EASTPORT, Maine — Billed as “the world’s largest privately owned yacht,” The World will tie up at Eastport’s downtown breakwater pier Tuesday morning, allowing those who live aboard the 12-deck, 644-foot vessel to enjoy a day of exploring the historic Washington County seaport.
The unique ship is a floating city, owned by 130 families from 19 different countries who occupy with their guests 165 private condominium residences. Launched in 2002, The World continuously circumnavigates the globe, and it has now visited 800 ports in 140 countries. The ship’s 2012 itinerary is taking those aboard to 31 different countries. Beyond Eastport, the ship is scheduled to stop in Bar Harbor, Rockland and Portland before heading on to Boston. Its last port of call before heading to Eastport was in Canada at St. Andrews, N.B.
The World is the only private residential community at sea. The needs of owners and guests are met by a standing crew of 260 from 40 countries worldwide, including a golf professional. Amenities include four major restaurants, each offering a specific culinary fare.
The city of Eastport has been busy planning a VIP reception for residents and guests who come ashore. The Eastport Port Authority is offering three tours, including an “Eastport by Trolley” tour that will showcase the city’s history and its past and present attempts to harness the Bay of Fundy’s substantial tides to generate electricity.
Downtown Eastport also will be staffed with blue-vested ambassadors along Water Street to meet and greet the ship’s residents, guests and crew. Many local businesses and galleries will be staging special events and open houses while the ship is tied up at the breakwater.
The World’s visit is the seventh and final stop for passenger ships this season in Eastport. City officials and local merchants hope that number will grow over time and do for Eastport’s struggling economy what more than 100 cruise ship visits per year have been doing for Bar Harbor’s robust economy.
The World is scheduled to depart Eastport at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will spend time in Bar Harbor on Wednesday, Oct. 10, where it’s expected to arrive at 8 a.m. and depart the next morning at 6 a.m. It is scheduled to arrive in Rockland at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, leaving for Portland at 6 p.m. Sunday as it makes its way down the North Atlantic coast. Docking and departure information for Portland was not available Monday, due to the Columbus Day holiday.
It’s so exciting that the vulgar rich take the trouble to visit impoverished towns like Eastport to see how the other 99 percent live.
It actually will help bring more money in
I see a great economic opportunity for Eastport — diving for coins thrown into the harbor by the wealthy tourists.
Live and let live…
Great comment Pete.
Beats a sharp stick in the eye.
You have to be the most envious, jealous poster I have seen. You have failed/have little so you feel the need to villainize the “haves”. Pretty sad.
Are you a butler?
Of course he is, Biggs the Butler! And he’s outraged that I might suggest anything not fawning and icky sweet about the people whose boots he enjoys polishing with his tongue.
*yawn* Better than what you do with your tongue. :)
That is Mr. Super Petey to you mister!!!! :)
Please leave your disgusting sexual fantasies out of this. The BDN is a family newspaper.
You sound jealous because you have such a meager existence? Awe
On the contrary. I’ve already addressed this standard Tea Party charge with cliffordmc.
What is wrong with you?
Not only do you unleash your ridiculous insults at the passengers, but you feel some need to malign the citizens of Eastport with stupid remarks like we’re all going to “dive for coins thrown into the harbor.”
As an Eastport merchant, I welcome the opportunity for people to come in my shop. I don’t care if they come by car or ship or plane. If they had driven here in their expensive cars would you also begrudge that?
I am happy to take whatever money they want to leave with me in exchange for the goods I sell, and I think you’re a jerk for criticizing the people of this city for taking advantage of a golden opportunity to help feed their families.
Get a life,why don’t you!
Where do you see me criticizing the citizens of Eastport. More power to them in helping their wealthy visitors part with their money. Reading comprehension is apparently not your strong suit. I was merely suggesting, clearly tongue in cheek, that like the inhabitants of some desperately poor Caribbean island the more athletic among you try your hand at profitably amusing the visitors by diving for the coins they throw from the deck of SS Conspicuous Consumption.
Let’s see….You refer to Eastport as an “impoverished” city.
Then you double down by analogizing the city with a “desperately poor Caribbean island.”
Then you compare hard working people’s efforts at making a living to “diving for coins” that rich people throw to us.
Then you wonder why an Eastporter might find your remarks insulting.
And you wimply try to justify your insults by belatedly claiming they are “tongue-in-cheek”. And the REAL problem is not your insults, but that I took them wrongly.
The sad part for me, is that I agree with you about the corporatocracy. I am surely a member of the 99%, and a union member for almost 25 years. I usually enjoy your posts and hope you keep fighting the good fight.
