Portland Sees the World

October 15, 2012 by Jessie Fisher

Portland welcomes almost 60 cruise ships to our harbor each year. One ship after another unloads their human cargo each morning and passengers stroll the cobblestone streets in search of nautical souvenirs and tasty lobster rolls. Around 6pm, the ships load back up and take off for the next port, usually in Canada.

Today is different.

Today, Portland’s Ocean Gateway Terminal is the parking spot for The World. “The World” is a 644′ residential cruise ship that cruises the globe, stopping in ports from Fiji to Russia. It is the world’s largest privately owned yacht. That’s right, there are people living in 165 apartments on board The World! (It’s operated by a company called “ResidenSea”. Cute.)

This fall, it also became the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the Northwest Passage from Nome, Alaska, to Nuuk, Greenland. NBD.

The apartments range from studios (328 square feet) at $600,000 to a cool $13,500,000 for “The World Suite“, which I can’t seem to find any definitive information about in terms of size…but it’s got to be larger than the 2 bed, 2.5 bath at $2,950,000. They all have kitchens in case you decide to cook at home, but there are also 6 world-class restaurants, a cafe, a movie theather, a library, a spa, a yoga studio and a cigar club on board. Those who still find extra time can also take classes in a new language, dance, cooking, music and probably whatever the hell else they want too, damn it.

Had a long day perusing a remote Alaskan port village? Why not take a nap in one of these “Bali Beds” out on the open deck under the stars?

Those who live aboard the World are graced with enrichment experts to help them prepare for each port they enter. How would you like to be a wine connoisseur, diving professional or a cultural ambassador aboard a vessel of this capacity? Can you say “dream job”?!

Moreso than the luxurious accomodations, I’ve been drooling over the fascinating ports this ship has encountered since its launch in 2002.