First-timers often gravitate toward short cruises. Jo Canen and Bodin — self-described “all-or-nothing kind of people” — whose inaugural trip lasted more than two weeks.
“Most people said we’d get tired of being on the ship for three, four or five days,” Bodin recalls. “16 days passed and we didn’t want to leave.”
But as much as they enjoyed the experience, it was the last time they would go on vacation at sea. Sailing was not the couple’s greatest passion – they preferred to travel the world.
That is, until this spring, when Canen and Bodin, both 54, uprooted their lives in Maui, Hawaii, to move onto a new residential cruise ship called Villa Vie Odyssey.
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin met eight years ago in Maui, Hawaii. Lanette Canen
The 509-cabin ship is ready to depart after a three-month delay until its departure. She plans to sail around the world every 3 1/2 years, visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations along the way. Ports span Europe, Asia, Australia, South and North America and Africa.
On board, residents will have access to amenities similar to those on traditional cruise lines, such as restaurants, bars and lounges, a swimming pool and a golf simulator.
Mikael Petterson, founder and CEO of Villa Vie Residences, told Business Insider in an August 19 email that the Villa Vie Odyssey would depart from Belfast, Ireland “any day now.” He said it is “impossible to say exactly which day” as the ship is still awaiting “the green light from DNV”. (DNV is a certification and risk assessment firm for the maritime industry.)
Villa Vie bought the Odyssey, formerly Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar, in December. Lanette Canen
Villa Vie’s promise of a floating hotel and a slower pace of travel lured Cane and Bodin. They both wanted to see the world without having to travel by plane and train, unpacking and repacking at each destination.
So in September 2023, the couple sent Villa Vie a $10,000 deposit to reserve a cabin on a future houseboat.
She is especially excited to see Asia, while he is looking forward to the beaches of the South Pacific Islands.
“Why would I live in Maui when I could travel the world,” Canen told BI. “We’re old enough where we just want experiences now.”
The couple sold their Maui business
Bodin told BI that before Villa Vie, the couple had never considered leaving Maui. Lanette Canen
The couple said they sold their Maui rental car business — a fleet of 31 vehicles listed on Turo — to buy their “obstructed view” cabin on the Odyssey. (They declined to disclose pricing, but windowless interior cabins are currently listed at $100,000, while those with ocean views are $50,000 more.)
They also have to pay $3,500 in monthly fees. But Canen, who plans to run her auto glass company remotely from the ship, said her income would cover that extra expense.
Their cabin is small and a lifeboat obstructs its view, “but we will use it as our bedroom and the rest of the ship as our living room,” Canen told BI. She said living on Maui is “a lot more expensive” than the Odyssey. “We’re traveling on a budget. It’s very affordable for both of us.”
The voyage of a lifetime was originally scheduled to set sail in May following Villa Vie’s purchase of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ more than 30-year-old Braemar, now renamed Villa Vie Odyssey. However, the startup has said that issues such as the ship’s outdated rudder stocks and recertification have delayed its launch by three months.
Like other future Villa Vie passengers, the couple left the US in May to make the ship’s initial sailing date. Since then, they have remained in Europe awaiting her departure.
Residents can spend their days at Odyssey, but are still not allowed to stay overnight. Petterson told BI that the company is providing residents with transportation to and from the ship, food, drinks, excursions and lodging — or a daily allowance for those who “choose to do their own thing.”
“We went almost every day for two weeks and spent the whole day there until they kicked us out,” Canen told BI. She went to the business center to work while Bodin recorded videos for their YouTube channel and edited them in the observatory lounge.
Canen and Bodin were able to explore the ship while awaiting its departure. Lanette Canen
They say the food has been good – especially the barbecue – and they’ve had access to an open bar.
“We understand there are hiccups,” Bodin told BI. “They’re tricking us a little to keep us happy. They’re almost being too caring. I don’t need to be pampered all the time.”
In the meantime, they have traveled to Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Sweden. The couple said Villa Vie has also taken them on various excursions, including a trip to the Canary Islands and a cruise in the Norwegian fjords.
“We’re not suffering,” Bodin said.
The industry is in turmoil
Villa Vie Odyssey is currently located in Belfast, Ireland. Angela and Stephen Theriac
Canen and Bodin have seen firsthand how difficult the residential boating industry can be.
Before committing to Odyssey, Canen and Bodin looked at Storylines, which plans to build its own residential cruise ship, the MV Narrative. But her $1 million apartments were out of the couple’s budget. Nine former employees, consultants and investors told BI in 2023 that they were beginning to doubt Storyline’s ship would ever be built.
Bodin said The World, the only residential ship in operation since 2002, was also too expensive. Only a handful of its cabins resell each year for between $2 million and $15 million, and buyers need a net worth of $10 million to be considered.
Pool deck for the inhabitants of the World. world
In March 2023, the pair booked a room on Life at Sea Cruises’ three-year round-the-world voyage, which was due to depart in November 2023. But they later requested a refund of their deposit.
Two weeks before the scheduled departure, Life at Sea canceled its voyage after failing to secure sufficient funds to purchase a vessel. The company declared bankruptcy in July of this year.
Petterson was the managing director of Life at Sea. He left a few months before the trip was cancelled. Its former CEO, Kendra Holmes, recently launched a new three-year cruise venture that hopes to set sail in April 2025.
Life at Sea Cruises canceled its three-year voyage two weeks before it set sail in November 2023. Life on sea cruises
In May 2023, a few weeks after receiving a refund from Life at Sea, the couple booked a cabin on another residential cruise startup, Victoria Cruises Line. But a month later, they decided to ask for a refund (which they, among others, have said they are still waiting for) when they learned about Villa Vie.
Despite setbacks with other ships, Canen and Bodin said they have full confidence in Petterson and Villa Vie.
“Some people might think we’re naive, but Villa Vie has our 100% support,” Bodin said. “We’d be kicking ourselves if we didn’t take this opportunity and go for it.”
Are you sailing on a residential cruise ship like Villa Vie or do you have a tip? Contact the reporter at bchang@businessinsider.com or in X @brittanymchang.