Crescent Seas: A New Way to Live at Sea
Crescent Seas is the bold new initiative by Crescent Heights, one of the United States’ largest and most prestigious real estate developers, redefining the very concept of living.
The project stems from the idea of transforming ocean travel into an exclusive and permanent residential experience—designed for travelers who seek to explore the world’s most fascinating destinations with elegance and freedom. With Crescent Seas, Crescent Heights extends its expertise in developing vertical urban communities in American metropolises to the boundless horizons of the oceans, merging its real estate vision with the art of luxury travel.
The-Navigator-Rendering
The-Navigator-Rendering
The debut of Crescent Seas begins with the Navigator, a carefully selected ship from one of the affiliates of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. The vessel will undergo a major $50 million renovation, led by three internationally renowned design studios: Lissoni & Partners, Journey, and MAWD. Upon completion, the Navigator will feature 210 private residences valued between $750,000 and $8 million, each offering full butler service and Starlink connectivity to support remote work and study. Sales for the residences opened to the public on April 9, with a dedicated sales gallery in Miami where prospective residents can explore the details of the project. The ship’s inaugural voyage is scheduled for December 2026, and Crescent Seas already plans to launch four additional residential ships over the next five years.
The visionary behind this new model of living is Russell W. Galbut, founding partner of Crescent Heights and a prominent figure in the cruise industry, who has turned a lifelong dream born from years at sea into reality. According to Galbut, an increasing number of people want to live at sea not just as a vacation, but as a full-time lifestyle. The idea of selecting ships with the right characteristics and transforming them into elegant residential yachts arose from this desire. With most of the Earth’s surface covered by water, Galbut has drawn on his 50 years of real estate development experience to create the most extraordinary residences at sea. The ship’s operations will be managed by expert teams selected to lead the project through its first decade.
77-Russell Galbut & Harry Sommer
77-Russell Galbut & Harry Sommer
Crescent Seas residences are not intended for short-term cruises or fleeting vacations. Voyages will be long and immersive, with two- to three-day stops at each destination. Covering all seven continents, itineraries will guide residents through remote and exotic locales such as French Polynesia, the Faroe Islands, and Madagascar. The concept is that of a floating home that accompanies its residents to places they previously could only dream of. Excellence in onboard service will be ensured by the ship’s original crew, while hospitality and dining will continue to be managed by The Apollo Group—an internationally respected name in cruise hospitality with over 50 years of experience.
A concrete example of the benefits of this transformation comes from the Elation, a ship originally operated by Carnival. Thanks to its conversion to a residential configuration, more than 1,200 square meters of space—previously occupied by technical facilities—have been reclaimed and repurposed into cabins, communal areas, and guest amenities. This approach shows how intelligent design can enhance comfort while generating greater commercial value by unlocking new uses for existing space.
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The initiative is part of a broader movement where more people are embracing continuous travel as a lifestyle, drawn by its flexibility and freedom. The philosophy behind Crescent Seas is to combine exclusivity with exploration, offering residents the opportunity to feel at home anywhere in the world—without ever sacrificing elegance, convenience, or top-tier services. The project is backed by GFO Investments, Galbut’s global family office, which has already successfully invested in major real estate developments across U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.
Crescent Seas thus represents a new frontier in modern living: a home without fixed borders, guided by the dreams and desires of its residents. It’s a vision that fuses the art of hospitality with the joy of discovery—for a life where every day can become a new adventure.
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