An Old Favourite Now In New Hands – Cruise Ship Undergoes Prep For An Epic Journey

Villa Vie Residences, a residential cruise line, has announced that it has now taken possession of the former MS Braemar and has begun the work to transform her into the Odyssey, a ship that will offer a 3.5 year cruise.

The ship cruised for British cruise line Fred. Olsen since 2001 but was recently retired, and it had been announced that Villa Vie Residences had purchased it for its world cruise. She is now spending 8 weeks in Belfast for an extensive refurbishment.

New amenities will be added including an observation deck, a new culinary centre, and a pickleball court, while the pool deck and all staterooms will also be given a complete overhaul.

Once she relaunches as Odyssey, the ship will embark from Southampton on a cruise lasting 1,301 days. Departing on 15th May 2024, she will ultimately visit 425 ports in almost 150 countries, including visits to 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World.

Guests can opt to purchase one of 17 individual sectors of the cruise, or they can pay for the entire voyage instead. Guests can also pay to own the cabin for this and future cruises.

The fact that the ship has now entered ownership with Villa Vie Residences will put guests at ease – some other residential cruise lines have attempted to get off the ground but ultimately folded, including one that cancelled the cruise just days before departure.

Now, though, passengers who’ve paid can start looking forward to one of the most exciting cruise itineraries ever – and there’s still time for others to join them.