Imagine selling your home to fund a dream holiday, only for it to be cancelled at the very last minute. For most people, the experience would be enough to put them off travelling for life. But for one determined Florida retiree, it was merely a setback on the path to an even greater adventure.
From Devastating Cancellation to Newfound Resolve
In 2023, former flight attendant Meredith Shay was all set to embark on the Life at Sea cruise, billed as the longest commercial sailing in history. She had sold her house, put her belongings in storage, and was on the verge of selling her car. Then, the devastating news arrived: the company had no ship, and the three-year voyage was cancelled.
Hundreds of customers who had invested their life savings were left stranded. Meredith, however, adopted a remarkably resilient attitude. "I had a 12-hour pity party, then said, 'okay, you're free. Do something'," she explained. "I am not a 'woe is me' person." Fortunately, she received a full refund of close to $500,000.
Doubling Down on a Life at Sea
Rather than retreat, Meredith has now committed to an even longer journey. She has signed up for a five-year continuous cruise aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, a ship operated by some of the same individuals originally involved with the Life at Sea project.
Her new home will be a fancy eighth-floor suite, costing $159,000 with monthly homeowner fees of $7,999, bringing the total outlay to around $630,000 (approximately £469,000). Come next June, her Florida flat will become, in her words, "the world's most expensive storage container" as she flies to Manila to begin her epic five-year sail.
A Leap of Faith Amid Past Problems
Booking this new cruise required a significant leap of faith. The Villa Vie Odyssey itself has faced challenges, including a delayed departure from Northern Ireland in May 2024 due to rudder stock issues, which left guests in Belfast for over four months.
Meredith is aware of the risks but remains undaunted. "Sure, I'm worried, but why not? I can't live my life in fear," she stated. "They've been out now for a good period of time; they've overcome earthquakes, typhoons, and the captains really know what they're doing."
She also has the reassurance of knowing people already on board. For Meredith, this is about living without regret. "My life is full of regrets, and I don't want this to be one of them," she said. "I will be five years older, and I'm very healthy now. But one never knows."
Mikael Petterson, founder of Villa Vie, addressed the previous fiasco, explaining that his team left the Life at Sea project in May 2023 after realising the promised ship did not match reality. They refunded their customers at that time, but the parent company, Miray, continued, ultimately failing to deliver the voyage by November 2024.