I do think though Peter, that you are insulting your allies here. I hope you will at least consider that you might have been able to make your point just as emphatically without being so careless.
One, don’t you agree Eastport is an impoverished community, not all that different from a “desperately poor Caribbean island”? Two, how do you conclude that I’m comparing in some disparaging way “working people’s efforts at making a living to ‘diving for coins’ that rich people throw to us”? Three, what gives you the idea I “wonder” why an Eastporter might find my remarks insulting? I’ve given no such indication. I do think that poor people necessarily do what they have to do including dive for coins. That’s no reflection on their honor. I don’t see how I’ve insulted anyone except the rich tourists visiting Eastport aboard their opulent yacht.
They are only here for the cheap lobster.
bet the price goees up…
Before you run your mouth about these people -perhaps you could tell all of us how each family is able to afford this lifestyle. Go ahead tell us. That 99 percent story is so played. It appears that Eastport is very receptive and appreciative for the economic opportunity that these people on board this ship will provide.My wife and I have been in Eastport for the 4th and Pirate Days. Eastport is looking great these days! Would you rather a war canoe full of fraternity brothers paddled on up looking for a case of beer?
No, you tell me. I can only guess. They inherited their bundle? They were corporat lawyers? Investment bankers? I would think Pirates Days might be a thoroughly appropriate time for them to visit Eastport. Why are you running your mouth being their defenders? Perhaps you think you have a chance at entering their ranks? Or are you merely satisfied to be a member of the loyal butler class?
Sorry to see that you are so disappointed in the family you were born into, your own failures, and your envy of those who are successful. They say money can’t buy happiness, you obviously disagree.
Wow, now that’s an ad hominem attack if ever I read one! You seem to think you know a lot about me, Einstein. As a matter of fact, I do happen to think money can’t buy happiness — real happiness. You obviously disagree, so keep buying those scratch tickets.
The wealth in Eastport is a huge contrast to the “wealth” on The World. We will watch the ship come and go, while going about our lives and doing the things that bring us comfort and joy every day. They only get to visit, we get to stay here.
Your’s is the best post on this topic. Eastport, Lubec- the entire Bold Coast-nothing better anywhere!
“You seem to think you know a lot about me, Einstein.” Peter-you just trashed a boat load of people that you don’t know. Then you and your buddy decided what my background is. You remind me of FOX NEWS-you know what they are going say well before it comes out.
At what point would you begin to like a visiting vessel? Would it have to be under 30 feet, 50 feet perhaps? I have an elderly friend who worked for a major drug company as a chemist for his entire career. He lives in a 3 bedroom dated ranch house with lime green shag carpeting. He owns a 19 foot fishing boat and drives a modest SUV. He and his research partner of 40 years hold the patents to 88 major drugs that have benefited millions. He’s a mult-multi millionaire.You would never guess this-ever. His passion is fishing and he’s done that all over the world. He’s also very charitable to his community. I think you would like him very much- perhaps until you figured out that he is probably as wealthy if not more so than most of the people travelling on that Yacht.
I’m curious as to how much money folks have to have before you dislike them? Do you have a formula?
I suspect I would like your friend but not because he is wealthy but rather because he apparently has done useful things in his life on behalf of others and in retirement he seems by your account to have a genuine passion for life as opposed to mindlessly wandering the world flaunting his wealth.
I also suspect the majority of people who choose to cruise around voyeuristically aboard the super yacht SS Conspicuous Consumption are either inheritors of great wealth or they made their loot in such unsavory ways as being financial speculators (fancy name for gamblers), sitting on corporate boards, and lawyering and lobbying on behalf of the insanely rich.
I further suspect that unlike your friend most of these people are not creative and have not only done very little useful on behalf of society but have participated both in exploiting already poor people here and abroad and in impoverishing millions of decent hard-working people who struggled to remain in the middle class.
I’m not aware anyone decided what your background is. I certainly didn’t. Based on your earlier comment I merely ASKED in so many words if perhaps you are hoping to enter the ranks of the filthy rich so that’s why you’re defending this boatload of them, or, alternatively, are you one of those unquestioning lackeys who, like a loyal dog, is content to doze on the floor by the master’s fire.
Peter, You are obviously a very bright guy. Rather than ‘suspecting’ everything perhaps you might ‘know’ the facts before trashing folks on this boat. I’ll bet those people are as varied in their views as we are.I’m sure you’d like some of them-given the chance. Stephen King is a local guy who had his phone turned off before he became successful. Is he a bad sort? What about Bill Gates and his wife?
