Enter the hero of this story: Mikael Peddersen
Swedish-Born Mikael “Mike” Peddersen was the Managing Director of the now defunct Life at Sea Cruises. (SEE OUR SIDE BAR) The Florida resident has a well-regarded historical past within the cruise business. He labored for each Status Cruise Holdings and Royal Caribbean. His dream of live-aboard cruise ships circling the globe has come to life with Villa Vie Residences. All Issues Cruise caught up with Mike aboard the ship the place that dream is changing into a actuality: Villa Vie “Odyssey”. At the moment ending its monumental dry dock at Belfast’s famed Harland and Wolff Shipyard, Mike hosted a press group on an excellent sunny day. Gleaming white, “Odyssey” left nothing to cover as we toured the ship prime to backside. And by backside, we imply the hull of the ship from stem to stern. For this seasoned cruise ship author and passenger, this was an absolute first and an exciting one at that.
For anybody who ever dreamed of dwelling on a Cruise Ship, your ship has are available.
We’ve all examine a tiny group of people that have left life ashore for all times at sea. They’ve boarded a cruise ship and by reserving back-to-back voyages for months at a time, they dwell aboard ship. This isn’t a brand new phenomenon. My very own mom as soon as met a girl who advised her she beloved dwelling on board as a result of each two weeks the passenger checklist modified and she or he may inform her similar tales over and over. That’s each the enjoyment and the curse of those sailors. They’re probably not going anyplace—simply forwards and backwards on a single itinerary. Not anymore. Villa Vie Residences is about to take live-aboard cruisers on the journey of a lifetime.
Why Villa Vie “Odyssey” was the right alternative for Villa Vies’ first cruise ship.
Mike Peddersen and his staff would be the solely Cruise line that profited from the pandemic. Carnival Company alone laid up 13 cruise ships. The Villa Vie administration had great choices when it got here to purchasing its first vessel. They selected MS Braemar and purchased the 31-year-old ship from Fred. Olsen. The 24,000-tonne cruise ship was constructed for Crown Cruise Line after which handed by numerous upscale cruise strains earlier than the UK-based, Norwegian-owned Fred.Olsen purchased and renamed her MS Braemar in 2001. Underneath Fred.Olsen the ship had even set a document: In 2019 it turned the longest ship to squeeze by the Corinth Canal. Charlie Kinnear, a Maritime Engineer, former US Coast Guardsman and main overseer of the ship’s drydock, attributed the superb situation of the ship’s hull to MS Braemar’s being laid up in chilly water. This just about eradicated the build-up of marine life on that hull, one thing that was most obvious as we walked alongside the ship in Harland and Wolff’s drydock.
You’d by no means know that the Braemar was 31 years outdated.
For one factor, the unique ship was enlarged throughout a refit in 2009 after which renovated once more in 2019—simply months earlier than being laid up. Her interiors are so contemporary, Villa Vie didn’t have to vary the furnishings in rooms like the fantastic Statement Lounge. Likewise, the cabins had hardly been lived in. “Odyssey” has a capability of 924 passengers or residents in its 485 cabins. Its comparatively small dimension means it could actually go to smaller ports and dock there too. Its flatter hull means it could actually even navigate inland waterways. Because the “Odyssey”, it’ll have 8 decks, its promenade can be wraparound. Its pool deck will function two swimming pools, and a number of Jacuzzis. You’ll discover three eating places, eight bars, 4 lounges, a spa, health middle, medical facility, library and, of particular curiosity to its sizeable complement of “digital nomads”, a big enterprise middle with a Starlink system for worldwide WiFi. That is important for conducting enterprise in even probably the most distant locations the ship will go to. Leaving no passenger want unturned, there can be an onboard Pet Spa & Resort, a Golf-around-the-world program, an interactive Culinary Middle, dwell leisure and enrichment packages. Additionally included of their ‘fares’ are weekly skilled housekeeping companies, bi-weekly laundry service and round the clock medical help.
How does Villa Vie Voyages work precisely?
Starting this month, Villa Vie “Odyssey” will circumnavigate the world each 3 and a half years. Its itinerary requires visiting greater than 420 ports in 147 international locations throughout all seven continents. There are two methods to signal on for this voyage of a lifetime. You should buy a cabin to personal onboard or you possibly can be a part of Villa Vie Residences Voyagers Program the place you possibly can create your individual voyage and mix as much as 16 world cruise segments. Or take only one section and “check the waters” to expertise life at Villa Vie.
