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- A cruise ship is being transformed into luxury residences at sea.
- The Navigator, originally built in 1999, will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation.
- Condos on the ship will cost upward of $750,000, and residents will have access to butlers.
A two-decades-old cruise ship is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation to become a floating residential community for the ultrawealthy.
Regent Seven Sea Cruises' Navigator is set to become the first ship of the Crescent Seas fleet. Crescent Seas announced in an Instagram post that the ship is scheduled to set sail on December 31, 2026, following a $70 million renovation.
Originally constructed in 1999, the Navigator underwent a major refurbishment in 2016. In its current form, it has eight decks, 248 suites, a pool, and a putting green.
After the refurbishment, it will feature 210 private residences, offering buyers the chance to purchase homes and live on board as it travels the globe.
Russell Galbut, the cofounder of real estate development firm Crescent Heights, which launched Crescent Seas, told Bloomberg that the price of homes on the ship will range from $750,000 to $8 million.
He said owners will pay maintenance fees starting at $210,000 a year, which will cover butler service, meals, housekeeping, and access to Starlink internet.
Sales of the luxury residences are set to begin on April 9 this year.
A spokesperson for Regent confirmed in an email to Business Insider that the Seven Seas Navigator will leave its fleet on October 14, 2026, as part of the terms of a new long-term agreement with Crescent Seas.
The ship's final voyage under Regent is scheduled to depart on October 2 next year, from Turkey to Egypt.
They added that guests whose trips are canceled due to the agreement will receive a full refund.
Galbut told Bloomberg that Crescent Seas is negotiating with three other ships and is in talks to commission a new vessel as part of long-term plans to develop more options for residential living at sea.
The company's website said the design firms MAWD, Lissoni & Partners, and Journey will lead the Navigator's redesign.
Luxury residential cruise ships already exist, including the Villa Vie Residences, where villas on board start at $129,999, and The World, where condos cost between $2 million and $15 million each.
The World is equipped with a large spa, a tennis court, and personalized concierge services.
Peter Antonucci, who lived on The World for six years, told BI last year that it is like the "Four Seasons on Steroids."
