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Utopia (cruise ship)

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History
NameUtopia
OwnerUtopia Residences
OperatorUtopia Residences
Port of registry Bahamas
RouteCircumnavigation of the world
OrderedNovember 20, 2009 (amended in 2012)
BuilderSamsung Heavy Industries
CostUS$1.1 billion
Notes[1]
General characteristics
TypeResidential cruise ship
Tonnage108,000 GT
Length296 m (971 ft)
Beam36 m (118 ft)
Height50 m (160 ft)
Draught8.3 m (27 ft)
Decks16
Installed power50,400KW 6 × Wärtsilä diesel engines
Propulsion
Speed22 KN
Capacity
  • 199 luxury residences
  • 218-room hotel
Crew600
Notes[1]

Utopia is a planned luxury residential ocean liner project. A formal marketing launch of the ship, reportedly costing US$1.1 billion, was expected in 2021.[2] The ship was originally planned to launch in 2017 but lack of funding got in the way and the binding letter of intent to build Utopia was amended in 2017.[3] The ship was to be built by Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world.[4][5] The Finnish engineering company Elomatic Marine is credited for the design concept of the vessel, with architectural design by Tillberg Design U.S.[1]

The original business plan called for residences with prices from US$3.9 million to US$30 million, but as of 2018 Utopia increased its prices to $36 million.[6]

It is one of several residence cruise ships that are under construction or planned, including Njord,[7] Dark Island [8] and MV Narrative.[9] MS The World and Villa Vie Odyssey are the only resident-owned cruise vessels currently in service as of 2024.

Amenities

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The 296 m (971 ft), 108,000 GT, ship will have 190 residences ranging in size from 130 to 613 m2 (1,400 to 6,600 sq ft).[10] The ship will also have 175-room hotel, casino, 16,000 sq ft spa, night club, and many other amenities typical of large-scale commercial ocean-cruise liners. The company recently received regulatory approval for open floor plans and open-air kitchens (a first of its kind milestone for the passenger ship industry), which allows the kitchens to resemble the open-concept kitchens in modern North American land-based homes.[citation needed]

Financing

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The ship will be largely financed by the Frontier Group, a private equity firm with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Frontier will put up most of the funds to cover the US$1.1 billion in construction costs.[11] In 2018, Frontier reported that the financing contingencies have been removed, clearing the path for the project to continue forward.[citation needed] In 2014, Utopia Residences shipbuilding contract was suspended due to insufficient funding. In 2017, a letter of intent was amended with Samsung Heavy Industries reflecting the vessel has been ordered with planned delivery and launch in 2022.[12]


References

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  1. ^ a b c Henrik Segercrantz (February 2010). "Utopia". Maritime Reporter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  2. ^ Business Insider: Permanent apartments on cruise ship
  3. ^ "Utopia Residential Ship Signs Contract with Shipyard". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  4. ^ "Our Partners - Shipbuilder". Utopia. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  5. ^ "SHI Opens an Era of Cruise Shipbuilding in Korea". Samsung Heavy Industries. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  6. ^ Business Insider: Permanent apartments on cruise ship
  7. ^ "Ocean Residences MY Njord Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review".
  8. ^ "Clydebuilt MS Dark Island Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review".
  9. ^ "Storylines MV Narrative Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review".
  10. ^ "Elomatic and Utopia's historic conceptual design for residential ocean liner one step closer to becoming reality". Elomatic. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  11. ^ Christopher Tritto (13 December 2009). "Frontier backs US$1 billion luxury ocean liner Utopia". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  12. ^ "MS Utopia Residences Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review".
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