Passengers booked to travel on the delayed round-the-world cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey have been told they can move in tomorrow – but they won’t be able to set sail yet.
Cruise line Villa Vie Residences announced last year it is to operate a ‘Continual World Cruise’, calling at 425 ports in 147 countries.
The original sailing date for Villa Vie Odyssey, previously Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar, had been scheduled for 15 May from Southampton but its departure date and port were changed at the last minute to Belfast on 30 May. Since then, departure has been delayed several times.
In July, Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson said 20 July would be the cruise ship’s ‘very, very last date’ to set sail, but the cruise has still not departed.
Passengers who’ve bought a cabin were able to join the ship last week but are not currently allowed to stay overnight.
One couple, Johan and Lanette, who are documenting their journey on social media, said in a new post they are having meals on the ship, meeting the staff and other residents and taking advantage of the open bar provided, but have to take a shuttle bus back to their hotel in Belfast each night.
The couple has bought a cabin on the ship, which will circumnavigate the world every three-and-a-half years.
They said: “We are extending our hotel until Wednesday. We are getting close. They are just having an issue with fire doors right now. They have 134 more items to check off their list out of 3,000. Once the fire door issue is settled we can move in.
“Then they have got to cross off other things on our list, then do some sea trials end of the week and then we can hopefully sail off.”
