Andrea Zelinski
I read a story recently about a traveler who spent six years on residential cruise ship the World and compared the experience to the hit show, "The White Lotus." The passenger sailing on the World was so taken by the scenes and drama on the ship that he used them as inspiration for three novels.
There's something about a long cruise that opens up the opportunities for drama (for example, Royal Caribbean International's Ultimate World Cruise playing out like a reality show on TikTok). But sometimes, the process itself of launching a line with a focus on long voyages is fraught with drama.
For instance, Life at Sea Cruises spent years selling cruisers on a residence at sea only to delay the cruise three times and then cancel the entire voyage with 11 days' notice.
But this week's news about Villa Vie Residences so far appears to be without drama. The Wilmington, Del.-based company said this week it has acquired what was formerly known as the Braemar from Fred. Olsen Cruises. This ship is now undergoing about eight weeks' worth of renovations in Belfast, Ireland, before starting its first three-and-a-half-year voyage in May.
The 25,000-gross-ton ship will be renamed the Villa Vie Odyssey. The vessel, which was withdrawn from Fred. Olsen in 2022, is slated to include a business center, a culinary center and a pickleball court when it launches, plus refreshed spaces, including the pool deck, observation deck and all 480 staterooms.
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.
In addition to residences, the cruise line allows travelers to purchase cruise segments, ranging from 35 to 120 days, which are commissionable and make it a contender for agents with world cruise clients looking for a taste of a cruise ship residency.
And maybe, the experience will be so good, agents will find their names in the acknowledgments when their clients write books of their own.