You’ll be able to Personal a Cabin at Sea
Villa Vie’s Possession Program is already a smashing success. So far 270 vacationers at the moment are homeowners of their very own cabins at sea. On our go to to Odyssey, we met a pair from Palm Seashore Florida who might maintain a Villa Vie document. They’ve purchased 3 adjoining staterooms which they’re reworking into their very own non-public Villa at sea. They’re among the many 80 % of householders who’re US. Residents. Canadians comply with then British, Australian, simply 2 New Zealanders and simply 2 Europeans. Fascinating reality: There aren’t any fewer than 40 single gents signed up, virtually all below the age of fifty. And there are an equal variety of single girls all of retirement age. The prospect of one other Love Boat could seem barely restricted, however who is aware of?
We talked at size to the consumers from New Zealand.
Aboard “Odyssey”, we met the Kiwis, an enthralling couple of their early 50s. A software program designer, the pandemic proved he may work from anyplace. And Odyssey’s enterprise middle will show it once more. He may even have his personal non-public workplace if he so chooses. His spouse proved she may pack all they wanted for his or her 3-1/2 12 months “Odyssey” throughout the 33-kilo baggage (72 lbs.) allowance their airline allowed them to convey from New Zealand. The couple’s two youngsters, ages 23 and 21, will be a part of them at numerous phases. Their son can be on board when Odyssey reaches Japan in August ’25 for a 36-day itinerary. That is all attainable as a result of Household and Pals can go to for gratis—simply $33. Each day port cost and gratuities apply. If their dad and mom resolve to leap ship when Odyssey reaches New Zealand in 2026, they’ll hire their cabin out when they don’t seem to be aboard. Their daughter in the meantime has grander ambitions. A sound engineer, she hopes to affix the ship as a crew member. She’ll be wanted as planning requires talks and vigorous discussions on all method of topics which are already within the works.
Or you possibly can craft your individual World Cruise
Known as the Voyagers Program, Villa Vie permits cruisers to curate their very own itinerary, buying segments of Odyssey’s premiere world cruise. Step aboard for anyplace from 35 to 120 days. Beginning at simply $89 a day per individual, you possibly can see if the Villa Vie way of life is for you. This is likely to be a smart concept since there are, finally depend, simply 25 cabins out there on the market. Villa Vie has saved apart quite a few prime cabins in prime places for its Voyagers Program. And so they’ll undoubtedly want them: Mike Peddersen is nearly to signal on the dotted line for a second Cruise Ship in his fleet—this one barely bigger than his pleasure and pleasure Villa Vie “Odyssey”. However first, he’ll spend this summer season aboard “Odyssey”. He’ll be joined by his spouse and his three youngsters, ages 13, 16 and 17, all desirous to see what their Dad has been engaged on for all these months. They may have firm. 2 different youngsters can be on the passenger checklist.
The Final Phrase
Villa Vie Residences is shaking up the cruise world in a giant means. Providing unimaginable world journeys, you get to discover the world whereas dwelling life aboard an amenity-laden cruise ship. Mike Pedderson has blended high-end consolation, thrilling itineraries and eco-friendly cruising in a single unimaginable vessel. The present choices –Possession and the Voyagers Program—give unbeatable flexibility and exclusivity. Specializing in sustainability and accountable journey, Villa Vie Residences can change the best way we see the world, one continent at a time.
AS A SEPARATE SIDE BAR STORY:
No story dominated final 12 months’s cruise information just like the demise of “Life At Sea”
In short, a Turkish Cruise Line Operator, Miray Worldwide provided the final word fantasy for a lot of a cruise devotee: A 3-year round-the-world cruise that promised to incorporate 382 ports in 140 international locations. Lower than 2 weeks earlier than its scheduled departure date, Miray abruptly cancelled its crusing aboard MV Gemini. This adopted the departure of twenty-two members of its Life at Sea staff, together with its senior administration. They left over considerations for the vessel’s security and seaworthiness. Undeterred, in June 2023 Miray introduced its plans for an additional ship from AIDA Cruises fleet. A brand new Chief Govt, Kendra L. Holmes, was employed. As she sat in conferences with the Carnival Company to shut on the acquisition of AIDAaura, she was knowledgeable that Miray merely didn’t have funds to buy the ship.
Miray delayed the brand new Life at Sea departure twice earlier than selecting November 30th; Potential passengers had began arriving in Istanbul to arrange for his or her departure. Some had bought or rented their houses in preparation for dwelling aboard ship and had actually nowhere to go. CEO Holmes left the corporate in mid-November. After her resignation she despatched a video informing the passengers that the cruise was cancelled. Miray’s promise to refund and reimburse Life At Sea’s passengers was damaged time and time once more and a bunch of 78 of them sued within the Southern District of Florida to get their a reimbursement. So far, solely 4 of them had obtained any cash by any means.
Renderings credit score Villa Vie, others credit score Monte Mathews
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