Ulyssia Is a Residential Superyacht That Will Turn Life into an Endless Vacation

The Ulyssia is a residential superyacht concept by startup Ulyssia Residences AG. The company, currently based in Germany, is only 8 months old as of the time of press, but its dreams are bigger than those of established names in the industry. They don't have a timeline for the realization of said dreams right now, but they have something else that will have to do: a gorgeous concept.

Residences at sea aren't a novel idea, though the surprising boom in interest is recent. Until this moment, the materialization of these ideas has been slow because, as it turns out, sending gigantic watercraft packed with people on years-long or never-ending journeys around the globe might be a nice thing to dream about, but a nightmare in terms of viability.

There are exceptions, of course. The World is the most impressive: a residential superyacht designed for the one-percenters, where condos sell for as "little" as $2 million and as much as $15 million, and where you only have to think of something, and it gets done. We're exaggerating, but you get the idea: The World is the mother of all luxury cruises, but turned into a permanent lifestyle.

Other exceptions could come soon, if everything goes according to plan and, admittedly, that's a huge "if." MV Narrative, billed as the affordable take on an errant life at sea, and Villa Vie Residences are both rushing to become a reality, though the same obstacles as before remain, with the biggest being turning cruising into a lifestyle at an affordable cost.

Ulyssia would also like to throw its name in the game, though it would be years before it could set sail. So let's do baby steps instead: the Ulyssia Residences concept was presented at the 2024 edition of the Palm Beach International Boat Show, offering a glimpse into a very pleasant seaborne future and the promise of outstanding collaborations.

Two of those include world-renowned designer Espen Oino, who did the exterior of the Ulyssia concept, according to one trade publication. Meyer Werft, a shipyard that specializes in oversize cruise liners, also pitched in and might be involved later in the process, when construction starts.

Ulyssia is huge, at 324 meters (1,063 feet) in total length, but unlike a traditional cruise liner, it would be lighter in terms of accommodation capacity. After all, it holds "homes" at sea, so the goal is to make them as spacious and comfortable as possible and the amenities list longer.

There'd be 119 residences and 13 guest suites in total, of varying sizes and configurations, with custom interiors by FM Architettura. The smallest home would be 166 square meters (1,787 square feet), while the largest would span an impressive 1,400 square meters (15,069 square feet). The guest suites would serve as guest rooms for extended family members, expedition partners, and research parties, according to the same media outlet.

Leading Swiss operator Chenot would handle all wellness and fitness offers onboard, and they'd make for an impressive list. The standard spa, sports, and fitness center would be at the top of that list, but it would also include healthcare, like dental care, and a proper medical facility offering anything from CTs and X-rays to endoscopies and MRIs. This might sound excessive, but a hospital is a must-have for any vessel planning to stay out at sea for months in a row.

Amenities would also include restaurants with international cuisine and famous guest chefs, a number of pools and a most impressive beach club, a dive club, a theater and movie cinema, lounges and bars, and a large library. Ulyssia would have several conference rooms and dedicated workspaces for business people and digital nomads, as well as two helicopters to use in whatever emergency arises or for fun activities like heliskiing.

Ulyssia would have "the most technologically advanced and sustainable power system available," as well as a "fully integrated system for recycling and processing of waste." Both are promises other similar floating residences have made in the past, and to little surprise. One aspect of the cruise industry is its impossibly large and completely avoidable carbon footprint, which means a company planning to set sail on an endless cruise would have no other option but to try and work around the issue. Or else be prepared for the backlash.

The concept came accompanied by one more promise, that of taking residents on a journey like no other before, which combines "chic yachting ports" and tourist hotspots, remote destinations, and exotic locales. If that's not the definition of a life lived like a never-ending vacation, we don't know what is.

Ownership of a home onboard will be for 50 years, with the possibility to extend it after that, and an annual cost of ownership estimated at 3.5% of the initial purchase price.

That's not a typo. As alluring as the idea of a floating residence might seem, it entails long-term costs besides the initial, not at all trifling purchase cost. On the bright side, many of these residences can be rented out when the owner is not using them, so there's always that option of making an extra buck.

Don't rush to count your pennies just yet, though. Ulyssia Residences AG seems to have a handful of very respectable partners onboard, but the project is still in its earliest stages. It's so early on that "the most exclusive private residential community in the world" doesn't have as much as an official site yet.

We've reached out to Alain Gruber, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, to try and get more details, and we'll update the story when and if we hear back.