cruise ship stuck For 200 passengers aboard the Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey, a dream 3 ½-year round-the-world cruise has turned into an extended stay in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Odyssey, a 30-year-old cruise ship, was supposed to set sail on a 1,301-day voyage in May 2024, visiting 147 countries across seven continents, but mechanical issues have kept the ship docked for over three months.
What’s Causing the Delay?
The Odyssey, purchased from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in December 2023, was expected to take passengers on an incredible journey through destinations like France, Mexico, Japan, and more. However, problems with the ship’s rudder stocks, along with the need for recertification, have left it stuck at the Harland & Wolff shipyard—the same yard where the Titanic was famously built.
Villa Vie Residences’ marketing manager, Sebastian Stokkendal, explained to the press that the company was “humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup.”
Life Aboard the Odyssey: Passengers’ Experience
While the ship undergoes repairs, passengers are permitted to spend their days onboard, enjoying the vessel’s amenities, including meals, entertainment, a live band, and a spa. However, they must leave the ship each evening, as the Odyssey has not yet been cleared for overnight stays.
Villa Vie Residences has been accommodating passengers by covering their hotel stays, meals, drinks, and transportation between the ship and their accommodations. Some passengers, like Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, have even been treated to all-expenses-paid excursions, including a trip to the Canary Islands and a cruise through the Norwegian fjords.
“We understand there are hiccups,” Bodin said. “They’re schmoozing us a bit to keep us happy. They’re almost being too service-minded. I don’t need to be pampered all the time.”
Challenges of Reactivating a 30-Year-Old Vessel
The Odyssey’s delay has largely been due to the complexity of reactivating a ship that has been offline for several years. Originally built in 1993, the vessel has been out of commission since 2020, and the process of making it seaworthy again has proven more challenging than expected.
Villa Vie Residences’ CEO, Mikael Petterson, acknowledged the situation, stating that they are working diligently to resolve the issues, with a tentative launch planned for the first week of September 2024.
What’s Next for Villa Vie Residences and Its Passengers?
Despite the setbacks, Villa Vie Residences remains committed to delivering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for passengers, with an itinerary that includes stops in France, Mexico, Japan, and beyond. Once the ship is cleared for departure, the Odyssey will set sail on its world-spanning adventure, offering residents a chance to explore 147 countries over the next three and a half years.
As passengers wait for the final go-ahead, they continue to enjoy the comforts of Belfast and the onboard experiences the Odyssey has to offer, all while holding onto the promise of a global journey that is sure to be unforgettable.
For now, the Odyssey remains docked, but passengers remain hopeful that their long-awaited adventure will begin soon.
