CHICAGO: People are snapping up permanent homes on luxury cruise ships, where full ownership of a floating studio condo could set you back less than a land-based apartment.
Permanent homes at sea provide all the comforts of a studio or multi-bedroom unit on land — plus unparalleled seafront views — and the idea is growing more popular.
Last week, Los Angeles-based luxury liner company Crystal Cruises announced it would deliver three new ships, each with 48 private residences ranging from 55.7 to 371.6 square metres.
The prices for units on these ships haven’t been released.
The largest and oldest residential ship on the water is called The World, which first set sail in 2002 and offers 165 private residences.
About 130 families from 19 countries live on The World, either permanently or for some months in the year. The average age of residents is 64, although more than a third is aged under 50.
Due to set sail in about 18 months is The Marquette, a 200-unit residential vessel that will navigate inland waters in the US.
Planned features include an 18-hole chip-and-putt golf course, theatres, a grocery store and hot tubs.
Also making its maiden voyage soon will be the Utopia, an ocean liner that will be twice the size of The World. The Utopia will boast 200 residential units, as well as 16 smaller units for nannies and tutors…
