Walindi Meets the World

Here’s an interesting update from Cat Stinson, one of the dive managers at Walindi Plantation Resort:

November 23rd 2009 was a very special day in the history of Walindi Plantation Resort. “The World” came to visit as part of her 2009 PNG Expedition Voyage. The 644ft, 40,0000+ tonne vessel is unique in that she is the world’s first residential ship.

The vessel has a number of apartments on board which are owned by individual residents, meaning that the ship is in effect owned by the tenants in much the same way as an apartment building is. In addition to the accommodations on board the ship, there are a number of restaurants and bars, a grocery store and a number of the facilities you would expect to find on a 6-star cruise vessel. Essentially a large private super yacht, the ship, with her crew of approximately 250, sails constantly around the world, offering residents a never-ending change of scenery.

Every so often The World goes into expedition mode, when the voyage plan (designed primarily by The World’s residents) takes her to remote areas. PNG was the destination for this year’s expedition, and Walindi was delighted to host her and her roughly 100 expedition residents and guests for an action-packed day.

At 8.30am the vessel dropped anchor just off the resort, and the acitivities began. In addition to a group of divers who said that their day’s diving was among the best they’d ever done (we picked Inglis Shoal and Susan’s Reef for them…what do you expect!?), we ran morning and afternoon departures to Garu Hot River and the WWII plane wrecks at Talasea, as well as a very popular sunset birding trip to Nick’s Place behind the resort.

We also had residents and guests join us for both lunch and dinner, as well as just to come ashore and relax at the Planter’s Bar and on the resort’s deck. The help we received from their onboard tour organisers was invaluable, and by the time departure was imminent we’d all made some great new friends and had a wonderful, if slightly busy, day.

Luxury cruise vessel The World