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A Floating Condo Seemed a Good Idea 'Til Tourists Boarded-
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | 2-20-04 | EVAN PEREZ

Posted on 02/20/2004 5:49:00 AM PST by SJackson

Edited on 04/22/2004 11:51:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

ON BOARD THE WORLD -- When London developer Peter Beckwith signed on in 1997 to buy a $2 million apartment on the 10th deck of this exclusive cruise ship, he expected the height of luxury.

At first, that's what he and other well-to-do buyers got. Body wraps and hydrotherapy at the Clinique La Prairie spa. Kayaking and sailboating from the marina that opens from the stern of the ship. And cooling pool-side sprays of Evian water, courtesy of members of the staff of 300.


(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
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To: Bikers4Bush
Why buy a condo that will do nothing but depreciate as the ship ages?


A couple million for a condo on this ship is nothing to these people.

I have a feeling that having they're own little universe, in international waters, where they can do anything they want, has something to do with it.
21 posted on 02/20/2004 7:25:11 AM PST by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
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To: SJackson
I would love to have random tourist to party with almost everyday on my ocean condo travelling the world... of course I'm not some old fart.
22 posted on 02/20/2004 7:27:08 AM PST by Porterville (Traitors against God, country, family, and benefactors lament their sins in the deepest part of hell)
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To: mhking
The tourists were getting rowdy on the Fhloston Paradise ...

23 posted on 02/20/2004 7:32:08 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: SJackson
The original plan for this vessel was to have made her a mammoth mega-ship, complete with multi-level shopping and office malls, helipads, green spaces - literally a floating city. The architects' renderings were initially, well, astonishing. And the original itineraries did show long stays in ports around the world. No doubt many of the current owners bought in when those were the plans.

What they now have are nice suites on a boat the size of a typical Holland America ship - nice ship, but certainly nowhere near the colossal scale first put on paper. All of the new Princess and RCI ships are much larger, though devoted 100% to transient pax.

No wonder they're p.o.'d!

Michael

24 posted on 02/20/2004 7:40:05 AM PST by Wright is right! (It's amazing how fun times when you're having flies.)
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To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
"The LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE BOAT...Soon will be making another run..."

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

25 posted on 02/20/2004 7:41:43 AM PST by mhking
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To: Porterville
They don't like to party with the little people.
26 posted on 02/20/2004 7:46:00 AM PST by cyborg
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To: SJackson
Related thread?

Maritime terrorist act imminent, experts warn

27 posted on 02/20/2004 7:52:23 AM PST by null and void (Never use a preposition to end a sentence with)
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To: SJackson
The only way I'd see this ship is if I got kidnapped, chained to a wooden bench and told by some guy with a whip to "row!"
28 posted on 02/20/2004 7:52:55 AM PST by sergeantdave (Gen. Custer wore an Arrowsmith shirt to his last property owner convention.)
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To: SJackson
Sounds a lot like the Freedom Ship except much smaller.

http://www.freedomship.com/

Give that thing a look. They reckon to have an airport on the roof. Like a floating city.
29 posted on 02/20/2004 7:55:52 AM PST by Prodigal Son
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To: cyborg
They don't like to party with little people?
Leprechauns are known for their parties.
30 posted on 02/20/2004 8:00:03 AM PST by Twinkie
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To: isthisnickcool
Apartment owner Athena Demartini, an Australian psychic who goes by the name Starwoman
Shouldn't she have "seen" the problems coming:)


I was thinking "I'm in the wrong line of business if a psychic can afford a multi million dollar floating apartment"

Maybe I am a little psychic as I just thought about this boat yesterday and wondering what life would be like on it.
31 posted on 02/20/2004 8:08:43 AM PST by lelio
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To: Twinkie
With their pots of gold, they can buy up the empty condos!
32 posted on 02/20/2004 8:11:14 AM PST by cyborg
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To: SJackson
There goes the neighborhood (slowly into the sunset). Sigh.
33 posted on 02/20/2004 11:11:37 AM PST by Piranha
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To: SJackson
Mr. Beckwith recalls a couple who boarded in San Francisco one morning and got so drunk by nightfall that the husband fell down the stairs.

LOL

OK, I want to know which FreeRepublic moderator this was.

34 posted on 02/20/2004 11:26:51 AM PST by usurper
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To: SJackson
What, no "Oh the Humanity" alert?
35 posted on 02/20/2004 3:21:53 PM PST by jocon307 (The dems don't get it, the American people do.)
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To: SJackson
The main advantage of this deal was taxes. These folks became subject to diff tax rates by making this their permanent resident address. But who ever said money indicated intelligence?
36 posted on 02/20/2004 3:50:36 PM PST by Khurkris (Ranger On...)
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