What It's Like to OWN a Cruise Ship, Living At Sea on the Aurora

Editorial Summary

In this interview, Chris Wilson discusses his experience owning and restoring the Aurora, a vintage cruise ship located on the California Delta. Wilson explains that his interest began while filming a virtual tour of the vessel, which he discovered had significant historical value as a post-World War II German test platform. Despite having no prior maritime experience, Wilson utilizes his background in construction, woodworking, and electrical work to manage the extensive renovation process. He describes his approach as tackling the ship one small area at a time rather than attempting to fix the entire vessel at once. The restoration efforts have already allowed the ship to serve as a filming location for several movies. Looking toward the future, Wilson envisions transforming the Aurora into a floating venue for weddings, parties, and events, similar to the business model used by the Queen Mary. He notes that while the project is a massive undertaking, he has no regrets about the journey and remains driven to complete the restoration.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.