‘Devastated’ passengers told to cover expenses after cruise ship delay

Villa Vie Odyssey had been due to set sail on a three-year voyage in May but the departure date is now unclear

On the water: Odyssey sailing before it was stuck in Belfast (Villa Vie Residences)

Passengers plagued by delays while waiting to set sail on Villa Vie Odyssey – with the promise of unlimited voyages around the globe and a guaranteed cabin – are now being asked to cover their expenses ahead of their adventure of a lifetime.

According to a recent YouTube update from MidLife Cruising, a vlog detailing life on board Villa Vie Odyssey with more than 9,000 subscribers, passengers received an email from the cruise line’s CEO late on Monday 9 September announcing “there were still some problems.”

According to the pair, the email stated that “sea trials weren’t as great as expected, and they still had to get through some final certifications”.

In this “devastating” update delivered to the couple and fellow would-be passengers, Villa Vie Residences also reportedly extended a request to ask passengers to cover their expenses for “at least the next seven days.”

Until now, the cruisers, who have left and returned to Northern Ireland four times during the ship’s delays, have had their hotels and food covered by Villa Vie Residences, and have been allowed on board during the day to use the facilities.

“Seven days is a lot in Belfast. It’s too much for us. It’s cheaper for us to fly back to the States,” explains MidLife Crusing in their video update. “They’ve spent basically half a million dollars already covering all of us here in Belfast.”

Villa Vie Odyssey was scheduled to set sail from Northern Ireland at the end of May. It was due to visit all seven continents, with stops at more than 425 ports in 147 destinations, but has been stalled due to the ship requiring work to the rudders and the gearbox, among other repairs and tests.

Mikael Petterson, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, told The Independent: “While the road has had its challenges, every decision we’ve made is focused on the wellbeing and safety of our residents. We have supported our residents with trips around Europe, and spent over $2m in hotel stays and trips to accommodate and entertain them while Odyssey has been getting ready for launch.”

“Since residents are scattered throughout Europe in over 20 different hotels, we have decided to let residents plan their hotels and way back to the ship for launch. These costs will be compensated with onboard credit of up to $200 per day. The hard work continues, and we are on track to welcome passengers onboard by the end of this week. We look forward to launching with pride and purpose, knowing we’re not just building a ship but a united community at sea together.”

Odyssey, built in 1993, has sailed for several different cruise lines, including Cunard (as Crown Dynasty) and, most recently, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as Braemar. Passengers had the opportunity to purchase their cabins outright for the multiyear float for prices between $99,999 (£75,600) and $899,000 (£680,000) rather than paying a daily rate.

US-based Villa Vie Residences has described itself as “a leading innovator in modern-day residential cruising”.