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Carnival Cruise Ship Is Being Turned Into A Floating Office For Remote Workers
By Mikelle Leow, 20 Oct 2020
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Image via riekephotos / Shutterstock.com
The travel industry is looking a lot different than it did a year ago, and companies fighting to keep their stake in this market have found creative ways to rise above the COVID-19 crisis. As well as a Japanese theme park repurposing its space into a “workation” zone, one Carnival Cruises ship is poised to be transformed into a floating office for remote tech workers.
With cruise ships being rendered redundant these days, coastal construction firm Ocean Builders intends to acquire a vessel from Carnival Cruises and help set forth “a modern floating Venice of the Americas.”
“Just like the man-made island of Venice Italy became an important center of commerce in the old world, we believe this could be the start of a modern floating Venice of the Americas and an important hub of innovation in the world,” the company explains on its website.
The watercraft will be called ‘The Crypto Cruise Ship’, and will serve as a high-end remote entrepreneurial office for 2,020 cryptocurrency enthusiasts, “digital nomads,” YouTubers, and “other like-minded folks.”
Passengers will be able to enjoy facilities like a swimming pool and running track under “fresh pollution-free air and sun,” as well as participate in yoga and meditation sessions or fitness classes. A 5,000-square-foot theater will host live performances, workshops, talks, and film screenings. Transactions onboard will be made in bitcoin and USD, among other modes of payment.
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The company’s founder Chad Elwartowski told the Telegraph that he is finalizing acquisition for the 777-cabin MS Satoshi at an unspecified price.
Although the thought of traveling by cruise during the pandemic might strike fear in many, Ocean Builders is convinced that a “properly-run cruise ship can be the healthiest and safest place in the world to live.” The firm says it plans to implement health safety measures and facilities like the conducting of health testings and the setup of a pharmacy.
What strikes as odd, however, is that the company also plans to stock up on doses of hydroxychloroquine, the drug that US president Donald Trump had mistakenly described as a COVID-19 cure. Additionally, the firm appears to have billed the coronavirus-causing disease as “the flu.”
“If you are concerned about catching the flu you have the option to wearing a mask, social distancing, or taking preventative doses of hydroxychloroquine,” Ocean Builders claims.
Should the deal be successful, Ocean Builders will first allocate 200 rooms for bidding at prices ranging from US$25,000 for interior cabins to US$50,000 for balcony cabins. The auction will run from 5 through 28 November.
Guests can then start boarding the ship, which will depart from the Mediterranean and anchor at the coast of Panama, in January 2021.
[via Business Insider, cover image via riekephotos / Shutterstock.com]
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