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The Four Seasons Takes to the High Seas

Their five-star award-winning luxury hotels are well-known for excellence on land but the prestigious Four Seasons has entered a new category-one they are sure to conquer. Slated for a fall 2007 launch, the Four Seasons Ocean Residences will be the world's first all-private residential ship. While the concept itself is not new (the World, which is managed by ResidenSea, was the first residential ship), the Four Seasons is the first to offer complete exclusivity. The World, a remarkable vessel itself, allows non-owner guests to rent apartments for a minimum stay of six nights at $1,100 - $4,200 per night, while The Four Seasons residences are offered only as whole or shared ownership on a 50-year leasehold basis.

The 42,500-ton,12-deck-high ship (with eight strictly residential decks) offers seven different floor plans of high-end apartment homes ranging 1,336-3,435 square feet, all equipped with the opulence you?ve come to expect at any Four Seasons property. Prices per unit are ball-parked at around $4 million for a two-bedroom, 2½-bath residence to $15 million for full ownership of a four-bedroom penthouse. A 1/12th share of a two-bedroom residence is approximately $400,000. So what do you get for your buck? In addition to your fabulously appointed private home, the rest of the ship is a luxury playground for the ultra privileged. Public areas will include a grand lobby, with a grand piano and dramatic waterfall. Several restaurants, offering different cuisine, provide extensive dining options. Also, there is a gourmet market where residents can buy foods from around the globe.

Entertainment is not in short supply-there's a casino on board for gambling fools, plus a 70-seat theater for film screenings, concerts, lectures, wine tastings and more. While there will be plenty of opportunities for world-class shopping at each of the ports of call (the Four Seasons circumnavigates the world at 18.5 knots), residents will find boutiques selling designer merchandise, a meditation garden, a billiards room, an interdenominational chapel, numerous observation lounges and bars with panoramic ocean views, a library, an art gallery, and a well-staffed business center with video conferencing. The Four Seasons knows how important physical fitness and personal wellness is to their clientele and plans to install a 10,000 square foot Four Seasons Spa & Wellness Center, which will feature fitness and aerobics areas and a full-service beauty salon. On the outside deck, there will be a walking/jogging track, golf putting greens and driving range, and an impressive outdoor pool area. Sold? Better get on board now, as these coveted spots are going fast.

For LxM Amy Covington