Condo Cruise Ships

ORPHALESE

Commentary:

The Orphalese was the largest planned condo cruise ship when it was announced in 2005. At 90,000 tonnes it would be just slightly smaller than some of the largest vacation cruise ships existing today. Size doesn't always guarantee the best. A couple reasons why Orphalese did not outscore Magellan and The World are the fewer number of floor plan options and a slightly less luxurious pool/spa facility.

It doesn't look likely that The Orphalese will ever be completed. The developer's website has been closed and is for sale.

Although it may never actually get built, if it does, Orphalese residents would no doubt enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. The developer promises 80,000 square feet of retail shops (that's equivalent to a mid-size department store) on board which would make it the largest floating shopping mall of any of the condo ships. Current published annual fees are a relative bargain compared to others and the pre-construction prices are about the same if not better, in some cases. About half the units will be rented out for short term cruises like a regular cruise ship and may help to subsidize the cost of ongoing operations and maintenance. Unlike Orphalese's competitors, though, it means residents will see a lot of new faces coming and going. For some that may be exciting, others may prefer the quieter environment of a majority of full time residents. But, for those who like the comfort and space of today's mega cruise ships and would be excited by the shopping opportunities, Orphalese may be the perfect choice.