Ever thought about living at sea, working remotely while traveling the world, or building a company without being tied to a single city? Avora Residence, owned by Residential Cruise Holdings, is moving residential cruising one step closer to the mainstream.
The company recently announced the acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Navigator, a luxury cruise ship that will be converted into a floating residential community. The planned launch is January 2028. This is not Residential Cruise Holdings’ first attempt at residential cruising. The owners already operate Villa Vie Odyssey, giving it operational experience in this emerging category of long-term living at sea. “Residential cruising has proven its viability,” said Mikael Petterson, Founder of Avora Residences. “Avora Lumina represents the next evolution — purpose-built for long-duration global living, expedition capability, and a more refined residential experience.“
The Growing Market for Residential Cruising
Cruising continues to grow as a global lifestyle option. In 2025, the cruise industry reached approximately 37.7 million passengers worldwide. Each year, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people take world cruises, often lasting several months.
Luxury world cruises typically cost between $75,000 and $100,000, while ultra luxury cruises can reach $200,000 to $300,000 per voyage. Regent Seven Seas Navigator falls squarely into the ultra-luxury category. A recent review of pricing showed that the a 500 square foot suite on Regent’s Navigator for a 14 day cruise from Barcelona to London on July 5th, 2026 was $46598, or $3328 per night excluding fares.
Residential cruising offers a different model. Instead of paying repeatedly for short-term access, residents purchase a long-term home that continuously travels the world. If you have a constant desire to be on the ocean this can be a game changer.
Why Regent Seven Seas Navigator Works as a Residential Ship
Navigator is particularly well suited for conversion into residential use. The ship already has a more apartment-like feel, with features such as laundry rooms and relatively large suites. Even the smallest stateroom measures approximately 301 square feet, which is considered spacious by cruise standards. I had the opportunity to sail on the Navigator a few years ago and was impressed by both the suite layouts and the onboard facilities. It is a smaller, more intimate ship compared to the massive vessels that dominate the seas today, which makes it better suited for long-term living and connecting with a community.Â
“Our philosophy is evolution, not disruption,” said Kathy Villalba, Co-Founder & CEO of Avora Residences. “Navigator has a soul — built through years of disciplined operations, experienced crews, and trusted relationships. We intend to honor that legacy while transforming the ship into a true long-term residential platform.”
The ship also underwent a $40 million refurbishment in 2016, giving it a modern and refined luxury design. Avora plans to make additional changes, including expanding select suites and adding dedicated workspaces. This makes the concept especially appealing to remote workers, entrepreneurs, and founders who want to stay productive while traveling.
High speed satellite internet is expected, likely powered by Starlink. Having personally used Starlink on a recent transatlantic cruise, I was able to take Zoom calls, record a podcast, and work normally while crossing the North Atlantic on the way to Iceland. Although, I did have one problem…. finding a quiet place to work.
You can see from the image below the changes Avora is making converting the casino to workspaces.
Yes, launching a startup at sea is now a realistic option.
Pricing, Ownership, and Rental Potential
Avora has introduced aggressive early pricing, including a five-year option priced at roughly 40 percent of a unit’s value. Compared to other ultra luxury residential cruise offerings, this pricing is notably competitive. They are also offering a discounted early bird rate of 10% off for purchasing units. I find their pricing to be very fair given the costs of other luxury residential ships like The World.
While most buyers will likely use their residence as a primary or secondary home, we have confirmed with the company that owners will also have the option to rent out their units when not onboard. This makes the residences potentially investable, or at the very least capable of offsetting ownership costs.
Here is a simplified example using conservative assumptions of the Solstice Suite:
Purchase price for a 500 square foot unit with balcony – $1,425,200
Assuming a rental rate of $1,500 per night, which is roughly half the nightly cost of a traditional luxury cruise in the same room and ship, and only 300 nights rented per year, annual gross rental revenue could be as high as $450,000. Of course most people will choose to live on the ship and forgo some of this revenue.
Estimated monthly expenses are $18,725, or $224,000 annually.
That results in an estimated net operating profit of $226,000 per year, which equates to an approximate annual return of 16 percent before taxes and financing and rental commissions which will be paid to the ship. And what I really like is that you can still use it whenever you want and store your stuff on the ship so you don’t even have to pack a bag.
Even with lower occupancy or lower nightly rates, rental income could significantly reduce the effective cost of ownership. My wife and I have two second homes both of which we rent out when not there. This makes owning a second home much more affordable.Â
Monthly Fees and Lifestyle Comparison
Monthly residential fees are expected to range from approximately $8,355 for single and $12,355 for double occupancy, for the smallest of the suites. These fees include an all-inclusive lifestyle with multiple dining venues, housekeeping, concierge services, and continuous global travel.
When compared to luxury condos in cities like Miami, the costs are surprisingly comparable once HOA fees, insurance, property taxes, staffing, and amenities are considered. The difference is that instead of staring at the same skyline, your view changes weekly.
A New Way to Live and Travel
For thousands of years, humans have been tied to land. Residential cruising offers a fundamentally different way to live, combining travel, community, and luxury into a single experience.
Unlike traditional cruises, residential ships are quieter, less crowded, and designed for long-term living. Guests do not rotate every week, relationships have time to develop, and the pace is intentionally slower. Some residents on similar ships have even joked that the ship can feel quiet at times due to the low density, which for many is part of the appeal.
Residential cruising is not for everyone. But for people seeking freedom from fixed locations, deeper community, and a more adventurous lifestyle, it represents one of the most interesting experiments in modern living.
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Bon Voyage and safe travels.
Colin C. Campbell