WORLD OF STYLE
World of Style - Luxury Travel Magazine
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World of Style | |||||
| By: Jenny Caspersonn, Issue 33 – Summer 2008 | |||||
| (The World – Stockholm Archipelago and The Baltic Sea) | |||||
| CRUISING THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO AND THE BALTIC SEA ABOARD THE WORLD OF RESIDENSEA IS LIKE LIVING IN YOUR OWN FLOATING PALACE. | |||||
| His voice was low but true as it echoed through the ancient Swedish church. An unfamiliar tune in a language I couldn’t speak, I listened entranced to my guide who, inspired by his surroundings, had burst into song. As the Norseman’s refrain ascended the soaring frescoed walls I had to ask myself ‘how in the world did I get here?’ Answer: on The World, of course. My splendid temporary home, The World of ResidenSea, was anchored nearby at the pier of the medieval walled city of Visby on the shores of the Baltic Sea. I’d boarded The World in Stockholm the afternoon prior and after the mandatory safety briefing, experienced a spectacular sunset as she sailed out of Stockholm’s stunning harbour. For hours the panorama of the 24,000 islands, islets and rock formations that make up the beautiful Stockholm archipelago passed by. The next morning The World had docked for a three-night stay in Visby, known as the town of Roses and Ruins, the capital of the Swedish island of Gotland. The unique concept for The World was the vision of cruise industry expert Knut U. Kloster who observed the incredible loyalty of many of his passengers. Sometimes spending months on board, for many the ship was their home at sea. It made sense, then, to build a ship upon which people could purchase their own apartment and come and go as they pleased. This private seafaring residential community literally travels the world without leaving home avoiding the hassles of airports and transfers and enjoying million dollar views every day. It’s like owning a splendid holiday home or living in a luxury boutique hotel while circumnavigating the globe. To make the concept fly, or at least float, the ship had to meet the most exacting standards of comfort and luxury to entice the potential high-end purchasers. The result is a 12 deck, 196-metre private yacht that in 2007 celebrated its fifth year afloat. Elegant but not ostentatious, The World has 165 residences ranging in approximate price from US$825,000 to US$7.3 million including 106 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, 19 studio apartments and 40 studios. Along with top quality appointments and accommodation the ship offers a spectacular itinerary. Residents actively participate in planning the fascinating destinations on its continuous worldwide voyage. In 2007 The World dropped anchor at Carnivale in Rio, the Venice Biennale and the America’s Cup in Valencia. The World delivers a quality, but also an adventurous, product. Sophisticated design ensures she has premium docking possibilities with her extreme high manoeuvrability, powerful thrusters and shallow draft (6.9metres) along with collapsible mast and smoke stack for clearance under bridges and cables. The World docks in places like downtown Shanghai and outside the Hermitage in St Petersburg, both off-limits to larger ships. The marina deck opens down to create a pontoon for a dip in tropical waters or from which the zodiacs can be launched, allowing passengers entry to less accessible destinations. Just ask the intrepid souls who took an icy plunge in Antarctic waters supervised, of course, by The World’s activities staff and full-time medical team. The World’s capacity is around 300 people but averages 150 to 200 travellers at any one time. On board was an eclectic mix of individuals and families of all ages and nationalities. The generous dimensions of the publics spaces – the lobby, stairwells, library, art gallery, theatre and casino – ensure an absence of queues or crowds and a sense of spaciousness not normally found on a cruise ship. Guests are welcomed aboard The World for six-night minimum stays where they rent private homes. Obviously impressed by the experience, some 30 percent of Guests return to purchase residences. There are no traditional on-board activity announcements, group events or entertainment. The energetic Tour Office can organise almost anything from simple car-hire to an African game park safari. Particular effort is made to organize memorable, occasionally offbeat experiences for Residents and Guests such as an 8-day Amazonian trek and swimming with pink dolphins. I stepped ashore in Visby into a mediaeval festival where jesters, merchants and musicians celebrated in the streets. An evening tour of Gotland island followed, which included the vocal entertainment in the magnificent ancient chapel, cocktails in a centuries-old hotel and dinner in a manor house. Offbeat and definitely memorable. Taking the pain out of travel arrangements, the 24-hour concierge service organises flights, trains, transfers and reservations anywhere in world with charm and efficiency. The four main restaurants include the Mediterranean-inspired Tides; East for exceptional Asian fare and splendid sushi bar; The Marina for hearty seafood and steaks, and Portraits for fine dining. Other dining options include Fredy’s Delicatessen and grocery store, the Garden Tearoom and the Pool Grill as well as a series of lounges and bars. Because of the continuity of the life for the Residents, the restaurants must provide exceptional variety, including regional specialties, but also cater for those with particular tastes as well as providing simpler, comfort food. Since owners pay an annual food and beverage levy the restaurants do not operate for profit so the meals are created and served with patience and imagination. The best produce is sourced from each port, ensuring the delicatessen is well stocked with groceries for passengers dining at home. Residents hosting a dinner party can cook or avail themselves of a chef to prepare dinner for their friends. An unrestricted room service menu is available 24-hours. Five highly trained therapists at the beautiful Banyan Tree Spa deliver an extensive spa menu adding yet another dimension in luxury for World travellers. Of course, pampering has to be squeezed in between visits to the fully equipped sports facilities for gym sessions, yoga, pilates, aqua aerobics in the two indoor and outdoor swimming pools, going for a un the jogging track or having a hit on the only full-size tennis court at sea. For golf enthusiasts, the Country Club offers three artificial grass greens, and sand bunkers and the golf simulator tackles 52 world famous courses. Golf games can be organised at each port and 14-day Golf Voyages are offered throughout the year. Each apartment is fully wired for comprehensive state-of-the-art telecommunications since many guests conduct business on board. So far from home I was impressed when my weekend Sydney newspaper landed on my doorstep first thing Saturday morning. The exceptional crew manages the delicate balance of the friendly but not over-familiar and deliver first-rate service in a sophisticated yet relaxed manner. This applies from cabin staff right through to the Captain. And as impressive job titles go, ‘Captain of The World’ is hard to beat. It’s difficult to resist a pun or a cliché when describing The World. Unless, of course, when describing the experience itself: Stop The World because you’ll want to get on. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| The World: www.aboardtheworld.com | |||||
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