Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin left their home in Hawaii in the spring to move onto the ship.
The couple said they were "very impressed" with Villa Vie Odyssey despite its delays — take a look inside.
Villa Vie Odyssey looks like any other cruise ship, complete with a modern pool deck, a buffet, a pickleball court, and excited travelers.
But Villa Vie Residences' 509-cabin vessel won't operate conventional Caribbean cruises or Alaska sailings.
Instead, the residential ship is readying to embark on a never-ending vacation that would circumnavigate the world every 3 ½ years, stopping at 147 countries and 425 destinations along the way — all while providing travelers with the comforts of a traditional cruise liner.
But not without hiccups. The ship has been stuck in Belfast, Northern Ireland for more than 3 months. Villa Vie acquired Odyssey, formerly the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Braemar vessel, in December.
Lanette Canen
The cruise was initially scheduled to set sail in May following the company's acquisition of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' more than 30-year-old Braemar vessel, now renamed Villa Vie Odyssey, in December 2023.
However, Villa Vie has said issues like the aging ship's rudder stocks and recertification have since delayed its departure.
Mikael Petterson, the founder and CEO of Villa Vie, told Business Insider in an email in September his "best guess" is that the residential vessel would set sail on September 9 or 10 with some changes to the itinerary.
"But it's a moving target if it's either of those days," he said.
The uncertainty isn't worrying would-be residents Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin.Petterson told BI that Villa Vie is offering a daily per diem to residents who "choose to do their own thing."
Lanette Canen
The couple, both 54, uprooted their lives in Maui, Hawaii, in the spring to move onto Villa Vie Odyssey in May. Since then, they — along with another 100 to 150 guests — have stayed in the UK in anticipation of its departure.
Residents can spend their days on Odyssey but aren't allowed to stay overnight yet. In the interim, Petterson said the company is providing these would-be residents with lodging, shuttles to and from the ship, food, and drinks.
"We're stuck in the harbor, but we've met some really cool people from all walks of life," Bodin told BI. "We all have something in common. We're a little crazy and want to see the world."
'We went pretty much every day for two weeks and spent all day there until they kicked us off,' Canen said. The shared desks at the business center come with office chairs and table lamps.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
Canen spent much of these two weeks at Villa Vie Odyssey's business center, designed for residents like her who plan to work remotely at sea.
According to the couple's video tour of the ship — posted on their aptly named "Living Life on a Cruise" YouTube channel — the coworking space has shared desks, private offices, and conference rooms.
Villa Vie said the ship is also equipped with Starlink, an increasingly common amenity on cruise vessels.
Bodin, however, preferred to edit their YouTube videos in the observatory lounge.The couple predicts the observatory will be their go-to spot on Villa Vie Odyssey once it sets sail.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
The observatory is one of five bars and lounges on Odyssey. As its name suggests, the bright space has large windows with sprawling views of the ship's surroundings.
It's also furnished with a piano, which Bodin said has been frequented by a fellow resident and skilled pianist. "I'm sitting there getting a private piano concert."
That's not to say Villa Vie hasn't been providing its guests with professional onboard entertainment.Coral Club, pictured, and Neptune Lounge have lounge seating arranged in a semi-circle around a stage.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
According to the couple's video, Villa Vie Odyssey has hosted live bands at the Coral Club and had a large Olympics viewing screen at the Neptune Lounge.
In the meantime, residents also have an open bar, like the one at Morning Light Pub.Guests like Bodin can enjoy the open bar and pickleball court.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
"They're schmoozing us a bit to keep us happy," Bodin said. "They're almost being too serviced-minded. I don't need to be pampered all the time."
Besides drinks, the roomy watering hole is home to the ship's dartboard, which joins the outdoor shuffleboard, stack of board games, and, of course, pickleball court as onboard activity options.
Like any traditional cruise ship, Odyssey also has a fitness center, spa, and modern pool deck with two jacuzzis.The ship has a pool deck with two hot tubs and a spa with services like massages, manicures, and hair styling.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
But unlike most cruise vessels, guests have access to the ship's laundry room.
Laundry could be one of the only chores guests have to do, but even then, it's not required.
Villa Vie said it'll provide residents with laundry and housekeeping services twice a week.
No need to cook or clean either — the ship has 3 restaurants, 2 of which are complementary. Palms Cafe has a breakfast and lunch buffet, but Bodin and Canen, right, are partial to the Grill.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
In the morning, travelers like Canen and Bodin can wake up to the buffet at Palms Cafe, which offers breakfast options such as bread, fruits, cheeses, and an omelet station.
For dinner, the couple said they've been especially partial to the Grill's "really good barbecue."
To residents like Canen and Bodin, these spaces aren't just bars and lounges — they're living rooms.Canen said her obstructed view cabin is larger and has more natural light than she expected.
Living Life on a Cruise/YouTube
As for their bedroom, the duo will be slumbering in their "obstructed view cabin."
The room is small, and a lifeboat obstructs its view, but they've already started to make it their home.
They've added risers under their bed to create additional storage. They also plan to remove the pullman bed to make space for a large world map, which they'll annotate as they continue their global journey.
Canen and Bodin declined to disclose the price of their accommodation, but windowless inside cabins are currently listed at $100,000, while those with ocean views are $50,000 more.
They'll also have to pay $3,500 in monthly fees.Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin met eight years ago in Maui, Hawaii, where they both resided until they moved onto Villa Vie Odyssey.
Lanette Canen
Still, Canen said life on Maui was "way more expensive" than the Odyssey. "We're traveling on a budget. It's very affordable for the two of us."
"Why do I live in Maui when I could travel the world?"
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