For those who have ever dreamed of traveling the world without ever leaving the comfort of their own living room, the ultimate solution is officially on its way. Ulyssia, a breathtaking 323-meter (1,060-foot) residential gigayacht, has just taken a massive step toward reality.
Conceived by Swiss entrepreneur Frank Binder and designed by the legendary naval architect Espen Øino, this vessel completely challenges the traditional boundaries between superyachts, cruise ships, and luxury real estate.
Here is everything you need to know about the world’s most exclusive floating neighborhood.
A New Builder and a Fixed Timeline: Destination 2031
While the ambitious project was heavily showcased at the Monaco Yacht Show with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft originally intended to construct it, the development team has officially finalized its construction strategy.
Ulyssia Residences AG has formally signed a construction contract with China Merchants Cruise Shipbuilding (CMCS). CMCS, along with its specialized engineering subsidiary Deltamarin, will take total control of the massive engineering, outfitting, and overall build program.
With the shipyard officially locked in, the construction phase is underway, keeping the historic vessel strictly on course for its maiden voyage departing from Monaco in 2031.
The Scale of a Cruise Ship, the Soul of a Yacht
At 323 meters, Ulyssia will easily rank among the largest privately owned vessels ever built, dwarfing traditional billionaire megayachts like Azzam (180m) or Eclipse (162m). Yet, its creators emphasize that it is explicitly not a cruise ship.
Instead of temporary cabins packed with vacationers, Ulyssia operates as a permanent, mobile community at sea. The vessel will feature:
- 122 Private Residences: Ranging from 110-square-meter (1,200 sq ft) pied-Ã -terres to massive family duplexes stretching past 930 square meters (10,000 sq ft).
- 22 Guest Suites: Reserved exclusively for the friends, family, and guests of the permanent residents.
- Shared Freehold Ownership: Residents actually own a proportional share of the vessel’s operational management entity, giving them a literal vote on where the yacht sails next.
The price tag for this level of extreme, borderless luxury? Residences are reported to range anywhere from $10 million to up to $100 million, with over half of the units already reserved by global citizens.
Six-Star Amenities and Extreme Expedition Capabilities
The interior design, led by Francesca Muzio of FM Architettura, mimics a high-end estate on land, featuring private terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass. However, the shared spaces are what make Ulyssia a self-sustaining eco-system of luxury.
Ultimate Health & Leisure
- The Chenot Spa: A massive 1,900-square-meter (20,500 sq ft) medical and wellness facility focused on longevity, rehabilitation, and preventative health.
- Recreation: The ship includes multiple indoor and outdoor pools, a 600-meter outdoor jogging track, a bowling alley, golf simulators, and even two indoor padel tennis/pickleball courts.
- Dining: Seven distinct restaurants and bars with rotating menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs.
Extreme Exploration
To ensure residents can explore the actual edge of the earth, Ulyssia has partnered with EYOS Expeditions to coordinate trips to places like Antarctica and remote Pacific islands. The yacht will carry serious hardware to back it up:
- Two Triton Submersibles: Capable of diving deep beneath the ocean surface.
- A Dedicated Marina & Dive Center: Equipped with Zodiacs, beach-landing craft, and custom luxury tenders.
- Aviation & Helipads: Two onboard helicopters for heliskiing or remote scouting, backed by a global aviation partnership with VistaJet to fly residents directly to the ship’s nearest port.
[ ULYSSIA AT A GLANCE ]
Length: 323 Meters | Residences: 122 (+22 Suites) | Maiden Voyage: 2031
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[Wellness] [Exploration] [Lifestyle]
1,900m² Chenot Spa 2 Triton Submersibles 7 Fine-Dining Restos
600m Jogging Track 2 Onboard Helicopters Shared Freehold Model
2 Padel/Pickleball EYOS Expedition Team VistaJet Partnership
Conscious and Sustainable Footprints
Operating a 323-meter vessel requires vast amounts of energy, which is why the partnership with CMCS is heavily focused on green technology. Ulyssia is being engineered to deploy a sustainable hybrid propulsion system that utilizes methanol as its primary fuel source.
Combined with massive solar arrays, battery storage, state-of-the-art hull recycling tech, and energy recovery systems, the goal is to make it one of the most environmentally responsible large-scale maritime vessels on the water by the time it sets sail.
When Ulyssia leaves Monaco on its maiden voyage in 2031, it won’t just be a testament to engineering—it will completely redefine what it means to be “at home” in the world.
