By
Laura Hyde |
Bringing an innovative idea to fruition is never easy, particularly when it comes to launching a new residential cruise brand with a well-appointed ship that will be home to hundreds of guests and sail multi-year voyages to destinations around the world. Such a project comes with unique challenges, all of which require meticulous planning, determination and persistence to overcome if the brand wants to ensure success.
In March 2024, Mikael Petterson embarked on this challenging journey when he took delivery of former Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship Braemar, as part of his mission to launch his own residential cruise line, Villa Vie Residences. Petterson planned an eight-week, $12 million renovation onboard the ship, which had been laid up in Edinburgh, Scotland, since the Covid-19 pandemic shut the cruise industry down in March 2020.
However, the renovation did not go as smoothly as Petterson hoped.
Before the newly renamed Villa Vie Odyssey could sail to the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for renovation, it had to undergo an unexpected dry dock in Edinburgh. This was to allow technical teams from Villa Vie and Harland & Wolff to ‘wake up’ the ship’s engines and technical systems slowly to prevent long-lasting, irreparable damage.
When the ship set sail for Belfast on 24 April using its own power, Villa Vie shifted the planned departure of its inaugural three-and-a-half-year world cruise from 15 May in Southampton, UK, to 30 May in Belfast. In the weeks following, numerous issues forced the brand to delay the departure date more than once; first to 15 June after an issue with the ship’s water tanks, then to 25 June after an issue with the rudder stocks. However, ongoing issues with the rudder stocks delayed the launch further.
“The rudder stocks have pushed us back; we have other items onboard that we’re working on from a technical standpoint but it’s not part of the critical path,” said Petterson in an update posted on the cruise line’s YouTube channel on 4 July. “The critical path to get us out of here is the rudder stocks…we’re continually working on getting the ship to where it needs to be.”
The pool deck during the ship’s refurbishment by Harland & Wolff
Villa Vie Odyssey finally launched on 3 October 2024 after 17 weeks of delays. The refurbished ship offers three restaurants, five bars, four lounges, a spa and fitness centre, a library and an extended pool with two Jacuzzis. The ship has been customised to include all the comforts and amenities of home.
“The biggest difference compared to traditional cruise ships is that Odyssey will be home for residents rather than a traditional vacation space,” says Petterson. “This means there’s been more focus on designing for people’s everyday needs versus what you see on cruise ships with weekly turnarounds. There’s less of the glamour and flashy entertainment and more practical amenities, like the business centre, the friends and family cabins, hair salons and self-service laundry facilities. The onboard experience needs to be dynamic and well considered.”
One of the key focuses of the renovation was the pool deck, which was in a state of disarray after being open to the Scottish elements for four years. “The entire pool deck has been ripped out and rebuilt,” says Petterson. “We’ve merged the two pools, connecting them with a watered walkway. My original vision was for people to be able to swim from one to the other, but as water weighs a lot, we’ve instead created a surface of water to join the pools, making the area bigger than it was.”
Another big project was to create a business centre to give residents somewhere to work while onboard. The business centre features Starlink and Viasat 3 internet, allowing residents to stay in contact with friends and family at home and enable non-retired residents to work remotely from wherever this ship is in the world.
Villa Vie Odyssey began its maiden voyage from Belfast, Northern Ireland on 3 October 2024
During its voyage Villa Vie Odyssey will call at 425 destinations in 147 countries. This will include a 95-day journey through the Japan and Philippine Sea beginning in August 2025, visiting Tokyo, Sapporo, Kobe and Hiroshima in Japan, Taipei and Kaohsiung City in Taiwan, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, and more.
“I can’t wait to explore places like Madagascar, Maldives, Japan and Asia, as well as spend the summer onboard with my family,” says Petterson. “The work doesn’t stop though, so I don’t think I’ll be relaxing too much. But, for our residents, the ship will provide a new standard for global exploration, offering an exceptional blend of opulence, immersive travel and personalised service. This is not a vacation; it is a lifestyle!”
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.