Villa Vie Residences

[chengkp75]

23 minutes ago, Charry_ said:

so I have an unrelated question. I am trying to understand how they are able to offer 15 years of no monthly fee rises. To me it says either that they are really over charging now to absorb future rises, or, they know they aren't going to be around that long so can make empty promises like that to get people to think they are getting a great deal. I mean, fuel, port fees, repairs, food, drink are all going to become more expensive over such a long timeframe. How will they cover those costs? Surely they can't be relying on segment passengers? 

 

No, just like any condo association, they will have to go to the owners eventually and ask for more money, or the ship will stop sailing, and the owners will lose their investment.  It's probably a combination of both overcharging now (which many condo associations do to build a contingency fund), and planning on rate increases regardless of any guarantee.  As I've said, a maritime lien (for unpaid fuel bill, for instance) can be "in rem", in other words, against the ship, and even if VVR went bankrupt, the residents, as owners of the ship would be liable, as the debt stays with the ship no matter who owns it, and they could see their investment seized and sold.

 

In my professional opinion, this whole mess, both Life at Sea and VVR, stink just about as bad as  the time share fiasco. 

[Travel_Around_The_World]

Update from Johan. Couldn't help myself to comment on the video. 

 

🤣

 

https://youtu.be/NnxOQnCNMVQ?si=STlXQW9LyXKLYd-d

[rebeccalouiseagain]

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

No, just like any condo association, they will have to go to the owners eventually and ask for more money, or the ship will stop sailing, and the owners will lose their investment.  It's probably a combination of both overcharging now (which many condo associations do to build a contingency fund), and planning on rate increases regardless of any guarantee.  As I've said, a maritime lien (for unpaid fuel bill, for instance) can be "in rem", in other words, against the ship, and even if VVR went bankrupt, the residents, as owners of the ship would be liable, as the debt stays with the ship no matter who owns it, and they could see their investment seized and sold.

 

In my professional opinion, this whole mess, both Life at Sea and VVR, stink just about as bad as  the time share fiasco. 

You are right

[rebeccalouiseagain]

24 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Update from Johan. Couldn't help myself to comment on the video. 

 

🤣

 

https://youtu.be/NnxOQnCNMVQ?si=STlXQW9LyXKLYd-d

I've repeatedly asked Johan and Lanette if they are "founders" and they probably don't like me, but haven't answered.  Why?

[Travel_Around_The_World]

19 minutes ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

I've repeatedly asked Johan and Lanette if they are "founders" and they probably don't like me, but haven't answered.  Why?

I am sure they are. According to the last video they paid their deposit in June/July of 2023 before VVR was even a business (August 2023). Only friends or investors/founders (or both) would do that. But they won't admit to that. It would skew their 'objectivity' they are publicly trying to display. 

 

The wild part is that they are talking about the ongoing trial and already give details about it. The only way you have such an information pipeline is to be a founder or friend (or both). 😅

 

 

Edited Thursday at 03:23 PM by Travel_Around_The_World

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Well- even though they have direct access to CEO- they are just as ill-informed about the dates and timeline for the most part LOL.

[Travel_Around_The_World]

49 minutes ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

Well- even though they have direct access to CEO- they are just as ill-informed about the dates and timeline for the most part LOL.

or they willingly and intentionally misinform. 

[Travel_Around_The_World]

So, I am counting 6 or 7 companies which failed over the last few years founded by Mike. One was called Seven Seas Residences and preceeded Life at Sea and VVR. 
Of those business most were disolved by the State of Florida. At least one of them (next to VVR) is still active (FOURNEAU MANAGEMENT LLC) and is/was sued by Life at Sea and Miray.



 

[Travel_Around_The_World]

22 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

or they willingly and intentionally misinform. 

Couldn't edit this post anymore:
Johan responded to my comment on YT. The typical "We really don’t owe anyone an explanation but here goes. " and then going into a lengthy explanation.

Now I have two choices: respond to it appropriately with proof which would expose myself and some of my friends or just let it sit and wait until the end and then do a complete rundown with pics.

[MacMadame]

Part II of Jenny's interview is up:

 

An interesting thing she said is that after a short time at a nice hotel, VVR stopped paying for and booking their hotels directly and some residents were given a per diem amount to be reimbursed later but others continued to get their hotels paid for. If I were in the former group, I'd be pretty pissed that other people were getting their hotel paid for when I wasn't.

 

She also said that a ton of residents were planning to embark in Miami for insurance reasons. But I don't see any port in Florida on the detailed itinerary until the end of the cruise. Was this a port that was canceled due to the delays?

[rebeccalouiseagain]

42 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Couldn't edit this post anymore:
Johan responded to my comment on YT. The typical "We really don’t owe anyone an explanation but here goes. " and then going into a lengthy explanation.

Now I have two choices: respond to it appropriately with proof which would expose myself and some of my friends or just let it sit and wait until the end and then do a complete rundown with pics.

