Villa Vie Residences‘ CEO Mikael Petterson addressed the latest delay of the Villa Vie Odyssey in a new video, announcing a definitive launch date of July 20, 2024, for the ship’s world cruise.

Originally scheduled to debut on May 15, 2024, following a multi-million-dollar renovation, the ship’s launch has been pushed back multiple times and remains docked for extensive renovations in Belfast, Ireland’s Titanic Yard.

The latest postponement stems from the need to replace extremely outdated rudder stocks on the 24,344-gross-ton Odyssey, which has not sailed with guests since March 2020, when it was a part of the Fred Olsen Cruises’ fleet. Rudder stocks are vertical shafts that force the turning of the ship’s steering gear to the rudder blades.

Petterson was frank as he detailed the challenges faced during the ship’s renovation process. “It’s been a long journey,” he sighed.

“We took possession of the vessel four months ago. At that time, we had no knowledge about the vessel; the maintenance records had been deleted. We were given a clean slate on all of the equipment on board,” he said.

He continued to detail the current hold up by addressing the rudder stocks. “The rudder stocks are the original rudder stocks from 30 years ago. They can’t be thinner than 295 millimeters. They were measured in at 283, so significantly lower than what’s acceptable. We had to replace them,” he said.

The unforeseen issue pushed the refurbishment timeline further as the new parts were machined in Denmark and require precise integration with the ship’s existing systems. Although Petterson says the timeline is still fluid, “The 20th of July is our very, very last date we need to be ready to take residents on board for our launch date.”

Petterson recognizes the 924-resident ship still needs to float out and undergo certifications and clearances from maritime officials, but says they have padded the schedule by two weeks to ensure they make the deadline.

“This is still an older vessel and we are still facing some challenges here and there. It would be not so wise to think we are going to get things perfectly done all of a sudden,” he said. “But there is some room for us to wiggle.”

The optimistic Petterson shook off his fatigue at the process and said he can’t wait for the next couple of weeks to get on the water and welcome passengers.

Navigating Delays and Challenges

Villa Vie Odyssey, formerly Braemar, faced multiple setbacks even before the rudder stock issue came to light two weeks ago. Initially, the ship underwent a dry dock in Edinburgh, where it stayed until April 24, 2024. During this period, the ship’s debut was changed from May 15 to May 30, necessitated by the need to relocate the launch from Belfast to Southampton, England.

The initial delay was then extended to June 4, 2024, due to complications with the ship’s grey water tanks. These tanks, essential for holding water from kitchens, showers, and laundry facilities, needed repairs to meet environmental standards for water treatment before discharge into the ocean.

While still in dry dock, Petterson stressed the entire crew continues to work to get the ship where it needs to be, and will continue to keep working until residents arrive.

Once Villa Vie Odyssey is ready to set sail, exactly two months from its initial launch schedule, it will begin a 3.5-year Continual World Cruise. Departing from Southampton, it will cover 425 ports across 147 countries over 1,301 days, with port stays ranging from 2 to 7 days.

Starting in Europe, the ship will head to Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean before venturing to Antarctica in 2025. The itinerary continues with stops in South America, Alaska, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia, and New Zealand. It will end its global journey in Europe in 2027.

Villa Vie Residences residents who have been in Northern Ireland since the initial delays have been welcome to board the ship during dry dock and watch the progress. Petterson says they have been extremely patient.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has carved out three segment voyages from its 106-night world cruise sailing roundtrip from Southampton on January 6, 2025. The cruises, aboard Bolette, include a 56-night, a 29-night, and a 21-night itinerary, each focusing on a different part of the world.

World cruise segments are a popular option in the industry, enabling cruisers to share in the excitement of a global voyage without making a three-month, or longer, time commitment. The 1,380-guest Bolette, one of three ships the line owns, launched in 2000 and previously operated as Amsterdam for the Holland America Line fleet.

“Our 2025 World Cruise has already proven popular, and there are some incredible opportunities to be had as Bolette sails to gems across the globe,” said Martin Lister, head of itinerary product development at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

“These shorter sailings will enable even more of our guests to share these experiences, with every port offering an incredible insight into culture, history, art or the chance to seek out native wildlife such as the Magellanic Penguins in Chile, quokkas in Australia and the Big Five in South Africa,” Lister added.

The 56-night segment, “Exploring South America and the Pacific Islands,” begins on embarkation day, January 6, 2025. The ship calls at ports in Portugal before a transatlantic crossing to South America brings her to destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

The ship then heads to several ports in French Polynesia, with the segment ending in Sydney, Australia. The itinerary features a hotel night in the capital city before flights back to the UK.

Bolette’s 29-night world cruise segment, “Australian and South African Discovery,” departs from Sydney on March 3, 2025 and explores several destinations Down Under, such as Melbourne, Hobart, and Fremantle.

The ship then sails to South Africa, calling at Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The itinerary includes an overnight in Sydney at the start of the segment as well as an overnight in Cape Town at the conclusion, before flights to the UK.

