A new residential cruise ship is on the horizon: Travel Weekly

Table Of Content

• To spice up the itinerary, the vessel will stop at different ports of call every time it circumnavigates the globe.
• The vessel will navigate the globe indefinitely, and residences start at $1 million.
• For furry friends, the ship’s plans also include a "pet spa and resort."
• You Can Now Buy a Vacation Home on a Cruise Ship Sailing Around the World
• Interior staterooms won't have ocean-view windows.
• But for those who want to buy a residence, 15% of the ship’s 630 cabins are available to purchase.
• Despite its higher price tag, this suite has already been booked.

Or simply enjoy the most beautiful scenery on the planet from the comfort of your new home aboard Storylines exclusive around the world cruise ship. Three pools with sundecks will ensure guests can soak up plenty of Vitamin D, while an outdoor running track, gym, yoga studio, and golf simulators will cater to sports and workout enthusiasts. The ship even has a pet exercise area so four-legged passengers can stay active and healthy, too. Many of the apartments aboard the ship have been designed by the cruise ship residents, but they are not cheap. To enjoy this mobile and adventurous lifestyle, it will cost you between $2-15 million. But for a view that is always changing from one spectacular sight to another, and to be able to enjoy stress-free traveling to exotic locations, the families aboard the World have decided that the price is well worth it.

To spice up the itinerary, the vessel will stop at different ports of call every time it circumnavigates the globe.

There's even an onboard golf simulator along with the classic cruise ship gym and spa. The rest would then be reserved for "pay-as-you-go" travelers who've purchased preset segments of the itinerary. However, the startup has delayed its vessel's construction timeline multiple times over the last few years. Storylines' investors and former employees have since casted doubts that the ship will ever be built. On Tuesday, Villa Vie — helmed by former Storylines and Life at Sea Cruises employees —  announced it had purchased Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Braemar vessel, now renamed the Villa Vie Odyssey.

The vessel will navigate the globe indefinitely, and residences start at $1 million.

But, they can be much more sustainable with the right technology and design. Look for residential cruise ships powered by renewable energy, and use desalination plants to provide fresh water. Mikael Petterson, the startup's founder and CEO, told Insider that on October 6, the company submitted an offer to purchase a vessel that's in service "from an active operator of several cruise ships."

For furry friends, the ship’s plans also include a "pet spa and resort."

Most residential cruise ships are owned by companies or private individuals. The ship continuously travels worldwide, stopping from port to port or anchoring in bays off tropical islands. The world’s first affordable cruise ship that you can live on with condo/cabins starting at just $155,000. The average entry price will be less than $355,000 with monthly fees similar to the cost of living in a major city.

Storylines was founded in 2016 and is run by Alister Punton and Shannon Lee, two men who previously worked in land-based real estate and construction projects. Per the website, MV Narrative is intended to be more a lifestyle choice and less of an extended vacation. As such, Storylines notes that it will interview potential residents to determine whether they’re a fit for the community. Each of the 165 Residences aboard The World is a privately owned, exquisitely stylish Home.

As an owner aboard The World, you’re part of a unique international community of adventurers living aboard the largest private residential yacht on Earth. On this residential ship, they're set to be offered weekly with an additional biweekly laundry service. Travelers on the ship will spend their first 1,301 days sailing from Southampton, England to 425 ports throughout 147 countries, according to the cruise startup.

But for those who want to buy a residence, 15% of the ship’s 630 cabins are available to purchase.

Strembitsky said that because Villa Vie was looking to acquire a ship that was in operation and "good condition," this shouldn't be too big of a lift. There'll also be multiday stops at some ports, including a 12-day dry dock scheduled in Singapore, the company's brochure says. The launch of Victoria Cruises Line's residential ship was postponed from May 2023 to late July 2024 just months after debuting. The 924-passenger vessel, constructed in 1992, last sailed as Braemar for the Fred. Florida-based Villa Vie Residences was founded to operate the vessel, which it purchased in December 2023. The ship then underwent an eight-week multi-million dollar refurbishment at the historic Harland & Wolff dockyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Unlike other residential cruise ships, travelers can't purchase a suite or stateroom.

The cruise ship was launched in 2002 and at 644 feet long, the ship’s website actually refers to itself as the largest private yacht in the world and the “most exclusive floating city on the planet”. The residents vote on the ports and itinerary that the ship will visit in the upcoming season. The world’s first cruise ship that offered cabins you can buy and live in full time.

New residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey: photos - Business Insider

New residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey: photos.

Posted: Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

They are self-contained with kitchenettes, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living areas. Many of the newer ships are equipped with reliable wifi to allow remote working and e-Learning. This is changing the demographic from exclusively wealthy retirees to younger location independent entrepreneurs, business owners, and even families.

The largest cabin on Villa Vie Odyssey is the one Owner's Suite located forward on deck 7 next to the bridge. Measuring 675 square feet, it includes a separate bedroom and lounge and has a dining area and balcony. Our living fees start from just $2,152 per person per month - lower than living costs in most major cities worldwide. The Somnio – described as a yacht liner – is set to enter service in 2024 and will boast a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, restaurants and bars, in addition to an onboard beach club with water sports. The Somnio was designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden as a luxury residential yacht.

In May 2024, the potential cruise operator says this 924-passenger ship will then embark on a never-ending itinerary, circumnavigating the globe every 3 ½ years. Sure, you could book a room on a round-the-world sailing, but even then, you’re not really living on a cruise ship. As a small-size ship, Villa Vie Odyssey will be able to access destinations and ports larger ships cannot access, including inland waterways and rivers. In 2019 the former Braemar became the longest ship ever to transit the Corinth Canal.

This includes food and drinks, as well as access to all facilities and amenities on board the ship. The culinary experience aboard The World is defined by innovative gastronomic creations and global cuisine using the freshest local ingredients. The Ship’s world-class dining venues and award-winning wine program are unsurpassed anywhere on land or at sea. The 30-year-old Odyssey is scheduled to sail its first voyage on May 15 from Southampton, England. In that first voyage, the ship is expected to visit 425 ports in 147 countries and all seven continents. But this week's news about Villa Vie Residences so far appears to be without drama.