It has berthed the Titanic and the Lusitania and now Cobh takes on the World - literally.
The 196-metre World of ResidenSea, built as the first floating luxury residential community, is due to steam into Cork harbour on Saturday morning.
Cobh is the first Irish port of call on the ship's maiden global voyage, following its construction in Norway. It is also due to berth in Waterford, Belfast, Derry and Dublin, before heading north to the Faeroes and Iceland later this month.
The ship is fitted with 110 private residences - three-bedroom apartments costing from $2.25 million to $7.5 million each.
The residences, which are available to rent from their owners for $2,100 a day, come with en suite bathrooms, kitchen, terrace and optional "jet pool".
They have been finished by "internationally acclaimed" designers, and come with a 24-hour concierge service. There are an additional 88 "guest suites" available for reservation.
The ship is fitted with a full-size tennis court, jogging track, driving range and putting green, watersports marina, spa, four restaurants and a "gourmet market" for those who prefer to cook "at home".
The "ultimate address" is how its Scandinavian backers describe it, and the "exclusive residential community at sea" is built to sail continuously around the world, and "always in the most pleasant climate".
The target market for shareholders is, to quote its own literature, "an affluent mix of individuals from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America", and it is estimated that some 40 per cent will be North American.
The passage plan for this year involves spending an average 2½ days in "historically and culturally significant cities", with extended calls for major events, such as the Cannes Film Festival and the British Open in Edinburgh.
The ship's visit is a significant boost for Cork harbour, although its cruise ship business is already up by 25 per cent on last year, according to Mr Sean Geary, deputy chief executive of the Port of Cork Company.
Cork Cruise, an initiative involving the Port of Cork and the Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce, provides services to visiting liners, including music, entertainment and information on tourism in the region.
