Villa Vie’s Odyssey Finds Unique Niche in Long-Term Cruising

Nearly six months after departing Belfast on its ambitious three-and-a-half-year world cruise, Villa Vie’s Odyssey is successfully catering to a unique market, according to Hotel Manager Rodrigo Lopes.

“I believe Villa Vie tapped into a new market niche with a well-thought-out business plan and a solid structure, making this product truly unique,” Lopes shared in an exclusive interview with Cruise Industry News, the first media outlet to visit the ship.

Currently, the Odyssey has 249 residents onboard, though the total number of people calling the ship home exceeds 360. According to Lopes, the remaining villas are expected to sell out by summer.

A Pet-Friendly Home at Sea

The Odyssey is also home to seven pet cats, marking a first in the cruise industry. While policies for dogs onboard cruise ships exist, no official guidelines for cats had been established—until now.

“That’s one of the innovative plans Villa Vie introduced. While cruise lines have policies for dogs, there were no specific regulations for cats,” Lopes explained.

“We developed these policies, gained approval from the relevant authorities, and now the cats are happily living onboard,” he added.

Life Afloat: A Resident’s Experience

Among the ship’s residents is Holly Hennessy, a former boat owner who brought her eight-and-a-half-year-old cat, Captain, aboard.

Captain has been living in Hennessy’s balcony stateroom since the ship set sail from Belfast last September.

“It’s the perfect place for both of us. The cabin is bright and spacious, and the bed is high enough for Captain to watch the passing ships, which he loves,” Hennessy said.

Having spent winters on a boat for most of his life, Captain has adapted seamlessly to life at sea.

“I owned my own boat for 17 years and loved it, using it as my winter home for many of those years. But it came with a lot of challenges. Now, I get to live on the water full-time, enjoy boat rides every day, and avoid the headaches of boat ownership,” Hennessy added.

With its long-term cruising concept, unique accommodations, and pet-friendly policies, Villa Vie’s Odyssey is carving out a new space in the industry, offering residents the chance to experience life at sea like never before.