Former resident of the world’s most exclusive invitation-only cruise ship, The World illuminates the sordid goings-on below deck and compares the scandalous antics of wealthy passengers to a ‘real White Lotus’

Have you ever wondered what rich people get up to, away from prying eyes?

Well, a former passenger aboard the world’s most exclusive private residential ship has now told the truth about what’s really happening among some of the wealthy elite who choose to escape by taking to the high seas.

Peter Antonucci, who worked as a commercial litigator in New York City, lived for five years aboard the ship, which has a strict invitation-only policy.

The 64-year-old compared the ship, which has apartments for sale from around $2 million, to a student dormitory and claimed the exclusive community was steeped in heated clashes and dirty dealings. Affairs.

The houseboat, named The World, was launched in 2002 to offer a ‘lifestyle of luxury living adventure previously unthinkable’.

Peter first booked a trial trip on the ship with his wife Tami and was quickly seduced by almost every aspect: from the hospitable crew to the regulated itinerary.

Then the couple bought their first cruise ship condo in 2014 for a price in the region of $1.6 million and would spend up to eight months of the year on board.

Ultimately, they moved at various points during their tenure – after owning four separate apartments at different times – with the price tag rising to around $4 million.

The millionaires’ playground, which spans 200 meters and features twelve desks, is usually shrouded in secrecy, but Peter has since shared what really goes on behind closed doors.

He explained to DailyMail.com that he had better insight than most after being elected to The World’s Board of Directors.

“Any extreme conduct violations are brought to the attention of the board, so that’s what it comes down to,” Peter said.

‘I knew where all the skeletons could be found – I knew who slept with who, who attacked who, who stole… And of course I have two eyes and two ears. You see things and you feel things.’

He explained: ‘The dramas, stories and subplots didn’t all happen overnight – some took months or even years.

‘As residents, we sat lustily watching them brew. Many people on the ship were entranced by the gossip.

“The ship was powered more by rumor than by diesel.”

Elaborating further on the dynamics of the residents, Peter explained that there was a party ‘every day’.

“Here you have a small group of very successful, entitled people floating around in a steel basin in the middle of the ocean,” he said.

‘When you’re at sea for six, seven days, people just go from bar to bar, and what could go wrong?

“Have you had people crushed? Naturally. Have you had people dive into the pool fully clothed? Yes. Did they remain fully clothed? Not always.

“Have you had people using drugs? Of course you did it. Anytime you have a group of people, you get that stuff.”

Peter added: ‘A lot of the things I’ve seen on The World look somewhat like a student house.’

He not only drew parallels to the antics of college students, but also identified comparisons to HBO’s dark comedy The White Lotus.

The satirical drama follows a star-studded cast – including Jennifer Coolidge – as their affluent characters embark on sun-drenched vacations marred by affairs, hedonism and sinister secrets.

“To be clear, the people on the ship weren’t killing each other… it wasn’t that bad.

“But you had entitled owners yelling at staff when they couldn’t get their way and you had guests who were inappropriate, barely dressed and grinding against each other on the pool deck.”

He said there were also incidents of heated arguments, altercations and affairs that lasted “months or years” – even between residents and crew.

When asked how rule breakers were dealt with, Peter explained: ‘You can’t get rid of people straight away if they’re paying $5 million to buy on and they’re paying $5 million in maintenance fees every year.

“But there were protocols in place to deal with it.”

Peter, who kept a diary during his time on board, has done so ever since wrote three novels about a fictional ship – with titles such as Billionaire’s Paradise, Scandal at Sea: Billionaire’s In The Deep and Tides of Betrayal.

He claims his books are purely inspired by true events, but said he was initially shunned by other residents after they learned of his projects.

THe authorwho described himself as a provocateur, said: “People know I’m not afraid to say things.”

‘When I was writing the books, everyone was very worried and said, “I can’t believe you’re going to write this”, they ignored me, they wouldn’t talk to me and I was isolated.

‘Then the book came out and it was all fiction and they all came to me and said, “Why am I not in your book?”

A spokesperson for The World told DailyMail.com: ‘WWe had previously been in contact with Mr. Antonucci, who assured us in writing that his works have no connection with The World or its inhabitants, and that his publications are fictional works of art about a fictional ship.

‘We wish him every success with his creative works of fiction, which we understand have no relationship with De Wereld or any of its inhabitants.’

There are 165 luxury homes on board The World, which travels to more than 100 destinations per year as part of an itinerary planned two to three years in advance, ranging from stylish studios to three-bedroom apartments.

They cost between $2 million and $15 million, not including annual ownership costs, but according to Business Insider, only a handful are resold each year.

Residents are reportedly allowed to make renovations and decorate according to their personal taste.

Most passengers on board are said to have an individual net worth of at least $10 million.

Peter told DailyMail.com that the demographic was ‘very international’, adding: ‘It skews towards almost exclusively retirees – over 80 per cent.

‘One of the things that’s impressive about the ship is that most of the inhabitants are self-made.

“They’re not trust fund babies, but that’s a good thing and a bad thing.”

He continued, “It’s a good thing because they understand what it’s like to build a business and develop something.

“But it can be a bad thing because they’ve never said no and when they have an idea they just go with it.”

Peter left the ship in 2019, adding: ‘I left because of two things.

‘First of all, I’d been around so long that I’d seen the world a few times. Secondly, I was personally tired of the gossip, the rumors and the cattiness.”

He now divides his time between Connecticut and Palm Beach, Florida.