The Covid-19 pandemic, destructive for shipping in so many ways, has had a positive effect on one niche area: luxury at-sea living.
Ocean Residences Development is looking to set new standards in at-sea living with an order for a ship from Meyer Werft.
Chief executive Kristian Stensby launched the 43,188-gt The World (built 2002), a residential cruiseship with 165 sold condominiums that sailed the globe until March 2020, when the pandemic hit.
Stensby plans to return The World to sea in this quarter, but he hopes to deliver an even greater life-at-sea experience with the Njord, a 117-apartment vessel set for delivery in 2025.
"It has always been his vision to build the next generation," Alain Gruber, Ocean Residences president and chief operating officer, told TradeWinds.
"Tens of thousands of hours have been spent analysing and improving upon all aspects of the resident lifestyle experience, the calibre of residences and the amenities onboard."
A learning experience
The World provided insight into how people use a residential passengership and what they expect.
"We learned what worked, what did not and what types of amenities the community desired, but several needs were not possible due to original design constraints," Gruber said.
The World's amenities include a grocery store, fitness centre, golf simulator, tennis court and six restaurants.
But the 84,800-gt Njord is designed to outdo its predecessor with a nightclub, culinary and craft studios, a house of worship, a medical centre and two helicopters.
It will also feature single accommodation for its 300 crew members.
"Earlier on in my career, I was a crew member for six years aboard ships and have always had this as a personal goal, knowing first-hand the sacrifices the crew make, spending weeks and months at a time away from friends and family," Gruber said.
"The crew are the heart and soul of the operation and we have placed as much attention to detail on residential areas as we have in crew areas."
A change in plans
Ocean Residences had originally looked to DIV Shipbuilding to construct the Njord last year, but eventually handed the contract to Germany's Meyer Werft.
The condominiums, which have a starting price of €8m ($9.5m), range from 1,600 square feet (150 square metres) with two bedrooms, to 9,000 square feet with five bedrooms on three levels.
We learned what worked, what did not and what types of amenities the community desired
Alain Gruber
The average is a three-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot residence.
All apartments are ocean-facing and have private terraces, walk-in wardrobes, utility rooms, en-suite bathrooms, ocean-facing bedrooms, open-plan kitchens, private service entrances and butler pantries.
The ship can accommodate up to 400 residents and guests, but Ocean Residences expects occupancy to fluctuate between 150 and 250 passengers onboard at any one time.
Most residents will probably spend about four months of the year on the vessel, while 20% are expected to stay onboard permanently.
"Residence owners generally allow their family and closest friends to enjoy their residences when they are not onboard," Gruber said.
Njord will visit up to 60 countries per year and stay in ports of call for up to a week.
Take a number
Gruber would not say how many of the Njord's condominiums have been sold so far, but prospective buyers are carefully vetted to ensure shared interests in marine conservation and understated luxury.
"What I can disclose is that the demand far exceeds the available inventory," he said. "We have several categories wait-listed."
The demand for at-sea living is robust, he added, and has only grown because Covid-19 has made more people accustomed — even prefer — to work from home.
"Many executives have learned that working from home or remotely has been very successful," he said.
"Additionally, we’ve seen a large demand from people wanting to travel with friends and family in a safe and secure environment."
