Passengers who paid more than $99,000 for a three-year-old cruise ship have been stranded in Northern Ireland for three months, living in hotels while they wait for their ship to be repaired.
The Villa Vie Residences Odyssey arrived at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast on its own, but once it arrived, the 30-year-old vessel had several mechanical issues, Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson told “Good Morning America.”
“The rudder shaft installation took six weeks and now we're dealing with a couple more things,” Petterson said. “But overall, I think three months isn't too bad given the circumstances.”
Petterson told the morning show that the Odyssey's new departure date had been set for Sept. 9.
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The Odyssey, an American cruise ship operated by Villa Vie Residences, is docked at the Harland & Wolff ship repair facility in Belfast Harbor, Northern Ireland, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
“It's cold, it's windy, it's wet and it often rains,” passenger Holly Hennessy, from Florida, told the outlet, describing the past three months in Belfast. “I've been moved five times to different accommodations.
“I thought I would go home or the ship would send some people to the Canary Islands,” she said. “And then I found out that because I have my cat with me, I can't even leave.”
Passengers can board the Villa Vie Odyssey during the day, but must leave for their hotel rooms at night. Villa Vie Residences has reportedly helped passengers plan trips around Europe during downtime. But for passengers like Hennessy, who is traveling with her cat, options are limited.
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The Odyssey, an American cruise ship operated by Villa Vie Residences, undergoes repairs at the Harland & Wolff facility in Belfast Harbor, Northern Ireland, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The cruise ship advertises visits to 475 destinations in 147 countries. Stateroom prices start at $100,000, according to the company's website, and include an additional monthly fee for at least 15 years.
Marketing materials aimed at retirees and digital nomads tout “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” which features a gym, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business center, a spa and an “experiential culinary center,” according to The Associated Press.
Passengers Johan Bodin and his partner Lanette Canen, from Sweden and the United States respectively, have traveled from Maui, Hawaii, to spend the next few years on the ship, “Good Morning America” reported. They have spent the past three months traveling around Europe while waiting for the ship to leave port.
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The Odyssey, an American cruise ship operated by Villa Vie Residences, will depart on a three-year excursion after undergoing repairs at Harland & Wolff's ship repair facility in Belfast Harbor, Northern Ireland, on Friday, August 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
“We plan to stay here for a long time, but who knows how we'll feel after a year,” Bodin told “Good Morning America.” “Hopefully next weekend we'll be floating away and saying goodbye to Belfast.”
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Canen intends to operate his auto glass business in Arizona from the boat, AP reported. Bodin, a carpenter by trade, has a YouTube channel documenting the couple's stalled journey.
“Maybe we're crazy, stupid, naive or resilient,” Bodin said. “I don't know. You can put whatever label you want on it.”
