The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
If you’ve ever dreamt of a life on the high seas but aren’t so keen on the faff of operating a vessel, there’s always the option of buying a luxury cabin or apartment on a cruise ship.
Villa Vie Residences, for example, is selling cabins on its world cruise ship, which will set sail for the first time in May 2024.
This decidedly upscale floating housing estate will circle the world every three and a half years, visiting more than 420 ports in 147 countries across all seven continents.
Live-in cabins on the ship cost between $99,999 (£82,180) and $249,999 (£205,120), or passengers can experience segments of the world voyage (from 35 to 120 days) for $89 (£73) per person, per day.
All passengers have access to the onboard restaurants, pools, hot tubs, spa and fitness centre, golf simulator, cooking classes at the dedicated culinary centre, live entertainment and ‘cutting-edge’ business hub, complete with private offices and a library.
Villa Vie Residences is selling cabins on its luxury world cruise ship, which will set sail for the first time in May 2024. Pictured: A rendering of a cabin costing $249,999 (£205,120)
The residential ship will circle the world every three and a half years from May 2024, visiting more than 420 ports in 147 countries across all seven continents
Described by the company as ‘floating havens’, the cabins come in three types and all feature a queen-size bed and private bathroom. What sets them apart is their size, as well as the balcony and window setup.
Permanent passengers can choose between the Inside Villa featuring a virtual window and up to 180 sq ft of living space, which costs from $99,999 (£82,180); the Oceanview Villa with multiple windows and up to 180 sq ft of living space, from $149,999 (£123,090); and the Balcony Villa, boasting a 60-sq-ft balcony and 200 sq ft of space inside, costing from $249,999 (£205,120).
Additional monthly fees start at $1,749 (£1,441) per person to cover onboard food, drinks and services such as 24/7 medical support, housekeeping, and a bi-weekly laundry service.
Just like owning a house, cabin owners are able to sell, rent, or live in their room and have friends and family onboard for free – they just need to pay fees at the ports.
All passengers have access to the onboard restaurants, pools, hot tubs, spa and fitness centre
Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson said the company aims to ’empower travellers to make the world their home’
For those travelling segments of the world cruise, the same room options apply and prices vary depending on the room and number of nights.
Passengers on the pay-as-you-go option can combine up to 16 segments of the world cruise to create their own unique journey.
Examples include an 87-day cruise across Northern Europe stopping at 22 countries, a 47-day cruise to ‘Greenland and Beyond’, with stops in Quebec, New York City and Miami, an 83-day cruise in the Caribbean stopping at 23 countries, and a 127-day cruise in South America, stopping at 11 countries.
Other options are a 95-day tour of Japan and the Philippine Sea visiting 11 countries, a 69-day tour of Australia and Bali stopping in five countries, a 51-day cruise around India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and a 68-day cruise along the coast of Africa visiting 15 countries.
Passengers on the pay-as-you-go option can combine up to 16 segments of the world cruise to create their own unique journey
‘From the enchanting fjords of Northern Europe and the icy fjords of Greenland to the vibrant Caribbean, the soul of South America and the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean, Villa Vie Residences promises a new chapter in the adventure of a lifetime,’ the company said.
CEO Mikael Petterson said the company aims to ’empower travellers to make the world their home’, adding: ‘Villa Vie Residences is not just a cruise, it’s a lifestyle reimagined.’
Additional details of the 1,301-day world voyage by Villa Vie Residences will be announced in the coming weeks.
Cruise ship cabins can also be bought on Storylines’ luxury residential cruise ship, MV Narrative, and for the mega-rich, there’s Somnio, which offers ultra-luxury apartments starting at 9.5million euros (£8.1million/$11.2million).
