For one year, Cruisers will get the “Escape from Reality” package; for two years, the “Mid-Select” package; for three years, the “Anywhere But Home” package, or Cruisers can opt for the four-year “Skip Forward” package.
UNot happy with the election results—whether it’s the president, Congress, or your local school board? One cruise line has the perfect antidote.
Apartment Villa Vie, A cruise line that offers extended-stay cruises has announced multiple multi-year packages on its ships Villa Odyssey. The company didn't directly mention the U.S. election when it announced these packages, called “Tour La Vie,” but the cheekily named package options offer some hints about how the company is marketing these products as an escape from the country's electoral reality .
For one year, Cruisers will get the “Escape from Reality” package; for two years, the “Mid-Select” package; for three years, the “Anywhere But Home” package, or Cruisers can opt for the four-year “Skip Forward” package.
Packages include accommodation, twice-weekly housekeeping, high-speed internet, gratuities and meals. The one-year package is priced at $49,999 per person (double occupancy) and the four-year package is $159,999 per person (double occupancy). Villa Vie also offers full or partial ownership options, unlimited use options, or a pay-as-you-go option that allows for shorter stays. Friends and family can also join as extended-stay guests, with nightly prices depending on ownership or cruise length packages.
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Villa Odyssey is an older ship, established in 1993 as Cunard's Dynasty. The ship underwent extensive refurbishments before joining the luxury Fred Olsen Cruises fleet in 2001, and again after being acquired by Villa Vie in 2023 and operating as an ongoing residential cruise ship , and then underwent a complete refit.
Long-term cruises offer a rather unique way to leave the United States without having to comply with the visa and residency requirements of another country—almost all of which require a visa or permanent residence permit to stay for more than a few months. Villa Odyssey Registered in Nassau, Bahamas, but operator located in Florida.
Despite being named “Villas” in the marketing copy, many of the ship's cabins appear to be typical 140-square-foot cruise cabins – both interior (without windows) and exterior (with windows), although some larger cabins are also available and suites with balconies. Long-term boat owners can also paint the walls and hang their own art, within boat safety guidelines.
Villa Odyssey It is expected to complete a circumnavigation every 3.5 years, calling at 425 destinations in 147 countries, often stopping for several days in each port, giving residents ample time to explore. The ship will circumnavigate the South American continent in early 2025, from the Pacific to the Atlantic and then back to the Caribbean, passing through the Panama Canal, passing through Central America and reaching California, Hawaii and Alaska in the summer. The ship will continue to Asia in the autumn, arriving in Australia in early November, and will spend much of next winter in French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Fiji.
U.S. citizens abroad also maintain voting rights Voting absentee while out of the country – usually in their last state of residence. However, some states may restrict foreign residents from voting in certain state or local elections while abroad for an extended period of time.
U.S. citizens must also continue to file annual tax returns with the IRS, whether living abroad or permanently residing on a cruise ship. Travelers who anticipate leaving the country for an extended period but maintain a full-time job in the United States or have U.S.-source income should consult a tax advisor before traveling.
