Harland & Wolff has signed a contract with Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US-based cruise brand Villa Vie Residences to carry out at its historic Belfast Dry Dock a refurbishment of the 24,344 gross tonnage cruise ship Braemar, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Commenting on the announcement, John Wood, Group Chief Executive Officer of Harland & Wolff, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this contract with Villa Vie Residences and continue building on what has been a very busy start to the year for our Belfast yard. Our world-class facility is fast becoming recognised as a global cruise ship centre of excellence, delivering high-quality repair, dry docking, refit, and outfitting services. We look forward to welcoming Villa Vie Odyssey and her crew to our yard next month.”

Braemar was previously part of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines until the vessel was acquired in March.

Following the completion of a multi-million-dollar transformation by Harland & Wolff into a residential cruise ship to be renamed, Villa Vie Odyessy, it will feature villa residences available to buy from $99,999 or be used by guests based on rental segments.

Afloat tracked Braemar from Rosyth, Scotland, where it departed the North Sea port on 23 April and arrived at Belfast Harbour five days later. On completion of the works, Villa Vie Odyssey was originally to depart Southampton on its inaugural three-and-a-half-year world cruise on 15 May; however, this has been rescheduled to May 30 with a change of port to Belfast. The change of departure dates is to facilitate necessary operational enhancements of the Villa Vie Odyssey.

Those on board can either own a villa on the ship or travel on a pay-as-you-go basis, with guests taking the entire world voyage, which Villa Vie Residences markets as the ‘first perpetual, all-inclusive world cruise’, covering 425 destinations in 147 countries and 100+ islands. This will involve crossing all seven continents as it circumnavigates the globe every three and a half years which is 1,301 days.

The Braemar is docked in Belfast Dry-Dock which was previously occupied by another US-based company, Margaritaville at Sea Cruises of Palm Beach, Florida, whose second ship, the former Costa Atlantica, renamed Margarita at Sea Islander underwent a major refurbishment as previously reported, which is to launch the 2,380 passenger flagship to the US east coast and Gulf of Mexico. The cruise ship remains berthed adjacent to Belfast Dry-Dock and is to enter service next month.

In 2016 Braemer became the first scheduled cruise ship in 20 years to visit Rosslare Europort, which saw the almost 196 metre vessel, (lengthened in 2008: see video), also as the longest ship to call at the Co. Wexford port

Fred Olsen acquired the 1993 built Cunard Crown Dynasty, originally 19,089 gross tonnage and they had inserted a 31 metre mid-section to boost capacity (729 cabins increased to 988) and the inclusion of a lounge and swimming pools.