I have one daughter who is about to become a surgeon so it would be very peculiar if I rigidly concluded that anyone who makes lots of money necessarily has a negative impact on society. This is plainly not true. Stephen King not only has entertained hundreds of millions of readers, he is also a socially responsible individual who has been extraordinarily generous to his community. I have somewhat different views of Bill Gates because he has used his wealth to stifle technological creativity in the computer industry and to promote the mentality of No Child Left Behind and charter schools, effectively working to destroy the public school system which I believe is essential to a working democracy. I’m sure he has also spent his money wisely and well, too. I think you have to look at each individual individually so if I have placed everybody aboard this ship in a negative light it has been because of the practical limits of commentary space and for rhetorical purposes. I’m sure I would like any number of people aboard this ship. I also have no illusions that many of them are social parasites or worse.
Do you also hate people that win the lottery?
Not at all. Good luck to them. However, lotteries tend to amount to a regressive tax on those in poverty who believe they have little more than dreams to sustain them and foolishly turn obsessive. As with excessive use of alcohol and other drugs, the ultimately silly dream of becoming rich through chance has a way of possessing the dreamer. There’s something really tragic about poor people squandering what little money is available to them in pursuit of this almost impossible dream. This is particularly true when innocent family members are dragged down into deeper poverty as a result. I definitely don’t hate obsessive gamblers any more than I hate alcoholics and other drug addicts. They are to be pitied and their enablers reviled.
We agree on something Peter.
Would prefer the 260 people working onboard just quit and walk off the ship? Almost every worker works for someone “richer” than themselves. And yes, people do accumulate wealth over a lifetime and possibly can buy a condo like these. Not too long ago I read a story about an elderly woman who constantly road a cruise ship because it was cheaper than a nursing home or assited living. BTW-envy is one of the seven deadly sins.
This business of accusing others of envy when they deplore the ever increasing polarization of wealth in this nation comes right out of the Tea Party playbook. Defense of the outrageously and usually socially destructive wealthy by those who are anything but wealthy is a reflection of Stockholm Syndrome at work. Rather than pay attention and recognize who is responsible for degrading their living standards, many people take the mentally easy way out. They switch on the radio and listen uncritically to multimillionaire flunkies like Rush or Glen sneer at welfare mothers and various petty criminal losers. They take the easy satisfaction of despising these unfortunates and in pretending they, too, are pals with those in power and someday they, too, will be insanely rich.
This kind of magical thinking, brilliantly encouraged by the corporate media, is why we have the paradoxical phenomenon of seeing so many of the very people with the most to lose voting against their own best interests and choosing the corporate candidate.No, Clifford, I don’t for a moment envy the passengers of this ship of fools. I’m already extraordinarily fortunate and suitably grateful and content. I no longer have to work for a living. I own my own beautiful house outright and have no debts. I have a large and lovely and accomplished family. I’m even very healthy but I could die tomorrow thoroughly satisfied with my lot. I would merely wish for others as much — not that they might win the lottery or spend their empty lives traipsing around the globe shopping for trinkets.
I don’t dislike the rich…….could care less if they’re rich.
I dislike pompass know-it-alls who look down upon and judge others who have different values than themselves.
I don’t know what demons haunt you nor do I care. Obviously something eats at you. I just wonder how you are going to reconcile your issues when your “surgeon” daughter is perceived as rich someday and you have to defend her and her perceived wealth that somehow must have been given to her. Oh yeah, that time is coming.
Who cares how they came by their wealth. It is their money to spend as they see fit. I am more at ease to see the wealthy spend their money how they choose versus the welfare class spending MY money how they choose.
Who cares how they come by their wealth, you say. So you would just as soon accept the money of a contract killer, say, as the money of, say, a surgeon or a plumber? When you talk about the welfare class, surely you’re not really thinking of a young single mother with a ninth-grade education and bad teeth, are you? Because if you are, you’ve totally missed the reality that the biggest welfare class in this country by far in terms of extracting money from you are the bankers and other financial manipulators who are steering this country toward depression and war. Where is your outrage for Goldman Sachs?
There may be a slight chance that you and I enjoyed the influence of a fairly radical Sociology professor in the early 70s while attending different colleges together. You may have attended class more often than me though.
I went to college in Maine and East Africa in the 1960s but of course we are all influenced in various ways by our teachers and our associates. I actually spent as little time in the classroom as possible and never took a degree.
My goodness.. Why are you all getting your feathers ruffled??? Its just a boat with people who can afford to have condo’s – the only difference is it floats! Mr. Taber, sounds like you don’t like rich people. Shame on you, they employee many!
