New ‘Golden Passport’ offers lifetime residence at sea
Cruise line company Villa Vie Residences has launched a ‘Golden Passport’ programme, which the firm says allows individuals to live at sea on a lifetime basis for a one-time payment starting at $99,999.
The initiative is linked to the company’s Endless Horizons permanent residence-at-sea scheme and involves an age-based pricing model aimed at retired travellers.
Those who buy into the firm’s Golden Passport are offered lifetime accommodations at sea, with pricing ranging from $99,999 to $299,999 depending on age. The lowest rate is reportedly available for individuals aged 90 or above, while those between 55 and 59 face a higher price of around $299,000. The cruise line has not yet introduced a tier for passengers younger than that.
The Golden Passport scheme will be transferable across the Villa Vie Residences fleet, although currently the Odyssey is the only vessel in operation.
The package includes accommodation, dining, housekeeping, laundry, internet, entertainment, annual medical check-ups, and wine or beer with meals. WiFi, activities, and other services are included, with no hidden charges for port taxes or service fees. Residents can also invite family and friends on board, for a daily fee of $129.
Each circumnavigation is scheduled to last between three and three and a half years. The itineraries cover all seven continents, more than 140 countries, over 400 destinations, and numerous tropical islands. Extended port stays of two to three days are offered, and itineraries feature 12 of the 14 ‘wonders of the world’.
Some individuals have already chosen residential sailing as an alternative to retirement homes. In May, 77-year-old Sharon Lane left her retirement village in Orange County, California, and used her life savings to purchase a cabin outright for its 15-year lifespan. “I’m finally able to do what I’ve wanted to do for years,” she told CNN Travel. “I buy the cabin, I live in the cabin, and that’s it. And then there’s no end.”
The company faced disruption last year when the Odyssey was held in Belfast for four months due to a rudder issue, which delayed its launch and left residents stranded. The vessel has since resumed sailing and is now operating its scheduled world voyage.
“As people retire, one of their biggest fears is outliving their money. With the Golden Passport, that uncertainty disappears — one payment secures a lifetime of adventure,” says Mike Petterson, founder of Villa Vie Residences. “Our age-tiered pricing ensures that Endless Horizons is no longer just a dream for the few, but an attainable reality for many.”
“Life moves quickly, and the regret most people share is that they didn’t travel the world when they had the chance,” adds Kathy Villalba, the firm’s CEO. “The Golden Passport makes that dream possible — and affordable — in a way the cruise and travel industries have never seen before.”
Do you think you should’ve mentioned the monthly maintenance fees (which are quite substantial) in this article? The article, as written, would make it seem as though the financial cost is all up front. Not true from what I’ve read elsewhere. Deliberately misleading?