THE whole world came to Greenwich when a ship sailed into the borough marking a sign of things to come.

Cruise liner The World has been moored at Greenwich Ship Tier in the middle of the Thames since 4.30pm on Saturday (June 4) and it is due to leave at 5pm on Wednesday (June 8).

The ship has stopped off in Greenwich as part of its 53 country, tour of the world.

Floating at 644ft long and 12 decks tall, the vessel essentially serves as a residence at sea for all those on board who embark on the world cruise.

It carries around 200 passengers and is split into 165 living areas.

During its moor, passengers and crew have been accessing the ship via tenders leaving from Greenwich Pier.

The World has been into Greenwich before and has already booked into the new Enderby Wharf cruise terminal for 2013.

Greenwich is the only place on the Thames that a ship this size can moor at and the borough’s ability to attract similar vessels will be greatly enhanced when Enderby Wharf opens in 2012.

Plans for a cruise liner terminal to be built as part of a major development on the east side of the Peninsula, at Enderby Wharf, were agreed by London mayor Boris Johnson yesterday (June 6).

When complete it will bring cruise ships with a maximum capacity of 1500 passengers into Greenwich.

Commenting on behalf of developers Mason Properties who are behind the Enderby Wharf scheme, James Blakey said: “We are delighted that the planning has been approved for the Enderby Wharf proposals.

"At the heart of the proposals is the provision of an international cruise liner terminal in the maritime heartland of Greenwich and London.”

Another vessel, the Insignia, will be coming into Greenwich on Friday (June 10) and leaving on Saturday (June 11).