Condo Cruise Ships

MURANO

Commentary: Condo Cruise Lines is a distinct entry in the condo cruise ship market. They are not building a new ship. Rather, they purchased an older cruise ship no longer competitive with the mega cruise ships of today. Condo Cruise Lines is remodeling and reconfiguring a former gambling ship, the Orient Queen, into units more suitable for long term residence (combining 2 or 3 old cabins into 1 bedroom suites, for example) and christening it with the new name of Murano. This business strategy has some merit for those looking at the possibility of a leisurely life at sea but for whom the cost cannot be much more than living in a regular house. With published prices starting at $515,000 and annual fees starting at $7,000, this lifestyle could be in reach for those in the upper middle class. The downside is that the units are small compared to the new ships being planned with only a choice few that could compete with the size of a regular 1 bedroom condo on land. Also, the ship is quite a bit smaller than other condo ships and much smaller than today's mega ships (for comparison, the Queen Mary 2 is over 100,000 tonnes while Condo Cruise Line's ship is 18,000 tonnes).  Murano may be a good choice for those who are looking for a smaller and more intimate shipboard experience and for those who intend to spend only a month here and there on board or who may be partnering with other buyers in a timeshare-like arrangement. Due to size limitations, the Murano won't be able to offer the same level of amenities and activities as the new ones. However, if you are looking for a good value and a way to see the world from "your" own ship, Condo Cruise Lines' Murano is worth considering.