Thank you Paul.
Peter’s just mad they’re not coming to Searsport… Searsport passed over again! Who’d a thunk it! You’d think they’d want to come see where their new tank is going… Thanks but no tank!
Haha, you’re a funny one, Director. I appreciate your sentiment, Thanks but no tank. You’ve got it right there, my friend. To further your education, go to tbnt.org.
Just remember these so called War Brother are protecting your A–.
Ah yes, let’s hate the rich. You don’t know what they have done with their money, charity-wise, or how much they have paid in taxes to help support everybody else.
As residents of a giant ship that stays nowhere permanently, they undoubtedly pay very little in taxes anywhere — it’s the ultimate tax loophole.
“Undoubtedly”, US citizens pay income taxes no matter where they live.
depends where their money is.. Any money made outside the united States and left there for 6 months or more isn’t taxable.. at least thats how it was in the 80’s when I worked out the country.
Chances are somewhere along the way they profited from workers who they paid very little or offered benefits too to help them in there working class world.
You and Lucy appear to conduct the same “non-fact finding.” Chances are somewhere along the way they profited from workers to whom they paid
very generous wages and offered excellent benefits that helped their workers lead happy and successful lives. Is my version as plausible as yours?
Your true colors are showing.
I sure hope so.
Next year they’ll be able to visit Searsport where there will be a BIG BEAUTIFUL LPG storage tank!!
If they let artist have there way with the tanks
Don’t count on it. One thing is for sure, if the mega-tank is built this boat will never visit Searsport. In fact, the tourism business and the quality of place which are Searsport’s economic life blood will disappear as well.
Sounds like a case of pure envy to me.
Another disciple of Rush pretending to have an original thought.
to bad it can’t come up to Bangor
It’ll probably get stuck somewhere at low tide.
If they really wanted to help support Eastport’s local economy, they should spend big bucks at my cousins’ IGA grocery store.
Where does it say they want to help the local economy?
Now that’s what I call a house boat…
Very cool. When you have it, use it. Interesting concept. No sour grapes here. These folks earned it, let ’em spend it however they see fit. It’s a private yacht w/130 owners from 19 different countries. A multi cultural utopia if there ever was one. Interesting that those who would normally trumpet such diversity are left pis… uh, urinating & moaning about what someone else has…
Enjoy what YOU have & don’t worry about someone else, you’ll be happier for it.
“Enjoy what YOU have & don’t worry about someone else.”
I could be wrong, but I think the world’s great philosophers have told it just a little different.
But what do they know?
Context is always important. Observing your screen
name, it appears that you lack context, critical thinking skills, &
objectivity. Observing your post, it appears that you & “the world’s great
philosophers” do not have much in common.
Try this from one of “the world’s great philosophers.”
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that
what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Shirley, you understand the context &
futility of coveting what someone else has & the importance of being happy
w/your own life circumstances?
“But what do they know?”
Um… well, they probably understood that it is better
to remain silent & be thought a fool than to speak & remove all doubt.”
(Attributed to both Abraham Lincoln & Mark Twain amongst a couple others as
well. Perhaps you know…)
In case you didn’t notice, neither the article nor the comment thread is about you or me.
Your comment (the one I initially responded to), however, reeks of a pompous, small-minded selfishness that is very likely more put on than real.
It’s quite possible you are a decent person in real life. “Shirley” you must be.
You referenced “philosophers” when all I was saying was
don’t worry, be happy. (Bobby McFerrin probably
doesn’t qualify as a philosopher?) Pompous? Moi?
Perhaps… or possibly an agent provocateur. Maybe
Jim Croce is a “philosopher” when he said “don’t tug on Superman’s cape.” Ha!
Maybe Kevin Raye can dance for the pennies they throw – lol
That is Mr. Raye to you…President of a mustard company…LOL
Who owns it?
Willard the Bishop:)
There’s never a Somali pirate around when you need one…
What makes somebody a VIP? Just the fact that they’re obviously rich and live on a ship?
In Eastport, I imagine that’s plenty
Wow, that’d be awesome. Sign me up. :-)
Pingree probably has a condo on it and was just passing through to keep an eye on her voters.
If you knew anything you’d know you’ve got the wrong district.
I wasn’t sure of the line, yet the point was made
I see you know nothing about this ship there are no condos on it
why did that state that in the story then?
Ahoy,
I’m going to check it out.
A ship of this size and nature doesn’t come around often.
Spectacular.
Maybe I’ll meet a rich widow , or $omething.
