Delays Hit Residential World Cruise Again: Buyers Lose Free Hotel Perk

Villa Vie’s residential cruise ship has been delayed yet again as the company awaits a certificate.

The ship was initially scheduled to set sail on its never-ending around-the-world cruise in May.

In the interim, Villa Vie said it will no longer pay for its would-be residents’ accommodation.

Villa Vie Residences’ highly anticipated residential around-the-world cruise has been postponed yet again from its original May launch date, the company announced to waiting customers on Monday.

The company also said it can no longer afford to pay for its would-be residents’ accommodations near the ship, which has remained stuck in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for almost four months.

Villa Vie Odyssey has been preparing for a continuous journey that will circle the globe every three and a half years, visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations, while providing the amenities of a traditional cruise.

Dual occupancy cabins are priced starting at $120,000, with a further monthly fee of $1,750 per person.

The eagerly awaited ship was originally planned to launch in May following the acquisition of the over 30-year-old Braemar vessel, now rebranded as Villa Vie Odyssey, from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. However, problems such as the old vessel’s rudder stocks and certifications have led to delays in its maiden voyage.

Mikael Petterson, the founder and CEO of Villa Vie, indicated in an email to Business Insider in early September that he anticipated the departure of Odyssey might occur on September 9 or 10, though he mentioned the exact day was not confirmed.

However, on September 9, instead of commencing their global voyage, purchasers were informed about another delay.

The residential ship had successfully completed its eagerly awaited sea trials, serving effectively as a “test drive” for such cruise ships. Yet, in a communication to potential residents, Petterson conveyed that the vessel was still pending its Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, required for sailing.

“We are truly at the end of the tunnel and can finally see the light,” he asserted.

Since May, over a hundred buyers of Villa Vie have been in the UK awaiting the ship’s departure. They are allowed to spend their days on Odyssey but cannot stay overnight. Until now, the company provided transport to the ship, meals, drinks, outings, and accommodation—or a daily allowance for those preferring to make their own arrangements.

However, as of Monday, a memo from Villa Vie has instructed residents to cover their lodging costs for the next week or so until the floating condominium is fully certified.

Since the initial delay, according to BI, Petterson stated that Villa Vie has expended nearly $2 million on hotel expenses for its buyers. He commented, “I wouldn’t say it’s crushing, but it certainly adds to the stress of not having launched yet and not generating any revenue.”

For some potential residents like Angela and Stephen Theriac, the new directive means they must leave the UK, where they have stayed since Odyssey’s planned initial departure in May, to return to the US.

“Seven days is a lot in Belfast,” the couple stated in a video on their YouTube channel, MidLife Cruising. “The prices are a minimum of $200 a night. It’s cheaper for us to fly back to the US.”

Read the original article on Business Insider

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