Ulyssia: the world’s largest residential yacht will set sail in 2030

A revolutionary 320-metre project redefining the art of living at sea was presented at the Monaco Yacht Show, promising an exclusive community of 122 residences sailing to all corners of the globe.

A vision born from a passion for the sea

Frank Binder, founder and chairman of Ulyssia Residences AG, revealed the origins of this ambitious project during the press conference in Monaco. “It came originally from 25 years ago when I saw the concept of the world, the first residential ship, and I was really intrigued by the idea of being able to travel the world from home and in comfort, in luxury,” explains the Swiss entrepreneur. “I thought, well, it would be nice to combine this concept of a home at sea with the elegance, the style, the luxury of a yacht, not having to own a yacht, but having a home on a yacht the size of a cruise ship.”

The project brings together partners of excellence: German shipyard Meyer Yachts for construction, Norwegian naval architect Espen Øino for exterior design, and Italian designer Francesca Muzio (FM Architettura) for interior spaces. Delivery is scheduled for 2030, with construction set to begin at the end of 2025.

An exclusive community in perpetual motion

“The concept behind Ulyssia is, quite simply, travelling the world from the comfort of your home,” summarises Alain Gruber, Chief Executive Officer. The former executive from The World – Residences at Sea brings 30 years of expertise in luxury hospitality. “Every day, you go out and you explore these magnificent destinations all over the globe, but you come home to familiarity, to people who know who you are, who know what your needs are and how to take care of all your preferences.”

The vessel will offer residences ranging from 110 to 1,600 square metres, with prices between 10 and 100 million euros. More than half of the 122 apartments are reportedly already reserved, the necessary condition to start construction.

A bespoke lifestyle

Renato Chizzola, Chief Operating Officer, emphasises absolute personalisation. “We study the profiles of each and every family, not only Papa and Mama, but also the kids and the grandparents. We know everything about them. We know what they love, we know what they don’t like,” he details. This approach enables the creation of “a concierge-driven program, individualised for each and every family.”

The yacht will feature exceptional amenities: two helicopters, two Triton submersibles, seven restaurants, a 1,900-square-metre Chenot spa, two padel tennis courts, and even a bowling alley recently added at the founder’s request.

Health and wellness at the heart of the project

Dr. George Gaitanos, Chief Operating and Scientific Officer of Chenot, Ulyssia’s wellness partner, emphasises the importance of holistic health. “Our vision is to create a community, a longevity community, where the objective is to create health,” he states. “We will extend our services, our medical services beyond the walls of what is now defined as a wellness space. It will go into the whole yacht.”

Excellence from sky to sea

Matteo Atti, Global Chief Marketing Officer at VistaJet, the project’s aviation partner, explains the importance of the complete experience. “Imagine you have all that they told you about and the door to enter this magnificent palace where everything is shiny and beautiful is a Ryanair flight. It gets very easy to destroy the dream,” he illustrates with humour. “We can fly you, your family, your friends that come to visit from anywhere in the world to you” with 24 hours’ notice.

With a crew-to-resident ratio of 2 to 1, single accommodation for all crew members, and the Swiss flag guaranteeing stability and excellence, Ulyssia positions itself as “the most exclusive club in the world,” according to Frank Binder. A new era of maritime residential luxury is on the horizon.