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Super-rich find high seas luxury home

The cheapest apartment on The World costs $2.25 million to buy

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fancy the life of a traveller on the high seas but can't be bothered packing a suitcase?

If your dreams of roughing it as waves crash over the bow are tempered by your reluctance to get too cold and wet, then the world's largest cruise ship could be a good option.

Billed as a floating community by sales company ResidenSea, The World has 110 luxury apartments with 320 seafarers and staff to meet your every need, whether it be a facial, a history seminar or even a spot of emergency surgery.

The apartments are priced from US$2.25 million to $7.5 million. They can also be rented for $2,100 a day while the owners are absent -- but you have to stay for at least five days.

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You would feel like you hadn't left home at all -- if your home cost at least $2.25 million.

ResidenSea hopes to attracts an "affluent mix of individuals from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America," with an estimated 40 percent being North American.

The apartments come fully furnished with a complete kitchen, including Wedgwood china, a washing machine/dryer and private verandah.

Resident Nancy Binz told CNN she paid about $4 million for her three-bedroom suite.

"I like the idea because we're moving around the world. I'm a traveller, I love it, and I felt like taking the risk."

Karen Planett and Jeoffrey Thomson also took the risk, paying several million dollars for their apartment.

"There are just so many adventures out there. Even though we have travelled extensively, there's so many things we still haven't done," Planett said.

"I don't actually think of it as a resort despite some of the facilities, because in a way it's more like having a waterfront apartment in 50 places," Thomson added.

These passengers began the inaugural trip on March 28 in Oslo, Norway. The itinerary takes in Germany, Canary Islands, Greece, Croatia, Russia, Sweden, Mexico, the U.S. and a dozen other countries.

Sports, entertainment and education are offered to passengers

The ship is expected to last 50 years -- an experiment, not just for the passengers, but also for the captain.

"The passengers here ... live here. On a passenger vessel they're gone three, four days, a week. The maximum would be a world cruise, which takes three months. But here, they're here all the time," said Captain Ola Harsheim.

The residents of this unique international community are individuals and couples, senior executives of corporations, and partnerships of families and friends. It is expected that the final population of residents will consist 40 percent of Americans and 60 percent from Europe and the rest of the world.

To pass the time, passengers can enjoy a golf centre with driving ranges, putting greens and high-tech simulators; a full-size tennis court; two swimming pools and personal trainers.

For those with a more cultural inclination, seminars on topics ranging from history to astronomy and arts are held regularly.

A doctor and nurse are on call 24 hours a day, with X-ray and operating facilities and an emergency helipad on the ship.

-- CNN Correspondent Richard Quest contributed to this report.