The Swedish newspaper "Dagens Industri" has today an articel about The World and her financial crisis. 81 of the 110 apartments where sold before the ship was delivered, but only 1 apartment afterwards, so there are 29 apartments avalible, if anyone are interested.
The banks has now taken control over the board of directors, they also changed MD. Westdeutsche Landesbank and Centre Solution are the banks that have the largest claims.

If I had the money, I could find better things to do with it than buy a residence on this ship... I'd choose to cruise on many different vessels as well!

I and many others have been very sceptical about this from the beginning... Remember, the ship was originally supposed to be much larger, and was then scaled down... And it is not as though Knut Kloster has the very best record when it comes to managing things like this.

I guess the second ship he wanted to build won't be coming anytime soon !

That didn't take long, did it?

Why are we cruisetalkers so much smarter than the big-bucks money people?

Most here said it would not make it, and I suspect it will not.

Now, which line is likely to buy the ship? Or am I reading ahead in the script?

HEY..Just noticed this is No. 500!! Tempus do fugit when you're haaving fun!

[ 08-28-2002: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

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Originally posted by bases5:
im' kinda new here but love the imfo I have been reading. just wondering how big are the rooms and how much do they cost?

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http://www.residensea.com

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Originally posted by Cruiseny:
Hmm... You're right, perhaps she'd do well as a permanently moored luxury apartment building...

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Originally posted by vg5157:
Cruiseny,do you think is possible "The World" become part of a any cruise line fleet,as one of the solutions ?

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If you mean that another cruise line take her over and run her as what she is - perhaps.

Converting her to a regular cruise ship - no. There are a few reasons:

- the tennants (these people actually "bought" use of their "apartments" for 20 years) have to agree to sell the ship - and lose their apartments.
- as I mentioned above, a great deal of conversion work would be needed.

I predict that someday the World will indeed become a permenantly stationed floating apartment complex- probably in some European or Asian city.

The boss of a cruise ship selling homes at sea to the super-rich tells BBC News Online that rumours the company is on the brink of failure are untrue.

She calls at Boston on tuesday if any of you are that way.

Interesting what Mr. Riley (the CEO) says:

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"In the aftermath of September 11 and the late delivery of the boat [from the shipyard], there were some hitches in the sales.

But that is behind us now."

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What I find rather interesting, is that he refers to The World as a boat! At 40,000 GRT, I would say she is a rather large boat !

It is not a huge mistake, but the CEO of the company surely should know better ...

And about the previous CEO resigning:

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Mr Riley maintains that the former chief executive Fredy Dellis "made a determination to resign".

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Living in the environs of DC I am used to spin, possibly more than most.

But I think there is much substance in the quotes from Residensea management. It is really far too early to assess success/failure on the project.

But I believe that bringing experienced cruise-line management has merit, and could yet save the day.

And in regards to "ship vs boat,"

I took the "boat trains" from London and Paris to the ports of embarkation - not "ship trains;" on the Great Lakes they are "Ore Boats" not "Ore Ships;" and submarines are known as "boats."

The positions of former naval types and purists is rapidly fading from the realm of proper semantics, that a "boat" is only a floating vessel that is carried upon a "ship."

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Originally posted by PamM:
There's also a report in the NY Times today, here. [You have to register to read the pages if you're not already]
Pam

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Interesting article...

Doesn't mention anything about the financial situation though ...