Villa Vie Residence’s Odyssey has departed from the Harland & Wolff shipyard for sea trials after four months of preparations, following its arrival in late April for modifications before the company’s expected debut.
The ship, originally built in 1993 and capable of accommodating 977 guests, is planned for continuous world cruises, but its launch has faced multiple delays due to various technical issues and certification challenges.
After receiving new rudder stocks and moving out of dry dock, the Odyssey is set to conduct trials in open seas over the next few days, focusing on propulsion, maneuvering, and system tests, although overnight stays for guests remain unavailable due to ongoing inspections.
Villa Vie’s COO, Kathy Villalba, acknowledged that the vessel’s out-of-date certifications and extensive inspection requirements impacted timelines: we purchased the former Braemar “anticipating smooth sailing ahead. However, we discovered that the ship’s certifications were completely out of class, and due to her being laid up for four years, we were treated as a newbuild, which resulted in a much more extensive inspection process than we forecasted To those who felt compelled to pressure us into sharing information prematurely, we remind you that this project has always been about taking a calculated risk, and our priority has always been the well-being and safety of our Residents. We will not apologise for focusing on the task at hand rather than entertaining external demands,”
