The months-long wait for the continuous round-the-world voyage organized by Villa Vie Residences appears to be nearing the end.
The cruise vessel, Villa Vie Odyssey, finally left the Harland & Wolff shipyard yesterday for sea trials.
The activity is one of the final steps before any vessel enters service. During sea trials, ships undergo hundreds of tests to assess their safety and performance.
| Passengers waiting a long time for embarkation day couldn’t be more relieved. Villa Vie Residences promised them a three-year round-the-world cruise and an initial sailing date of May 15. Since late April, the residential cruise vessel had been drydocked for repairs in Belfast, Ireland, while booked passengers anxiously hoped for good news. |
Holly Hennessy from Florida has spent the last three months in Belfast waiting for the 30-year-old vessel to be ready. Weary of the cancellations, she told Good Morning America, “It’s cold. It’s windy. It’s damp. It usually rains. I’ve been moved five times to different accommodations.”
She spent the time with her cat onboard the vessel previously operated by Fred. Olsen Cruises. Guests could stay in their staterooms during the day but must make other arrangements at night.
| Like Hennessy, Johan Bodin and his partner Lanette Canen have been waiting for their global adventure to begin. They left their Maui home to be part of the sailing. When the dates didn’t pan out, they traveled throughout Europe for months. Despite the setbacks, the pair remain optimistic about the journey ahead. “If all goes well, we should be boarding just a couple of days later! |
Canen wrote on Facebook that we’ve gone from 3,000 critical items to just 3, so we’re almost there.
She described the bed and breakfast they’re staying in, their remote office, and how they enjoy spending quality time with family.
Read more World Cruise Faces Another Setback After Troubling Sea Trials Update
When Will Villa Vie Odyssey Set Sail?
Villa Vie Residences has canceled the Odyssey’s embarkation at least four times since May. Equipment testing, missing certifications, steering problems, interior renovations, and wastewater issues cause the delays.
| The cruise line’s founder and CEO, Mikael Petterson, said the repairs are almost done and the vessel may finally leave next week. Taking stock of the last repairs, he commented, “The rudder stocks took six weeks to get done, and now we’re dealing with a couple of other things. But overall, I think three months is actually not that bad given the circumstances.” |
Once it leaves, the Odyssey will call on 425 ports across 147 countries for 3.5 years. The cruise fare is $300,000 to $500,000. Its all-inclusive payment covers meals, lodgings, and community activities.
Last year, a similar 3-year global cruise left people homeless and in financial straits when Life at Sea Cruises could not secure a ship.
