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Everything you need to know about the world’s largest private residential yacht

25 June 2021 • Written by Laura Nicholls for The World

Since it was confirmed that residents of The World will return to their home at sea with a new sailing itinerary as of July 2021, the 196-metre The World will be a super sight for many yacht spotters in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Pacific and Central America. Her 12 decks and contemporary lines by Swedish designers Petter Yran and Bjørn Storbraaten are host to 165 luxury homes for a diverse group of residents from 20 countries.

But what goes on within the world’s largest privately-owned residential yacht and how to get on board are questions asked by many. And so here, BOAT International reveals all.

The onboard community and lifestyle

Owners of homes on The World are said to share common interests such as luxury travel, world-class dining and cultural adventures, which helps to foster a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a sense of community and form lasting friendships. They are adventure seekers and explorers who lead active lifestyles with activities such as hiking, biking, diving, snorkelling, golfing, walking, tennis and cricket able to be arranged by the expert and attentive onboard crew. The elegant megayacht also has an average occupancy of only 150 to 200 at any time, ensuring a tranquil and capacious environment on board.

The residents choose the itinerary

With the help of the megayacht’s captains and an itinerary planning department, the residents collectively determine The World’s itinerary three years in advance by a community vote. The worldwide journeys are based around extended stays with an average of three days in port. Unlike most passenger vessels, The World spends nearly twice as many days in port than at sea, so the residents are able to explore on land as much as possible and still allow some flexibility to the itinerary if needed. In 2022, The World will undertake a journey of five continents that will also include three expeditions: the Tuamotu and Marquesas archipelagos of French Polynesia, a voyage to Polynesia’s eastern extremity visiting the Austral Islands, Pitcairn and Easter Island plus a deep exploration of the fascinating raw beauty of Iceland.

Customised service and bespoke dining

The World offers unrivalled personal service with a highly experienced crew that is customised and catered to every individual preference. A supremely knowledgeable concierge team crafts well-researched, personal travel experiences to explore exciting destinations. In addition to an array of dining venues – from the haute cuisine of Portraits, considered by many to be among the finest restaurants on earth and that welcomes Michelin-starred guest chefs for special events, to Fredy’s Deli Café and gourmet marketplace – residents can also choose to dine at home to take in the ever-changing vistas from the comfort of their own dining room. They can even design a menu in collaboration with one of the yacht’s esteemed chefs with fresh produce purchased at local markets and complemented by selections from the yacht’s award-winning wine list of over 16,000 bottles.

Enrichment and wellness

In addition to talks by world-renowned visiting lecturers, including Nobel prize recipients, a multitude of programmes are available including personalised fitness regimes. One of the most popular places on the yacht, The World’s Fitness Centre, includes inside and open-air areas to work out with state-of-the-art equipment, a jogging/walking track, two swimming pools, and the only regulation-sized tennis court at sea. Residents also enjoy water sports, Hobie cats, kayaks, and other personal watercraft from a retractable marina deck or may choose to improve their swing on the virtual golf simulator or refine their short game on the outdoor putting green. The World Spa & Wellness Center offers 7,000-square-feet of the latest in beauty and wellness treatments like multi-wave LED therapy, an innovative Vichy bed, Cleopatra infrared heated relaxation beds and a multitude of facial, body, hair and nail treatments; it’s the ultimate in pampering and revitalisation.

A unique design story

The 165 privately-owned residences onboard The World comprise studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Many residents have customised homes from the original designs to suit individual tastes and to tell the story of their travels. Walls adorned with private artwork representative of places visited can be found, as well as photographs taken during one of the yacht’s unique expeditions, impressive wine collections that include rare bottles selected from small producers in wine regions visited on The World’s unending journey.

Although the 165 homes are all privately owned, there are a select number available for resale each year. Click here to discover more and to speak with a Residential Advisor about ownership opportunities aboard M/V The World.

Sponsored content created in collaboration with The World.