Passengers waiting to embark on a three-year world cruise have been stranded in Ireland for three months after the departure date was delayed due to mechanical issues.
Initally scheduled to depart Belfast, Ireland, in May, the Villa Vie Odyssey remains docked in Northern Ireland while repairs are made to its rudders and gearbox.
Some passengers have spent upwards of £680,000 (about $750,000 USD) for the cruise—yet there's no official sail date in sight.
A number of guests have opted to remain onboard, living on the cruise ship while waiting for the repairs to be completed.
Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen intend for the ship to become their home for at least 15 years and hope to visit over 400 destinations every 3.5 years, as reported by Lad Bible.
The couple sold their rental car business in Maui, Hawaii, and have begun to document their adventures on their YouTube channel, @livinglifeonacruise, providing tours of their cabin and the Odyssey.
Similarly, Dr. David Austin sold his house in Georgia to prepare for the journey.
"I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay," he told the New York Post.
Nicaraguians Angela and Stephen Theriac claimed they've become friends with the locals. "We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast," Angela said.
Read more: For just $89 per day, you can live on a cruise ship and sail the world
Her husband added that the couple has eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness beer in every pub in the city.
They've taken advantage of the ease of traveling in Europe, though. Since May, they've been to Spain, England, and Greenland, BBC News reported.
Florida resident Holly Hennessey and her cat, Captain, have also made the ship their home. Hennessey explained she's been allowed to spend time onboard during the day but has had to disembark at night.
"We can spend all day aboard the ship, and they provide shuttle buses to get on and off," said Hennessey.
"We can have all of our meals [onboard,] and they even have movies and trivia entertainment. [It's] almost like cruising except we're at the dock."
Hennessey shared a tour of her cabin on Captain's Facebook. The caption, which was written from the cat's POV, reads, "Yes, we are STILL waiting. Everything in the way of certifications has been signed off on and now it is in the hands of our flag 🇧🇸, the Bahamas. Let's hope they don't live up to the old island time saying!"
"Mom spends her days aboard the ship so she's all unpacked and busy decorating our cabin. She says the crew is really awesome, the food is wonderful and healthy and she loves being on the ship. Today they had a whiskey and vodka tasting from the Titanic Distillery aboard for everyone."
A spokesperson for the cruise line told The New York Post that the issues arose from trying to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel. However, they expect the Odyssey to set sail as soon as next week.
“Despite having to do major works such as the rudder stocks, major steel work and engine overhauls, we have persevered and are now in the last stages of departure,” read the statement.
“We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment.”
Villa Vie Odyssey operated as MS Braemar for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for over 20 years
Measuring under 26,000 gross registered tons with a passenger capacity of less than 1,000, Villa Vie Odyssey is a far cry from today's mega-ships, like Icon of the Seas. You won't find any major thrills onboard, such as ice skating rinks, go-kart tracks, roller coasters, and more.
However, as a small ship, Odyssey can dock in ports inaccessible on larger vessels, including those tucked inland and along rivers.
The ship has three restaurants and five bars and lounges onboard, as well as a pool with two jacuzzis, an interactive and educational culinary center, a spa and fitness center, a golf simulator, a fully-equipped business center, and a library.
A look inside Villa Vie Odyssey
Johan and Lanette from @livinglifeonacruise shared an in-depth ship tour of the Villa Vie Odyssey on their YouTube channel.
The 15-minute video shows the public areas around the ship, including the Observatory—where another resident can be seen playing the piano—, Grampian and Thistle Restaurants, gym, fitness center, lido deck, and more.
The ship is outfitted with standard cruise ship amenities, including a spa, different dining options, entertainment venues, and even a laundry room where residents can wash their clothing.
However, as the 924-passenger ship is meant to house full-time residents, there are some notable differences, mainly regarding the amenities.
Johan, for example, states that while passengers can do their own laundry, the ship has valet service. Personally, this sounds like a dream! I'd love to have someone take care of all my laundry, even if just on a bi-weekly basis.
According to Villa Vie's website, the multi-year cruise is all-inclusive, whereas most mainstream cruise lines charge extra for specific amenities and services, including drink packages, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi.
On Villa Vie's Odyssey, residents have included alcoholic beverages, high-speed internet, complimentary health care consultations, mixology and culinary lessons, and more.
Though inside cabins can be bought for around $119,000, guests are subject to a monthly fee. Those in interior staterooms have to pay $1,750—if sharing the room with another passenger—or $2,499 if sailing solo.
Balcony suites cost around $349,000; however, the monthly fee is $4,499 based on double occupancy or $7,999 for solo passengers.
If ownership isn't feasible, Villa Vie offers shorter segments where passengers may rent a villa for anywhere from 35 to 120 days. The 92-day segment that travels throughout North Asia, for example, costs $17,195 per solo guest or $24,564 for a double.
Read more: 12 Surprising Things That Aren’t Included in Your Cruise Fare
This isn't the first time a three-year-long world cruise has had issues
Last year, Life at Sea's three-year cruise was canceled after it was revealed they did not have a ship.
The inaugural voyage was slated to depart on November 11, but the date was pushed back to November 30. However, on November 17, less than two weeks before the new departure date, guests were notified that the cruise was canceled.
Would-be passengers had sold their homes, cars, and other possessions in preparation for the multi-year cruise and were stranded as a result of the last-minute cancelation.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
