Welcome to the World: Where You Can Have Anything You Want, For a Price

This reporter was hosted by The World, Residences at Sea for the purposes of this review.

About every two to five years, the largest private yacht on the planet stops at Honolulu Harbor. For its more than 150 residents, it's a hopping-off point, a short visit or the start of a new journey. Unless you work or live on the ship, you'll never experience what I am about to share with you.

On May 7, privately owned mega-yacht The World, Residences at Sea, docked in Honolulu. The two-day stop concluded its Polynesian islands excursion and commenced its Hawaiʻi tour from Oʻahu to Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island and Maui and back to Oʻahu before heading to Mexico on May 19.

In 1997, Norwegian cruise entrepreneur Knut Kloster Jr. dreamed of creating a luxury ship that full- or part-time residents could live aboard to travel the world. In 2002, that dream came to fruition, welcoming both homeowners who purchased residences and vacationers renting apartments onboard. The following year, The World's current residents purchased the ship from Kloster and its original investors, changing it from a profit-driven enterprise to 100% resident-owned.

Book an Oʻahu Sunset Cruise

The World is a 644-foot yacht with 165 residences. According to The World, residences range from about $3.5 million for a studio to $15 million for a two- to three-bedroom. Owners also pay an additional annual fee of 8% to 10% of the purchased price of their residence. This covers every aspect of life aboard, including ship preservation, operations, fuel, port costs, food and beverage, housekeeping, concierge, fitness and wellness, guest chefs and winemakers, lecturers, enrichment, medical services, crew compensation and more. Extras, such as spa and salon treatments and private or bespoke shore excursions are available at an additional cost. Every three years, the ship dry-docks for renovations to ensure it remains at the peak of luxury.

The residents' management entity, ROW Management Ltd., staffs the ship's 300 crew members. Residential Director Eddie Wong has worked onboard for more than 10 years. To him, the staff and residents are his family. Wong assists with the buying and selling of homes, among many other things. Each new owner must go through a rigorous vetting process, which includes a criminal background check and stringent financial requirements. Potential buyers also must have two letters of recommendation from current owners to be considered. Currently, all residences are sold except for one that just went on the market — a 1,900-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath with plush white carpet. Every residence is custom-designed to fit the owner's taste and receives cleaning service twice a day.

Since the residents own the ship, they decide where it goes. Each year, they vote on the destinations they want to visit. The more square footage you own, the more votes you have. The itinerary is decided three years in advance so everyone can plan their lives accordingly. This year, after The World leaves Mexico, it will go to Alaska, Japan and throughout Asia. It has stopped in Hawaiʻi 12 times since 2002, usually twice a year.

Charter a Private Waikīkī Boat

Wong, a former cruise ship general manager, said what he loves about The World compared to cruise ships is that every day is different but the guests stay the same. He can have endless different experiences while continuing to deepen his connection with the people on board, he said. Other crew members must feel the same way — Wong said there is very little staff turnover.

Another perk for the staff is The World's Crew Enrichment Fund, which supports training, onboard social events and shoreside tours. While docked at Easter Island during The World's recent Polynesia excursion, 120 crew members had the opportunity to take multiple tours of the island and see the moai. For Wong, these experiences make him want to stay with The World to see what's next. "The more I know, the more I want to know," he said.

Of course, there are always downsides to living on a ship. Wong doesn't get days off and he only gets home to see his family and friends twice a year. For him, it's a small price to pay to be on a continuous world tour.

There are 12 floors, or decks. The plaza on Deck 5 is where you enter the ship. It's where you'll find the concierge, can speak with local tourism officials, order a taxi (when in port) or get recommendations for things to see and do at each location. It's also a gathering place, with a full bar, grand piano and lounge that turns into a performance amphitheater on some nights. For gourmands and connoisseurs, there's a cigar and whiskey lounge, wine cellar, gourmet grocery shop, cafe and sports bar with poker tables.

Book a Sunset Dinner Cruise

Residents have four restaurants to choose from, including a poolside grill, outdoor Mediterranean restaurant, indoor fine dining restaurant with an award-winning wine program and The Marina — a seafood steakhouse with a swimming pool in the center. The Marina has a garage door that opens to the ocean, where guests can hop on a stand-up paddleboard, kayak or jump directly into the water. In particularly cold destinations, this is where you could participate in a polar plunge. "Everyone does it," Wong said.

In the ship's library, there is a wall of coffee table books. For every excursion, a National Geographic photographer boards the ship to help residents capture photographs of the places they visit — places like Antarctica, Borneo and tiny Pacific islands with populations of fewer than 40 people. Afterward, the images are turned into glossy photography books.

The Colosseo, which residents have nicknamed "The University," is where Nobel laureates, local experts and resident speakers give lectures or briefings on the next destination. Many of The World's residents are experts in their fields and are happy to share what they know with their neighbors.

The amenities continue: a clubhouse for kids, a nondenominational chapel, a spa, a hair and nail salon, a gym with sauna, steam room and cold plunge, a reformer pilates studio, workout studio, conference rooms, poker rooms, a walking track, tennis and pickleball courts, a golf simulator with a PGA golf pro, a video game room, outdoor pool and hot tub, a putting green and four Bali Beds — outdoor beds guests can reserve to sleep under the stars.

Book a Waikīkī Fireworks Boat Cruise

Resident Dr. John Demartini, an author, educator and motivational speaker, is one of The World's original owners. He learned of the ship from an ad in a magazine he was reading at a dentist's office. Now, he considers himself a citizen of the world and presents his signature "Breakthrough Experience" conferences in many of the ports The World stops at throughout dozens of countries. His life partner, Donna Parker — an author and speaker — has lived onboard with Demartini for almost two years. "Every day is like Christmas morning," Parker said.

Every year, a limited number of residences go up for sale on The World. But demand consistently outpaces availability proving the market for this kind of lavish lifestyle does exist. For most people, The World is a world apart from any life they could ever imagine, glimpsed only from a harbor or a headline. But perhaps that's the point. The World defines exclusivity, allowing a select number of people to experience the world in a way no one else can.