Villa Vie Residences has announced it will expand its existing fleet of seagoing residential ships with the addition of a new vessel, to be called Legacy, entering service in 2029. The ship is Holland America Line’s former Veendam, which was acquired by Seajets in 2020 and has been in cold lay-up in Greece ever since.
Villa Vie, which launched its year-round residential cruising experience in 2024 aboard Odyssey, formerly Fred. Olsen’s Braemar (ex-Crown Dynasty), reported that berths are already 85% sold out for its existing vessel. The acquisition of the former Veendam will allow Villa Vie to double its capacity, with accommodations aboard Legacy expected to command a 30% bump in fares to reflect the ship’s increased amenities.
Legacy will undergo a complete refit before entering service for Villa Vie in 2029. The ship was originally built in 1996 for Holland America Line as Veendam and underwent significant structural upgrades in 2006.
“When we launched Odyssey, we set out to prove that residential cruising wasn’t just possible – it was sustainable,” said Mike Petterson, founder of Villa Vie Residences. “Two years later, with Odyssey more than 85% sold, we’ve reached an exciting milestone. Legacy is the natural evolution of everything we’ve learned from our residents and operations around the world.”
The company is offering passengers with residences aboard Odyssey the chance to move over to Legacy following its debut in 2029 as part of its Endless Horizons residency programme.
The acquisition of older tonnage that can be upgraded has been a boon to several lines, including Villa Vie Residences, Margaritaville at Sea, and other operators. Through extensive refurbishment programmes, these classic vessels can be refitted to a high standard for a fraction of the cost – and wait time – that the newbuild orderbook commands.
For its part, Seajets still has two other classic cruise ships in lay-up: the 1992-built Majesty of the Seas and the 2000-built Oceana, which originally sailed for Princess Cruises as Ocean Princess.
