Magellan ? the ultimate in luxury

The US-based Residential Cruise Line Ltd. (RCL), the parent company of the Magellan, the world’s largest private residential cruise ship, will be expanding the proposed new vessel by adding twelve additional residences and a new amenity, a world class tennis court. Previously listed at 246 m/70,000 gt, the Magellan will now boasts 265 m and 72,000 gt of cruising luxury.

Construction of the $650 million ship will start when 60% of the 216 condos have been sold. After just two months, Randall Jackson, president and ceo of RCL, has about $25 million in sales and he plans to visit four interested shipyards in Italy, France, Germany and Finland later this year. Full ownership of the Magellan’s private residences range from $1.875 million to $8 million for penthouses.

Although construction of the ship has not yet begun, a spokeswoman confirmed an expected 2009 launch date. The Norwegian firm of Peter Yran and Bjorn Storbraaten Architects A.S. is designing the ship and several European shipyards currently are bidding on the Magellan project. Engineering will be provided by Deltamarin, Finland, and the Magellan will be managed by V.Ships who will provide the crew of 350.

The 15 deck high newbuilding will have six restaurants, an observatory with an astronomer, a heliport with two helicopters, an indoor saltwater swimming pool, a spa, a large tropical greenhouse, a casino and a 450-seat performance theatre. In addition, a full-sized tennis court has been added to the design of the ship and is slated to be located above the indoor swimming pool. According to Jackson, the tennis court was added to round out the first-class amenities offered aboard the Magellan. A pontoon-style marina will float from the stern of the vessel when stationary at each port of call and will include scuba gear, a jet ski, sail craft, a high-speed Scarab boat and a safety-netted pool.