Soon after Life at Sea finally cancelled its too good to be true 3-year cruise around the world, Villa Vie Residences has announced it will venture into the cruise business with an inaugural 3.5 year voyage around the world, dubbed “Continual World Cruise”.
The start-up cruise line purchased the former Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship, the Braemar, to be named Villa Vie Odyssey. The 924-passenger vessel will enter service in May 2024 following the completion of a multimillion-dollar transformation into a residential cruise ship complete with villas as residences.
The ship’s name symbolizes the company ethos of creating a community to share unforgettable moments of discovery on an extended journey, connecting people, places and self.
Mikael Petterson, Villa Vie Residences CEO
The company says its unique selling point is that the cruise will be “for the residents, by the residents”, as the founders and majority stakeholders of the start-up will navigate aboard the ship and are actively involved in decision making, such as choosing the name Odyssey. “Villa Vie isn’t like a regular corporation–it’s open and we feel a part of it”, said founder Laura.
Being smaller than other cruise ships, the company promises Villa Vie Odyssey will offer an intimate, new cruise lifestyle, able to reach parts of the world that larger ships cannot access. The ship’s flatter hull will also enable it to navigate inland waterways and rivers too.
“Villa Vie Odyssey will be customized for her immersive, 3.5-year global circumnavigations, ensuring all the comforts and amenities of home”, said Villa Vie Residences CEO, Mikael Petterson. The ship will feature 8 decks, including cascading aft decks and a wrap-around promenade. Lengthened in 2009 and refurbished in 2019, besides the 485 cabins, it has 3 restaurants, 8 bars and 4 lounges, an extended pool with 4 Jacuzzis, a spa and fitness centre and a well-stocked library.
Moreover, the ship will feature a large, central business centre, designed with digital nomads in mind, complete with private offices and conference spaces. Starlink and Viasat 3 will provide internet access for all residents and guests. The ship will also feature an interactive and educational culinary centre, as well as a golf around the world program complete with onboard golf simulator and tours.
Prices will start at $89 per day for inside cabins, or about $32,485 per person per year, while outside cabins start at $119 per person per day and cabins with balconies at $199. The price is an all-inclusive offer, covering rent, utilities, food, travel and entertainment.
Guests will also have the option to buy their cabins, inside ones starting at $99,999, plus additional monthly fees, ocean view at $149,999, plus monthly fees, and balcony at $249,999, plus monthly fees.
Additionally, the company will implement a “pay-as-you-go” concept that allows travellers to select and combine various portions of the world cruise itinerary, which is planned to stop at 425 ports across, 147 countries, for 1,301 days on a continuous world cruise.
