Global Odyssey Cruise Passengers Await Departure as Ship Undergoes Repairs in Belfast

Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin abandoned their land-based lives to embark on a lengthy sea voyage. However, months later, they have yet to spend a night at sea. Their vessel, the Odyssey, remains in Belfast for repairs, delaying its planned May departure for a 3 ½-year global journey.

Bodin mentioned they enjoyed their time in Northern Ireland's capital but added, "When we'd visited every pub and tried every fish and chips place and listened to all the places that have Irish music, then we were ready to go elsewhere." Canen echoed this sentiment, stating, "We're ready to set sail, for sure."

Odyssey's Ambitious Voyage

The Odyssey is part of Villa Vie Residences' latest venture into continuous cruising. It offers travellers the chance to purchase a cabin and live at sea while the ship travels around the world. The maiden voyage is set to visit 425 ports across 147 countries on seven continents.

Cabins, marketed as "villas," start at $99,999 with an additional monthly fee for the vessel's operational life of at least 15 years. Passengers can also book segments of the journey lasting weeks or months. Marketing materials highlight "the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise," featuring amenities like a gym, spa, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business centre, and an "experiential culinary centre."

Challenges Before Setting Sail

Currently docked at Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard—where the RMS Titanic was built—the Odyssey is undergoing extensive repairs. Villa Vie Residences' marketing manager Sebastian Stokkendal noted the company was "humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup." He mentioned that after work on rudder shafts, steel structures, and engine overhauls, the ship is nearly ready to depart.

"We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment," Stokkendal said in an email to The Associated Press.

Passenger Experiences During Delay

In the meantime, about 200 passengers have had their living expenses covered by the company. They can board the ship during the day for meals and entertainment but cannot stay overnight. The cruise line has also paid for hotels in Belfast and other European cities for those wishing to explore more of Europe while waiting.

Passenger Holly Hennessey from Florida shared her experience with the BBC. She cannot leave Northern Ireland because of her cat, Captain. "I thought I'd go home or the ship sent some people to the Canary Islands. And then I found out that because I have my cat with me, I can't even leave," she said. She expressed gratitude towards Belfast for being welcoming.

Adventures Amidst Delays

Bodin and Canen—a Swede and an American who met in Hawaii—have used this time to travel to Italy, Croatia, and Bodin's hometown in Sweden. Canen plans to manage her Arizona-based auto-glass business from the ship. Bodin is documenting their temporarily stalled journey on his YouTube channel.

The couple had previously put down deposits on Life at Sea—receiving refunds—and also invested in Victoria Cruises, another stalled venture from which they are still seeking reimbursement. Despite these setbacks, they remain undeterred. "We might be crazy, stupid, naive or resilient," Bodin said. "I don't know; you can put any label on it that you want."

The Residential Cruising Industry

The residential cruising sector has faced numerous challenges. Built in 1993 and operated under various names by different cruise lines before being halted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

This industry has seen limited success; MS The World launched in 2002 and remains the only operational vessel of its kind. Another venture, Life at Sea, cancelled its planned three-year voyage late last year after failing to secure a ship.

The Odyssey's journey represents both hope and uncertainty for those seeking a life at sea. As repairs near completion, passengers eagerly await their chance to finally set sail on this unique adventure.