Travel the world without leaving home

An apartment aboard a ship means the view from your window will be ever-changing, but it won't be to everyone's taste...

‘The World' is the largest private yacht on the planet. It is also a residential community, with residents from over 40 countries either living permanently onboard, or else visiting their floating home periodically throughout the year.

The yacht circumnavigates the globe, stopping off in ports for a few days at a time.

The 12 deck yacht is owned by its residents, who occupy the 165 residential units onboard, which range from studio apartments to luxury three bedroom apartments, priced from £1million to £3.5 million. Some of the largest apartments are 4000 square feet.

Each of the apartments has been designed by some of the world's leading interior designers and decorators, and have open plan living and dining areas, master and guest bedrooms with en-suite bathing facilities, and a full-sized kitchen.

There are also floor to ceiling glass doors and private sun terrace. Each apartment is furnished with Wedgwood china, Christofle flatware and Frette linens specially designed to meet maritime safety specifications.

Around 200 residents are onboard at any time, plus a crew of 250. Everything you could imagine is on offer, from a fresh food market, to a delicatessen, boutique, complete athletic facilities that include a golf simulator, putting green, casino, full-sized tennis court, jogging track and fully equipped gym, spa, cinema, casino, library, concert hall, lecture theatre, five restaurants and several cocktail Bars.

In addition to shore excursions, classes are offered on board in dance, navigation, language, cooking, arts and crafts, music, computers, and photography.

If you can't stretch to buying apartment, how about renting one out for a night -  a studio apartment can be rented for around £1,100 per night, which includes dinner and drinks.

A two to three bedroom ‘luxury residence' ranges from £1,500 to £2,400 per night, according to the season and travel dates.

The World also has an 88-room hotel, at which you can book any of 30 itineraries, ranging from five to 17 days, and taking in different sections of the globe.

Rates for these voyages - in the least-expensive suites - range from £2,500 to £7,800 and include air, transfers, gratuities, port charges, meals and onboard beverages.

The World's Bahamas-based operating company, ResidenSea, insists that the owners of the luxury apartments have to have some land base, where they pay some tax, so the ship is not a tax haven.

This year's itinerary saw the ship sailing through Odessa, Istanbul, Santorini, Kotor and Dubrovnik. Next year plans are to ply the waters of the South Pacific and Asia. The World takes on a leisurely schedule - designed by the residents themselves - of moving from port to port.

Your average cruise might only spend one or two days in one location, but The World will typically spend three to six days at popular destinations.

This can often provide an exclusive address for some of the world's most sought after events. Valencia for the America's Cup and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro are typical stops.

Being tied to a ship will certainly not to be everyone's taste, and those wanting a more settled environment, or who have a young family or office based career should look elsewhere, although there is time to disembark at various ports and stay in other hotels should you wish.

The yacht is possibly most suited to retirees. You can also pick up family or friends at meeting points around the globe, and they can join you in your roving home for short holidays.

Picture by Mulazimoglu