Interesting news about 3½ year world cruise, after a 4 month delay…What are the costs for this cruise?…

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Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey ship awaits setting sail while repairs are completed.

For some odd reason, I’m fascinated with the status of the Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey ship, still in port in Belfast waiting for repairs to be completed to set sail on its 3½ year Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey world cruise. Here is the article:

Passengers set for world’s first continual cruise after repair delay in Belfast

By Reuters

BELFAST, Sept 30 (Reuters)—Cruise passengers are to set sail from Belfast on Monday on a three-and-a-half-year world voyage after being stranded in the city for months as the ship underwent unexpected repair works. Some plan to make it their forever home.
Passengers of the Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey, described as the world’s first continual cruise, can either buy their cabins for the entire operational life of the ship or rent them to travel segments of the journey. The ship, which can carry 650 passengers, was originally scheduled to depart from the Northern Irish capital in May but was delayed for repairs due to issues with its rudders and gearbox.
After a series of sea trials, the Odyssey announced on social media on Friday that it had received approval from Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Public Health and was looking forward to welcoming passengers aboard.
“It has just been dragging on (for a) long time,” said John Frim, from Canada, who, together with his wife Monica, opted for the cruise to mark their 50th wedding anniversary. “(But) we’ve never lost faith in the concept.”
Monica added, “We’re not happy about the delay… but when you think about it over three-and-a-half years, what’s four months?”
The cruise company blamed the guests for the unexpected delay by paying for their accommodation in Belfast and elsewhere in Europe.

VOYAGE TO ALL 7 CONTINENTS

The inaugural voyage will last 1,301 days, visiting all seven continents and stopping at 425 ports from Rio de Janeiro to Singapore. The ship has restaurants, a pool, a spa, a business center, and medical facilities.
Even though passengers have been stuck in Belfast waiting to board, they have tried to enjoy their time in the city.
“I will always have a fond place in my heart for Belfast,” retired American wealth manager Holly Hennessy said. “Meeting so many different kinds of people, living in an urban environment, being careless, and being away from American politics has been wonderful.”
Some passengers hoped to stay on the cruise for the rest of their lives, such as Melody and John Hennessee, who were also from the United States and told the BBC that the ship would now be their home. Others fell in love as they waited for the repair work to be completed. Canadian Gian Perroni and American Angela Harsanyi met at the Belfast hotel, where some passengers stayed, and announced their engagement last week.
“It probably couldn’t get any better than that, right?” Harsanyi told Sky News. “We’re getting married between the Panama Canal and Costa Rica.”
The cost for a 3½-year world cruise on the Villa Vie Odyssey varies depending on whether you rent or buy a cabin:
  • Renting
    Prices start at $89 per person per day for an inside cabin, $119 per person per day for an outside cabin, and $199 per person per day for a balcony cabin. This includes food, biweekly laundry service, weekly housekeeping, and internet service. Shore excursions, spa treatments, and bar services are available at an added charge.
  • Buying
    Prices start at $99,000 for an internal cabin and $249,000 for a balcony. There’s also a monthly fee ranging from $21,000 to $48,000 per year. Buying a cabin guarantees it for 15 years, which is the estimated life of the ship.

Could any of you see yourselves renting or buying one of these cabins? Undoubtedly, many passengers have sold their homes and are using their equity to purchase since leaving one’s home for such an extended period may not be practical. Others may rent their homes to family members or a rental agency. Others may tap their retirement savings or other assets to pay the cost.

And some more wealthy individuals/couples may pay the entire amount in cash or on a credit card (for the points).

I suppose passengers choosing to embark on this type of cruise may not consider it any more outlandish than what we’ve done for the past 12 years. However, they’ve had the advantage of not having to move their luggage any more often than every 3½ years. Interesting, eh?

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 9, 2014:½

As we stood at the cliff, the ocean swirled at the shoreline. Although it was difficult to see here, the color was a beautiful aquamarine. For more photos, please click here.