Retiree's $1M Condo Plan On Residential Cruise Ship Hits Rough Waters: 'A Little More Than I Can Bear'

Dreaming of a lavish retirement, retiree Mike Kasperzak was drawn to a $900 million residential cruise ship by Storylines after seeing an enticing Facebook advertisement.

He aimed to secure a $1 million condo aboard the vessel, but the ship’s repeated launch delays have clouded this plan with uncertainty.

Kasperzak put down a $10,000 deposit in 2021 for a condo on Storylines’ MV Narrative, Business Insider reports. He was among many, as over half of the 530 cabins had been claimed, Storylines’ co-founder and CEO Alister Punton noted.

Yet, the project has hit numerous snags, causing both investors and prospective residents to question its viability.

“Is this going to happen in my lifetime?” Kasperzak wondered, according to Business Insider. 

Initially expected to set sail in 2019, the MV Narrative saw its journey pushed back to 2024. Most recently, Storylines announced that the ship would not set sail until December 2026.

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This has raised concerns among former employees, consultants and investors about the project’s viability.

The allure of a permanent life at sea, with all the amenities of a luxury condo, had appealed to Kasperzak and many others.

Yet, the repeated delays and uncertainties surrounding Storylines’ ambitious project have prompted him to reevaluate his retirement plans. In the fall, he reportedly asked Storylines for a refund on his deposit. 

“It still seems like an awesome idea,” he told Business Insider, while noting that “personal changes” and the possibility for more delays are “a little more than I can bear at this point in my life, which is why I finally decided I’m just going to get out.”

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated.

Image created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.