Cruising in old containers on a decommissioned cargo ship

(written by Julie Desmet from Flows)

The MS Attila is the first cruise ship to sail on the lakes in Switzerland. The former cargo ship was repurposed as a luxury hotel with the help of nine Gosselin Group storage containers.

“A crazy idea that has become reality,” is how Marcel Jörg, CEO and co-shareholder of Gosselin Mobility UK (Gosselin Group’s moving division), describes the initiative to breathe new life into a decommissioned cargo ship. 

Conversion to scrap

Named after the ruler of the Huns, the Attila served for many years as a cargo ship for the transport of construction materials such as gravel. “The ship was too old and no longer satisfied safety standards,” Jörg says. “The owner of the ship wanted to get rid of it because of the high costs of converting it to scrap.”

“A friend with experience in running event boats came up with the idea to transform it into a cruise ship. I was immediately intrigued,” he continues. 

Funds

It took over a year to raise the necessary funds. “It wasn’t easy to persuade people,” Jörg says. “Cruising isn’t a typical tourist activity in Switzerland, a country where it also rains a lot just like Belgium,” he laughs. 

Boutique Boatel

After another year to repurpose the ship and obtain the necessary permits, the Attila rose again as a “boutique boatel”. Gosselin Mobility in Switzerland has over five hundred storage containers, nine of which have been given a permanent home. Each container can accommodate two passengers.

“Working with containers is an inexpensive way to make optimal use of the space. 14 m² is just enough space for a comfortable bedroom and bathroom,” according to Jörg. “The containers are also even strong enough to support a sun deck.”

Three Lakes Region

The Attila sails past the most beautiful sights in the Swiss Three Lakes Region which consists of Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and Lake Biel. Further info may be found here. Watch the video below for images of the exclusive hotel rooms. 

(written by Julie Desmet from Flows)

About Gosselin

Gosselin is a leading provider of international moving and destination services. Our clients are multinationals, relocation management companies, expats, diplomats, military personnel and private persons. With 56 offices in 34 countries, Gosselin has a strong presence in Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

Gosselin is a division of the Gosselin Group that has its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1930 and employs a staff of 800 that generates more than 300 million Euros in turnover.