Exploring Rarely Visited Destinations From a Megayacht
Living aboard the largest residential yacht.
Imagine waking up to panoramic views of Antarctica’s ice shelves one month and exploring the tropical beaches of Madagascar the next. People living aboard The World—the largest residential yacht on Earth—get a rare opportunity for immersive adventures to the most remote areas. The yacht continually circumnavigates the globe, providing access to destinations often unreachable by traditional means, with preplanned expeditions to learn about the culture of these least-visited regions.
There are two to three expeditions per year, managed and led by EYOS Expeditions, in partnership with The World. The residents vote on an annual itinerary three years in advance, which includes where the expeditions will visit. Unlike typical shore excursions, expeditions last roughly 14 to 21 days and offer an in-depth look at a particular region, with specialist lecturers—anthropologists, marine biologists, historians, naturalists, photographers—providing insight and knowledge before arrival. Past expeditions have included the Solomon Islands, the Arctic, and Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated inhabited island in the world.
The World has 165 privately owned apartments, which range in size from studios to suites with three bedrooms and three baths. There are typically only around 150 to 200 residents, from approximately 20 countries, on board at the same time, which makes it easy to get to know your neighbours quickly. Some sail 360 days a year, but most come and go from their home on land, with an average time of four months living on board intermittently. Most are retired, but a few work remotely from the yacht, thanks to the Starlink satellite internet connection.
The 2025 itinerary includes expeditions to the Sea of Cortez, Madagascar, and West Papua, but it’s not all about checking least-visited destinations off a bucket list—it’s also about giving back to the communities visited. Hockey recalls a trip where one of The World residents purchased three massive water tanks that they strapped onto the ship and delivered to villagers on three remote islands in Papua New Guinea. Another time, Zodiacs full of necessary supplies were delivered to an Inuit village in northern Canada that had not received any in nearly a year.
If you’re sold on the idea of exploring the globe via a megayacht, start saving your pennies. Each year, The World has a small number of private residences available for resale.
