#TheWorld – Residensea's 41,000 tonnes ultra-luxury The World, the only private residential community-at-sea based ship berthed in Belfast Harbour this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Residents on board the 644ft ship may travel the globe without ever leaving home, as they own one or more of the 165 private residences. For an example of the accommodation take a peek of a two-bed apartment.
Since her launch in 2002 continuously circumnavigated the world visiting the most exotic locations as well to calling to well-travelled ports.
Belfast Harbour which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year is to welcome a record 60 cruiseship calls, bringing over 100,000 visitors to the city and to tourist hotspots throughout Northern Ireland.
The World berthed in the Pollock Basin of the port, though most larger vessels dock alongside Stormont Wharf. The port is to increase business in this sector with a £7m investment purpose-built cruise terminal which will see such cruiseships moor instead on the south quays of the Lagan and nearby to the Titanic Belfast Visitor Centre and Quarter.
Among the cruise line operators visiting Belfast Harbour in 2013 are Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, MSC, Thomson, Fred Olsen Cruise Line and Saga Cruises.
The first caller of the season was by another ultra-luxury caller Hebridean Princess which visited in April.
