The World, Residences at Sea Unveils Sustainable Luxury Refurbishment
The largest privately owned residential mega yacht on Earth and the only one of its kind currently in operation is set for its scheduled dry-dock in Cadiz, Spain. A series of thoughtful enhancements and transformative engineering upgrades will take place. The World’s meticulous dry-dock process ensures the ship maintains impeccable physical condition, surpassing industry standards and earning a DNV statement of excellent long-term management of the vessel.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2 APRIL 2025 — The World Residences at Sea, the largest privately owned residential ship on the planet, will soon begin an extraordinary six week dry-dock at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, bringing with it an array of transformative upgrades.The multi-million enhancements promise to elevate the ship’s unparalleled luxury lifestyle to new heights, offering its Residents a living environment that blends cutting-edge innovation and refined elegance with world-class comfort.
As part of its commitment to maintaining and enhancing the lifestyle on board, The World enters a planned dry-dock every three years to conduct routine technology and maintenance upgrades, update public spaces based on current design and lifestyle trends, and continue to maintain the highest standards of living on the seven seas. As a result of its rigorous dry-dock process and meticulous ongoing maintenance, The World recently received a report from Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a globally respected authority in maritime safety and sustainability. After completion of a comprehensive study and extensive evaluation, DNV will be presenting The World with a “Statement of Extended Life” in recognition of its commitment to maximizing the sustainable life span of the vessel. Most notably, The World’s physical condition is that of a Ship that is just 5.6 years old, far younger than her chronological age—providing confidence in her long-term quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
“This extraordinary 40-day, $30+ million outlay in the Ship demonstrates Residents’ commitment to keeping The World at the forefront of luxury living, and represents the next chapter in that journey,” says Jessica Hoppe, president and CEO of The World. “Our Resident owners continue to invest in the ship, ensuring that it not only evolves with their needs but also stays ahead of global innovations. Our recent Statement of Extended Life from DNV is a testament to the exceedingly high standards that we set, how hard our deck and engine teams work to meet those standards, and the support that we receive from the Resident community.”
Sustainability and De-Carbonization Upgrades
The 2025 dry-dock will focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, ensuring that The World continues to meet and exceed global climate targets. Among the most impactful updates is the installation of shore power, also known as cold ironing, a High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) system. It will allow the ship to plug into shore-based electricity while docked and shut down its onboard generators. This reduces fuel consumption and emissions while in port, in line with the regulatory requirements in ports in California and Europe and elsewhere where this solution becomes available.
The ship’s bulbous bow will be replaced, a de-carbonization project. Originally optimized for a speed of 19 knots, the new design will reduce hull resistance by up to 10% and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. The World will switch to silicone-type underwater paint, which will not only reduce hydrodynamic resistance but will also prevent marine growth, improving efficiency and minimizing cleaning. Additionally, new air conditioning chillers and Fan Coil Units (FCUs) will be installed to enhance cooling efficiency and reduce energy consumption. These upgrades are all part of The World’s commitment to a sustainable future.
Pool Deck Reimagined
Deck 11’s Pool Bar & Grill will undergo a complete transformation with a new enlarged bar front and restored galley and grill. The renovated bar area, including a new pizza oven and pantry, will help provide gourmet meals in a more refined social setting while allowing for faster service. Along with a new banquette and added seating is a watertight canopy offering a light, airy aesthetic. Reminiscent of a boat’s sails, it subtly reinforces the nautical experience, providing shade by day and an elegant silhouette against the night sky. Soft, neutral tones and textured fabrics create a sense of relaxed luxury while partitions featuring organic, foliage-inspired designs introduce an element of nature. The pool area will welcome a new Jacuzzi, shower, cushions, curtains, signage and towel stations. This space will be transformed into a sleek, modern oasis, blending comfort and style with updated décor.
The World Spa & Wellness Center Refresh
The Ship’s 7,000 sq ft spa will also get several upgrades designed to elevate Residents’ wellness experience. A new Cold Plunge located in the Aqua Spa will complement the existing sauna and steam room, completing a full thermal wellness circuit. Cold Plunges offer many health benefits such as reducing muscle soreness and inflammation, improving circulation, enhancing mental clarity, promoting better sleep, supporting immune function, building stress resilience and boosting metabolism. In-person and virtual Cold Plunge & Breathwork classes will be offered on board by a certified instructor. The salon will get a facelift with new flooring and a new manicure station. To add even more comfort to an already tranquil space, all treatment rooms will have heated floors with gentle heat penetrating feet to instantly relax muscles and create a sense of coziness.
