May 14, 2024
12/1/23 Will the third time be the charm?
But alas, I heard about one other company who was trying their hands at an affordable Residential Cruise Ship. I apprehensively decided to try one final time, to make this dream travel plan a reality. This time I am pinning my hopes on a new American company out of Florida, cruise capital of the world. It's a husband and wife CEO /COO couple who have both worked in the industry for years and it turns out that they were involved with both Storylines
and Life at Sea, as partial joint ventures, but severed both those relationships when they saw problems, with both firms, early on. There company is Villa Vie Residences (VVR), and their concept too, is to purchase an existing mid size cruise ship and retrofit it for residential living before setting sail May 15, 2024 from Southampton, England.
VVR's
sales model is a little different than the other two failed enterprises. You can buy your unit on the Ship upfront for 15 years ( the anticipated remaining life of the ship) or you can just buy the segments of travel you are interested in. There are 17 segments, that make up the full 3.5 year circumnavigation of the World. The segments are geographical based - so you can focus on only those that appeal to you or the time period, as they vary in length. As an owner you can rent out your unit when you are not using, either thru VVR
or on your own, like an Airbnb, or even exchange it through a House Share program. If you do segments, you pay as you go.
Needless to say, I proceeded cautiously to evaluate the options and signed a non disclosure agreement in December, to be able to have my financial advisor review along with me all the company specifics. After careful consideration, I have chosen to purchase a unit, a balcony cabin, in the middle of the ship, on the starboard side of deck 6. Unit 6065 and am again preparing to pack it all up and trust that this third time will truly be the winner!
This is an usual day, it's our second December 15th! We crossed the international date line last night around midnight and therefore we get to live December 15th, twice in 2 different locations. Freaky Monday! We also lose our 18 hour time difference of being ahead of the east coast of the USA, and will now be behind them in time. Time zones drive me crazy on this trip - trying to coordinate with the folks at home and keeping a relevant calendar!
Today we went to see giant clams and turtles at a protected reef area on the southwest side of Upolu , very near where Return to Paradise is located. We would have done yesterday, but it is protected by a village and like almost everything in Samoa , closed on Sundays. Sunday is just for Church and Family in Samoa ! Our guide was Chief Tupu and he had his son driving one of the vans with 5 of us and his daughter in law driving the other with our 4. He was so animated and ran a first class operation. The SUV was comfy and roomy, he provided snorkel gear and towels, that they handed to you as you came out of the water. His information and insights were fascinating as were the local tales he shared with us. Would highly recommend him and Tupu Tours !
After Mass on Sunday, I traveled across the island with friends to enjoy the Return to Paradise Resort. The ride took about an hour and unfortunately, it was pouring rain the whole time. So our day pass vision of relaxing pool and beach side got replaced with day drinking yummy cocktails and playing phase 10 cards in a beach side palapa. They filmed a movie here in 1953 and this remains one of the nicest resorts on the islands of Samoa.