Fancy LIVING on a cruise ship? Inside the luxury ‘floating housing estate’ that will sail the world – with cabins available to buy on it from £82,000

If you’ve ever dreamed of a life on the high seas but aren’t keen on running a ship, there’s always the option of buying a luxury cabin or apartment on a cruise ship.

For example, Villa Vie Residences sells cabins on its territory world cruise ship, which will set sail for the first time in May 2024.

This decidedly luxurious floating residential estate will circumnavigate the world every three and a half years, visiting more than 420 ports in 147 countries on all seven continents.

Living cabins on the ship cost between $99,999 (£82,180) and $249,999 (£205,120), or passengers can segments of the world tour (from 35 to 120 days) for $89 (£73) per person, per day.

All passengers have access to the onboard restaurants, swimming pools, hot tubs, spa and fitness center, golf simulator, cooking classes in the dedicated culinary center, live entertainment and cutting-edge business center complete with private offices and a library.

The cabins, described by the company as ‘floating havens’, come in three types and all feature a queen-size bed and en suite bathroom. What sets them apart is their size, as well as the balcony and window arrangement.

Permanent passengers can choose between the Inside Villa with a virtual window and up to 180 sq m of living space, priced from $99,999 (£82,180); the Oceanview Villa with multiple windows and up to 180 sqm of living space, from $149,999 (£123,090); and the Balcony Villa, with a 600 sq ft balcony and 200 sq ft of interior space, which costs from $249,999 (£205,120).

Additional monthly costs start at $1,749 (£1,441) per person for food, drinks and onboard services such as 24/7 medical support, cleaning and a fortnightly laundry service.

Just like owning a house, cabin owners can sell, rent out or live in their room and have friends and family on board for free – they just have to pay fees at the ports.

The same room options apply for the world cruise travel segments and prices vary depending on the room and number of nights.

Passengers with the pay-as-you-go option can combine up to 16 world cruise segments to create their own unique journey.

Examples include an 87-day cruise through Northern Europe with stops in 22 countries, a 47-day cruise to ‘Greenland and beyond’, with stops in Quebec, New York City and Miami, an 83-day cruise in the Caribbean area with stops in 23 countries, and a 127-day cruise in South America, with stops in 11 countries.

Other options include a 95-day tour of Japan and the Philippine Sea visiting eleven countries, a 69-day tour of Australia and Bali with stops in five countries, a 51-day cruise around India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and a 68-day tour through India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. cruise along the coast of Africa and visit 15 countries.

‘From the enchanting fjords of Northern Europe and the icy fjords of Greenland to the vibrant Caribbean, the soul of South America and the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean, Villa Vie Homes promises a new chapter in the adventure of a lifetime,” the company said.

CEO Mikael Petterson said the company aims to “empower travelers to make the world their home,” adding: “Villa Vie Residences is not just a cruise, it is a lifestyle reinvented.”

Additional details about Villa Vie Residences’ 1,301-day world tour will be announced in the coming weeks.

Cruise ship cabins can also be purchased on Storylines’ luxury residential cruise ship, MV Narrative, and for the mega-rich there’s Somnio, which offers ultra-luxury apartments from 9.5 million euros (£8.1 million/$11.2 million) .