Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted October 25, 2023 #1 Share Posted October 25, 2023 New article on Cruise Industry News: Villa Vie Residences Nears Ship Deal for Start Up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaBoat Posted October 30, 2023 #2 Share Posted October 30, 2023 I've looked at the site and it's almost cryptic. No ship information. Regardless, why buy when you can sail on plenty of cruise ships for more than likely LESS. Looking at NCL, I can bag as a single cruiser, a 10 day Panama Canal cruise for less than $60 a day, in a balcony cabin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted November 30, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted November 30, 2023 New story on Cruise Industry News: Villa Vie to Announce Ship Purchase Agreement in December This new line does look more substantial than some other smoke dreams – but I still won't put money down on a ship that isn't sailing yet, no matter who the owner is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted December 14, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted December 14, 2023 Villa Vie Residences Purchases Braemar from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted December 14, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 14, 2023 And people investing in this cruise are still getting a 30 year old hull, regardless of how much is spent renovating the hotel side. Had to laugh at the comment that the "flatter hull" makes her more able to go up inland waterways and rivers. Braemar's hull is no "flatter" than Oasis of the Seas. What allows her to go to these places is her lower draft than larger ships. And, that is merely a function of overall ship size, not any special condition of the Braemar. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacMadame Posted December 14, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 14, 2023 My understanding is that this line as formed from the Life at Sea people who quit over the "ship is/is not seaworthy" controversy. Not sure I'd give them money until they had at least a year of sailing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted March 4 Author #7 Share Posted March 4 It does look like this one is getting real: Villa Vie Takes Delivery of Cruise Ship for Residence Start Up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Ellsworth Posted March 10 #8 Share Posted March 10 I don't know that this kind of thing would ever be for me, but being able to buy for as low as $100,000 + $2500 per month solo (inside cabin), with a guarantee that the monthly would never go up, might be compelling for a lot of people. It sounds like everything, really everything, is included plus the ports and timing also seem unique compared to mass lines. An inside cabin might not be ideal, but it's on the ship. These are usually so much more expensive that the pricing might draw interest. Personally, it seems like a guarantee that monthly fees will never be changed even at 15+ years is a recipe for business failure. There's gotta be some fine print somewhere. I'm not in this business or industry, so I don't know, but that seems really unlikely to last, unless it's a limited startup promo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacMadame Posted March 11 #9 Share Posted March 11 15 hours ago, Miss Ellsworth said: Personally, it seems like a guarantee that monthly fees will never be changed even at 15+ years is a recipe for business failure. They are only going to sell a certain number of these. The rest will be used for people cruising segments and not owning. Those prices will go up with inflation. Also, let's get real. Not all of those people who buy a cabin will stay the course for the full 15 years. They'll sell their cabin back to the cruise line and the cruise line will resell it at a higher monthly rate. 😄 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkbiiii Posted March 27 #10 Share Posted March 27 I think it includes food too, but what would the quality be like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacMadame Posted March 27 #11 Share Posted March 27 10 hours ago, gkbiiii said: I think it includes food too, but what would the quality be like? From their marketing materials, it looks like food is an important part of the experience. For example, they are going to have all these culinary classes and events involving their chefs. So I would expect restaurant quality, maybe not a Michelin Star restaurant but better than Hometown Buffet and better than I get at home. 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted April 27 Author #12 Share Posted April 27 Villa Vie Residences Launches Docuseries on YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikeanswers Posted May 1 #13 Share Posted May 1 It looks like I should have posted this link here😂. Anyway here is a blog about a couple starting their Residential Cruise journey. They will be sailing with Villa Vie Residences: Residential Cruising The Basics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted May 8 Author #14 Share Posted May 8 Villa Vie’s Odyssey Enters Drydock in Belfast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkbiiii Posted May 15 #15 Share Posted May 15 I had a very nice talk with the rep, the "New Horizon's Program," onetime fee $300,000/$600,000 Single/double occupancy; which gets you an ocean view cabin, in any of their ships for life. There are NO other fees, gratuities, port taxes, or any other like fee, for life! You can transfer to other ships for no fees and somehow this amount will allow the company to take care of you for life?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikeanswers Posted May 16 #16 Share Posted May 16 4 hours ago, gkbiiii said: I had a very nice talk with the rep, the "New Horizon's Program," onetime fee $300,000/$600,000 Single/double occupancy; which gets you an ocean view cabin, in any of their ships for life. There are NO other fees, gratuities, port taxes, or any other like fee, for life! You can transfer to other ships for no fees and somehow this amount will allow the company to take care of you for life?? From what it says on the website it sounds like a time-share arrangement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menocchio Posted May 16 #17 Share Posted May 16 4 hours ago, gkbiiii said: I had a very nice talk with the rep, the "New Horizon's Program," onetime fee $300,000/$600,000 Single/double occupancy; which gets you an ocean view cabin, in any of their ships for life. There are NO other fees, gratuities, port taxes, or any other like fee, for life! You can transfer to other ships for no fees and somehow this amount will allow the company to take care of you for life?? That's a sign they need a capital infusion. Lots of money upfront. It'd be a long while before those who bought in would get their value back, and I'm sure they'll stop offering this deal once they get the money they want. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkbiiii Posted May 16 #18 Share Posted May 16 25 minutes ago, Menocchio said: That's a sign they need a capital infusion. Lots of money upfront. It'd be a long while before those who bought in would get their value back, and I'm sure they'll stop offering this deal once they get the money they want. It is like $3-4K monthly dues, on top of the $145K price so I don't know. But you don't own the share, if you take this deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted May 16 Author #19 Share Posted May 16 Here's an article about the "New Horizons Program" from CruiseIndustryNews: Villa Vie Residences Introduces Lifetime World Cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingsoon Posted May 19 #20 Share Posted May 19 They've sure been getting a lot of free advertising in the press recently. I love the concept and size of ship, want to believe, but just can't. As Bubbaboat noted, there's a lack of hard information (despite claims of transparency), very few photos of cabins or public areas and I couldn't find a photo of the cabin bathrooms. gkbiiii - what other ships for the New Horizons program? So far, it's just the Odyssey ... maybe. If I did want to sail the world for three or four years straight on an older small ship (and that's sure a fun fantasy) I'd probably piece together my own itinerary using the R-class ships of Oceania and Azamara. I looked, but my suspicion is stronger than my fear of missing out. I have to pass on this one. Walkingsoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couldbeswell Posted May 22 #21 Share Posted May 22 Very curious to hear how the first few weeks go for those on board -- I am tempted by the pre-purchase offers but as others have mentioned, it's very risky. Did speak with their sales team and they sent the boat overview @walkingsoon@BubbaBoat -- it's the Braemar https://fredolsencruises.com/virtual-tour/braemar/full-tour/ May try a rental segment as they're reasonably priced, get a feel for the community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted May 25 Author #22 Share Posted May 25 Latest article on CruiseIndustryNews (more free publicity!): Villa Vie Odyssey: Reduced Shifts and Refreshed Cabins for Crew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VL1 Posted May 27 #23 Share Posted May 27 Are they actually ready to set sail May 30, 2024? Or will there be another postponement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LewiLewi Posted May 27 #24 Share Posted May 27 They will be sailing from Belfast on May 30 according to CNN and other reports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VL1 Posted May 29 #25 Share Posted May 29 That is tomorrow. Are there any people actually sailing on this ship on this forum. I would love to hear from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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