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CNN Live Today

New Cruise Ship Redefines Luxury

Aired April 02, 2002 - 12:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It was 90 years ago today that the Titanic set sail from Belfast to embark on her maiden voyage. What happened less than two weeks later is well documented. Also well documented, Titanic's level of luxury.

Well, you ain't seen nothing yet. On the high seas is a cruise ship that has completely redefined the concept of luxury waterfront property. In this case, waterfront means the entire world.

Just outside of the front door, Hamburg, Germany -- imagine that -- and our own Richard Quest, who got to take the trip of a lifetime. Richard, how do you get these assignments?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, you'll have to forgive me, I am just reading this rather interesting document. It is the itinerary for the World. Now, where would you like to go? Brazil, Chile, the Florida coast, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, Bermuda, all the way through to Italy, but there are 250 ports in this document, and that is where the World is going to go over the next 12 months.

On board, some of the richest people on the globe. Let me tell you about a few facts on these people. The average age of the couples is 50. Their average net worth is some $50,000,000 and what they are intending to go do is spend up to four to six months on board every year. That's what this is all about. You spend six to seven million for your apartment, Carol, and you get to go where you like. Now, if you would like to tell me your bank account details, Carol, I will sort of make a reservation for you.

LIN: Well, that would be lovely, Richard. But wait a second, what do you get for that kind of money?

QUEST: What you get is either a two or a three bedroom apartment. All of them have those balconies. They are the ones near the top. There are four restaurants on board. There is a Asian cuisine, French high cuisine, a Mediterranean cuisine, and I have completely forgot -- oh, a general sort of miscellaneous -- the sort of place that you and I might end up eating.

But what they also have -- and this is really the fascinating bit -- at the top there, is a golf driving range, and what you do is you drive the golf balls into the sea. Now, following on from your last item on the question of environmentally sound sort of activities, look at this. This is one of the golf balls, if you drive this into the sea, it will biodegrade within 24 hours. So you can swipe into the golf -- no, seriously,, you can swipe it into the water, and it won't have any effect. Now, it will take me considerably longer, of course, to get my golf swing, so I think I will spend more time in one of those four restaurants and less time -- over to you.

LIN: I guess the questions we Americans would ask is biodegrade into what, Richard, but I guess we will save that for another day. You have a great time and work on that stroke. Yes, definitely.

QUEST: Thank you very much.

LIN: Thanks, Richard.

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