A passenger waiting months to depart on the round the world residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey has been booted over comments about the months-long delay.
Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida, said the company kicked her off over comments made in a closed Whatsapp group with fellow residents.
Guests Accused of ‘Damaging Morale’
Villa Vie Residences said her contract was canceled because it impacted “community morale.” Villa Vie Odyssey, which was first scheduled to depart in May, has been docked in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for months while the cruise line has been dealing with various technical issues.
“These were private conversations – I posted nothing on social media platforms. The frustration among the residents grew after every delay. I tended to be one of the more outspoken in asking important questions,” she told the Telegraph newspaper.
“Many of the residents thanked me privately for speaking up for the entire group.” However, Villa Vie Residences said her complaints to other cruisers crossed a line.
| “We have received over a dozen formal complaints from residents regarding your continuous complaints and negativity. This behavior has significantly impacted the morale and wellbeing of other passengers, said Villa Vie Residences COO, Kathy Villalba, in a message to Phenix. “Given the overwhelming feedback, we must cancel your contract permanently to uphold the wellbeing and satisfaction of our community.” |
CEO Speaks to Journalist on Incident
The cruise line responded in a statement by CEO Mike Petterson to the Telegraph reporter Dave Monk: “Ms Phenix broke multiple terms and conditions and signed a non-disclosure agreement. The founding residents voted and agreed to uphold her suspension and we plan on respecting that decision.”
Related: World Cruise Update Tackles Ship Delays
This is Phenix’s second bad experience with round-the-world residential cruising. She was also a paying customer of Life at Sea, a rival residential cruise startup that filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, owing her thousands of dollars.
Latest Update on Villa Vie Departure
Meanwhile, Villa Vie customers were emailed earlier this week to be told that the company will no longer compensate them for food and hotel expenses.
CEO Petterson acknowledged there were still problems with the ship. Although no confirmed date has been disclosed, he expects the vessel to depart within a week.
Related: World Cruise Scrapped, Leaving Passengers Homeless
