An IT whizz will spend the next three years working completely remotely from a luxury cruise ship as it travels the world.
In the past few working from home has become much more common in the UK, with 30% of the UK workforce is working remotely at least once a week in 2022.
For most people the benefits include an extra lie in, time to make an involved lunch and avoiding speaking to colleagues.
Austin Wells has decided to take advantage of the work place flexibility he has at Meta and take remote working to the next level.
The 28-year-old has leased a cabin for 12 years for $300,000 (£247,000) on a mega cruise ship called MV Narrative which will be his home for at least three years.
The San Diego native will want for nothing as the ship comes complete with medical services, a farmer’s market, private kitchens and an exercise centre.
If ever he gets peckish during the night or fancies a smoothie during a virtual meeting, he can rely on the 24-hour room service to be on hand.
And if his work in Meta's augmented and virtual reality division stresses him out, then the Narrative has an onboard spa to unwind in.
When she sets sail the ship will have 500 private rooms and apartments, which will be home to around 1,000 residents who will live on board more or less permanently.
“The thing that most excites me is I don’t have to upend my daily routine, in order to go see the world,” Austin told CNBC.
“I’m going from this model where you want to go somewhere, you pack a bag, you get on a flight, you rent a room, to now my condo, my gym, my doctors and dentists, all of my grocery stores travel the world with me."
Austin plans to work throughout the night when the ship is in Europe, so he has the chance to see cities during the day time.
The ship is being built by Storylines, whose co-founder and CEO Alister Punton realised big vessels tended to be scrapped, but could be bought up and repurposed instead.
The MV Narrative is now under construction in Split, Croatia, from where it will set sail in 2025.
The 741-foot luxury ship also includes 20 restaurants, a 10,000-square-foot gym, three swimming pools, a school, bank, and co-working office spaces spread across 18 decks.
The ship even has a “world schooling” programme for children aboard the vessel, so families can sail together.
Guests can really travel in luxury if they are willing, with the largest residence covering 1,970 square-feet.
It will be split on to two levels, with up to four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large balcony, a dining room that seats six and a walk-in closet.
Austin is leasing the entry level 'Discover' studio, which at 237 square feet includes a foldaway bed, pantry area, desk and separate shower room.
The MV Narrative will dock at ports for around three to five days, and travel around Europe and into the Arctic Circle.