Imagine!
Peter Taber: Check out the “Seven Deadly Sins”, you are close to committing one of them. “j”
Yet another self-satisfied moralist heard from. Thank you for your imput, pastor.
I think it is great ……..would like to see it a regular thing
That’s your big boy
Nothing like living in a floating city.
Who made this homely barge? Looks like ripe quarry for Jack Sparrow to me!
If its so homely as you say then why did people spend there money to live on it ? Ive seen this on the travel channel an its a great ship in side an out .
what you are seeing on the side are balconies so they can sit out side if they want
That would be really cool to be able to go on-board…. after reading the comments, I wonder how much it does cost to “own” one of the condos on-board. I also wonder if you can find people to rent them out or do a condo swap similar to other people that own time shares. What an opportunity they have!
No there are no condos on there ive seen this ship on the travel channel they own the room that’s were they live year round the pay a monthly fee
Gotcha! Thanks for the info…. Still, what a way to live!
They own the room/apartment and pay a monthly fee for the use of common areas and maintenance. How is that not a condo? I don’t mean that saracastically…just want to know if I’m missing something.
A condo is a privately owned unit within a building of individually owned units. The owners are responsible for everything within the walls of their units. The home owner’s association is then responsible for the building structure and common areas of the complex.
I was also curious about the price. I didn’t expect to find it on their web site, as it falls into the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” category. I did find an article from the summer of 2011 that said the studio apartments (290 square feet) start at $750,000 and the penthouse suites were 10 million. Then you still have condo fees on top of that.
WOW ! awesome way to live–especially for those retired who have obviously earned a big income-bet the caretakers make good money also looking out for the rich and famous–I’d be there if i could afford it..Awesome concept!
Great for the local businesses but I bet the ship does not have a cage on it’s propeller. Say good bye to a lot of lobster gear…… Every boat no matter what size should have a cage…should be the law
Do you know how much a cage on the propeller would cost?
Do you know how much it costs to replace lobster gear? Yes we are a lobstering family.
Sorry….you missed the sarcasm.
OMG, hillarious…
To the people onboard “The World”……. Welcome to Maine. I hope that while you are here, you enjoy this beautiful state that we live in!
…….and if you see someone throwing rocks at your boat…..we have a suspect.
Wow, look at the bickering about wealth! Holy smokes some people have it, some don’t.
I lived in Bar Harbor for years and some of the cruise ship people were nice, some were snobs.
Some of the people from Steuben in clam diggers were nice, some were snobs because I “didn’t know hard work” since I worked in retail (not knowing I grew up in the potato fields and woodpiles of The County).
People are people.
That being said, it must be really cool to live on that ship!
Hopefully the angry jealous people commenting with settle down….Not good for your health.
Stop and visit spend a little time and money. Thank you have a nice day.
My first reaction when reading the headline was recoiling from the opulence. Being a good little researcher, I read the article and was pleased to find that this is a community of people, not one mega-billionaire flaunting his/her wealth. Sure, the chances are these families are wealthy, but this yacht is apparently a successful attempt to learn to live together beyond cultural lines. Kudos to these people. It’s nice to see evidence that people from all financial climes see the value of community.
fannycradock, not sure how Mainers greeting these people with a hearty, “Hey, how ya doing?” is bowing and scarping. If you have no problem with them greeting a canoe load of frat boys with a hearty, “Hey, how ya doing?”, why do you have a problem with that same greeting being extended to a yacht load of wealthy people? I, personally, am glad to see that the nationwide arch typical xenophobia of the people of coastal Maine is being shown to be a falsehood.
“The World WILL tie up at Eastport’s downtown breakwater pier Tuesday morning . . . ” As I read the comments below, I saw many condemning the people on board this ship; one comment sticks out for me: “I don’t dislike the rich…….could care less if they’re rich.
I dislike pompass know-it-alls who look down upon and judge others who have different values than themselves.”
When this article went to press, the ship had not landed, yet people are already judging the people on board. Pomposity, know-it-all attitudes, looking down upon and judging others is not a one way street. The person who posted this doesn’t know the people aboard this ship, yet has accused them of being ‘less than’ because of a perceived event, i.e., that those people are pompous, know-it-alls, etc. Isn’t that attitude a bit of a pompous, know-it-all attitude? Obviously that attitude crosses the monied lines. I’ve meet some very wealthy people in my time; some very nice, some not so much. I’ve also meet some people of ‘average’ and/or meager means in my time; some very nice, some not so much.
In these troubled economic times … Wait a minute. I must be commenting on some other article.