How would you like to travel the world full-time and still live within your community? CEO Alister Punton of Storylines has developed the residential cruise ship of your dreams.
The MV Narrative
The MV Narrative will be one of a kind. The ship can hold over 1,000 residents that can live on board permanently. It’s like purchasing a condo, but you stay on the water. With eleven types of apartments to choose from, the largest being the “Global” at close to 2000 square feet, with two floors, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, a balcony, and a walk-in closet.
If those living spaces weren’t enough, how about having 20 restaurants and bars to choose from? There will be a school and a library on the ship for residents with families. There’s a 24-hour fitness center, bank, and office space. The MV Narrative will also have its own doctors, medical staff, and farmer’s market. Of course, there are the usual swimming pools, lounges, and event spaces like standard cruises, However, Punton made it clear the ship is more about building a community, not just a party boat.
How Much You Ask?
In a report by CNBC, Austin Wells, an engineer for Meta, has spent close to $300,000 on a 12-year lease for a studio apartment on the ship. Since he was an early customer, he was offered the shorter option and a much lower price than expected.
“I’m going from this model where you want to go somewhere, you pack a bag, you get on a flight, you rent a room, to now my condo, my gym, my doctors and dentists, all of my grocery stores travel the world with me,” said Wells.
According to Punton, the MV Narrative is a more affordable option for a residential boat. For example, The World, another residential ship, sells its penthouse apartments for over 20 million dollars. There are also only up to 200 people on The World boat.
Lifetime leases on the MV Narrative can go from $1 Million to $8 million. Back in November, Storylines launched fractional ownership options, starting at $600,000 with a 25% share, which allows those residents to stay at least three months a year.
You also have the option of “all-inclusive living fees” that start at $2100 a person each month. The fees include food, laundry, medical checkups, and the ship’s fitness center.
Residents who don’t wish to stay on board for years also have the option to rent out their spaces while they’re gone. A studio apartment similar to Wells’s can earn him $4500 monthly.
Where Will It Take You
Punton told CNBC the MV Narrative will dock at different ports for three to five days, “Most people … will be out in the local cities and doing day trips and overnight trips, hiring a car and going out for three or four days and meeting the ship at its next destination.”
As the ship travels through Europe, you can expect to be docked three days in Rome, then a few days in Naples. Stopping in different coastal countries along the way, reaching Venice, and traveling through countries in the Mediterranean. The full itinerary hasn’t been announced yet, but the MV Narrative is expected to travel the world for years to come.