The Villa Vie Odyssey is about to get a luxury sister ship. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
The sea’s the limit for adventurous Aussies if you’re wealthy enough.
A residential cruise line just announced a new luxury ship that will allow passengers to live on board permanently.
Launched by Villa Vie Residences under the working name Project Lumina, the ship will feature fully-owned private residences and top amenities and services.
Fares will start at $539,999 (AUD $808,000) for an ocean-view cabin, increasing to $899,999 (AUD $1.35 million) for balcony suites, according to a Facebook post from Villa Vie Residences.
That means the starting price is less than the cost of the average Sydney home or unit which come in at $1.62 million and $885,000 respectively.
Official details of the new ship — such as the name, design highlights and inaugural deployment — will be announced at a later date, The New York Post reports.
Villa Vie Residences currently allows passengers to own, rent or lease a cabin for life on its Odyssey cruise ship, with prices starting at $189,999 (AUD $284,000) for passengers aged 75-79, along with a monthly maintenance fee of $2,999 (AUD $4500) and up, depending on room size and number of occupants.
The Odyssey, which carries up to 970 passengers, is currently on a “continual world cruise” docking at more than 425 ports and 140 countries every three-and-a-half years.
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The Ville Vie Odyssey offers the chance to secure a room for 15 years.
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Details about individual units on the new ship were not disclosed with the brand announcement. For reference, most rooms available on the Odyssey measure between 130 and 225 square feet, alongside the 675 square-foot Owner’s Suite.
Project Lumina will run in parallel with the current contemporary model on the Villa Vie Odyssey, which will keep its role as the flagship contemporary residential product.
“Project Lumina does not replace our commitment to the Odyssey,” Kathy Villalba, CEO & Co-Founder of Villa Vie Residences, said in a statement.
“It reinforces our ability to build a stable, long-term business structure while expanding what it means to call the ocean home.”
The project will be led by President Chris Cox, who previously assisted in selling cabins on the residential cruise line Crescent Seas.
The idea of residential cruise ships is one that is gaining plenty of traction in recent years with many retirees opting to forego the maintenance of a home for the thrill of the sea.
Many people see it as a cheaper option that allows them to tick a number of items off their bucket lists. It also sets people free from bills like rent or mortgages, groceries, car registration/tolls/petrol, electricity, water and everything else in-between.
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Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen have embarked on a 15-year cruise.
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Lanette and Johan Canen, both 55, are also aboard the Odyssey after selling their home and business in Hawaii.
“We had a rented cars business which we sold to be able to afford our cabin,” Johan said.
“People think we’re ultra rich for being able to do this, but it’s cheaper than our rent and living costs in Hawaii. This is for normal people.”
Lanette and Johan had visited more than 25 countries just eight months into their 15-year journey.
Many people considering full-time cruising as an option for them struggle with the idea of leaving family behind but that isn’t an issue on the Odyssey – friends and family can visit for up to 28 days with their own room and it’s free.
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