What does it mean to live exceptionally? Is it partly defined by the ability to accumulate material wealth? Or is it found in the experiences we choose to seek?
For the ultra-wealthy, the definition’s scope can be as wide as an ocean. Soon, this metaphor will become incarnate, as the mega yacht ‘Ulyssia’ – a luxury floating residence that will circumnavigate the globe permanently – prepares to be laid down in Germany.
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That’s right, Ulyssia is a big boat – but certainly not an ordinary one. In fact, it’s a 320-metre, $1.17 billion USD floating ‘gigayacht’, which promises to reshape luxury living by removing geography from the equation altogether.
Ambitious European engineering excellence
Developed by Ulyssia Residences AG, and led by Swiss recycling entrepreneur Frank Binder, this 132-residence floating city aims to become the world’s most exclusive residential address, and one without a fixed postcode.
Floating year-round between global capitals and remote island chains, Ulyssia is being touted as a sovereign community with something that no land-bound development can offer: a constantly shifting backyard of the world’s most coveted coastlines.
“We didn’t want to build another superyacht,” says Alain Gruber, CEO of Ulyssia Residences AG. “We wanted to build a new way of living – one that celebrates discovery, privacy, and the ultimate expression of freedom.”
Gruber, Binder and co. has enlisted a dream team of global design authorities to turn this dream project into teak and titanium.
Norwegian naval architect Espen Øino, the mind behind many of the world’s largest yachts, leads the exterior design, while inside, Italian design house FM Architettura – known for their work on Aman and Four Seasons properties – will create a “floating minimalistic” aesthetic – warm, organic, yet unmistakably opulent.
Ultra-luxury living curated by A-listers
A rotating cast of A-list designers, including Jean-Michel Gathy, Lenny Kravitz and Sabrina Monte-Carlo are also onboard, and each will lend their discerning eye to the project to help craft bespoke interiors for Ulyssia with the input of their elite clientele.
“Each residence is a reflection of its owner,” says Francesca Muzio, co-founder of FM Architettura. “We’re not designing apartments; we’re designing floating estates.”
And with sizes ranging from 1,200 to over 10,000 square feet – and prices between €9.5 million and €90 million a residence – that distinction matters.
At 324 metres, Ulyssia eclipses the most famous luxury liners. It’s longer than the Titanic and will rival a cruise ship in scale. Its promise is to offer 13 decks of seamlessly integrated residential, hospitality, and wellness experiences.
A maritime masterclass in luxury living
The proposed amenities aboard Ulyssia are staggering: Michelin-grade dining across multiple venues, an onboard art gallery, a members-only cigar lounge, a theatre, an underwater marina with submersibles, and a curated “herb garden” gourmet market that evolves with the destinations visited.
And with luxury at the vanguard of the Ulyssia proposition, everything is underpinned by the practical day-to-day infrastructure that keeps a society happy and healthy.
Wellness, for instance, is woven into the ship’s DNA. A state-of-the-art spa and diagnostics clinic operated by Chenot is its anchor point, and will feature MRI suites, holistic treatment rooms, and a full-service medical centre.
For the fitness conscious, there will be a 600-metre jogging track, pickleball and padel courts, multiple high-tech gyms and a resident-only yacht club. And to connect with the mainland – wherever that may be in the world – two resident helicopters and a helipad are there at residents’ disposal.
Resident-led and curated lifestyle experiences
An opulent material vessel is one thing, but anyone with the means can enjoy a cruise. Ulyssia promises to be different by focusing on treating residents as a community and not just guests travelling between fixed points.
The way they’ll bring their residents together? Through democratised experiential programming, where resident owners will vote together annually on the ports they’ll moor in, the cities they’ll visit, and the islands or resorts they’ll retreat to.
“It’s a democracy of discerning tastes,” jokes Gruber.
That’s why Gruber is partnering with EYOS Expeditions who are curating more than 100 destination visits per year, which could include multi-day stays in places ranging from Venice and the Maldives, to Antarctica and Micronesia.
A new model for luxury marine ownership
Unlike timeshares or fractional-ownership clubs, Ulyssia offers a freehold ownership model. Each residence is fully deeded, with title secured through international marine property frameworks.
Owners also receive equity in the yacht itself, along with voting rights in its governance and operational decisions.
It’s part real estate, part equity stake, part community – akin to buying into a members-only floating country club, but with a UN-calibre passport.
Annual service charges, pegged at around 3-5% of unit value, cover everything from concierge services and crew salaries to global provisioning and fuel for Ulyssia’s hybrid propulsion system.
Sustainability and innovation to the fore
Ulyssia is aiming to be the greenest gigayacht ever built. It will use hybrid engines powered by methanol, marine gas oil, solar arrays, and battery systems.
Hull efficiency is optimised through advanced computational modelling, while onboard recycling and water management systems minimise waste and pollution.
Ulyssia is also being posited as a philanthropic force on water. Gruber says the brand will partner with local communities for environmental, educational, and cultural initiatives in every port, with a resident philanthropy council overseeing long-term programmes in marine conservation, disaster relief, and cross-cultural exchange.
“We want to leave every place we visit better than we found it,” says Renato W. Chizzola, Ulyssia’s COO.
Construction on the horizon
With construction set to begin at Meyer Werft in Germany by the end of 2025, Ulyssia’s delivery is currently targeted for 2029.
The total development cost exceeds €1 billion, with funding structured through a mix of equity investors and pre-sales.
“We’re not just selling homes,” Gruber notes. “We’re offering a lifestyle that doesn’t exist anywhere else. And there’s a certain type of buyer who’s been waiting for exactly this.”
Early expressions of interest are already being accepted, with several penthouse units reportedly under offer by UHNWIs from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
In a world where privacy is priceless, time is currency, and geography is increasingly optional, Ulyssia represents a rare convergence of architectural ambition and aspiration.
Ulyssia’s legacy could be a foundational piece in a new trend that’s transcending traditional luxury lifestyle experiences.
If the sky is no longer the limit for travel, then why should the deepest oceans be for living?
