read the documents rules and regulations. Sort of numbs one to read all does and don't but such is life. That is what makes The World what it is.

Reality is one is looking at yearly fees for life on The world of about $300,000. Then depending on how much time one spends traveling on The World figure out of pocket expenses including air, excursions , above the $33,000.00 a year food pre payment about another$100,000.00. Realty is $400,000.00 a year.

I would be considering a 1 bedroom unit so I could being a solo owner traveler could have 2 other guests stay. Single sofa bed in living room and a queen bed in the bedroom. Unless you go 2 bedroom the kitchen is more of a studio kitchen so simple food preparation mainly.

Still figuring things out looking at the itinerary as to when to give it a test. Will update as things progress or other thoughts I feel are worth sharing.

Thanks for your reply

[seabreezer]

$300,000 annual just for a studio - that is even more pricey than the last quote I heard 6 months ago for a 2 BR apt. Is the $33,000 for food mandatory and is that for 1 person only?

[msu]

The $33,000.00 is mandatory on top of the yearly maintenance / condo association fee.

When one starts doing hard math running budget numbers even for some one with real wealth factor backing them it is still a hard to justify expenditure. When you think about what else one can do with that amount of money how many cruises a year can I take or other travel can one do for the same amount and not being locked in. Unless your are way past the $5,000,000.00 net worth that the Association requires it is not throw away on a whim investment / expenditure.

[seabreezer]

I don't know how someone with a net worth of "only" $5 million can make it happen comfortably and I would be surprised if there are any owners with that low a net worth. And what about future maintenance costs? But I can see that if one has the means then it is an enticing lifestyle. If you think what a private yacht would cost to maintain and staff then The World really is a deal and then the intangibles include the community, the ever-changing view from your balcony, the security and the fabulous service on board. With planning several months of cruise annually there would certainly be savings but how many cruise ships dock for multiple days in the major and interesting ports where you may really want to spend some time? The residents also have input on the itinerary each year - that's a big plus. One negative is that you're really only buying a 50 about a 42 year lease. The original owners bought in for 50 years so at some point it may be harder to sell your unit if you want out. Perhaps an alternative is just to cruise several times a year aboard The World. There will always be apts. to rent and there are no ownership headaches at all. I met several people on my last cruise who were doing just that. They then have the freedom to do more land-based vacations and other types of cruises and aren't locked-in to getting their money's worth on their "investment". I would love to know how you end up deciding.

[msu]

Resale means nada zip...... If you are looking at this as an investment hard to resell sort of like a timeshare as far as resale value. It is like buying prints as art they are great to own and look at but no profit made at resale. The units are hard to sell and stay on the market long that is why some are rented to try to recapture investment as well as ones not in use while others are not using the unit they purchased. The value goes down as the ship ages.

Big question for you to ponder over till next time.

Why aren't there more condo ships? Only one other trying to make a go of it now. The others who tried it failed early on in the process. Investment verses return and risk by lenders for such an investment. Also limited demand from the targeted consumer group of interest.

There is an investment group will did the info up who purchased a old ship not luxury and converted it into a retirement condo project in FL near the Port near Orlando. It docks port side plan is o have it make short trips every month around FL cost then 1 or 2 1 or 2 week cruises to the Caribbean and places further south. Pricing is if the thing is selling at all $150,000.00 small unit just normal sized small cruise ship berth up to the largest $380,000.00 as I recall. Meals included like most retirement facilities 2 a day I think. Maintenance was $30,0000.00 something a year including the meals. 1 week time share a couple blocks away included and use of a swimming pool walkable on land non on the ship.

Got to run

[seabreezer]

Good question. I think it's just so expensive to do it right and the market for it is limited. I think Four Seasons and perhaps another venture were planning ships that were more like a fractional version of The World. I think when the economy gets stronger there could be a demand for something like that. Right now there's a major surplus of deluxe fractionals. The ship you've described in FL doesn't sound appealing at all to me. $30,000 maintenance per year including food... that's almost scary sounding.

[msu]

Have some more thoughts but sort of between some paper work so will write more tomorrow. I booked a Windstar cruise for November Trans Atlantic on Wind Surf 2 weeks Lisbon - Barbados will be traveling with 3 cousins. Have not cruised Windstar before but like the idea of a 300 passenger ship and the sails even though mainly run on the engine sort of intrigues me plus the reviews talk about awesome service and good food.

Have a couple dates in mind for The World after January for my test drive.

[suzcruised]

We have been so fortunate to sail 5 times, and always felt so welcome. Every time we go back the staff coming running to say hello and remember us, it is a really nice feeling. We have always planned out trip with a least another couple, parties of 4 - 11, and I will be putting together another group for next year, everyone wants to return.

[Deluxe Cruiser]

My brother owns a 2 bedroom unit about every other year we join him for 2 or 3 months. We looked into purchasing a unit but decided the expense verses use was not worth the expense plus we prefer varying vacation destinations and not being tied to a cruise ship schedule destination wise. We do have the luxury of every other year on The World which is about the right amount of time for me and my wife. We enjoy being with my brother and his wife. It's the time together that makes the cruise special not the fact it's the The World. The World is nice it alone does not make the vacation. It helps but is only part of the whole experience.

Purely economics for all involved recapture ones investment. Even the owners who rent units out when not in use.The investment even for us well to do folks still must make sense on the balance sheet. If you have the dollars to step foot on The World you are welcome on The World they do not check on your niceness or social skills or other attributes.

Like most condo living situations it is a private residence other then sea days which are scattered through out more days are in port your in little contact with others on board. It tends to not be a social club environment. My brother knows a couple others on board and we dinned 2 times in the 5 or 6 times we have been on The World with others who own units. He did not know them as in close friend's but just being social and keeping up relations with others on board.

[silver_cloud]

I'm with you all. It's my fantasy (someday) to either own even a studio or at least be able to rent a cabin for 2 weeks. Ah life is good but it would be even better! lol!