A would-be passenger aboard much-delayed residential cruise Villa Vie Odyssey claims she has been thrown off due to comments she made in a WhatsApp group.
Jenny Phenix, 68 and from Florida, USA, sold her possessions to join the three year round-the-world voyage with the intention of stopping off in Miami along the way to pick up belongings for the rest of the cruise.
Passengers calling the ship home have been stranded on the vessel in Northern Ireland for three months while awaiting a new departure date.
Ms Phenix’s comments on WhatsApp about when the ship would set sail, as well as concerns about the duration of refurbishments and having a temporary cabin, has led to her being removed from the cruise all together.
She was told her contract had been cancelled for impacting community morale.
The Telegraph reports that Villa Vie Residences chief operating officer, Kathy Villalba, informed Ms Phenix: “We have received over a dozen formal complaints from residents regarding your continuous complaints and negativity. This behaviour has significantly impacted the morale and wellbeing of other passengers.
“Given the overwhelming feedback, we must cancel your contract permanently to uphold the wellbeing and satisfaction of our community.”
Ms Phenix, who has been living out of a suitcase since December 2023, told The Telegraph: “These were private conversations – I posted nothing on social media platforms. The frustration among the residents grew after every delay. I tended to be one of the more outspoken in asking important questions. Many of the residents thanked me privately for speaking up for the entire group.”
It’s not the first time Ms Phenix has encountered twists in the road when it comes to around-the-world cruises. The Florida-based Life at Sea residential ship scheme filed for bankruptcy July 23 2024, owing her thousands of dollars in the process.
Ms Phenix has now returned to Florida, having joined the last leg of Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas nine-month voyage, but not without experiencing some “emotional devastation”. She now plans to stay with her daughter until she comes up with “a whole new plan for my life”.
The Independent has contacted the Villa Vie Residences for comment.
In a statement shared with The Telegraph, Mike Petterson, the chief executive of Villa Vie…
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