Golf Lovers Rejoice
Refurbishments to the Deck 12 putting green will offer a unique way to practice golf while at sea with modifications to more closely resemble land-based areas. More realistic turf and surface material, carefully designed contours, slopes and undulations will challenge players and simulate the characteristics of traditional greens for a more natural feel and experience. Resident golfers can practice their putting amid beautiful coastlines, ocean views and cool breezes in a more relaxed setting than traditional golf courses. For those seeking an indoor golf experience, a new golf simulator located in The World Golf Club provides the Community’s many golf lovers with advanced technology and more realistic graphics to improve their game, enjoy the sport year-round, and experience the thrill of playing 100+ courses worldwide from the comfort of home. State-of-the-art high-speed cameras will measure ball data for long drives or short putts. With the ‘play where the pros are playing’ feature, the course being played that week on the PGA Tour can be downloaded allowing Residents to test themselves against the pros in real time. Non-golfers will also benefit from the simulator’s 30+ games like baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and more.
New Adventures in High Performance Zodiac
The World will be adding a new, 10-seat Zodiac to its fleet of inflatable boats for the ultimate exploration experience. In addition to providing basic transport from Ship to shore and relaxed cruising of coastal areas, it will take Residents to remote locations for more immersive and up-close viewing of nature and wildlife. Whale watching, a Resident favorite, will be ideal from the Zodiac due to its maneuverability, closer proximity for a more intimate experience, and unobstructed views. It will also be used for accessing a multitude of interesting locations not reachable by the Ship. The Zodiac Pro 850, the largest in the Pro range, is being tailor-made especially for Residents’ enjoyment.
Comprehensive Maintenance and Essential Upgrades
The World’s dry-dock will also feature essential maintenance to ensure the ship remains in peak condition. Its elevator systems will undergo a comprehensive upgrade in partnership with Finnish experts KONE, improving efficiency and overall reliability.
Residences Undergoing Refurbishment
In addition to upgrades to public spaces and technical systems, some 50 private Residences on The World will undergo refurbishment during the dry-dock. The scope of work will vary by Residence ranging from minor updates to more extensive renovations. Some Residences will see flooring, closets, and cabinets replaced in the living and bedroom areas along with new furniture and wallpaper. Kitchens will have updated cabinetry, countertops, and appliances, including full-size refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Bathrooms will feature walk-in showers, new vanity units, and updated sanitary ware and tiles.
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
As The World enters her dry-dock phase, the ship is poised to emerge even more refined, more sustainable, and more equipped to offer the ultimate luxury living experience at sea. With these new enhancements, it will continue to set the bar for residential living at sea and redefining the boundaries of private yachting and global travel. She remains the epitome of luxury, the only 100 percent residential mega yacht currently in operation, and the only one of her kind on the open seas.
For the owners of the luxury Residences aboard The World, the opportunity to explore the most remote and exotic destinations on the planet—while enjoying the comforts of their own private homes—is truly unmatched. From studios to sprawling three-bedroom, three-bath homes, every inch of this floating paradise is designed for ultimate relaxation and exploration. With six fine dining restaurants, a state-of the-art golf facility, full-service spa, hair and nail salon, fitness center, tennis/pickleball court, cinema, sports bar, and more, The World is a sanctuary at sea—now set to become even more refined after its dry-dock transformation.
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About The World
Launched in 2002, The World® is the largest privately owned, residential yacht on earth with 165 luxury Residences. This private community at sea offers the ultimate combination of luxurious and enriching travel with world-class amenities and facilities including impeccable culinary mastery in its six restaurants, exceptional golf facilities with an onboard putting green, a state-of-the-art golf simulator and resident pro, the only full-size tennis court at sea, swimming pools, a spa, a fitness centre complete with personal trainers, expert destination lecturers, library, cinema, hobby and games rooms, nondenominational house of worship and more. This strikingly beautiful Ship provides gracious and personalized service for the families that call The World home; all customized to Residents’ preferences in a warm and inviting ambience much like that of a private yacht, well-staffed home or exclusive country club. The average occupancy at one time is 150-200 Residents & Guests ensuring an intimate atmosphere.
To learn more about this unique lifestyle call 954-538-8449 or visit www.aboardtheworld.com.
Media Contact
For additional information or to request images of The World, please contact: theworld@quinn.pr