cruise ship stuck Imagine spending nearly $100,000 for a dream cruise around the world, only to find yourself stuck at the dock for three months. That’s the reality for passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, a once-promising, globe-trotting cruise ship currently stranded at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast—where the Titanic was famously built.
A Delayed Start for a Three-Year Adventure
The Villa Vie Odyssey was slated to embark on an extraordinary three-year voyage, offering passengers the chance to explore multiple continents on a continuous cruise. Priced at $99,999 per cabin, plus a monthly fee, passengers expected to set sail on a lifetime journey filled with exotic destinations, beginning with a tour of the European coast and then venturing to the Caribbean. However, the ship has been docked in Belfast for three months due to maintenance issues, leaving passengers frustrated and stranded before their voyage even began.
Villa Vie Residences, the operator behind the ambitious 15-year sailing plan, says the delay is necessary to address critical repairs. According to the company, the Odyssey will finally set sail “as soon as next week,” though after three months of waiting, many passengers remain skeptical.
A 30-Year-Old Vessel with a History
The Villa Vie Odyssey’s mechanical woes aren’t entirely unexpected. The ship, now 30 years old, was initially part of the Cunard and Norwegian fleets before being acquired by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in 2001, where it operated as the Braemar until 2020. The vessel then sat dormant for four years until being purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2024 for its ambitious globe-trotting plans.
Reviving a ship after such a long period of inactivity is no easy task, and the maintenance challenges faced by Villa Vie Odyssey are proving difficult. Despite the ship’s age, the company’s founder remains optimistic, but passengers are becoming increasingly frustrated with each passing day.
Living in Limbo: Passengers Stuck in Belfast
While the Villa Vie Odyssey remains stuck at the Belfast dock, passengers are left in limbo, enduring the less-than-ideal conditions of Northern Ireland’s autumn weather. One passenger told ABC News, “It’s cold. It’s windy. It’s damp. It usually rains. I’ve been moved five times to different accommodations.”
Passengers are allowed to use the ship’s onboard amenities, but they are not permitted to stay overnight. Instead, Villa Vie Residences has booked hotel rooms across Belfast for its customers, causing a mix of frustration and discomfort. While some patrons have taken advantage of alternative European trips offered by the cruise operator, many remain eager to board the ship and start their long-awaited journey.
The Promised Itinerary and What’s Next
Once the ship’s maintenance issues are resolved, the Villa Vie Odyssey’s first segment is expected to include stops in Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, before heading to the Caribbean for the next leg of the journey. However, with the cruise already delayed for three months, passengers are understandably anxious about further disruptions.
Villa Vie Residences continues to assure passengers that the Odyssey will embark on its voyage soon, but the question remains: will the ship’s ongoing issues turn this dream cruise into a nightmare?
Final Thoughts
The Villa Vie Odyssey’s delayed departure highlights the challenges of reviving a 30-year-old vessel for an ambitious world cruise. While passengers wait for their journey to finally begin, the ship’s prolonged maintenance issues are putting a damper on what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. If the Odyssey can overcome these early setbacks, it may yet become the luxurious, globe-trotting experience its passengers paid for. However, only time will tell if the cruise can truly get back on course.
With $100,000 at stake, frustrated passengers are hoping the Odyssey will soon sail into smoother waters, leaving Belfast’s cold, rainy docks behind for the sun-soaked destinations they were promised.
