Live the Dream: Couple Buys Cabin on Round-the-World Cruise Ship

In 2018, Angela Theriac, a retired schoolteacher, experienced a profound shift in perspective. Following the deaths of her mother and brother within six months, a health scare for her husband, and two of her own surgeries, she realised the importance of living life to the fullest.

"You know what?" Angela, 53, recalled saying to her husband, Stephen, 53, a retired deputy sheriff. "Let's go on a grand adventure and make the most of every day."

This shared desire for adventure led the couple, married for almost 30 years, to purchase a cabin in March on a residential cruise ship called the Villa Vie Odyssey. The decision came just one week after encountering the concept in a YouTube video.

"Sometimes, you just have to be adventurous and take the plunge," Stephen told Business Insider.

Villa Vie Odyssey, formerly the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Braemar vessel, is set to embark on its maiden voyage "any day now", according to Mikael Petterson, founder and CEO of Villa Vie Residences. The 509-cabin vessel plans to circumnavigate the globe every 3.5 years, visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations along the way.

Petterson declined to provide a specific sail date, stating that the ship is awaiting "the green light from DNV." DNV, a certification and risk-assessment firm for the maritime industry, is conducting final checks before the ship can set sail.

The Villa Vie Odyssey boasts a range of amenities including three restaurants, five bars and lounges, a swimming pool, and a golf simulator. This comprehensive itinerary is a dream come true for retirees like Angela and Stephen, who consider cruising a "passion". The voyage will take them to destinations such as Australia, South America, Walvis Bay in Namibia, and Singapore.

Before relocating to Nicaragua in 2011, the couple spent most of their lives in Florida and frequently took advantage of their proximity to the bustling cruise ports in the US. They estimate having boarded 50 cruises over the past 25 years, with the longest lasting 39 days.

"I truly enjoy exploring new places, learning about different cultures, trying diverse cuisines, and sampling unique microbrews," Stephen remarked. "It's a fantastic lifestyle."

The couple purchased the smallest and most affordable cabin on the perpetual cruise, partially funded by an inheritance from Angela's mother.

While they couldn't disclose the exact price due to a non-disclosure agreement, they revealed that the cheapest dual-occupancy interior cabins start at around £80,000 with a monthly fee of £2,800.

The Theriacs have already experienced popular cruise destinations like the Caribbean and Mediterranean. They are now eagerly looking forward to exploring further afield: New Zealand for Stephen, and tropical destinations like Bali, Indonesia, and Fiji for Angela, who describes herself as a "water girl".

The couple plans to rent their home in Nicaragua to a close friend while they embark on their lifelong adventure.

Their floating home features twin beds and a vanity, and Angela has already begun decorating with pillows, artwork, and "personal touches emphasizing storage". "Our room is our bedroom, and the ship is our home," she explained.

However, there's a caveat: while they can spend their days on board the ship, they are not yet permitted to stay overnight.

The never-ending cruise was initially set to depart from Belfast, Ireland, in May following Villa Vie's acquisition of the Braemar vessel, now renamed Villa Vie Odyssey. However, Villa Vie has acknowledged issues such as the ship's aging rudder stocks and the need for recertification, delaying the departure by three months.

Like many other prospective Villa Vie residents, the Theriacs flew to Belfast for the initial spring departure date. Since then, they have been staying in hotels, including some in Liverpool, UK, where the nightly cost is more affordable. They have also been enjoying other cruises during this period.

Petterson has confirmed that Villa Vie provided residents with shuttle transport to and from the ship, meals, beverages, excursions, and accommodation. Alternatively, a daily per diem was offered for those who prefer to "do their own thing".

Despite the delays, the couple have remained patient and understanding, recognizing that "it's a now-or-never kind of thing."

"We're still in good health and financially secure," Stephen remarked, observing "80-year-olds getting off Princess ships in walkers." "I don't want to be that old and try to see the world. I want to do it now while I can still enjoy it."

Villa Vie Odyssey would be the first ship of its kind to launch in 22 years.

While Villa Vie faces challenges, it is not the only startup struggling to launch a perpetual voyage. The residential-cruise industry has encountered difficulties since the inauguration of The World, the only ship of its kind, in 2002.

Numerous startups attempting to launch floating condominiums have emerged and subsequently faltered, from Miray Cruises' Life at Sea Cruises, which ceased operations just two weeks before its intended launch in November, to Storylines, whose departure has been pushed back by seven years to 2026.

Miray's former CEO, Kendra Holmes, recently launched GlobeCruises, a concept similar to Life at Sea's three-year cruise, scheduled to sail in April.

GlobeCruises and Villa Vie are the only remaining contenders vying to join The World on its extended journey around the globe.