Surprising amount man paid for flat on cruise ship that he bought because it's cheaper than home and he can travel world

A bloke has revealed the surprising amount it cost him to purchase a pad on a 'floating apartment complex'

Austin Wells is set to ditch dry land for the seven seas after snapping up a studio apartment on a cruise ship which boasts a very interesting concept.

He is one of the many travel lovers who will pack up their lives to move onto the MV Narrative, a residential vessel which is 'thoughtfully designed to include every amenity'.

Take a look at what he had to say here:

Miami-based shipbuilding company Storylines wanted to create a home away from home vibe with the mammoth ship, so its passengers don't have to bring everything but the kitchen sink onboard.

The firm promise that each of the residences - which can boast as many as four bedrooms and come fully furnished - is 'equipped with everything you need to live and work aboard'.

There are various room specifications to chose from, featuring differing floor plans, colour palettes and style options, so it sounds like there is something for everyone on the Storylines ship.

And buying one of these buoyant pads instead of a run-of-the-mill apartment comes with the added bonus of travelling the world 24/7, too.

You can wake up each day to 'ever-changing waterfront views', as you can travel from continent to continent from the comfort of your own home - which is what inspired Wells to take the leap.

The 31-year-old, from San Diego, previously told CNBC: "The thing that most excites me is I don’t have to upend my daily routine, in order to go see the world.

"I’m going from this model where you want to go somewhere, you pack a bag, you get on a flight, you rent a room - to now, my condo, my gym, my doctors and dentists, all of my grocery stores, travel the world with me."

I mean, what more could you want?

Storyline's ship is scheduled to set sail in 2027 (Storylines)

As Wells mentioned, the MV Narrative will boast the same amenities as a small community on dry land would - in fact, there is probably even more.

The cruise ship - which is still under construction in Croatia and isn’t due to set sail until 2027 - will boast more than 500 residences which people can use as permanent or temporary homes.

There will be restaurants and bars galore, a microbrewery, several swimming pools, a library, a bank, a spa, a cinema, a bowling alley and even medical facilities for residents to make use of.

On top of that, those who live onboard full-time will be granted access to a private gym, farmer’s market, 24-hour room service and private kitchens.

Back in 2022, Wells explained that he had put himself down for a 237 square foot room which featured a desk, pantry, foldaway bed and shower room.

He intends to work remotely from the MV Narrative while sailing across six continents - and saving a fair few quid on rent.

According to The Sun, a flat in San Diego costs around $2,500 (£2,010) per month while Wells’ room on the MV Narrative will set him back about $2,000 (£1,608) per month.

"This is probably the first time ever that there is even the ability to have a standard job and even consider working and living from a floating apartment complex," he said of the cruising concept.

Austin Wells revealed how he had purchased a pad on the MV Narrative (Storylines)

The US man then revealed that he had paid $300,000 (£238,000) on the 12-year lease for the apartment onboard the MV Narrative.

The most expensive residences are priced up to $10 million, so Wells has got something of a steal with his modest studio - although it appears as though the prices might have been hiked up since then.

Some of the 'luxury homes' feature separate bedrooms, ample storage space, mood lighting, sound proofing, queen-sized murphy beds and even balconies for residents to relax on.

Storylines say purchasing one of these is a 'rare investment opportunity', adding that 'high resale values anticipated', while buyers can also rent out their homes too.

Wells added: "It's just like owning a condo - you can sell it, you can rent it. Storylines helps navigate all of that as well."

He said he believes this is a 'very important' aspect of the firm's business model, as it will ensure the vessel 'feels alive' rather than there being a host of empty units.

Around 1,000 residents are set to call the MV Narrative - which will be powered by liquefied natural gas- home when it eventually sets sail, with the launch date currently scheduled for 2027.

Storylines said the maiden voyage will mark the firm's 'first three year circumnavigation', adding: "The vessel continuously circumnavigates throughout its lifespan."

Anyone fancy putting to then?