Ulyssia Residences AG has released further details on its 320-metre residential superyacht project at this year's Palm Beach International Boat Show.
Developed in collaboration with Espen Øino and Meyer Werft, the live-aboard superyacht will take residents to a "wonderful balance of destinations, from chic yachting ports to the world's most iconic cities, as well as the most remote locations on earth." Construction on the mammoth build is expected to start in September this year and is slated for launch in 2029.
Ulyssia's team are keen to stress that she is not a cruise ship. "She is a 320-metre yacht, the largest yacht in the world, registered under a Swiss flag, travelling continuously, on an itinerary that the owners themselves design," said Ulyssia's founder and chairman Frank Binder, who explained how over the last year the team has been travelling the globe, carefully curating an international community united by their passion for travel and discovery. Ownership is a shared freehold whereby the residents own the ship in perpetuity and in proportion to the square footage owned. Around half of the residences have already been sold.
A lifelong yachting enthusiast, Binder shared how he'd initially came upon the idea. "I'm very much into boating; living and travelling on the water. More than 20 years ago, [residential cruise ship]The World was launched and I thought, 'Wow, that's a cool idea, I could imagine a place like that for myself one day!" Instead of buying a home on a ship, Binder ultimately chose to design a yacht around his residence. He was the first person to buy an apartment on Ulyssia.
Accommodation is across 133 residences and 22 guest suites, with homes ranging from 110 to 953 square metres. Residences are offered in one to six-bedroom configurations and will include reception rooms, open-plan kitchens and terraces. Guest cabins are also available for the purpose of extended family use. Interiors are customisable and will be designed by FM Architettura, with other designers including Reémi Tessier, Lenny Kravitz, Sabrina Monte Carlo, Jean Michel Gathy and Jenan Interiors appointed to give "individuality" to the apartments.
Meanwhile, Swiss-based Chenot will be handling the health and wellness activities on board, including a spa, sports and fitness centre and dental care. A medical facility will also be available, fitted with the "latest, high-quality equipment" such as X-rays, MRI, CT scanners, endoscopy and ultrasound equipment.
Binder explained that one of Ulyssia's most important features is her educational facilities, which will cover everything from destination experts – with EYOS Expeditions joining the project as the vessel's expedition partner – to lecturers and facilities for home schooling children. "Part of the concept is to have a diverse community, both age-wise and geographical. We want to enable people with families to live on board as well," he said.
"[Every resident] has something in common," continued Alain Gruber, CEO of Ulyssia Residences. "They want to travel, they are curious, they are adventurous. But after that, they divide up into these sub-groups. You have your foodies, you have your divers, you have your sailors, you have your art collectors, people that interested in reading and book clubs – all those subcommittees will start to form on board and create a real sense of community."
Leisure highlights that cater for these groups include a well-stocked signature wine cellar and a collection of restaurants which will feature a rotation of "world-renowned" and "up-and-coming" guest chefs.
A fully-equipped yacht club and marina, golf club, 600-metre jogging track, indoor and outdoor padel tennis, pickleball and multi-use courts will be available to residents, alongside several indoor and outdoor pools. Complementing this will be a two-level theatre, an extensive library and several conference rooms, as well as two resident helicopters and Triton submersibles to "facilitate epic adventures".
The yacht has been designed with a relatively shallow beam draft so she can cruise the Amazon River. She will also be narrow enough to pass through the Panama Canal and low enough to go under the Sydney Bridge.
The design team has also promised to "minimise [the yacht's] carbon footprint," creating "the most sustainable yacht ever built at delivery". Currently this includes a hybrid propulsion system utilising flex fuel options and a combination of batteries and solar. Advanced hull design as well as inertia, heat and energy recovery systems will also "maximise recycling and sustainability efforts."
The level of complexity involved in moving a large residential yacht constantly around the world is something the team, some of them who have worked on theThe World, are more than used to. Cruising itineraries, for example, will be set several years in advance to ensure the best berths are secured and a team of over 40 people shoreside will oversee issues such as security, staffing, legal and logistics as well as management of the 327 crew working on the yacht.
COO Renato W. Chizzola, who once managedThe World, said it was hard to give Ulyssia a label. "It could be the world's most luxurious hotel, it could be the most remote resort on the planet, it could also be the most exclusive private club... it's all of this."
"Most of our residents are people who have achieved almost everything in life," Chizzola continued. "They have several homes around the world. Now they love the idea that they wake up in the morning and their view changes every three, four or five days. You can buy yourself a stunning place in London, and you love that one tree, and you look at it every day. That's great. But we give you different trees, different statues, cities, cultures, every three or four days."
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