$16 billion mile-long cruise ship would permanently carry 80,000 people at sea and become 'floating city' where people live

Key Points:

• The $16 billion Freedom Ship is a proposed floating city cruise ship, measuring a mile long and capable of carrying up to 80,000 people, including 50,000 permanent residents, 10,000 day visitors, and 20,000 crew members.
• The ship, designed with 30 decks and 800 feet in width, would be eight times larger than the current largest cruise ship and include amenities such as museums, hospitals, high-rise hotels, a sports stadium, convention center, symphony hall, schools, and various entertainment facilities.
• Originally conceived in the 1990s by engineer Norman Nixon, the project was shelved after his death in 2012 but has recently been revived by Roger Gooch, CEO of Freedom Cruise Line International, who believes there is strong demand and aims to complete the ship within three to four years.
• Powered by nuclear fuel, the Freedom Ship would offer a self-contained lifestyle with luxury cruise features alongside educational opportunities from primary to college levels, making it a unique and comprehensive living environment at sea.
• While the Freedom Ship remains a concept, living on cruise ships has become a reality for some, with individuals and couples choosing extended or permanent sea life, though the scale and ambition of the Freedom Ship project represent an unprecedented vision for maritime living.