For Angela Theriac, 2018 marked a turning point.
Within six months, her mother and her eldest brothers died, her husband's health suffered serious problems, and she herself had to undergo two operations.
She said her perspective had changed: she decided to stop taking life for granted, to stop slaving away at work every day, and to stop wondering if she would ever have time to see the world.
“You know what?” Theriac, a 53-year-old retired teacher, remembered her husband saying at the time. “Let's go on this great adventure and live life to the fullest.”
That mission led Theriac and her husband of nearly 30 years, Stephen Theriac, 53, to purchase a cabin on a cruise ship called the Villa Vie Odyssey in March. They bought the cabin just a week after learning about it in a YouTube video.
“Sometimes you just have to be adventurous and do it,” Stephen, a retired deputy sheriff, told Business Insider.
Villa Vie acquired the Odyssey, the former Braemar ship of the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, in December. Angela and Stephen Theriac
Mikael Petterson, founder and CEO of Villa Vie Residences, told BI in an email on Monday that the Villa Vie Odyssey will sail “any day now.” The 509-cabin cruise ship plans to circumnavigate the world every 3 ½ years, visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations.
Petterson declined to give a specific departure date, saying the ship is still waiting for “the green light from DNV. It is impossible to give the exact day.” DNV is a certification and risk assessment company for the shipping industry.
Villa Vie Odyssey promises amenities such as three restaurants, five bars and lounges, a pool and a golf simulator.
The ship's extensive itinerary is a dream for retirees like Angela and Stephen, who say cruising is their “great passion.” Destinations include Australia, South America, Walvis Bay, Namibia and Singapore.
The Theriacs told BI that they had platinum status with Princess Cruises. Angela and Stephen Theriac
Before moving to Nicaragua in 2011, the couple spent most of their lives in Florida, often taking advantage of its proximity to some of the busiest cruise ports in the United States.
They estimate that they have taken 50 cruises over the past 25 years, the longest of which lasted 39 days.
“I really enjoy seeing new places, experiencing new cultures, trying different foods and drinking different microbrews,” said Stephen. “It's a great lifestyle.”
The couple told BI that they paid for the smallest and cheapest cabin on the never-ending cruise, partly funded by an inheritance from Angela's mother.
(The couple said they signed a nondisclosure agreement and could not tell BI how much they paid for their accommodations. However, the cheapest inside cabins for two people start at about $100,000, plus a $3,500 monthly fee.)
The Theriacs said they started a YouTube channel called MidLife Cruising in hopes of earning extra money for trips. Angela and Stephen Theriac
The Theriacs said they have already visited popular cruise destinations such as the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. They are looking forward to traveling even further – New Zealand for Stephen and tropical destinations such as Bali, Indonesia and Fiji for Angela, a self-described “water girl.”
They said they planned to rent their house in Nicaragua to a close friend.
The Odyssey cabin has two single beds and a dressing table
The couple began decorating their floating home with pillows, artwork and “personal touches that accentuate the storage space,” Angela said. “Our room is our bedroom and the ship is our home.”
Angela said she worked with the cottage's existing blue color palette and purchased pillows, throws and artwork “to tie it all together.” Angela and Stephen Theriac
However, there is one caveat: you can spend the days on board the ship, but you are not allowed to stay overnight there.
The never-ending cruise was originally scheduled to set sail from Belfast, Ireland, in May after Villa Vie took delivery of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' 30-plus-year-old Braemar ship, which has since been renamed Villa Vie Odyssey. However, Villa Vie has stated that issues such as the ship's aging rudder stock and recertification have since delayed the departure by three months.
Villa Vie recently relocated the theriacs from an inside cabin to one with a window. The couple told BI they are currently negotiating the price. Angela and Stephen Theriac
Like many other potential Villa Vie residents, the Theriacs flew to Belfast for the first departure date in the spring. Since then, the couple say they have been staying in hotels – including some a flight away in Liverpool, UK, where accommodations are cheaper – and spending time on other cruises.
Petterson said Florida-based Villa Vie also offers residents shuttles to and from the ship, food, drinks, excursions and lodging – or a per diem for those who “want to do their own thing.”
But the couple were patient and understanding of the delays because, according to Stephen, it is “a now or never thing.”
“We're still pretty healthy and financially sound,” said Stephen, reflecting on the sight of “80-year-olds getting off Princess ships with 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 would be the first ship of its kind in 22 years
Petterson previously worked for cruise startups Life at Sea and Storylines. Angela and Stephen Theriac
Villa Vie is not the only startup that has encountered difficulties while trying to start a never-ending journey.
The leisure cruise industry has been plagued by problems since the launch of The World, the only ship of its kind, in 2002.
Since then, startups seeking to bring floating condos to market have sprung up as quickly as they have sunk — from Miray Cruises' Life at Sea Cruises, which shut down two weeks before its scheduled November departure, to Storylines, which has postponed its departure by seven years to 2026.
Former Miray CEO Kendra Holmes recently launched GlobeCruises, a concept similar to Life at Sea's three-year cruise schedule scheduled to depart in April.
GlobeCruises and Villa Vie are the only options competing to accompany The World on its extensive voyage around the globe.
Are you traveling on a residential cruise ship like Villa Vie or do you have a tip? Contact the reporter at [email protected] or on X @brittanymchang.
