**Imagine splurging up to £680,000 on the vacation of a lifetime—only to find yourself marooned in Belfast instead of basking on sun-drenched beaches.**
**That’s the reality for the passengers of Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey, a luxury cruise ship intended for a globe-trotting adventure.**
**Set to embark on May 30, 2024, this extravagant three-year voyage was supposed to be a floating paradise, visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations.**
**But as of now, the Odyssey remains docked in Northern Ireland, plagued by mechanical issues that have turned this dream trip into an unplanned detour.**
**The grand plan was simple: depart from Belfast and set sail on a journey across the world, indulging in opulent amenities and visiting idyllic locales.**
**Yet, instead of exploring the promised 100 tropical islands, passengers have been stuck navigating Belfast’s rainy streets.**
**With gearbox and rudder problems delaying the launch, these high-paying cruisers have faced frustration while Villa Vie Residences scrambles to fix the ship.**
**In the meantime, passengers are left with only a partial taste of luxury—enjoying onboard perks like the swimming pool, theatre, and gourmet restaurant by day.**
**By night, they have to pack up and leave the ship, as it remains docked and unable to depart.**
**To ease the inconvenience, the cruise line has covered hotel stays, but it’s a far cry from the exotic experience they anticipated.**
**So, what’s behind this floating fiasco? The Odyssey’s journey started with high hopes and a hefty price tag, but it’s hit more than a few snags along the way.**
**Back in May 2024, excitement was sky-high as the Odyssey prepared to launch. This was no ordinary cruise; it was a monumental expedition promising to circumnavigate the globe.**
**The ship, part of Villa Vie Residences’ luxury fleet, was designed to offer an all-inclusive, unparalleled experience—an opulent home on the high seas for three years.**
**However, the ambitious venture faced immediate technical troubles. The gearbox issues and malfunctioning rudders were only the beginning of a series of setbacks.**
**Built to accommodate thousands of guests in lavish style, the Odyssey had to undergo extensive repairs that weren’t anticipated in the initial launch plans.**
**This unforeseen delay has turned Belfast into an unexpected hub for the passengers, who were meant to be exploring far-off lands by now.**
**Among the stranded, Florida native Holly Hennessey has turned the best of a bad situation into a bit of British humor.**
**A self-proclaimed ‘cruise addict,’ Holly joked about the weather, saying: “I’ve never had so much use for my umbrella in my life, and I carry my raincoat everywhere I go.”**
**While Holly makes the most of the onboard amenities, others have opted to explore Europe while waiting for the cruise to resume.**
**Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, for example, have ventured to Croatia and Sweden, documenting their travel escapades on their social media page, Living Life on a Cruise.**
**They’ve shared their hopes to eventually spend the next 15 years aboard the Odyssey, despite the current hiccups.**
**The good news is that the end of the long wait may be in sight. According to Villa Vie Residences’ CEO Mike Petterson, the cruise is set to launch by the end of next week.**
**Petterson expressed optimism about overcoming the initial challenges, stating: “When you’re the first at doing something, you will run into hiccups, but we’re definitely getting there, and although we are late, we will launch.”**
**Will the luxury cruise line manage to rectify the issues and deliver on its grand promises? Only time will tell.**
**For now, the Odyssey remains docked in Belfast, and passengers are left navigating this temporary detour while they await their much-anticipated voyage.**
**Stay tuned as we keep a close eye on the latest updates from Villa Vie Residences and the Odyssey’s journey ahead.**
**For more information, LADbible has reached out to Villa Vie Residences for additional comment.**
**Keep your eyes peeled for updates, as this story continues to unfold and the fate of the Odyssey’s maiden voyage hangs in the balance.**