The shortest segment, the 21-day “Scenic Vistas and Diverse Cultures of Africa,” departs from Cape Town on April 1, 2025 and features calls in Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia, and Dakar, Senegal. Land explorations include Big Five safaris and visits to the Namib desert and the island of St. Helena. The segment also calls at Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain, and Funchal, Portugal, before ending in Southampton.  

Cruise-only and fly-cruise options are available on all three segments. Bolette currently is homeported in Liverpool, England, sailing a series of Norwegian fjord cruises.

Cruise Line Plans Two Grand Voyages For 2026

In addition to Bolette, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, which is Norwegian-owned and headquartered in the UK, also operates the 1,400-guest Borealis and the 1,350-guest Balmoral. 

Like Bolette, Borealis was originally operated by Holland America Line. She debuted in 1997 as Rotterdam.

Balmoral, which entered service in 1988 as Crown Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line, also operated as Norwegian Crown for Norwegian Cruise Line and as Crown Odyssey for Orient Lines.

Earlier this year, the company announced it would offer two grand voyages in 2026 — onboard Bolette and Borealis. The ships will operate a 95-night global adventure and a 76-night voyage around South America and Antarctica.

The cruise line made headlines in June 2024, when it announced it will broadcast major sporting events aboard all three vessels this summer, including the Union of European Football Associations’ European Football Championship, Wimbledon Championships, and the 2024 Summer XXXIII Olympics.

One couple is still riding the high after winning the jackpot – literally – on their Azamara cruise. Garett Talcott was onboard Azamara Quest with his husband, Michael Rivera, for a 20-day Antarctic cruise last December, at the end of 2023.

According to their social media profiles, Talcott is an online kindergarten teacher, allowing the couple the flexibility to travel and cruise often.

But this cruise was like no other when Talcott won big during an onboard game of Blackout Bingo on the second day of the cruise. 

Blackout Bingo is harder than regular bingo because it requires the winner to be the first to complete their entire bingo card rather than just a single line – which is challenging in its own right!

But of around 30 hopeful players, luck was on Talcott’s side – and he won the couple an upgrade to the World Owner’s Suite – the nicest, largest, and most luxurious accommodation out of the 361 staterooms aboard the 710-passenger ship.

The price of the World Owner’s Suite is estimated around $50,000 (USD) for a 20-night sailing. Considering the couple spent around $450 on bingo cards, they made their investment back many times over. 

In a now viral video on his TikTok (@vividmichael), the cruiser happily showed off their surprise suite, which they got to enjoy for the remaining 19 days of their sailing. 

In the clip, Talcott shared all that the 560 square foot stateroom had to offer – including a 233 square ft wrap-around private balcony, a mini bar, a spacious living room with a separate master bedroom, a large master bathroom with a full sized tub, two large televisions, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in the living room and master bedroom. 

“Awesome job winning Bingo, baby,” exclaimed Rivera as he high fived his smiling partner. “We have a butler, we have internet, we have all the dining services. Thank you, Azamara!” 

Indeed, all Azamara suites – across its fleet of 4 ships – come with perks like a dedicated butler, in-suite afternoon tea, served daily by said butler, and complimentary spirits. 

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Since the TikTok was posted on June 29, 2024, it has been viewed over 688,000 times. 

When Will Azamara Quest Return To Antarctica? 

Talcott and Rivera won big while they were cruising on a 20-day voyage to Antarctica in December of 2023. But Azamara Quest has since sailed on to other parts of the globe. 

The R-class vessel – one of the first to launch the luxury cruise line in 2007 – is currently sailing throughout Europe. The ship is operating a series of unique, immersive voyages focused on destinations like Iceland, the British Isles, Norway, Scotland, and Irerland – with every itinerary offering something different. 

As of the time of publication, the 30,277 gross-ton vessel is in the middle of a 13-night Iceland Intensive voyage that embarked from Reykjavik, Iceland, on July 1, 2024.

The ship will call on Grundarfjordur, Iceland; Siglufjorour, Iceland; Akureyri, Iceland; Husavik, Iceland; Seydisfjordur, Iceland; Runavik, Faroe Islands; Thorshavn, Faroe Islands; Lerwick, Shetland Isles; and Aberdeen, Scotland, before disembarking in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 14. 

On September 20, 2024, the ship will embark from Valencia, Spain, on a 59-night Grand Voyage to Chioggia, Italy, where she will temporarily homeport from until she embarks on a 62-night Grand Voyage to Cape Town, South Africa, on October 19, 2024. 

The 2000-launched vessel, which was originally known as R Seven, Delphin Renaissance, and Blue Moon, won’t actually make it back to Antarctica until February of 2026. 

Read Also: Azamara Cruises Announces Two New Itineraries for Fall of 2024

Embarking from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 8, 2026, the 22-night Southern Quest voyage will call on bucket list destinations like Antarctic Sound/Peninsula, Antarctica (an overnight call); Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Punta Arenas, Chile; and more. 

But hopeful cruisers can rest assured that they do not have to wait for Azamara Quest to return to Antarctica to try their luck at Bingo. The popular cruise game is offered on most sailings across the fleet – including Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit, and Azamara Onward, the cruise line’s newest addition.