So you have the inside scoop cool.  The fact that Johan and Lanette have answered every question (from both cheerleader and naysayers) but just can't answer a simple question "Are you founders" tells me that yes- they are.  Another source said they are founders but was looking for confirmation.  So Johan and Mike are buddies- maybe didn't know each other until this venture but they are buddies- and I'm sure Mike used the "hey, we are both Swedish" thing to cultivate the relationship.  Johan and Lanette- if founders have spent a lot on this venture and have a vested interest to make sure it succeeds.  So they have to protect this investment and definitely signed some sort of NDA.  First rule of VVR is don't say anything "proprietary" about VVR.

[Travel_Around_The_World]

1 hour ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

So you have the inside scoop cool.  The fact that Johan and Lanette have answered every question (from both cheerleader and naysayers) but just can't answer a simple question "Are you founders" tells me that yes- they are.  Another source said they are founders but was looking for confirmation.  So Johan and Mike are buddies- maybe didn't know each other until this venture but they are buddies- and I'm sure Mike used the "hey, we are both Swedish" thing to cultivate the relationship.  Johan and Lanette- if founders have spent a lot on this venture and have a vested interest to make sure it succeeds.  So they have to protect this investment and definitely signed some sort of NDA.  First rule of VVR is don't say anything "proprietary" about VVR.

Inside really only on Mike's and Kathy's past. That's where it ends.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

1 hour ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Inside really only on Mike's and Kathy's past. That's where it ends.

Still I can't wait until you spill the beans of what you know.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Well, well, well.  For those "experts" that said I didn't know what I was talking about yesterday- about the speed of the ship 9 knots as it sailed back to the shipyard.  A resident took a photo of the ship - being towed into the harbor yesterday.  So it obviously was having issues!

[Travel_Around_The_World]

2 hours ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

Well, well, well.  For those "experts" that said I didn't know what I was talking about yesterday- about the speed of the ship 9 knots as it sailed back to the shipyard.  A resident took a photo of the ship - being towed into the harbor yesterday.  So it obviously was having issues!

Wow. Tow lines on front and back. 
 

[Charry_]

29 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Wow. Tow lines on front and back. 
 

This will probably be a regular sight as it sails around the world 😂

[VL1]

Would any of you get on that ship?  I don't think a tug will be available in the mid Atlantic.  Hitchhiking would be out, Uber does not go there, hmmm...

[Zap Rowsdower]

6 hours ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

Well, well, well.  For those "experts" that said I didn't know what I was talking about yesterday- about the speed of the ship 9 knots as it sailed back to the shipyard.  A resident took a photo of the ship - being towed into the harbor yesterday.  So it obviously was having issues!

Sorry but this isn't an indication of Odyssey having issues. These are the ports two tugs, Masterman and Merchantman. Larger ships can't manoeuver or turn very well in ports like Belfast, so tugboats are used to push, pull and turn ships into their designated berths. In this case they've also helped it turn 180 degrees so it can be docked facing out to the lough. Tugs were used when I cruised out of {and back to) Belfast previously on another cruise line. 

 

Not saying Odyssey isn't a 100% issue free ship, but this photo just shows a standard procedure. 

Edited yesterday at 06:55 AM by Zap Rowsdower

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, Zap Rowsdower said:

Not saying Odyssey isn't a 100% issue free ship, but this photo just shows a standard procedure. 

Yes, many ports require tugs to be "made up" to all ships, whether actually used or not, and some just require a couple of tugs to be "standing by" (hovering in the area of the ship) just in case.  If you look closely, the tug tied up to the bow of the ship is facing the ship, so it would not be towing, just using the line to help "steer" the ship in tight turns.  Most ships prefer to have tugs up close to push, as this is more precise, but cruise ships don't like the tugs old tire fendering smudging the white hulls, so they go for tugs on long lines.

Edited yesterday at 08:24 AM by chengkp75

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Today tracking the vessel- it's sailing consistently at 18 knots. So whatever needed to be taken care of - this is a big change from Wednesday.  They have traveled more distance is less time.  Good on them.

[chengkp75]

22 minutes ago, rebeccalouiseagain said:

Today tracking the vessel- it's sailing consistently at 18 knots. So whatever needed to be taken care of - this is a big change from Wednesday.  They have traveled more distance is less time.  Good on them.

Sigh.  Again, no indication whatsoever that anything "needed to be taken care of" with regards to ship speed possible.

[Travel_Around_The_World]

Port schedule says job type DEP and status SCH. What does that mean? Departure and scheduled?

[chengkp75]

11 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Port schedule says job type DEP and status SCH. What does that mean? Departure and scheduled?

Yes.

[Travel_Around_The_World]

5 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes.

Thanks.

[chengkp75]

4 minutes ago, Travel_Around_The_World said:

Thanks.

While I don't know the exact mechanism of their vessel movement schedule, the three statuses are, in order of veracity:  PLN (planned), SCH (scheduled), and CNF (confirmed).