Stranded again – the luxury liner that just can’t get going
The saga of the Villa Vie Odyssey took an unfortunate new twist on Wednesday, when the luxury liner again threw down its anchor not far from where it set out, Belfast. The liner has been beset by technical and apparently administrative problems.
The idea was great: you could buy a cabin aboard a ship that would travel the world for months on end and visit the seven continents. The promise: a villa on the sea. Pensioners and people of independent means signed up immediately – also people that can work from anywhere.
The departure was set for May 2024. People arrived expectantly. But a series of technical and mechanical issues caused the departure date to be put back – again and again. One passenger was so frustrated and so demanding that she was removed from the boat. But another couple met and got engaged while waiting!
Things picked up late September with the announcement of a final departure date. The dozens of passengers waved from the decks as the sleek liner finally set off only to stop a few hours later off the coast of County Down. In this case, it looks as though it’s more an administrative issue than a technical one and the cruise will finally head south for its first leg towards France.
(ML. Source: Irish News Photo © Villa Vie Residencies)