Villa Vie Odyssey’s path to launch suffered a new setback yesterday when Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast announced it was going into administration.
The ship initially set to launch in mid-May. The original sailing was postponed due to a crack in a tank, and the ship, a 31-year-old former Fred. Olsen vessel, has since been undergoing refurbishment at Harland & Wolff in Belfast.
Numerous persistent issues have arisen since the original departure date, including problems with rudder stocks, missing maintenance logs, and the need for reclassification and certification, contributing to ongoing delays despite earlier assurances that the ship would sail soon.
Guests have been accommodated in hotels and some flown to a resort in Spain. They were allowed to access their cabins aboard the ship this summer but could not sleep there, with the company providing meals and entertainment instead.
Villa Vie CEO Mike Petterson said “every decision we’ve made is focused on the well-being and safety of our residents. We have supported our residents with trips around Europe, and spent over $2m in hotel stays and trips to accommodate and entertain them while Odyssey has been getting ready for launch. Since residents are scattered throughout Europe in over 20 different hotels, we have decided to let residents plan their hotels and way back to the ship for launch. These costs will be compensated with onboard credit of up to $200 per day. The hard work continues, and we are on track to welcome passengers onboard by the end of this week. We look forward to launching with pride and purpose, knowing we’re not just building a ship but a united community at sea together.”
