By David Landis, The Gay Gourmet—
Hasn’t everyone thought of travelling the world, and especially in luxury—even better, at sea?
Lately, the luxury market for oceanic cruises is booming. Brands like The Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons have their own specialty luxury lines.
And then there’s The World Residences at Sea, which truly is in a class all its own.
The World describes itself as “the planet’s largest private residential yacht,” but it’s not a typical cruise ship. The vessel has 165 owner studio- to 3-bedroom apartments (plus a multi-bedroom penthouse), but there are 200 or fewer residents on the boat at any time. Owners not only own the ship, but also get to decide where in the world it will cruise.
Luxury, of course, doesn’t come cheap. The World requires approximately $10 million in assets (and two references) to be considered for ownership. Apartments are priced around $3 million up to $15 million; HOA dues begin around $200k per year and are up to $1 million per year. But what you get for that outlay is beyond every lavish expectation. Even better, you become part of The World’s own community, which one staffer described aptly as a “nomadic tribe.”
The Gay Gourmet was lucky enough recently to tour—and dine—aboard The World when it was anchored in San Francisco. It’s a wow!
The affable Residential Director Eddie Wong lives on the boat, and was my well-informed personal guide. He took me from bow to stern and port to starboard, pointing out the many first-class attributes aboard The World.
When you enter, you feel like you’re at a 5-star hotel, with soaring ceilings and a community room that hosts performances often geared to the locale that The World is visiting. While in San Francisco, members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed and apparently were a big hit!
You want to feel pampered? You’ve come to the right place. With 300 staff, that ratio of service personnel to guests is 1.5. You never feel like anyone is hovering, but, whatever you need, they’re always there to help.
The residences range from 290-square-foot studios to 3,242-square-foot, multi-bedroom apartments. All are beautifully appointed, with renovated kitchens and baths, ample storage, expansive living spaces, and outdoor decks to boot.
The World boasts 6 restaurants (4 fine dining and 2 casual), two swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor), a golf simulator, a full-service spa featuring a plethora of wellness experts, an intimate bar/lounge, a library, a sports bar, informative lectures at the yacht’s own theatre, a grocery store with fresh produce and local products, and more. Plus, The World tailors bespoke service to each individual’s taste.
While onboard, I met several residents and that included some LGBTQ+ folks. All were incredibly welcoming and warm. That made me understand how hospitable the community is that thrives there. You could feel the sense of belonging that the residents share.
Of course, the Gay Gourmet wanted to know about dining options. The Executive Chef aboard The World is Lionel Catherin. He oversees the culinary operations across the ship’s multiple venues, including the fine dining Art Deco restaurant Portraits (which includes a staggering more than 15,000 bottles in its wine cellar), and the contemporary steakhouse Marina. Other dining options include casual dining at Fredy’s Deli & Cafe, East(Pan Asian), and the pool grill. We opted to dine at the Tides, which is a Mediterranean-style restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining. My lunch companion was an amiable resident who has lived on The World for a couple of years. She explained to me that everything is homemade, a feat when you’re out at sea. That includes the baked goods—a breadbasket and breadsticks worthy of Tartine status—which started our meal. Our lunch was a perfect grilled shrimp salad with a tahini dressing that didn’t overpower the seafood, along with a clean and crisp glass of chablis. When I asked for Louie dressing to accompany my salad, the response was, “Of course!”
My lunch pal also explained that she loves to cook onboard for her family, and any ingredient she needs is delivered to her within about a day. I’m not even sure how that’s possible, but that’s The World for you!
In short, and in the words of my favorite Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, Take Me to The World.
Bits and Bites
Thanks to my colleague Ashley Hamik, I recently revisited one of my favorite steakhouses here in the city, Mastro’s. I first visited this restaurant at their Beverly Hills outpost, where we dined next to basketball icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (and his Mom!). It’s a mainstay for me: Even though it’s part of a chain, it feels individual and service is tailored to a luxe level of expectation.
Located on Geary Street in Union Square, Mastro’s is a great pre- or post-theatre offering. It’s a fashionable place where people actually still dress up to dine out, and creates an eclectic and electric scene. Executive Chef Brendy Monsada oversees the sprawling multilevel operation with culinary finesse. One of my favorite pluses is that Mastro’s does martinis correctly. They are shaken at the table, with a heavy pour, and the remaining cocktail is left in its shaker for a welcome second pour! We sampled the Summer of Luxury menu (available through September 24), which included a theatre-worthy dry ice presentation of a superb shrimp cocktail; assorted breads with homemade black truffle and lemon calabrese butters; a yummy 6-ounce petit filet, cooked to a divine medium rare (why is it that steakhouses sometimes haven’t perfect this art?); one of the best creamed spinaches in town; and the signature warm butter cake, which melts in your mouth (but is probably suitable for a family of four to share!). Everything was delicious, and served with expertise and flair. An added bonus? Mastro’s offers live entertainment every night. In short, put Mastro’s at the top of your steakhouse list, especially when visiting the Square and its environs.
Good news! Castro mainstay Orphan Andy’s has a new owner. As reported in the previous issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, his name is Michael Goodrich, and he is the General Manager of Bun Mee. He will keep the restaurant’s “good vibes,” along with its time-tested and popular diner format. The American café will continue to serve from morning until the wee hours. Especially with the reopening of The Castro Theatre, our neighborhood needs more late-night eateries. And, who doesn’t crave Orphan Andy’s stuffed French toast at any time of the day or night?
Speaking of which, I recently wandered into Parasol at Café Flore, the newish restaurant and bar at the former Café Flore space. Yours truly had the pleasure there of sharing a late-night drink with Oasis owner and former drag laureate D’Arcy Drollinger. The space is bright and airy, boasting a modern design inside, and a gorgeous people-watching patio outside. It’s a buzzy place, where you can “see and be seen.” Even better, they serve until midnight on weekends.
PIER 39 is getting a bit of the Castro later this year with the upcoming opening of LGBTQ+-owned HOT COOKIE. The best cookies in the Castro will have their own dedicated space at the pier, expanding the enterprise’s storefront locations to four. As part of the retail entertainment complex’s strategy, PIER 39 is “showcasing locally-owned businesses and creating experiences that reflect the unique character of San Francisco.” Scott Gentner, President and CEO, comments that “our goal (at PIER 39) is to attract high-quality offerings that capture the quintessential San Francisco experience. For locals and tourists looking for a sweet treat, we couldn’t think of a better combination of fun, flavor, and vibe.” HOT COOKIE co-owner and Chief Cookie Provocateur Ryan Jones explains, “As San Francisco’s premier tourist destination, PIER 39 presents an ideal opportunity to bring HOT COOKIE’s unique flavor to a much broader audience.” And, by the way, who doesn’t love their freshly-baked oatmeal raisin cookies anytime of the day or night? Needless to say, PIER 39 isn’t just for tourists anymore.
The World Residences at Sea: https://aboardtheworld.com/
Mastro’s: https://tinyurl.com/mry7drsu
Orphan Andy’s: https://orphanandys.site/
Parasol at Café Flore: https://www.parasolsf.com/
Hot Cookie: https://hotcookie.com/
PIER 39: https://www.pier39.com/
Oasis: https://www.sfoasis.com/
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: https://gaygourmetsf.com/
The Gay Gourmet
Published on July 30, 2026
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