Antarctic expedition precedes The World's forthcoming visit to NZ

The luxury floating village known as The World is heading for New Zealand next month for the fifth time after a 22-day exploration of the Ross Sea, including 12 days in Antarctica.

The World is privately owned by 142 families from 19 countries and its residents jointly decide the itinerary for each year.

This year’s journey started in Sydney at New Year and included a cruise down the southwest coast of Australia and nine days in Tasmania.

The expedition then heads to the Ross Sea where landings will be made by Zodiacs and kayaks to visit penguin colonies and historic sites.

This journey will end at Lyttelton on February 6, Waitangi Day. The World will then spend 16 days calling into Nelson (Feb 9), Wellington (Feb 10-12), Napier (Feb 13-15) and Auckland (Feb 17-20) plus visits to Waiheke Island (Feb 20) and the Bay of Islands (Feb 21-22) before heading to Melanesia.

This three-week voyage through Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea will include islands that have rarely seen a ship. “Every opportunity will be seized to go hiking; access cultural performances; dive, snorkel and swim; and seek out unique adventures to ‘bring the destination alive,’” the company says.

Next on the agenda are Japan, China and Taiwan before crossing the Pacific in the northern summer to Hawaii, California and the western Canadian coast up to Alaska.

The World then reverses course and heads south to explore the Sea of Cortez and Central America before transiting the Panama Canal into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Year-long trip
The World will travel up the southeastern coast of the US to New York as well as the Bahamas and Bermuda before the year-long trip culminates in a 2018 New Year celebration at its home port in Miami, Florida. In total, residents will have sailed approximately 44,000 nautical miles during 2017 and visited more than 120 ports.

At 196m and a tonnage of 43,188, The World is described as the largest privately owned, residential yacht on earth. It has 165 residences, which range from studios to three-bedroom suites. Launched in 2002, its average occupancy at any one time is 150-200 residents and guests. The crew numbers 280.

The residences are available for purchase, with prices ranging from $US1.7 million to $US16 million plus annual ownership charges. A guest stay programme is available by invitation.

Onboard amenities and facilities include six restaurants, golfing with putting greens and golf simulator, a full-size tennis court, swimming pools, a spa, a fitness centre, expert destination lecturers, library and cinema.

In July last year, The World spent 28 days in dry dock at Cadiz, Spain, for refurbishment of its public spaces, including a complete redesign of its Marina restaurant with the addition of retractable floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a new private dining room, bar/lounge area, chef’s presentation table and curated contemporary art works.

The ship has also installed an advanced wastewater treatment system and was the first vessel of its size to burn marine diesel rather than heavy bunker fuel.