Former Braemar Sails from Scotland Ahead of Villa Vie Debut

The former Braemar has sailed from Scotland ahead of debuting for Villa Vie Residences.

After spending almost four years docked in Rosyth, the 1993-built vessel left the port under its own power on Tuesday morning.

Set to be renamed Villa Vie Odyssey, the cruise ship is now on its way to the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it is expected to arrive on April 25.

At drydock, the 924-guest vessel is scheduled to undergo significant technical work, including the reactivation of systems, class inspections, general maintenance and more.

The Villa Vie Odyssey will also receive a new livery, as well as new public areas and features. Among the new additions are a culinary centre and a pickleball court.

According to Villa Vie Residences, the vessel will also be enhanced with a state-of-the-art business centre, an upgraded pool deck, a new observation deck and refurbished staterooms.

All 480 cabins are set to undergo upgrades to ensure “the utmost comfort and style,” the company said.

Following the refit, the Odyssey is scheduled to sail to Southampton to embark on its maiden voyage for the new operator.

After leaving Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet in late 2022, the former Braemar was acquired by Villa Vie Residences earlier this year.

Building on a residential ship concept, the startup brand plans to offer a continuous cruise that will circumnavigate the globe every three-and-a-half years.

Passengers can buy their own “villas” onboard the ship, becoming owners of one of the ship’s cabins.

For its first world voyage, the Odyssey is scheduled to visit all seven continents, sailing to over 425 destinations in 147 countries. The itinerary also allows guests to explore 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World, Villa Vie said.

Built in Spain in the early 1990s, the former Braemar also sailed for Cunard Line, Crown Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and others.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Resumes Sailings from Scotland

For the first time since 2019, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will resume sailings from Scotland this year aboard Balmoral, according to a press release.

The Balmoral, which welcomed her first guests back on board in May 2022, will set sail from Rosyth in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 8 for an eight-night “Hidden Gems of the Norwegian Fjords” cruise, taking travellers to Nordfjord, Sognefjord, Fjaerlandsfjord, Eresfjord, Molde, Skjolden, and Olden, according to the company.

The Balmoral, named after Queen Elizabeth II’s Scottish estate, joined the company’s new ships, Bolette and Borealis, both of which resumed cruising in 2021.

The Borealis became the first UK cruise ship to sail internationally in the post-pandemic era and the Balmoral’s first cruise was the “Canary Islands with the Funchal Flower Parade. ”Since then, she has sailed from Newcastle to Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Latvia.

The Balmoral will depart from Rosyth for the rest of summer 2022, before sailing on a series of cruises from Southampton, Dover, and Portsmouth in September.

“This first departure from Rosyth will be extra special as Scotland is Balmoral’s spiritual home, and we always receive a warm welcome when sailing from there. There is a long and proud history at Fred. Olsen of naming ships after Scottish icons, which reflects the connections between the Olsen family and Scotland. It is wonderful to have three ships sailing again, which allows us to offer departures from more regional ports around the UK,” said Peter Deer, managing director, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Sample Cruises:

Cities & Islands of Sweden, Estonia & Latvia, Departing from Rosyth
Date: July 16, 2022
Duration: 13 nights
Itinerary: Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland – Liepaja, Latvia – Saaremaa, Estonia – Tallinn, Estonia – Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden – Stockholm, Sweden – Visby, Sweden – Riga, Latvia – Klaipeda, Lithuania – Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
Price: From £999 per person

Discovering Castles, Palaces, and Cultural Landmarks of Northern Europe, Departing from Rosyth
Date: August 19, 2022
Duration: 10 nights
Itinerary: Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland – Fredericia, Denmark – Klaipeda, Lithuania – Gdansk, Poland – Sassnitz, Germany – Szczecin, Poland – Kiel Canal Transit, Germany – Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
Price: From  £1199 per person

French Rivers With Bordeaux, Departing from Rosyth
Date: August 29, 2022
Duration: 11 nights
Itinerary: Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland – Lorient, France – Bordeaux, France – River Seine, Rouen, France – Honfleur, France – Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
Price: From £1199 per person

Fred. Olsen New Ship Bolette Arrives In Rosyth

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has completed its fleet by welcoming Bolette to Rosyth, Scotland, just two weeks after taking delivery of another new ship, the Borealis.

The ships are the former Amsterdam and Rotterdam from Holland America Line.

The Bolette arrived at Babcock’s Rosyth Facilities on Thursday sailing under the Forth and Queensferry bridges.

Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said:

“It is wonderful to have sister ships Bolette and Borealis together in the same place, joining the rest of our fleet.

“They have already had such a warm welcome from our guests who have been following our Virtual Cruising programme on Facebook and on our website. Now, we can get to work getting both ships ready, in true Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines style, for when our guests step aboard for the first time.

“This is a hugely exciting time for us, and taking ownership of these ships is a clear indication of our plans to bounce back stronger than ever, once the time is right to start sailing again.”