A couple paying £27,000 a month for a round-the-world cruise that has been unable to set sail for months have taken to flying to their dream destinations as they ‘didn’t sign up for a ship to stay in one port.’
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, both 54, have been left stranded in Belfast for three months after their voyage on the Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey was plagued by problems with its rudders and gearbox.
But instead of staying put in the northern Irish city like most other passengers, they have jet-setted off to Norway, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden to wait out the delays.
This is despite cruise bosses claiming to be doing everything they can to ‘relieve the anxiety’ of passengers by planning trips to ‘Tenerife and Liverpool’, organising other cruises or putting guests up in hotels on land as they are unable to stay on the boat at night.
The mega-yacht which offers residency rooms from £75,000 to £700,000, has even seen some passengers sell their homes and businesses just to be a part of the adventure after travelling from their homes across the world, with many coming from the US and one intrepid couple even coming from Nicaragua.
Johan, a retired carpenter, from Sweden, said: ‘We’ve had good time but we didn’t sign up for a ship to stay in one port!
‘Everyone on the ship is pretty positive… There are worse places to be stuck!’
Whereas Dr David Austin, from Georgia in the United States sold his home just for a chance at this new adventure.
‘The payoff of seeing the world in this fashion is too great to feel too disappointed with each delay announcement,’ he said.
‘I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay.’
Hopefully passengers won’t have to wait much longer, as Villa Vie Residences’ CEO Mike Petterson told : ‘We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week.’
Lanette and Johan met while on holiday in Hawaii nine years ago, are paying $35,000 (£27,000) a month to go on the cruise, which has on board three restaurants, five bars and lounges, an extended pool with two Jacuzzis, a spa and fitness center – and even a library.
The couple, who sold their car rental business in Hawaii to move onto the residential cruise ship, are booked in to stay on the cruise for 15 years, though are able to sell their booking at any time – and say they are going to ‘see how things go’ once they finally get on board.
Johan said: ‘While in Northern Ireland we’ve been to loads of pubs and eating fishing and chips.
We also went to Giant’s Causeway and then in Ireland we did the Castaway tours.
The couple say they have fallen in love with Irish music and the local cuisine.
Johan said: ‘I’ve never met so many cool, fun, friendly people – we keep getting asked to go out for pints by locals, everyone is so friendly.’
After the first postponement, the couple travelled to the Norwegian fjords, before spending some time travelling around the countryside in Ireland.
Then also went to the Canary Islands for almost two weeks before flying to Croatia and spending another two weeks there.
They were then told that the ship would be setting sail on July 31 so they flew back to Belfast where they spent another two weeks but once again the departure date was extended.
Lanette, from Arizona, US, said: ‘We were able to get on the ship – but not allowed to sleep on there, though we can do everything else.
‘They have an open bar for us but the whole thing has just been delayed and delayed.
‘We are normally used to just travelling with a backpack – we’ve only done one cruise together for two weeks, but it’s a great way of seeing the world.
The pair say they are ‘very relaxed’ about the situation, though are looking forward to finally starting their big cruise.
‘We’re easygoing to be honest – and they company has paid for all our accommodation everywhere which has been really good.’
Lanette is continuing to work on running her autoglass business based in Arizona while globetrotting, while Johan is working on YouTube vlogging the couples’ travelling experience.
Others on board have taken to making Belfast their ‘unexpected home’.
Florida resident Holly Hennessey and self-proclaimed ‘cruise addict’ said: ‘We can spend all day aboard the ship, and they provide shuttle buses to get on and off.
‘We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we’re at the dock.’
She continued that she is quickly adapting to the rainy British weather, claiming to have ‘never had so much use for my umbrella in my life’.
While Angela and Stephen Theriac from Nicaragua joked with the BBC that they plan to apply for residency in Ireland because they love it so much.
‘We are travellers, and we want to make the most of the place we are in. We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast.
‘We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub. It is just all part of our adventure.’
Villa Vie Residences’ CEO Mike Petterson told : ‘Coming into Belfast from Edinburgh on our own power we were confident that our beautiful Odyssey would fly through class surveys.
‘We have since then been quite humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a 4-year layup.
‘After the lapse of all classifications of class we are now considered new ship where all machinery and equipment must work as if new.
‘Despite having to do major works such as the rudder stocks, major steel work and engine overhauls, we have persevered and are now in the last stages of departure. We are scheduling sea trials early next week.
‘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.
‘We are extremely grateful for our residents who have stood by our side through the tough times.
‘We have worked with our residents to provide hotels, cruises, shore excursions, trips to Tenerife, Liverpool and are welcoming them for onboard visits where they can get their rooms ready and connect with crew and fellow residents.
‘It is great to see the relationships building and the community bonding as we are looking forward to the next 15 years of discovery.’