Braemar (ship)

''Villa Vie Odyssey'' is a cruise ship operated by Villa Vie Residences for its -year, residence style cruise concept. Since its construction in 1993, the ship has been variously known as: ''Braemar,'' ''Crown Dynasty'', ''Cunard Crown Dynasty'', ''Crown Majesty'', and ''Norwegian Dynasty.''

History

''Odyssey'' was initially constructed in 1993 for Crown Cruise Line, as ''Crown Dynasty'', but she was marketed as the "Cunard ''Crown Dynasty''" when Cunard Line signed an agreement to manage marketing, sales, and reservations for Crown Cruise Line. The vessel sailed under this name until 1997, when she was transferred to Majesty Cruise Line, which renamed her ''Crown Majesty''. This lasted until the end of 1997, when the vessel was transferred again, this time to Norwegian Cruise Line, which renamed her ''Norwegian Dynasty''.

The vessel returned to her original fleet and name in 1999, but was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2001, where the vessel operated under the name ''Braemar'' until 2020.

In 2008, the vessel underwent a refit and was stretched, receiving a new hull section that increased its tonnage to the current 25,000 GT. The ship's passenger capacity was also increased to 977.

On 9 October 2019, while carrying her full capacity of 929 passengers, she became the longest ship ever to cruise through the Corinth Canal.

On 8 March 2020, government officials in Cartagena, Colombia, announced that a recently disembarked passenger had tested positive for COVID-19, and was accepted by a private local clinic for care. On 9 March 2020, government officials in Alberta, Canada, announced that a recently disembarked passenger had tested positive for COVID-2019. A day later, Alberta officials confirmed a second infection of a passenger returning from ''Braemar''. On 13 March, the ship was denied entry to the Bahamas as a result of five passengers testing positive for the virus. For the same reason. Sint Maarten also denied a request from the cruise ship to allow passengers to fly out. The infected passenger disembarked off the cruise in Kingston, Jamaica, but it was unknown where they contracted the disease. On 16 March, it was announced that Cuba would accept the ship and evacuated all travelers to the United Kingdom.

In November 2022, the ship still had not returned to service; Fred Olsen cruises put the ship up for sale.

In 2023 Villa Vie Residences bought the ship, renaming her ''Villa Vie Odyssey'', for their -year residential style cruise. The vessel was handed over to Villa Vie Residences in February 2024 with more than 70% of cabins sold (340/485 approximately). She left Leith docks where she was laid up and arrived at Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast for refitting on 28 April 2024. While in drydock, the ship's itinerary suffered several delays, as rudder, gearbox and other issues were discovered. Future residents waiting for a revised sailing date either remained in Belfast or toured Europe on trips subsidized by the company.
''Villa Vie Odyssey'' was floated out of the dock on 24 July and moved to the ship repair quay on 2 August. She sailed out on the evening of 30 September. However, due to a failure to complete what was described as "some final pieces of paperwork", She anchored just outside Belfast that night. She left the Belfast anchorage at approximately 16:30 BST on 3 October on her way to Brest, France.

As of February 2025, the ship had visited western Europe, northwest Africa, then transited the Atlantic Ocean, and the Panama Canal before moving south to the Strait of Magellan.

Floating accommodation. London Olympics (7644847470).jpg, ''Braemar'' with former sister ship in London, 2012
Braemar (ship, 1993) IMO 9000699; Split (N43°30', E16°26'); 2014-09-23, 15h18m28s.jpg, ''Braemar'' in 2014; ship received an extensive renovation on behalf of Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
9000699 Braemar 1993.jpg, ''Braemar'' in 2019 with the new livery of Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, the penultimate livery for the ship before becoming ''Villa Vie Odyssey''

See also

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References

External links

Fred Olsen Homepage

Additional pictures of the Braemar
including its May 2010 visit to Dartmouth, Devon
Timelapse video of the enlarging of MS ''Braemar''Villa Vie Residences

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villa Vie Odyssey
Cruise ships
Residential cruise ships
Passenger ships of Norway
1992 ships
Ships built in Spain
Cruise ships involved in the COVID-19 pandemic