Lanette Canen
Mikael Petterson, the founder and CEO of Villa Vie, told Business Insider in an email in early September that his “best guess” is that Odyssey would set sail on September 9 or 10, noting that it was still a “moving target if it’s either of those days.”
But come September 9, instead of embarking on their around-the-world journey, buyers were notified of yet another delay.
The residential ship recently completed its highly anticipated sea trials, a milestone “test drive” for cruise liners. However, in the memo to customers, Petterson told would-be residents that the vessel was still awaiting its Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, which is necessary to set sail.
“We are truly at the end of the tunnel and can finally see the light,” he said.
Angela and Stephen Theriac
For some would-be tenants, like Angela and Stephen Theriac, this announcement means they’ll have to leave the UK, where they’ve been since Odyssey’s initial departure date in May, to return to the US.
“Seven days is a lot in Belfast,” the couple said in a video posted to their YouTube channel, MidLife Cruising. “The prices are a minimum of $200 a night. It’s cheaper for us to fly back to the US.”