56 INTERVIEW From vision to reality It’s been a long journey for Mikael Petterson who shares with Laura Hyde the numerous challenges faced when refurbishing a 30-year-old ship to launch a residential cruise line 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 multiyear 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 The pool deck during the ship’s refurbishment by Harland & Wolff “ The ship has been customised to include all the comforts and amenities of home”
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