After 10 years in planning, the Phoenix is yet to rise.One cruise industry insider said the failure of the Phoenix meant there was a certain scepticism as to whether the World could succeed.But he added: "It could happen The Klosters have got a good track record in cruises They are not be scoffed at.". But it is understood that nearly a fifth of the 250 apartments have been sold and the project is close to go-ahead.Three ship yards, thought to be in Finland, France and Germany, are in the running for the business and a contract is set to be sealed in the next couple of months, with delivery in time for the Millennium.The only cloud on the horizon is a scheme by Mr Kloster's father for the world's biggest passenger ship. A press launch at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, central London today, aims to confirm the luxury image.The liner is the brainchild of Knut Kloster Jnr, a member of the Norwegian family which is credited with starting the holiday cruise industry in the 1960s.The $500m (nearly pounds 300m) scheme needs bookings in the bag to proceed. But he claims to have had a string of inquiries already from those wearying of the troubles of staffing and maintaining yachts or second homes in the Caribbean and Mediterranean."There's been a tremendous amount of interest and what's been most interesting is how serious most of those responses have been," he said yesterday."I've had several sales from all sorts of areas, but mostly people who run their own companies or are senior partners in law and accountancy firms."Millionaires who balk at the pounds 4.5m price tag can take something a little smaller, starting at pounds 800,000, furnishings included Maintenance is an extra 5 per cent per annum. For the men and women who have everything - a pounds 4.5m private apartment on a giant cruise liner. Destination - the carnival in Rio, the grand prix in Monaco, and all the sassiest events in the world's social calendar. Plans for the ship, The World of ResidenSea, feature a liner larger than the QE2 and a membership culled from the address books of the wealthy.The idea is to create one giant floating luxury mansion block where the most affluent people can enjoy their own homes with neighbours just like themselves.Its itinerary will include the Scandinavian fjords, the Caribbean, Mexico and New York, as well as calling at events like the Sydney Olympics in 2000.Some unable to tear themselves away from their money-making ventures are even reported to be planning to set up business on board the 1,000ft, 85,000 ton ship which will boast a spa, tennis courts, seven restaurants and a supermarket."The World offers the opportunity to own a private home in the world's greatest cities and resorts, to travel the world without leaving the comfort and security of one's own home," according to Savills, the estate agent marketing the project.Charles Weston-Baker, a Savills director, admits it is one of the more unusual sales opportunities he has handled. People are used to waiting for the album to be released."A spokesman for Tower Records said: "We expect to sell 1,500 copies by the end of the week Oasis's single is already number one of our chart.
It will be number one in the national chart next week."Leading article, page 15. "This is more than the number of singles we would sell for a whole weekend," said the head of the singles department "Such sales are really unusual Singles are not sold like that. In Norwich, 326 copies were sold within 20 minutes.Tower Records, in Piccadilly, had sold 323 copies of the single by mid- afternoon yesterday. "Every other single that is being bought is an Oasis single," said a spokesman.A spokesman for the Virgin Megastore, in central London, said about 1,000 copies had already been sold, and he added: "We expect to sell 10,000 by the end of the week." The total figure for the chain's 76 UK stores would be about 50 000, he said.Two other Virgin stores - in Aberdeen and Norwich - also opened at midnight. Now our plan is to do this again and open at midnight for the album."HMV anticipates selling 100,000 copies before the end of the week. "The publicity surrounding the new record has created a lot of awareness for the new album too which is due out in mid-August. "It's definitely outsold our expectations and is certain to do very well,"he said.
Mark Fletcher, manager of the Nottingham store, said several hundred people crowded into his shop during a 45-minute period to be the first owner of the record. Released yesterday, the new Oasis single, "D'You Know What I Mean", has already sold thousands of copies, with some fans even beginning to queue on Sunday night to take advantage of a special midnight opening at 20 HMV stores. In the Mancunian band's home town, 200 fans queued outside the HMV store, and a similar number did the same in Nottingham to enable them to buy a copy at the first opportunity. No maybe about it. The Gallagher brothers' new single is definitely heading for number one in the charts. I have offered my services as a counsellor to staff, parents and children."The area of France which the Bolton party was visiting has become increasingly popular with schools in recent years.A spokesman for the Ski Club of Great Britain said: "School visits to this area and to other mountain regions in Europe really get going in the last two weeks of July and then throughout August.". That is the strength of the school and any death is like losing a member of the family.
